Badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges

I had forgotten where that originally came from, but it is a paraphrase from the 1948 movie "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre." I remember it from this:

YARN | We don't need no stinkin' badges! | Blazing Saddles (1974) | Video  clips by quotes | 75f4c090 | 紗

Apparently, it was used in a Monkee's episode too.

Pop culture references aside, my recent success convincing WatchCrunch to add some vintage brands to our badge listing had me thinking, what else has been overlooked and how powerful have I become?

5,098 Lightning Hand Stock Photos, Pictures & Royalty-Free Images - iStock

It was pretty easy to see that Mido and Rado had been overlooked. They are part of the Swatch Group now, but each has an interesting history in its own right. Despite Swatch trying to keep them in certain markets, the success of the Ocean Star and Captain Cook lines has penetrated everywhere.

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Some other Swiss brands have historical significance. @ChronoGuy discussed Titoni here. Titus (now Solvil et Titus) is important in the early development of the wrist watch because of its founder Paul Ditishiem. They are great watches. Lastly, West End boasts some firsts. I discussed them here.

All three of these companies have recently concentrated primarily in the Asian and Indian markets. Even though that is a small part of WC, it may be the largest area of watch consumption in the world.

Badges don't confer status or knowledge. We get them by the occasional post and mostly by commenting on the posts of others. I don't know any more about JLC or Cartier then anyone else, probably less. (Point of comparison: @HotWatchChick69 has only one badge, Grand Seiko, and he has practically no experience with the brand.)

Edit: Forgot to tell you, WC says that they are adding these.

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Another brand worthy of a Badge is Alpina. Smaller following but interesting history of ownership and accomplishments. #alpina 

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And there's still no badge for cats. 

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I remember it as "We don't need no stinking badgers" from UHF.

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FreshPots

Another brand worthy of a Badge is Alpina. Smaller following but interesting history of ownership and accomplishments. #alpina 

Propose it. I agree.

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Most of us only know stuff because of the internet. I can think of only about 10 or so crunchers that have watch industry experience. So, I won't be an expert anytime soon.

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Aurelian

Most of us only know stuff because of the internet. I can think of only about 10 or so crunchers that have watch industry experience. So, I won't be an expert anytime soon.

Indeed it is much better that we leave “Expert” out of our WC vocabulary. “Cult Leader” or “Trolly with a Rolly” I could go for.

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To be honest - I’m not a major fan of the badges. I got a Seiko badge early doors and I’m not a Seikophile, and I’m one of the only owners of a Corum or a VC and no one talks about them so I will not get enough of a post count even at 2k+ posts, it’s a two-way issue. 

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Thanks for the link to my post @Aurelian.  I really would like to get that radium removed and put that Titus back into service, which I still haven't been able to find someone to do.  It was gifted to my grandfather in 1945 by his older brother, who had just returned from serving in Europe with the U.S. Army's 100th Division, where he was wounded and earned a Purple Heart.  Unfortunately, he was clipped and killed by a drunk driver while on his motorcycle in 1947, so that watch is one of only a handful of things that my grandfather still has from his brother.

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Porthole

To be honest - I’m not a major fan of the badges. I got a Seiko badge early doors and I’m not a Seikophile, and I’m one of the only owners of a Corum or a VC and no one talks about them so I will not get enough of a post count even at 2k+ posts, it’s a two-way issue. 

How did Corum get a badge anyway? It was one of the original ones too. I always assumed that Corum owners are just frustrated Hublot owners.

baked | GIF | PrimoGIF
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Porthole

To be honest - I’m not a major fan of the badges. I got a Seiko badge early doors and I’m not a Seikophile, and I’m one of the only owners of a Corum or a VC and no one talks about them so I will not get enough of a post count even at 2k+ posts, it’s a two-way issue. 

I would slightly qualify that: I'm not a fan of the branded badges. A wristy badge, meeting organizr badge, content contributor badge, etc. they do make sense.

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Aurelian

How did Corum get a badge anyway? It was one of the original ones too. I always assumed that Corum owners are just frustrated Hublot owners.

baked | GIF | PrimoGIF

I am that I suppose.

It was an OG badge.

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The only brand badge I have is Rolex and I don’t even own one 😩

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K.evin

The only brand badge I have is Rolex and I don’t even own one 😩

I have many badges that I don't own because I comment too much. I have a Zodiac and a Vostok but can't seem to get those badges.

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uhrensohn

I would slightly qualify that: I'm not a fan of the branded badges. A wristy badge, meeting organizr badge, content contributor badge, etc. they do make sense.

Even then, most are meaningless in the grand scheme of things. I’ve been banned for 34 days, and I’ve also been the main credit on a WC video for a Cameo badge, it’s not really a seal of quality or a seal of approval.

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Aurelian

I have many badges that I don't own because I comment too much. I have a Zodiac and a Vostok but can't seem to get those badges.

Try getting Corum and VC then. I rigged the system to get an About Vintage badge to at least get a vintage badge of some description. 😂

Maybe if we can turn off ones we dont want to show? I tend not to post comments on WRUW because I dont particularly want a badge claiming I’m a wrist pervert...

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Porthole

Try getting Corum and VC then. I rigged the system to get an About Vintage badge to at least get a vintage badge of some description. 😂

Maybe if we can turn off ones we dont want to show? I tend not to post comments on WRUW because I dont particularly want a badge claiming I’m a wrist pervert...

I am just a few comments away from a Citizen badge. Big Citizen fan here.

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The badge system here is a sham, and I can prove it:

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thekris

The badge system here is a sham, and I can prove it:

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We all know you keep your Big Bang in a box under your bed… stop pretending you don’t.

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Aurelian

I am just a few comments away from a Citizen badge. Big Citizen fan here.

Big fan of big fans, can I have a big fan badge?

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Porthole

We all know you keep your Big Bang in a box under your bed… stop pretending you don’t.

Why would I hide such a magnificent watch?  If you don't believe I'm a proud fan of the fabulous brand Hublot, this should change your mind.

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thekris

Why would I hide such a magnificent watch?  If you don't believe I'm a proud fan of the fabulous brand Hublot, this should change your mind.

Good - we’ve got a badge to get. 16/25, time to get some steps in…

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I was happy to see #certina get added as a new badge a little while go

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I like the bages, as they get me to browse other brands I would normally skip over.

It might be cool to have a level system also