Value, Longevity, Brand Image or Design
Reading the latest oracle time (great magazine by the way) - I found this chart giving the top reasons people buy watches in different countries.
The main four are: value, brand image, longevity, and design.
So what do you choose? And does it match what it should be for your country of origin?
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Justin
Fairly new to watch collecting. Super fast collecting journey! I've had a bit of everything, small gold pretty watches, large rugged watches, vintage British field watches. From Casio to Patek and eve...
London
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Well - my vote is for design and I am in the U.K. so I do tie up to the chart!
Second choice would be value - also ties.
I do think I’m more about brand than longevity - so I am out of step there!
It's a vague combination of all of these, except maybe value.
Value first and brand image last for me, so I guess I am in alignment with my fellow frenchies.
Also from UK, for me it's
Design
Longevity
Brand imaga
Value
Suspect age is probably as much a factor as location. I'm 53 1/2. The half matters at this age! 🤣
Great topic, Justin!
Design, Value, longevity, brand image, in that order
I have a suspicion that brand image is what we think we don’t care about but deep down it actually influences our choices more than most factors.
What is longevity? How old the brand is or how long the watch will last?
Brand image holds no importance to me as judged by my current collection. I look for design, value and longevity.
I miss the old days, lol, when you bought what you loved! Not what’s “popular”. The days of $1000 DateJust, Presidentials were $5000, and even then they wouldn’t sell! I loved walking into smaller AD’s, looking at brands without any bias and just buying what spoke to you and you could actually afford it! I miss those days
I miss the old days, lol, when you bought what you loved! Not what’s “popular”. The days of $1000 DateJust, Presidentials were $5000, and even then they wouldn’t sell! I loved walking into smaller AD’s, looking at brands without any bias and just buying what spoke to you and you could actually afford it! I miss those days
the good ole days when we loved ruffs? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruff_(clothing)
Design, Brand, Value, Longevity.
Design
Value
Longevity
Brand image
(I‘m German, but apparently I value design more than others here)
Value for me, but that’s dictated by budget, not preference 😅
Value
Design
Longevity
Brand Image
I actually want it all but at as low a price as possible. There are too many great watches out there to buy one priced by the name.
I miss the old days, lol, when you bought what you loved! Not what’s “popular”. The days of $1000 DateJust, Presidentials were $5000, and even then they wouldn’t sell! I loved walking into smaller AD’s, looking at brands without any bias and just buying what spoke to you and you could actually afford it! I miss those days
I know exactly what you’re referring to. Many members of this forum weren’t born then, or at least weren’t of an age where they were interested in watches. I find this entire discussion of value somewhat confusing. To me, a watch is essentially jewelry. Like most jewelry, you buy it because it’s design aesthetic speaks to you. You realize that it might hold its value but it will probably never be worth what you paid for it. Today, many in the watch game see their watches as investments. I feel this is both short sighted and erroneous. Sure the “free money” and extra time on our hands during Covid may have temporarily changed this dynamic but eventually the pendulum will swing back.
I believe that brand heritage(longevity) and image(design) are the strongest forces which prompt us to buy a watch. To purchase for future value is ill advised.
Btw, when I got my first Datejust it cost $360 and my dads DayDate was $1100!
I’m trying to disassociate myself completely from Brand image. However, Rolex, no matter how overpriced….still make exceptional tool watches that tick all the right boxes. I just find that Value is still too big a value (lol) for me.
I’m trying to disassociate myself completely from Brand image. However, Rolex, no matter how overpriced….still make exceptional tool watches that tick all the right boxes. I just find that Value is still too big a value (lol) for me.
But I bought one anyway…all that history, design….lineage….and value if you consider they hold their value pretty well.
Value definitely is number 1 for me. Then I go for Longevity and Design.
Does it match my country of origin? Unfortunately we’re too small a market to be featured on Oracle Time 🥲.
A healthy mix betwen price/affordability, design and quality(for whatever price I pay of course). The brand doesnt matter too much.
Edit: I have to like the look of the watch as well, of course.
Good design and longevity result in value
Design is the top reason for me but the other reasons play into my decisions as well to some degree with longevity being the least important.
Did I build it?
Visual appeal
Does it do something my other watches don't do.
Can I afford it.
I find it interesting that Design is not in the top 3 for France and Italy.
When I hear the word “design”, those are the countries that come to my mind - whether it’s fashion, cars, architecture, furniture, etc.
Can it be because the people there are surrounded by beautiful design so they consider it a given?
My answer is... Yes. 😁
If I don’t like the design of a watch, A, B, and C are irrelevant.