General watch info for people who want more info on horology

Written by heraanderson » January 28th, 2011, 2:48 pm:Why does the post that is supposed to be informative about Horology where one of the key notes is that price does not equal quality ranked by price? Wouldn't it be more informative to write a post ranking the qualities?

Written by Autumnovember » January 28th, 2011, 2:57 pm:For the first time ever, I actually agree with you. That's pretty much identical to how FI would tier watches too.

Written by Bleed Burnt Orange » January 28th, 2011, 3:04 pm:Thanks for the info. I am glad for it.

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:02 pm:

Written by heraanderson » January 28th, 2011, 2:57 pm:

Written by kama_s » January 28th, 2011, 2:51 pm:*yawn*

I don't recollect anyone asking for watch information. Isn't that what watch forums are for? Oh. Right. You were banned from them.

Oh, snap!
but seriously Cuso, we aren't kindergarteners here. We are largely educated jewelry enthusiasts that know very well how to do a google search on watches. Then we can make a tier on a word document by price, and then after that, it's time for a snack and nap time.

Guess what? This was a thread for people who want more info on horology. If you dont then dont post here.

Written by heraanderson » January 28th, 2011, 3:06 pm:

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:02 pm:

Written by heraanderson » January 28th, 2011, 2:57 pm:

Written by kama_s » January 28th, 2011, 2:51 pm:*yawn*

I don't recollect anyone asking for watch information. Isn't that what watch forums are for? Oh. Right. You were banned from them.

Oh, snap!
but seriously Cuso, we aren't kindergarteners here. We are largely educated jewelry enthusiasts that know very well how to do a google search on watches. Then we can make a tier on a word document by price, and then after that, it's time for a snack and nap time.

Guess what? This was a thread for people who want more info on horology. If you dont then dont post here.

Actually the topic is quite interesting, I just don't care so much about the price rather than the quality so I guess we don't agree. It's not all about the money and the status for me, I guess.
As for people asking for more information about watches, see Kama's post above.

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:09 pm:These are for new watches, right CUSO? Because the ratings are slightly different in the vintage watch world. For example, vintage Concord and Corum watches are rated quite highly among collectors, much higher than new versions of those brands. Same with vintage Tissot (hard to find) and Movado watches. I'm talking about mechanical watches, not battery-powered watches.

ETA: And the prices for many vintage watches, especially women's watches, are very reasonable, considering the quality of the movements and the cases.

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:12 pm:

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:09 pm:These are for new watches, right CUSO? Because the ratings are slightly different in the vintage watch world. For example, vintage Concord and Corum watches are rated quite highly among collectors, much higher than new versions of those brands. Same with vintage Tissot (hard to find) and Movado watches. I'm talking about mechanical watches, not battery-powered watches.

ETA: And the prices for many vintage watches, especially women's watches, are very reasonable, considering the quality of the movements and the cases.

Yes new only, pre owned is a bit different.
You confused me for a second because ETA is what non-in-house (mass produced) movements are called.

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:19 pm:

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:12 pm:

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:09 pm:These are for new watches, right CUSO? Because the ratings are slightly different in the vintage watch world. For example, vintage Concord and Corum watches are rated quite highly among collectors, much higher than new versions of those brands. Same with vintage Tissot (hard to find) and Movado watches. I'm talking about mechanical watches, not battery-powered watches.

ETA: And the prices for many vintage watches, especially women's watches, are very reasonable, considering the quality of the movements and the cases.

Yes new only, pre owned is a bit different.
You confused me for a second because ETA is what non-in-house (mass produced) movements are called.

Yes, that's true! Sorry about that. I like the value that can be found in pre-owned, and I like owning something that is unique in styling. I also like knowing that the movements in the watches I buy are not ETA ! With so many of the current watch brands -- even the expensive ones -- it's hard to know for sure what the company is producing in-house and what they are buying mass-produced from Swatch, unless you do a fair amount of research. Even brands like Tiffany and Cartier use mass-produced movements. It really pays to educate yourself before you put down $$$ for a watch.

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:25 pm:

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:19 pm:

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:12 pm:

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:09 pm:These are for new watches, right CUSO? Because the ratings are slightly different in the vintage watch world. For example, vintage Concord and Corum watches are rated quite highly among collectors, much higher than new versions of those brands. Same with vintage Tissot (hard to find) and Movado watches. I'm talking about mechanical watches, not battery-powered watches.

ETA: And the prices for many vintage watches, especially women's watches, are very reasonable, considering the quality of the movements and the cases.

Yes new only, pre owned is a bit different.
You confused me for a second because ETA is what non-in-house (mass produced) movements are called.

Yes, that's true! Sorry about that. I like the value that can be found in pre-owned, and I like owning something that is unique in styling. I also like knowing that the movements in the watches I buy are not ETA ! With so many of the current watch brands -- even the expensive ones -- it's hard to know for sure what the company is producing in-house and what they are buying mass-produced from Swatch, unless you do a fair amount of research. Even brands like Tiffany and Cartier use mass-produced movements. It really pays to educate yourself before you put down $$$ for a watch.

This is so important. Even serious enthusiasts have a hard time determaining in-house on some watches. Like Ulysse Nardin for instance, they take an ETA (at the bottom of their range) and heavily modify it and call it a UN275 movement. Looking at it it looks in-house, sounds in-house, but it is just a modified ETA. It is a critical point many miss. Unless you are sure it is in house, dont buy (if you want an in-house that is)

Written by ksinger » January 28th, 2011, 3:40 pm:

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:25 pm:

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:19 pm:

Written by CUSO » January 28th, 2011, 3:12 pm:

Written by Lula » January 28th, 2011, 3:09 pm:These are for new watches, right CUSO? Because the ratings are slightly different in the vintage watch world. For example, vintage Concord and Corum watches are rated quite highly among collectors, much higher than new versions of those brands. Same with vintage Tissot (hard to find) and Movado watches. I'm talking about mechanical watches, not battery-powered watches.

ETA: And the prices for many vintage watches, especially women's watches, are very reasonable, considering the quality of the movements and the cases.

Yes new only, pre owned is a bit different.
You confused me for a second because ETA is what non-in-house (mass produced) movements are called.

Yes, that's true! Sorry about that. I like the value that can be found in pre-owned, and I like owning something that is unique in styling. I also like knowing that the movements in the watches I buy are not ETA ! With so many of the current watch brands -- even the expensive ones -- it's hard to know for sure what the company is producing in-house and what they are buying mass-produced from Swatch, unless you do a fair amount of research. Even brands like Tiffany and Cartier use mass-produced movements. It really pays to educate yourself before you put down $$$ for a watch.

This is so important. Even serious enthusiasts have a hard time determaining in-house on some watches. Like Ulysse Nardin for instance, they take an ETA (at the bottom of their range) and heavily modify it and call it a UN275 movement. Looking at it it looks in-house, sounds in-house, but it is just a modified ETA. It is a critical point many miss. Unless you are sure it is in house, dont buy (if you want an in-house that is)

"Mass-produced" is a bit misleading. JUST because it's in-house made, doesn't mean it keeps better time. ETAs are the basis of so many really cool watches, I have a hard time thinking ill of them just because they are the basis for quite a few. Besides, then the rest of us can have neato decorated mechanical watches. On the downside for them though, didn't ETA get all pissy recently (2010?), and stop selling ebauches?

I still want a RGM...

Written by jewelerman » January 28th, 2011, 4:40 pm:switch IWC and Frank Muller and put JLC in the beginning of the second tier.

Written by kenny » January 28th, 2011, 2:46 pm:Are these GIA or EGL grades?

Written by Yssie » January 28th, 2011, 5:50 pm:I don't know *anything* about watches at all, besides recognising four or five of those names!

I imagine the watch world is just as complex as the diamond world, but can anyone simplify it to the 4Cs for me? What do you look for, what makes a watch a tier1 vs a tier2 (besides maker reputation, which I guess is a big part of it?)?

Written by missydebby » January 29th, 2011, 3:01 am:where does Blancpain fit it?

Written by diva rose » January 29th, 2011, 8:25 am:Good post Cuso - I love diamonds but I love watches also - more particularly men's watches especially on my DH.

Here is a link that explains in detail why certain watches are placed in different levels. Hope it helps.
Enjoy

http://www.chronocentric.com/watches/brands.shtml

Written by Imdanny » January 28th, 2011, 7:35 pm:

Written by kenny » January 28th, 2011, 2:46 pm:Are these GIA or EGL grades?

The great triumvirate used to be the 2 Swiss watchmakers Patek Phillippe and Vatcheron Constantin (forgetting for a minute about their earlier history) in the early 20th century combined with the Valle de Jour watchmaker Audemars Piquet). 4th, or honorary mention, traditionally went to JaegerLeCoulture, a Valle de Jour company, unrivaled in movements, made movements, which were then refinished by PP, VC, and AP, all, along with having many technical achievements, flattest pocket watch (when Americans were making huge chunks of metal and calling them irons), smalled mechanical movement, etc. Ironically, two of the best four come from the Valle de Jour, which is to say nothing about the fact that many believe the greatest living watchmaker is Philippe Dufour, a Valle de Jour watchmaker. All of these companies (Dufour excluded), without exception, have become so corporate, evaluate each piece, and watch your wallet. Yeah, there needs to be a GIA saying what's what. A lot of people are getting ripped off big time.