Luxury Watch

[Clip]

With that budget, take a serious look at Seiko and Citizen. The pure Swiss thing is bordering on ridiculous at that price range. And when you're ready to step up to ~$5000, try Tag Heuer.

[Tally-ho]

I'm open to other things

Even to "cheap" Russian watches ?

[phillipsted]

I'm a big fan of the Timex Intelligent Quartz series. I'm not a huge watch aficionado, but I want something rock solid reliable. Timex has always given me that at a decent price point.

TedP

[egbladesmith]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tag-Heuer-Profe ... 19d738b9d9

Previously owned tag heuer, stainless steel, with a plain dial, Swiss made very respectable brand at 399 buy it now. Exactly what you asked for haha. Really though says there are no scratches on the crystal dial which is the main thing you look for. The band is a little worn, but replacing the pins after you get it sized anyways would fixed that right up. happy hunting

Elliot

[kbrouwer]

Has anyone seen ESQ (Movado watches) they apparently feature SWISS quartz movements and some are very cool. Anyone know where these are made? Do you like them?

[Monocrom]

Has anyone seen ESQ (Movado watches) they apparently feature SWISS quartz movements and some are very cool. Anyone know where these are made? Do you like them?

Nice watches, but horribly overpriced. Their quartz movements are nothing special. They excel when it comes to looks though. It's Movado's main selling point.

[egbladesmith]

I agree with Monocrom, they are very over priced. There are some that are made in Switzerland, and there are also some that just say Swiss movt. I owned a couple, and the 800 series are pretty nice. For the same price range i would suggest to you researching Frederique Constant, possibly secondary market.

Like others have said, if you want a true Swiss made watch, you will need to either up your budget(which seems unlikely) or look hard at the secondary market, Ebay. Maybe even some of our nice forums brothers would consider parting with one of theirs for the right amount of spyderco knives :p

Elliot

[phillipsted]

Nice watches, but horribly overpriced. Their quartz movements are nothing special. They excel when it comes to looks though. It's Movado's main selling point.

The father of an old girlfriend was a regional sales guy for Movado (this was back in the 80s). He used to carry a clawhammer in his sales kit. As part of his demonstration, he would set the Movado on the ground and smack the crystal with the hammer - just to demonstrate how tough it was.

Not relevant to the conversation - I just always thought that was a very strange sales tactic...

TedP

[xceptnl]

Does anyone have any peronal knowledge of the Xetum Swiss Automatic watches? They are outside of the price point the OP specified, but they have peaked my interest.

[jackburton9807]

Armourlite makes a good watch.

[bdblue]

I'm assuming the OP is interested in a mechanical watch and not a quartz. Not many serious watch enthusiasts seem to have interest in Swiss quartz watches. The OP's stated budget will make it hard to buy actual Swiss watches unless he is looking for vintage. There are some good European brands that can be had for less money and might be available for under $400- Fortis, Steinhart, Stowa, Hamilton, Titoni. Some people would include TAG but IMO they are very overpriced.

You have to be very careful with buying watches, there are very many brands that have a cheap manufacturer make the watch and then they put their name on it and mark up the price by 1000% or more. Before I knew much about watches I bought a quartz watch from a European brand, later when I had to change the battery I found out that it had the same cheap movement in it that my $15 Casio had. Do your research in the forums at places like timezone.com, watchuseek and pmwf.com. Find out which brands are more than fake brands.

Also there are very few stores and retailers that sell at reasonable prices. We hate the thought of paying full MSRP for a Spyderco at a store, stores that sell watches are even worse with respect to high markups.

[Donut]

I have a Traser Automatic that I got for around $300 and a Movado Automatic that I got for around $300. Both are "Swiss Made". Both are pretty nice, but are probably far from luxury. The Movado looks pretty nice, but is kind of plain, the Traser operates pretty nice, but is not so great looking. I would consider them bottom of the barrel as far as luxury is concerned.

I would say you should probably opt for a Swiss Quartz and try to get something that looks a little nicer looking instead of paying extra for mechanical insides and getting a not so great looking watch. With a not so watch enthusiast, I'm sure you're not going to want to send it in every few years to get serviced or repaired. With a Quartz, you just change the battery and that's it.

In my experience with Eco Drive, I find that it is not very reliable. I have 5 eco drive watches, 3 stopped working in the first year, 1 stopped in 2 years, and the last one is still running. Getting a new eco drive battery is around $50.

[Monocrom]

In my experience with Eco Drive, I find that it is not very reliable. I have 5 eco drive watches, 3 stopped working in the first year, 1 stopped in 2 years, and the last one is still running. Getting a new eco drive battery is around $50.

With an automatic or typical quartz watch, one can toss the watch into a drawer for quite awhile, leave it there, pick it up, strap it on. It's good to go. Eco-Drives need light. I've seen Eco-Drives that looked dead, wouldn't charge up with normal light. Leave it on the window sill during a bright sunny day for several hours, and they come back to Life.

[Donut]

With an automatic or typical quartz watch, one can toss the watch into a drawer for quite awhile, leave it there, pick it up, strap it on. It's good to go. Eco-Drives need light. I've seen Eco-Drives that looked dead, wouldn't charge up with normal light. Leave it on the window sill during a bright sunny day for several hours, and they come back to Life.

Yeah, that's interesting. I had one that was dead, put it next to the window, it came to life, then died the next day while still next to the window. It hasn't moved one second since it stopped while sitting next to the window.

I could just be having bad luck.

[xceptnl]

Yeah, that's interesting. I had one that was dead, put it next to the window, it came to life, then died the next day while still next to the window. It hasn't moved one second since it stopped while sitting next to the window.

I could just be having bad luck.

This is what I do with my Citizens about once a month. The watch case I have has a glass top (for this specific reason) and I carry it to the kitchen window and leave it for a Saturday. Seems to keep all mine running tip top. My oldest Citizen is 5 years old and the newest is 1 year or so. I seem to have good luck with them.

On another note, is Tissot a 51% swiss made watch or is is the real deal? Just curious if anyone had any experiance with them. They may fit more into the OPs price bracket and are still quality (from what I can tell).

[Monocrom]

On another note, is Tissot a 51% swiss made watch or is is the real deal? Just curious if anyone had any experience with them. They may fit more into the OPs price bracket and are still quality (from what I can tell).

During the 1970s when the Swiss watch industry was facing extinction, except for a handful of brands, Hayek Sr. convinced the Swiss government that consolidation was the only way to go. Being the nation's only large industry, the Swiss government agreed. Over 20 brands were brought together. This consolidation has lasted into the present day. Becoming a giant, obscene, monopoly known as The Swatch Group. Hayek Jr. who took over is known for pretty much snapping his fingers and getting whatever he wants from the Swiss government. (They in turn usually ask him for a token gesture so they don't appear to do what he wants whenever he snaps his fingers.)

The only brand that escaped this consolidation was Oris. (Its executives decided they didn't like the brand being slotted into a price-tier in which they were now selling very inexpensive watches. So, they raised the funds and bought Oris out of the consolidation before it was renamed the Swatch Group; in honor of its most profitable brand.)

Tissot is a Swatch Group brand. It's not independent. Based on the price-tier it occupies, cases and quite a few of the internals of lower-end Tissots are Chinese. Going up the scale a bit, you can see and feel improvements. However, even some respected luxury brands that charge over $2,000 for their products use Chinese parts. Perhaps less than some brands, but they do use them. Just the reality of modern-day, Swiss-made, watches. With Tissot, it's a bit odd. They're a known, recognized, Swiss brand from the past with a real history. However, the Tissot of Today, isn't what it was back then. Back before the consolidation into the giant monopoly known as the Swatch Group. While Tissot has the history, the name recognition; it's prices indicate you're mostly getting a brand that does fall into that 51% legal-definition category. Even an upper-end Tissot is still going to have several parts inside it made in China for Tissot and other Swiss brands both in and outside the Swatch Group. Just the way it is.

I like Oris. Hope to add an Artix GT Day Date to my collection. But based on its sub-$2,000 price-tag, I know I'm getting a watch with some Made in China parts in it anyway. Even though Oris is indeed a real, independent, Swiss watch brand. Real history, not as well known among the public as Tissot, but still very respected by those who are into watches. However, I know those parts will be inside it because you can't pull off a completely all Swiss-Made timepiece that sells for $2,000 in this day & age. Simply not happening. But, I buy watches primarily with my heart & eyes. Only time my head overrules them is after I research a watch and decide that the asking price is no where remotely as high as it should be for what I'd be getting. (That has happened a handful of times.)

Some folks buy watches because of the words "Swiss-Made" on the dial, and simply assume they're automatically getting a high quality watch. Not always the case though. Not even much of the time. I buy "Swiss-Made" watches despite those words being on the dial, not because of them. If the public knew the truth, those two little words wouldn't be a useful marketing tool.

Fact is, the majority of the Swiss watch industry was saved from extinction decades ago thanks to a fashion brand known as Swatch. A brand that very successfully made huge profits in the 80s through selling plastic, mostly cheap quartz, often gaudy even childish-looking, wrist watches mainly to young teenagers. That's the reality.

[Left Hand Path]

Interesting thread. Thanks to all for the great info, especially Monocrom.

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[Engurn]

I absolutely love Omega watches but not quite $2-5,000 enough (yet.) I'm looking for a good luxury type watch. My dad has an Omega (Constellation, very simple, just date and time) that he car accessories doesn't really wear, I'm asking him if we can go to a jeweler and get link removed so it fits me. If we decide not to, I'm looking for a Swiss made watch, preferably a metal band. I like black and blue dials as well. I know it's going to be expensive but I'm still on a budget so if you suggest anything, please make sure it's priced reasonably.


Thanks for your suggestions!

Wow do you have any pics to share of your dads OMEGA watch? I love to collect these pics of luxury watches