retitled: Watches are becoming too expensive. Please discuss

[chrisparker]

They’re a simple, albeit often very precise mechanism, but you have to ask why can the Chinese fit a a Japanese designed, reasonably accurate movement for £100, whilst the Swiss charge 10x, 50x or whatever more.

To give an example, one of my Smiths Everests with a reasonable Miyota movement is accurate to within 6 seconds a day, whereas my new Tudor BB54 with an in-house COSC movement, is around 1 second a day. Is that really worth £2900?…

So, please explain to me why we buy them, because I struggle to come up with a rational, or emotional reason to explain it.

Branding is expensive. You can’t compare the price of Smiths with Tudor.

Eddie doesn’t have David Beckham on the payroll, or Lady Gaga. Eddie doesn’t sponsor a pro cycling team or the All Blacks Rugby team, nor does he sponsor the rugby World Cup and surfing and sailing events around the globe.

These things cost much more money than the robots that assemble watches. And that’s where the lions share of your money goes when buying into a famous brand.

[AlwaysAlba]

Any reason for the price increase? Price adjusted to the Franc, Euro, Ugandan Shilling? Increase in price of frozen orange juice (Trading places) CEO of JLC needed to buy his son for Christmas the GI Joe with the Kung Fu grip (Trading places)

Just carrying on the theme always remember, that reverso may be £7800 but in Philly its worth fifty bucks

"Federico talks watches" released an interesting video yesterday about JLC and their price increases (which have increased all across the world and not just the UK).

The main conspiracy theories suggest JLC have considerably increased prices over the last few years to better reflect their quality and to take JLC one notch up the pyramid. Other people suggest it's just capitalising on increased demand whilst others suggest its all to do with Richmont.

Whatever the truth, JLC does appear to be losing customers from the bottom with the hope of replacing them with more wealthy customers; for me a long time admirer and "unofficial" ambassador for the brand, it's quite sad.

[P9CLY]

Maybe only in terms of disposable income,or the worry about resale values.
But generally expensive pre owned watch values are decreasing!.

Just look at some brands how thay have fallen.....is it now a buyers market.

[MartynJC (UK)]

I tend to now buy second hand. A few years ago I was buying Omega new at retail or close to retail. Now I would not buy new unless to celebrate some life event (so plan to never sell in which case residuals become irrelevant).

My last purchase was a discontinued Jaeger Le-Coultre Deep Sea Chronograph dating from 2014 (or so) so had to be bought second hand and I am very happy with.

I tend to buy for enjoyment now but Bre&it (sorry to mention the B word) has scuppered buying from the TZ-UK these days - which is annoying as there are some right crackers turning up.

[robert75]

"Federico talks watches" released an interesting video yesterday about JLC and their price increases (which have increased all across the world and not just the UK).

The main conspiracy theories suggest JLC have considerably increased prices over the last few years to better reflect their quality and to take JLC one notch up the pyramid. Other people suggest it's just capitalising on increased demand whilst others suggest its all to do with Richmont.

Whatever the truth, JLC does appear to be losing customers from the bottom with the hope of replacing them with more wealthy customers; for me a long time admirer and "unofficial" ambassador for the brand, it's quite sad.

Interesting "increase the price to better reflect the quality" Not owned a JLC but there are quite a few comments I have read over the years from JLC owners who say the quality has gone down not up. I think the second part is probably closer to the truth, up the price to create the perception of luxury.

Always liked the Reverso but not paying "pick a number out the sky" prices for one.

[ac11111]

Interesting "increase the price to better reflect the quality" Not owned a JLC but there are quite a few comments I have read over the years from JLC owners who say the quality has gone down not up. I think the second part is probably closer to the truth, up the price to create the perception of luxury.

Always liked the Reverso but not paying "pick a number out the sky" prices for one.

They are playing a dangerous game, previously we could kid ourselves that JLC was a semi high horology quality but at omega/Rolex prices, watch makers watch maker yada yada….now less of an enthusiast’s choice and more pseudo luxury not quite high horology expensive BRAND. Still, I think they will have new punters and semi informed that fall for it and can’t quite afford the holy trinity etc

[jukeboxs]

...

I tend to buy for enjoyment now but Bre&it (sorry to mention the B word) has scuppered buying from the TZ-UK these days - which is annoying as there are some right crackers turning up.

You did move to Portugal in the full knowledge of Brexit, so not a surprise to you. I think you made the right decision BTW, something I'm considering myself (moving abroad in my later years).

[blackal]

You did move to Portugal in the full knowledge of Brexit, so not a surprise to you. I think you made the right decision BTW, something I'm considering myself (moving abroad in my later years).

He did say ‘annoying’, not……………. ‘Outrageous’.

[rapid]

I’ve recently gone through the struggle of the cost of watches.. I sold a Rolex probably 2 years ago now as the price was going up and I just didn’t want 5-6k on my wrist..

Having then gone with gshock and garmin I’ve now stepped back in to mechanical watches again buying a BB54..

I purchased at retail knowing full well its going to lose a large chunk of its value however its a 40th present to myself so willing to accept it..

The reality is for £6 you can get a do it all Casio.. if youre prepared to pay £1000’s for a mechanical watch its mostly down to the romance of it..

Im hoping to keep this one strapped to my wrist long term but we’ll see.

[TomGW]

Yes. Latest Moon Watch at £7400 is insane. Seamasters are now far too expensive.

I bought my first Moonwatch in 2004 from a Glasgow based ‘grey’ seller via eBay for a negotiated £860. It had been supplied by an Italian AD and I considered my purchase to be a bit of a bargain at the time. He had at least two more Moonwatches and a couple of steel Rolex Submariners.