Soldato
Why the hell would anyone spend that amount on a fake?!?! So many nice watches in that bracket.If its the fake i think it is...its still $500-600![]()
Why the hell would anyone spend that amount on a fake?!?! So many nice watches in that bracket.If its the fake i think it is...its still $500-600![]()
Why the hell would anyone spend that amount on a fake?!?! So many nice watches in that bracket.
Why the hell would anyone spend that amount on a fake?!?! So many nice watches in that bracket.
I personally can't see the point in fakes. Knock Off Nigel... Just spend the same money on a watch that's actually worth it's value for it's engineering and design for it's price.
Fake buyers = wannabes = sad.
We should also remember that "cheap quartz" was an oxymoron in the early 70's. At that time, quartz watches were premium products and mechanical watches were the workaday models people wore just because they needed to tell time. That situation did not reverse until Casio came on the scene in a big way. By that time, the successful Swiss companies were making quality quartz movements--EBEL, for example, made many of the quartz movements used in the Swiss watch industry. That's when quartz movements went "price point" with Casio and Pulsar. Seiko watches were at that time still considered fairly expensive to those who just wanted to tell time. It seems to me that the S'watch made the final crossing to the concept of watches-as-jewelry. That actually set the stage for a resurgence of mechanical watches, since people were no longer required to think of them as utilitarian.
Huge number of brands rely on ETA for the movements inside their watches. ETA is part of the giant monopoly known as the Swatch Group. Hayek Jr. is the Big Cheese in charge of that giant monopoly. He no longer wants ETA to supply any brand outside of the SG with movements. (Something that ETA has been doing for a very, very, long time. So long in fact that it became an industry norm for "Swiss-Made" watch brands.) Hayek would prefer cutting off the supply immediately. But he needs permission from the Swiss government before he can do that. Hayek gets his way when it comes to dealing with the Swiss government. He just does. It's basically a ridiculous formality. In order for the Swiss government to Save Face, and not appear as though they bend over backwards for Hayek whenever he snaps his fingers; he was asked to slowly diminish the supply of ETA movements to those brands outside the SG, instead of cutting off the supply entirely and immediately. Hayek agreed to this. And we are currently in the very early stages of the diminishment. Brands outside of the SG have no choice but to turn to other movement makers. All of the independent makers currently in the nation, are small. This presents a problem with regards to supply. Some brands will still be able to get quality Swiss-made movements. (Namely the big brands out there.) Some won't. Doesn't mean they'll go out of business though. Both Japanese and Chinese companies exist that make quality watch movements. (Expect their profits to significantly go up in the next few years thanks to Hayeks decision to cut off the supply of ETA movements to non-SG brands.)
Maybe if your range is limited to a small amount of high street chains it can be harder to find a something really nice/special at that price range, but looking around at more of the lesser known brands online you can find hundreds of fantastic watches in the sub £500 / £200 price range.You see, you say that but I don't think there are that many nice watches in that bracket. Pretty much the only watch I like below £200 is the Seiko Monster. Under £500, I don't think I can think of one that's out now. My Hamilton cost less than this, but it's discontinued.
Next cheapest watch I like that I can think of, is the Sinn U1 which is over a grand.
To my eyes, sub £1000 watches simply don't have the timeless designs that the more luxurious brands have.
Maybe you've only seen ones you don't like though. There are going to be thousands of watches that look and feel every bit as substantial as a 4 figure watch but then the price tag is merely a price tag and not an indicator of quality.
A Sub costs a few K easily yet I wasn't impressed by the bracelet feel and lack of heft at all. Just one example.
Would never think of spending any amount of money on a fake personally. I'd have that feeling inside that I'm wearing a fake all the time. There's different feeling wearing something genuine.
I have a genuine quartz Omega Seamaster 300m and a Chinese replica Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean. The replica cost £100 and uses a Chinese replica of an ETA mechanical movement. The replica also uses the same stainless steel as geuine Omegas - there is very little difference between the two in terms of fit and finish and certainly not £1,000 worth of improvements in the genuine. Replicas now also offer a range of genuine Swiss (usually ETA) movements in well-constructed cases that look almost identical to the real deal bar the odd small tell (the lume pip on my replica just about touches the side of the triangle detailing on the bezel whereas it does not on the genuine). I think if you're buying it as a status symbol then it's clearly quite desperate/pathetic, but if you like the design(s) of some of the premium Swiss watches and want a well-made watch for a few hundred quid then replicas offer a lot of choice. In my personal experience, the finish on my replica is better than all watches I tried on from the high-street in the £200 - £400 bracket, including several Seiko, Citizen, Rotary and Tissot watches.
Was it a ceramic bezel sub you tried or the older version