Wristwatch collectors out there?

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by wayner123

Some with the exact same movements as the more expensive makers:

cough... *breitling* ...cough

That does not mean much. You can buy a basic ETA movement for like $40. It's the polishing and finish work on the movement that drives the price up. All the blue screws and hand work can add up. The 8 day power reserve costs like $70 alone and needs a lot of finishing to be in a high end watch. Not to say that the profit margin on Breitlings and Rolex would leave a sour taste in anyone that owns one. Watches are one of the most profitable items in sense. World wide shipping and distribution costs nothing. It's all about the sales network and not discounting too much.

I was told that on a stainless watch, that the case, dial, bracelet/strap only account for 10% the watch's cost. Don't take this to the grave, just something I was told a while back.

[wayner123]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

That does not mean much. You can buy a basic ETA movement for like $40. It's the polishing and finish work on the movement that drives the price up. All the blue screws and hand work can add up. The 8 day power reserve costs like $70 alone and needs a lot of finishing to be in a high end watch. Not to say that the profit margin on Breitlings and Rolex would leave a sour taste in anyone that owns one. Watches are one of the most profitable items in sense. World wide shipping and distribution costs nothing. It's all about the sales network and not discounting too much.

I was told that on a stainless watch, that the case, dial, bracelet/strap only account for 10% the watch's cost. Don't take this to the grave, just something I was told a while back.

That percentage sounds about right. Take into account the amount of money spent on promotion alone, it will drive the cost up. I was merely pointing out that even in some of the "high end" watches ,the guts underneath are all the same. Finishing is one thing, but building is another. I mean heck Seiko and Omega even have in-house movements (Seiko's spring drive is just amazing). To me the higher end watch makers need to at least make their own movements. I used to think AP's were grossly overpriced. But after watching their vids that they put out on making of a watch, you come to a new appreciation of the work involved. Where as some of the other makers are just putting a nice face on a $40 movement.

However, a lot of that will change in the future with the news of ETA not making movements available as they once did. A lot of maker's will be forced into in-house movements.

[s15driftking]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

I was told that on a stainless watch, that the case, dial, bracelet/strap only account for 10% the watch's cost. Don't take this to the grave, just something I was told a while back.

not to my knowledge, a breitling (let's use my watch as an example, so a super avenger) dial is about 400.00 and i know the case is 1100.00, the breacelet is also 550.00....

Now in terms of MFG cost i'm sure its MUCH lower.... and probably about 10%... but as far as the R&D that it cost to get them made... well, that goes down with every watch they make ... right???

[s15driftking]

Originally Posted by wayner123

Some with the exact same movements as the more expensive makers:

cough... *breitling* ...cough

touche!!! but it is more involved than that.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by s15driftking

looks like soemone read this latest issue of CA!!!

Jsut messing, they did have a great article on entry level complicated watches though, seems like russian is the way to go for peopel who want an inexpensive automatic.

No kidding! Haven't read an issue of CA in years! The best Russian watches to get are the fairly simple aviator ones. There is a big titanium industry in Russia, so a titanium case could be nice too.

We just got a wicked cool Zenith Power Reserve Calendar watch in Gold. I think it has moon phase too. We are having it fixed by our watchsmith. Very thin gold case. Not kind of watch I would buy, but would like to be in the position to afford one... It's not winding, probably a bearing issue on swing mass or spring issue.

I have quite a bit of watches, some relatively cheap Fossils, but I also have a few Armani's and Longness's.

[TheRiddick]

Moses, ETA has been part of Swatch group for some years now and as such, per Swatch plan actually, decided not to sell movements to outsiders. Even prior to the decision, they only sold ETA movements as "finished" for a few years, as you can imagine the price went up accordingly. As is, these days of you want an ETA movement watch you will need to buy a Swatch product (a good number of brands under that umbrella).

Swatch's decision "forced" a number of houses to design and make their own movements, a good thing in my book.

Watch industry just went through a round of consolidation and there are just a few independent companies left at this point.

[mosesbotbol]

Seems like every company in Europe is under some kind of corporate umbrella.

[Thrak]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

Seems like every company in Europe is under some kind of corporate umbrella.

best way to deal with vat taxes

[mosesbotbol]

If you want big discounts on high end watches, there's only one place to buy - Singapore. Singapore is the world epicenter for watches and you will be hard pressed to find a better deal unless you go through a private party.

There are many web based vendors there that can source whatever watch you are looking for as cheap as it is going to get. There's a great Signapore based watch forum, but I forget the name.

[TheRiddick]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

If you want big discounts on high end watches, there's only one place to buy - Singapore. Singapore is the world epicenter for watches and you will be hard pressed to find a better deal unless you go through a private party.

There are many web based vendors there that can source whatever watch you are looking for as cheap as it is going to get. There's a great Signapore based watch forum, but I forget the name.

Moses, I shop on 47th in NYC :-) Pretty much any watch you want even including extremely allocated Patek/Rolex pieces with waiting lists of 2+ years. The only time I could not get a good discount was when I was looking for a SS Daytona and had to pay 10% over MSRP, the gold one was offered at $12K (at the time a $21K watch) and I passed on principle.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by TheRiddick

Moses, I shop on 47th in NYC :-) Pretty much any watch you want even including extremely allocated Patek/Rolex pieces with waiting lists of 2+ years. The only time I could not get a good discount was when I was looking for a SS Daytona and had to pay 10% over MSRP, the gold one was offered at $12K (at the time a $21K watch) and I passed on principle.

We can get any Rolex at MSRP pretty easily around Biel. Sometimes we can get Rolex prototypes, but they go quick. It's a yes or no answer and pay right there kind of thing.

[e-man67]

Originally Posted by mosesbotbol

We can get any Rolex at MSRP pretty easily around Biel. Sometimes we can get Rolex prototypes, but they go quick. It's a yes or no answer and pay right there kind of thing.

They actually release Rolex Prototypes?

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by e-man67

They actually release Rolex Prototypes?

No, they are not "released", but sold. The factory is down the street.

[mosesbotbol]

Originally Posted by e-man67

They actually release Rolex Prototypes?

I now I see I probably answered your question incorrect. I am not sure if they are prototypes of current or upcoming watches, or watches they are considering producing. I have not seen one in person.

One kind of Rolex that is alittle more dubious are the ones that employees "build" out "borrowed" parts and built over months. In the end, they have a "Rolex", but not one I would bring a dealer to get fixed- if that makes sense. Employees at Omega have done a similar things. I suppose it happens everywhere.

Rolex has very tight and specific employee purchase program. It's like one watch a year to the employee only that can't be sold but a relative can have I think.

[s15driftking]

at Tourneau in Chicago

[Parshooter]

Originally Posted by s15driftking

at Tourneau in Chicago

Shouldn't you be standing in front of the Brietling window?

[s15driftking]

i liked the big sign out front.

[mosesbotbol]

Did you buy your watch at Tourneau?

The CEO or near that of Breitling recently bought my cousin's '64 Mustang Convertible. Cash!

[s15driftking]

did not buy from Tourneau. Bought from Diamond Cellar.