Higher end watches, something I am unable to connect the dots on

[StarCaller]

Going on 37 years….
Still looks like new /

 

[factorytuned2012]

This is why I collect Case knives!!

$20 Walmart watch will be as accurate or better

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

Regularly I walk through a nicer seven story mall.

On the first floor, the mall has over half a dozen higher end watch retailers. In these watch stores typically are three salespeople, and one security guard. I have never seen a customer ever in any of the watch stores.

I stopped in the Tag Hauer store to casually inquire about the price of their lowest end men's watch. A local I worked with is named Tag, and I thought it might be fun to give him a Tag Hauer watch. The entry level Tag Hauer watch was over $3,000 USD.

The Tag Hauer salesperson made no attempt to try and get me to purchase the watch, which I appreciated but surprised me. A check on eBay suggests a used entry level Tag Hauer can be purchased for a few hundred dollars.

I have seen Rolex stores around the world with customers. But how about these other higher end watch stores, how do they justify keeping the retail store open?

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People that want these watches don't need to be sold on the watch. Besides the retail mark-up is astronomical (~40%).

That being said I bought my Omega Aqua Terra from an Omega dealer in Amsterdam at a significant discount before Omega stopped the practice.

 

[1444buicking]

The margins on premium watch sales and service are healthy, both for the "retailer" and the "maker". Nothing like the diamond business, but good. Haven't been as "healthy" for a few years in the US, for a weak economy.

I know some of the premium fashion retail shops in global destinations are loss making; the store locations are for marketing and image purposes. 5th Avenue in NYC was the most notorious but there are others around the world. I don't know if the watch industry does this.

 

[stormgol]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patek_Philippe

 

[UncleDave]

$20 Walmart watch will be as accurate or better

True but meaningless.

The desirability of mechanical watches has nothing to do with whether or not it can keep time as well as a 1.00 quartz watch you find at a garage sale.

 

[Zee09]

An expensive watch is something I don't get. Excuse me now as I am headed to Starbucks for a quick coffee.

Today the expensive watch is a cell phone...

 

[UncleDave]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patek_Philippe

One of my two inherited pieces.

The Patek was from Dad.
The Hamilton was Grandpas 25 Year anniversary watch from Inland Steel

One worth 10-15K.
The other priceless and unreplacable.

 

[Vercingetorix]

HPL vs Supertech. Both do the same job.

 

[UncleDave]

Today the expensive watch is a cell phone...

Not really. Even the most expensive phone will be relegated to the dump in about 5 years.

At best it is a temporary but useful companion that always needs something in order to retain its usefulness.

 

[UncleDave]

HPL vs Supertech. Both do the same job.

Yes and No.

 

[Passport1]

A fellow I used to see occasionally had a Piaget like this. It was unimpressive looking. I didn't know what kind it was until I asked him once. Found out later how much they cost. Wow.

Kennedy

 

[Nessism1]

I like watches, and wear one most days. As an engineer, I'm intrigued by automatics, particularly the movements. Thing is, an ETA 2824-2 movement can be found in watches as cheap as a few hundred, going up to thousands. To my way of thinking, it's because many watches are not just watches, they are jewelry!

Some companies, Rolex for example, make their own movements. They are on a higher tier in my view. Others, use off the shelf movements, like the ETA's mentioned. And still others, start with a common movement, and mod them to their own sensibilities. These companies are next tier. Below Rolex, but above plug and play watch companies.

 

[LDB]

My favorite uncle was a jeweler and a watchmaker. Bring him a teacup with every piece of a watch in it when he opened and at closing he'd hand you the watch keeping time better than it ever had. He'd work on Rolex but his main watch sales were Seiko. Better and more accurate timekeeping. It was fun watching him work. He also was in charge of instrument repair for a few years for Braniff Airlines keeping the flight panels working properly.

 

[Astro14]

HPL vs Supertech. Both do the same job.

Not even close to a fair comparison. More like Yugo and a Rolls-Royce, both will get you to the black tie affair, but one of them does it better

 

[LDB]

This is why I collect Case knives!!

I have a few dozen, a few pretty special. I expect the doctor's knife with spatula in today's mail. I don't really collect them any more but enjoyed it back in the day. I got to go to Bradford and tour the factory in 2011 with my dad. One of our last trips together.

 

[Hermann]

Paid $1900 for a Omega Seamaster about 10years ago. Nice watch and after 17 years still runs with Zero beat error and is still in the within COSC if I wear it regularly. Went to the local Swiss Watch Emporium the other day, I went to get the bracelet adjusted. Believe it or not they didn't charge me to adjust it.. They seemed interested in my old Seamaster and offered me S3400 on a trade. I like what I have .

 

[Reggaemon]

People are into watches or their not.

 

[supton]

Nice pieces of workmanship. Not for me. I never go to black tie affairs, anything that needs more dressy than sneakers is not for me.

Maybe in a different life, where the cost of these is trivial, I'd have a different opinion.

 

[stormgol]

https://www.chrono24.ca/patekphilippe/patek-philippe-grand-complications-patek-philippe-grandmaster-chime-haute-joaillerie--id37090507.htm?searchHash=9768b14d_AkQxyA&pos=1