Click to view our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions
Showing 1 of 44 conversations about:
IndianElf
21
Apr 5, 2018
bookmark_border
It seems like everyone and their mom is renting out a garage and starting a watch brand.
Apr 5, 2018
Norfizzle
41
Apr 5, 2018
bookmark_border
IndianElfThese guys have been around for a minute though.
Apr 5, 2018
K.T.N
1264
Apr 6, 2018
bookmark_border
IndianElfIt’s a reflection of global manufacturing these days.
Just about anyone with enough funding can design a watch, select an off-the-shelf movement, have it manufactured in China, and Voila, they’re a “watchmaker.”
Out of these, there are bound to be some decent efforts. But there seem to be a lot of brands that are trying way too hard to project some legitimacy where there may be none. Most seem to offer some derivative designs with nothing terribly special or unique to them. Just another take on a standard formula.
Gone is the art of horology.
I’m sure a lot of folks who start these watch brands are real watch enthusiasts. But when you use off-the shelf movements, you don’t have to know anything about actually engineering or building a watch. All you have to know is which off-the-shelf movement to spec at a given price point.
It becomes an exercise in branding and marketing instead of real watchmaking.
Production is farmed out to an OEM manufacturer in China. Sometimes the design work as well. The “watchmaker” doesn’t even have to set eyes on the manufacturing process, or know much of anything about the facilities in which his watches are being made. Just submit (or choose, or commission) the design and specs, and review the production samples when they are sent back.
When you see brands like Guess (or Wenger, for that matter), brands that have nothing to do with watchmaking, selling watches, that’s an example of what these new watch brands are doing.
It‘s disheartening. It‘s commerce and branding rather than real artful watchmaking.
These new companies are rightfully watch BRANDS, and NOT actual watchmakers.
At least there are some decent efforts out there, sometimes at good prices.
Apr 6, 2018
Fauxtom
4
Apr 6, 2018
bookmark_border
K.T.NCan you name a few affordable "brands" er...watches you recommend?
Apr 6, 2018
IndianElf
21
Apr 7, 2018
bookmark_border
K.T.NThat's a good point and I wholeheartedly agree with you. Another concern I have is that these watch brands are so new in fact that you just don't know if they'll be around in a few years time. Servicing your watch at that point is a nightmare.
Not saying this is the case for this Bertucci, it's a $50 watch. It's probably cheaper to throw it out and buy a new one.
Apr 7, 2018
Illinois_knife_guy
243
Apr 8, 2018
bookmark_border
K.T.NI'd hate to be the bearer of bad news but every brand out there (exception to in house $$$ watches like Patek, AP, Rolex, GS, other "in house" movements) is built in china. China makes what? 98% of all watch parts in the world? 'Swiss Made' doesnt mean anything anymore. My Citizen eco drive counts better time and has better fit and finish than my 'Swiss Made' Victorinox.
Enough snooping around on this site and you can find several links that will say just about every watch has most their parts made in China. Even Swatch, which is impressive for a assembly line watch manufacturer to cut costs in parts.
Maybe this is a throw away kinda watch, like Swatch. But it looks pretty nice for $50. Unless you buy a Timex or a Seiko, you wont find anything cheaper. I find it unfair to compare this to the usual suspects of outsourced watch companies, MVMT, Daniel Wellington, 5th.
I won't lie, I'd buy one but I'm a 2 watch kinda man at the moment. But, I also think Timex is a good brand for it's money, so what do I know.
Apr 8, 2018
Rev.Amped
1
Apr 11, 2018
bookmark_border
Illinois_knife_guyTimex is a fine brand nothing wrong with it. I mean even swatch (which stands for second watch) started out basically implying that their watches were meant to be a trendy item. They were meant to be disposable fashion items. They collaborated with pop culture icons and artists and created products that are actually becoming very collectible.
I mean they basically started the 'fashion watch' business which has devolved into DW, MVMT, MKs, and etc.
Timex has its own standing in the horological timeline.
Apr 11, 2018
View Full Discussion