What Makes a Watch Great?

Price is hugely important for me.

Watches just seem to be going up and up so for me I love a bargain.👍

Seeing the votes I'm now convinced I'm on the right forum.

Definitely for me cost will probably always be a factor when getting a watch but weather I got a great deal on a watch or overspent, for me has little to do if it is a great watch.

For me it's a 50/50 combination of A and B.

To get this "poll" right you need a lot more choices and most would be valid,

except for C.

Constrained by the system man. 🤣

I'm hoping option C is there just to raise a smile 🍿

I do believe that there are some that believe this.

C.

Overrated brand + exorbitant price + waiting list = Greatness.

Watches like fashion is such a personal choice. I’ll quote my wife, “who cares if I like it or not. You’re the one wearing it”

I think there's a lot of truth to what your wife says. Maybe if I'd listened to mine I'd still be married. 🤣 Also though I think there is another side as well where the watch is a great watch because of so many factors that are truthfully so great about it. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

All of that and more

What makes a watch great is simply this. It doesn't matter what movement, brand or whatever. It's how it makes the person feel when they are wearing it. If the watch makes a person feel great then it's a great watch. If it makes them feel good, a good watch. Bad a bad watch. That's what determines a great watch. It's an individual experience. A great watch to me doesn't make it a great watch for you. If it makes you feel great, it's a great watch.

Looks is number one. If it's ugly, it's not on my wrist. Of course, ugly is in the eye of the beholder

C is hilarious

Ok not disagreeing. Question though if you get like a NH35 movement or something similar and it goes out you can just replace it. Is there a hole in that logic?

E: Size

Size matters for sure for the individual. So I believe while there's several watches that are not for me because of size they can still be great watches.

One of my favorite examples would be Cameron Weiss. Aside from all of the content he has done over the years that give you an idea of who he is, you can even meet him inside his factory for a tour. He is open about his products and how they are made, and he's donated his own work to charity. Total class act IMHO.

There's another company that has an assembly facility close to me. I'm planning on doing a tour to meet the owners, I just haven't made the time yet.

I do like the idea of great people make great watches!

E it's a grand seiko

Finishing, value for money, history...

For me, now, it must be meaningful(to me) to be considered great. For example, like the skx013. First of all, it is quite uncommon. It is discontinued, it has a unique seiko design with a japanese wabi sabi vibe(exotic). Also, it is small size which is uncommon for modern taste. It has an in house movement at an affordable price which is also uncommon. Secondly, the watch must be of good quality for purpose. The skx013 is an iso certified diver. It is a tool watch that does its job well. The 7s26 movement although outdated also is known as a workhorse movement that can last long without needing a service. Lastly, the aesthetics must be iconic, classic and desirable. Proof of its desirability/greatness is that it is homaged/inspired and copied by other brands despite its affordability.

Thanks I agree with a lot of what you said. 1. Unique design (If it is good). 2. Good quality for purpose. 3. Proven movement type. 4. May inspire homages - I think that can be an indicator. I do think these are some legit reasons that make a watch great.

Some of the other things you listed are more why a watch is great for you not IMO what makes a watch great. 1. Size, definitely a factor in whether a watch is great for you personally but I think there are great watches that are not going to fit everyone. For example I know of some G-Shocks that I think would be agreed on that are great watches but would not work for everyone because of size. Maybe though mif a watch is more in a sweat spot though it helps go towards greatness points ? Size alone though I don't think makes or breaks a watch being great. 2. Value also is more of it being a great watch for you. The watch is either great or not great. That it is over or under priced or that you got a deal or overpaid IMO doesn't change the watches actually greatness status. Even if it is a great value the rating of how great the watch is remains the same. 3. That a watch is vintage, discontinued, special, anniversary, rare, or limited edition plays more into price and availability, not greatness. Although that being said a great watch that falls into these various categories does gain an elevated status. Also if you have one and like it wether or not it really is a great watch it maybe a great way for you. These are some of my opinions please feel free to expound in and or refut them. ✅

What would the majority of buyers do if the movement went out? They would not think to service the movement. They would return it and slander the brand all over the internet. Swiss movements and brands because they use them have a stellar reputation which give brands the room to expand options. Most of the micro brands use the NHxx movements because they are decent enough to get by but affordable.

Ok so to restate what you are saying here. A watch needs to have a Swiss movement in order to be a great watch. If that's true then anything without a Swiss movement is not a great watch. Is that what you are saying?

There are tiers to movements and the majority of the people here prefer Swiss. The point is that if you produce a pretty watch with a crap movement then that company gets a bad name and no one buys them. Ali produce some really pretty watches with unique dials but their reputation for crap movements precedes them. The Japanese movements fall behind the Swiss in spec's and reliability which is why they are so replaceable.

Ok thanks, definitely movement matters for accuracy and endurability and for a watch to be great it should have these attributes.

Thanks bro for your response. I understand where you are coming from. Let me clarify further what I meant by discussing a bit of what greatness is.. To me, one way greatness is define is a) by overcoming great obstacles in the face of limitations. Another way is b) the accumulation of qualities or virtues that elevates it above others. Basically, greatness is when the watch with a) and b) is etched in the minds and hearts of people such that it defines its particular genre and inspires 'imitation' or becomes a source of emulation. Of course, the rolex submariner immediately comes to mind when we mentioned 'great watches'. However, I brought the example of the skx013 because in its affordability, despite its smallness contrary to modern tastes, despite its movement that is outdated, it still inspires and catch the attention of many enthusiasts because of its inherent quality as a diver's watch making it also a great watch not just a good quality watch.

I agree with you that the rarity does not really affect the greatness of the watch, but it merely magnifies the significance of the watch in our eyes as collectors so that we start to see the watch in a clearer light and starts to value its greatness.

To me, (1) the movement is the first thing to look at when considering a watch. So if the movement is not up to the standards then I won’t consider. (If I really want a watch with a movement that is not really dependable then I search for a SEIKO movement (preferably) that will fit. (2) then comes the purpose. Why do I want this watch? If it was purley for the design then I have my answer. If I need it for an actual purpose, then I research for all the watches that I can get in my budget (even when there’s a design in mind) and start the filtration process. (3) I keep in mind the modifications that I can do to it that can make it be dressed up or down depending on the occasion/mission that it will be used for.So I believe that if you didn’t fall in love with a watch and you are sure about it then it is a combination of elements that come after the movement inside.