What are your love to love, love to hate, hate to love & hate to hate brands? And why?
It's annoying for me when I listen to people who knows nothing about horology or watchmaking saying stuff like "OMG Rolex is the apex" "Hublot is sh*te" or "Seiko is not swiss-made" just because they think it makes them sound cooler, richer, wiser, or whatever the reason.
To me, watches are watch, brands don't matter to me. If I like the watch I will buy it without listening to my wife (poor her) and the watch will instantly became one of my babies 😂. But since we are watch lovers here on WC, I believe that at some time in our life we will encounter certain situations or got old(er) and somehow that will alter your taste in watches. One day we may love this brand in particular while in 2 years time you may hate it.
So I think it's interesting to as these questions from us watch lovers, this is not to start argument/disrespect/praise any watch brands (Read my second paragraph). This is purely for fun! don't get serious if someone dislike your favourite brand! They have their reasons and so do you :)
What are your love to love, love to hate, hate to love & hate to hate brands? And why?
For me,
Love to love Omega !
Why Rich history, contribution to horology, impressive range of models, bang for the buck and of course the Moonwatch.
Love to hate Richard Mille
Why Can't afford 🤣
Hate to love Franck Muller
Why it was the "it" watch! the Master of Complications ! made tonneau-shaped/Art Deco style watches popular! then the scandal happened. Still deep down, I still have this soft spot for it.
Hate to Hate Rolex
Why having to buy a bunch of stuff you don’t want before the dealer will even consider putting you on the (real) waiting list. 😭
Yup! so this is my list! what are yours?
Just One More Watch, I Promise.
I really dont hate any brand. I feel like every brand makes at least one thing I would wear.
I love 5 digit and lower Rolexes, Seikos, and I am quickly becoming an Omega fan boy.
I'd say love/hate with Rolex. Love the watches, hate the nonsense. They won't get any of my money until I can, as a regular person, walk into an AD and get a watch a few weeks later. I won't beg, I won't buy anything I don't want for the privilege.
Funny thing though, I've been looking at Omega in a less favorable light lately. Yes, they bring all kinds of innovation to their watches, and despite the quality are priced lower than Rolex and some other brands. But with the price increases of late, I've started to wonder. It looks to me like they're raising their prices because of what's going on with Rolex, and I don't like that at all. I think they've realized that they can sell that $5500 watch for $7500 because buyers can't go to Rolex. They used to be cheaper because if their prices were comparable, many would get a Rolex instead based on name recognition.
I could be wrong, maybe it's all about better movements and such, but it feels like they're capitalizing on the market a bit. And while that makes good business sense, I don't appreciate it as a consumer.
Overall, it's disappointing that the watches I'm finally able to afford are starting to recede into the distance pricewise. These increases are happening faster than I can keep up.
Love to Love: Omega, pretty much the same reasons you stated
Love to Hate: IDK that I really have a brand that I gleefully dislike.
Hate to Love: Invicta, I like their Pro & Grand Divers and they are affordable mechanical & quartz watches. I hate their over the top designs and their slashed RRP sales strategy.
Hate to Hate: Rolex; if I could own a watch without all the elitist BS, I absolutely would. But IMO, within the enthusiast community, the elitist BS is more synonymous with the brand than the watches are.
I'd say love/hate with Rolex. Love the watches, hate the nonsense. They won't get any of my money until I can, as a regular person, walk into an AD and get a watch a few weeks later. I won't beg, I won't buy anything I don't want for the privilege.
Funny thing though, I've been looking at Omega in a less favorable light lately. Yes, they bring all kinds of innovation to their watches, and despite the quality are priced lower than Rolex and some other brands. But with the price increases of late, I've started to wonder. It looks to me like they're raising their prices because of what's going on with Rolex, and I don't like that at all. I think they've realized that they can sell that $5500 watch for $7500 because buyers can't go to Rolex. They used to be cheaper because if their prices were comparable, many would get a Rolex instead based on name recognition.
I could be wrong, maybe it's all about better movements and such, but it feels like they're capitalizing on the market a bit. And while that makes good business sense, I don't appreciate it as a consumer.
Overall, it's disappointing that the watches I'm finally able to afford are starting to recede into the distance pricewise. These increases are happening faster than I can keep up.
I spoke to my AD on Saturday and they said Omega prices here in the UK went up three times last year and they've been instructed to increase them again as of today, for no discernible change in the product.
I totally agree that Omega is of the mindset they can push up the prices as the demand for availability is there and people seem to keep paying for it!
haha yes! nicely put!
I'd say love/hate with Rolex. Love the watches, hate the nonsense. They won't get any of my money until I can, as a regular person, walk into an AD and get a watch a few weeks later. I won't beg, I won't buy anything I don't want for the privilege.
Funny thing though, I've been looking at Omega in a less favorable light lately. Yes, they bring all kinds of innovation to their watches, and despite the quality are priced lower than Rolex and some other brands. But with the price increases of late, I've started to wonder. It looks to me like they're raising their prices because of what's going on with Rolex, and I don't like that at all. I think they've realized that they can sell that $5500 watch for $7500 because buyers can't go to Rolex. They used to be cheaper because if their prices were comparable, many would get a Rolex instead based on name recognition.
I could be wrong, maybe it's all about better movements and such, but it feels like they're capitalizing on the market a bit. And while that makes good business sense, I don't appreciate it as a consumer.
Overall, it's disappointing that the watches I'm finally able to afford are starting to recede into the distance pricewise. These increases are happening faster than I can keep up.
yeah, many brands are doing it as of late. I guess it's good for the business but sucks for us.
If you purely look at my collection I Love Citizen. I love their Pilot watches (7) and I also love some of their dive watches. I do really respect the hell out of Omega and would love to get my hands on a few models
I don't hate Hublot but I think that the way that they market is disingenuous and makes people think that they have a lot more value than I believe they have.
This is def a hard question to ask people because no one has the exact same taste.
I also respect Rolex but don't ever see myself wanting one.
I can say that I hate sometimes that I like some homage watches (Invicta, Duxot, Phylida) ... I can say that my Invicta automatic "subby" homage is an actually incredibly durable and reliable watch.I use it when I'm doing work on my house.
The brand I can’t see myself owning is Seiko. I don’t hate it but it doesn’t do anything for me.
Brand I love - VC. I wish I was rich enough to own about 7 of them 😩
Hate that I love the Omega SMP so much. I have a black one but I want the green and the NTTD. But I can’t buy 3 SMPs it just isn‘t feasible.
Love to hate: Jakob and co
love to love: Oris
hate to hate: Rolex
hate to love: AP
Love to love: Casio. Just a juggernaut of dependable and affordable watches with their own design language. Immense range, innovation. Divine.
love to hate: Sinn and almost all German brands. Because they are fugly eyesores.
hate to love: Swatch. Loud ticking, stupid proprietary bands, irreparable garbage. The ubiquitous reverse snobbery icon of Gen X. Never had one, still kind of want one. Supposedly saved the Swiss watchmaking business, which is unforgivable.
hate to hate: Omega. So many gorgeous and spectacular watches from the past, nothing that interesting currently. Still make the Boomerific cult-fave Speedmaster, the dad watch that is like a pair of Nike Monarchs on the wrist. They should be the foil to Rolex, but lack brand identity, marketing, design, etc.
My list is like yours. Just a different part of the world.
Love to love: microbrands.- I root for the underdog and I love a passion project
Love to hate: Swatch - they remind me of the era when everything started becoming disposable.
Hate to love: Alexander Shorokhoff - it's complicated
Hate to hate: Rolex and Seiko -the brand loyalty seems borderline obscene.
I'd say love/hate with Rolex. Love the watches, hate the nonsense. They won't get any of my money until I can, as a regular person, walk into an AD and get a watch a few weeks later. I won't beg, I won't buy anything I don't want for the privilege.
Funny thing though, I've been looking at Omega in a less favorable light lately. Yes, they bring all kinds of innovation to their watches, and despite the quality are priced lower than Rolex and some other brands. But with the price increases of late, I've started to wonder. It looks to me like they're raising their prices because of what's going on with Rolex, and I don't like that at all. I think they've realized that they can sell that $5500 watch for $7500 because buyers can't go to Rolex. They used to be cheaper because if their prices were comparable, many would get a Rolex instead based on name recognition.
I could be wrong, maybe it's all about better movements and such, but it feels like they're capitalizing on the market a bit. And while that makes good business sense, I don't appreciate it as a consumer.
Overall, it's disappointing that the watches I'm finally able to afford are starting to recede into the distance pricewise. These increases are happening faster than I can keep up.
I could pretty much copy and paste this as my stance on the brands you mentioned.
I love Rolex watches for the mechanical timepieces they are. I hate Rolex for the culture, AD nonsense, and flipping market, which ultimately means less watches for those who actually want them.
Love to love - Hamilton.
Why? - value, design, and straightforward no bullshit aesthetic (i guess it counts in design). And just because i was delivered with my Murph 38 like an hour ago lmao
Love to Hate - Hublot.
Why? - it's fun, and i genuinely dislike their designs. Too loud, too flashy, and not a 1 silent letter, but 2? 2 silent letters? Common mate, wtf is that word, why do you need those 2 letters, are you saying you are better than me? Come here fam i'm gonna toss ya, you jerk.
Hate to love - Rolex.
Hate to hate - Rolex.
I know how basic i am, but there's a thing that pisses me off. I've got into some old treads on watch forums, some old YT comments on some old videos, and people were talking about how you can get a luxury watch from a middle range for a 3k$. And it wouldn't bother me, if it was like 10-15 years ago, but in like a 2018. I was wearing an Apple Watch those days, thinking that this is the future of watchmaking, and thinking that i can't afford a Rolex, or Omega. And reality is that i could afford those watches back then, and i can't now. Prices skyrocketed, and availability is ridiculous. I keep asking myself, why, why i'm getting pulled to this watchmaker, that clearly doesn't give a single shit, producing all the same watches with a minor changes year after year? Why do i keep looking on the OPs, and DJs, and specially - a GMT Master II, if i can't possibly get it from AD without all of the shenanigans. Why do i keep thinking about a Rolex, when it's not even my favourite watchmaker? I've been growing up with a Pierce Brosnan as 007, so i'm clearly into Omega.