What watch you're wearing?

Black DLC is an exceptionally hard, durable finish. I've had a couple of pistols with that finish and it is the toughest black finish I know of. Difficult to scratch. As for the Dekla watch with black DLC... finish remains flawless. I would hesitate to buy a watch with a black finish that is not DLC.
Good to know. I appreciate the reply, my friend.
 
I wear a simple +/- Bauhaus style watch with a Japanese quartz movement and a sapphire crystal, German branded but with lots of imported components. I got sick of a scratched crystal with normal glass. I do have some rather expensive watches, including a Jaeger LeCoultre from 1954 which I inherited, but I feel uncomfortable wearing them. I wanted to wear a smart watch, but I went through two Apple watches (replaced under warranty, the second replacement sold unused) and one Withings Scanwatch (replaced under warranty and sold unused). All of them fell apart, literally. Turns out they are literally glued together. Hence a relatively cheap quartz watch:

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I wear a simple +/- Bauhaus style watch with a Japanese quartz movement and a sapphire crystal, German branded but with lots of imported components. I got sick of a scratched crystal with normal glass. I do have some rather expensive watches, including a Jaeger LeCoultre from 1954 which I inherited, but I feel uncomfortable wearing them. I wanted to wear a smart watch, but I went through two Apple watches (replaced under warranty, the second replacement sold unused) and one Withings Scanwatch (replaced under warranty and sold unused). All of them fell apart, literally. Turns out they are literally glued together. Hence a relatively cheap quartz watch:

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Don't worry about the components in your modern-day watch.
That's just the reality of the Watch World, today.
Numerous Chinese-made components inside of many watches not costing several thousands upon thousands of dollars. And, that trend is simply not going to change.
 
I wear a simple +/- Bauhaus style watch with a Japanese quartz movement and a sapphire crystal, German branded but with lots of imported components. I got sick of a scratched crystal with normal glass. I do have some rather expensive watches, including a Jaeger LeCoultre from 1954 which I inherited, but I feel uncomfortable wearing them. I wanted to wear a smart watch, but I went through two Apple watches (replaced under warranty, the second replacement sold unused) and one Withings Scanwatch (replaced under warranty and sold unused). All of them fell apart, literally. Turns out they are literally glued together. Hence a relatively cheap quartz watch:

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From a utilitarian, aesthetic, and timekeeping standpoint, many watches in the $100 to $1000 price range are every bit as desirable as "luxury" watches costing many thousands of dollars.

In my view, when it comes to high-dollar luxury watches, what is mostly received, in exchange for the big bucks, is bragging rights.
 
Pretty much true. From a quality perspective a modern-day Tudor and its sibling, Rolex are practically the same. A bit of extra hand polishing here and there on the equivalent Rolex. Use of more in-house components as opposed to Tudor. But those components are not actually higher quality. They just happen to be in-house to Rolex. But the name on the dial and the reputation are why an equivalent Rolex is thousands upon thousands of dollars more compared to the equivalent Tudor.

Tudor returned to the North American market about 15 years ago. With a very new and different strategy from its past one many years back.... To be its own brand, creating its own models. They did try for awhile. But nowadays, yeah; back to the same old strategy. Almost everything in the line-up is Black Bay because it proved insanely popular. With quite a few excellent, non-Black Bay models sadly having gotten the axe.

And yeah, no one wants to say it. But I will.... The reason why the Tudor Black Bay 58 is insanely popular is because it's the quality equivalent of a Rolex Submariner but without the hideously inflated Premium of having "Rolex" on the dial. The 58 isn't affordable, but it is attainable. You just get Tudor on the dial instead of Rolex, and instead of a Mercedes logo style hour hand, you get a snowflake hour hand, instead. Yeah, most folks can live with that!

I mean, $100 or less, buy whatever catches your eye. Something that will last a long time is going to cost closer to $1,000 than $100. A few thousands of dollars? Anything over what a quality Tudor costs today, you're getting nothing but diminishing returns. Seriously, the brand is at the point where you're getting 98% of what makes a genuinely high quality watch. That other 2%? That's going to be a six figure price-tag for the Holy Trinity of what brands.
 
What many people forget is that when you buy a mechanical watch, you will need to pay to have it serviced, and that is at least £200 in Britain. For many that is a lot of money. That is why I wear a quartz, and as far as I know they will last a lifetime.

There are hand made mechanical watch movements from the likes of Patek Philippe, and then there are production line movements from ETA and others. As far as I know the ETA are very high quality, but they lack the heritage which would translate to a higher price. I do rather like my 1954 hand wound Jaeger Le Coultre, and I might get it serviced. It has a worn dial, and case, but that adds charm. And it isn't silly expensive, it could pass for a cheap watch if a mugger saw it.

As for components, I wouldn't be surprised if some quite posh brands bought components such as sapphire crystals from China. I have no evidence though. Made in Switzerland does allow some foreign oarts.
 
Made in Switzerland does allow some foreign parts.
It allows too many. Heck, back in the day just a few years ago, it was even worse! We're talking easily half the components could be Made in China, but according to the Swiss government, that was good enough for literally everyone (including some rubbish microbrands) to legally be able to put the words "Swiss Made" on their dials.... Basically to trick ignorant buyers into thinking they were getting a GENUINE Swiss Made timepiece. A quality watch. Nope! Forget legally, how about actually? Well, the cheapest actually Swiss Made watch would be Rolex. With pretty much all of their individual, tiny components legit made in-house.

Also, on something like your inherited JLC model, expect to pay at least 4x as much as you mentioned above, likely 5x; if not more. JLC is just one of those brands where servicing for a modern-day model is going to be obscenely expensive. A vintage model like yours? Oh, it's going to be horrifying!

That's IF you even get a price quote from JLC.
A watch that old, they realistically might not have the parts to even work on it! I've seen that happen.
 
Found this Short just a few hours ago. Highlights the current, disgusting issue with trying to buy a brand new, more popular Rolex model; today. Seems funny, but honestly, it is barely exaggerated compared to reality.
 
I have never been a fan of Rolex although they are a very nice watch they are just not my style. If I were going to pay the price of a Rolex I would most likely go with something from IWC, Breitling, or maybe an Omega Speedy. For now I am saving for something a little less yet still very much a grail watch for me. I am buying a nice watch for my retirement in 3 years and I am trying to decide between a Sinn or Damasko. I really like their tool watch styles and both are known for their almost scratch proof cases. Maybe if I can pull it off I can just get one of each....ha
 
Trusty ole' Momentum M1 Pro today and most days.

Had a moment this morning at Sween1911HQ when my son could not find his (my old) Timex Ironman that he left in the car on the way to school yesterday.
 
It allows too many. Heck, back in the day just a few years ago, it was even worse! We're talking easily half the components could be Made in China, but according to the Swiss government, that was good enough for literally everyone (including some rubbish microbrands) to legally be able to put the words "Swiss Made" on their dials.... Basically to trick ignorant buyers into thinking they were getting a GENUINE Swiss Made timepiece. A quality watch. Nope! Forget legally, how about actually? Well, the cheapest actually Swiss Made watch would be Rolex. With pretty much all of their individual, tiny components legit made in-house.

Also, on something like your inherited JLC model, expect to pay at least 4x as much as you mentioned above, likely 5x; if not more. JLC is just one of those brands where servicing for a modern-day model is going to be obscenely expensive. A vintage model like yours? Oh, it's going to be horrifying!

That's IF you even get a price quote from JLC.
A watch that old, they realistically might not have the parts to even work on it! I've seen that happen.
Good lord no, I would NEVER have it serviced by JLC. There are reputable indies. I once had a service quote for my Zenith watch (bought before they went weird) from Zenith and it was absurd. Some years back I wanted to source a new link and went into Goldsmiths, a UK chain of jewellers. The snooty manager told me that people like me harmed the Zenith brand. Honestly, I don't like the whole ethos around status goods.
 
If you can find a good, independent, watch maker to service it; that'll be best overall. Also, yeah; I despise status symbol goods. Many of them are well-made but you pay a moronically expensive premium just for the name association. Though it's the pretentious attitude that bothers me most of all. (Usually from those who work at such places and couldn't afford anything in there themselves.) If someone THAT obnoxious had said that to me, I would have chuckled and said that if he were the owner of the business, I'd respect his opinion. But as just an employee who couldn't do better in Life, I really don't care about his opinion on anything, other than being a financial failure. I'd then walk out immediately without saying another word to him.

(BTW, I don't actually think like that. Nor do I treat people like garbage simply for being Working Class. But that's what I'd say to any obnoxious excuse for a human-being regardless of their station in Life.)
 
I used to work in finance. Some of the richest people you could meet frequently dress down and don't show off. Shops like that with an attitude that "you are not worthy" disgust me.

Also many rich people in the world started off as working class. Stores making generalisations about people is not very smart.

One such client went into an expensive restaurant and ordered "bangers and mash". It wasn't on the menu but to his credit the waiter simply said "of course sir" and took the order. Now that's smart.
 
Wuthehell is bangers and mash?

I have a few old "swiss made" watches by American brands that have American, German or French parts inside of Hong Kong made cases but were assembled in Switzerland.
 
Sausages (Bangers) and mashed potato (Mash) served with gravy. A british dish so not surprised you're confused. Very nice.
 
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