So where do enthusiast watches come from

I have 3 GS from Japan, one Glashütte Original from Germany, 4 Tudors & 3 Rolex from Switzerland. I fully intend on getting more German watches so I will have a few watches from each region of the world. I love how the Germans and Japanese approach horology. I got hooked on watches by the Swiss but it was the handiwork of the Japanese that really got me addicted to timepieces. And now the Germans have my full attention after purchasing my PanoMaticInverse. The level of hand finishing blows me away. Cheers! 🥂

Thanks that’s really interesting, I’ve tried to get some pieces from around the world but the Swiss brands keep pulling me back in (please excuse the poorly done Pacino quote), I’ve got to admit I struggle with a lot of German brands because of the Bauhaus influence, which doesn’t really interest me but I’ll keep looking. 👍

I have

2 Swiss watches (a third on the way)

3 British watches

1 Singaporean watch

2 Russian (Soviet) watches

1 Italian watch

2 American watches

2 Japanese watches (a third on the way)

So I suppose technically I'm equal between Britain, Japan, and Switzerland, that being said, none of my British watches are made in Britain, and I'll be highly surprised if any of my Japanese watches are made in Japan. So for that reason I'd say my collection is mostly Swiss. Thanks also to the weirdness of history, 2 brands that I own are spread across different countries depending on time period (1 Rotary is Swiss, 2 are British; and 1 Sekonda is Russian, and 1 is British).

4 x 🇨🇭

2 x 🇩🇪

2 x 🇯🇵

I guess soon the german watvhes could match the swiss in number and adding the one or another from Thailand (Wise) or Singapore (RLG).

BTW. Thank you for not mentioning china.

I know what you mean with the manufacturing country. I’ve got 4 British watches with another on the way, and I’m pretty sure only one of them was asembled in the UK and even then the movement is a Miyota. I’m okay with that and just go with where the brand is based as it gets complicated otherwise. Especially as I found on one of my first posts that the Swiss Made marking can be a little missleading.

I hadn’t thought of how the history of a brand would change where it comes from, probably because I don’t buy vintage. Thanks for that it gives me something to think about.

Yeah if we go down the rabbit hole of manufacturing location probably 3/4 of my collection would be Chinese 😂 Rotary is a funny one in history because they were kind of both Swiss and British at the same time. Bit of an identity crisis brand really.

Great question. Currently my collection has

4 x 🇯🇵

1 x 🇺🇸

1 x 🇷🇺

Having recently started work, I look for mostly dress watches that are under $500. This inevitably funnels 70% my searches to the land of the rising sun.

In future I would like to pick something from the European market, maybe a tissot prx. Any suggestions.

Half my watch collection is Japanese, one from China, one Thailand and one American (invicta). Maybe I'll get a Swiss as a gift for finishing University in a few years for now, but at the affordable end of the market I care more about the watch than the origin

I think I’ve just accepted that all of my watches have something from China. Currently working my way through your posts on German watches. Circula is next on the list.

Nice. Another good bet for dress watches are the German brands @Uhrologe did 2 great posts on them.

The identity crisis has made for some cracking watches though. I really like what they do and their price point is very reasonable.

I'm finding my interest heading towards the microbrands and independents. Raven, Cincinnati watch co, Islander, Armida, Yema and the like seem to get all my attention these days. There's a plethora of cool offerings out there with the specs to back the pretty face and I want some of that!!!!

Where the watch is made doesn’t enter into my thought process honestly. I’m a firm believer you should wear what speaks to you, not where the watch is made from, how much it cost or if it popular. With that being said. I mostly have Swiss watches but I also have German and Japanese made time pieces.

No question that you’re focussing on the right things. Any idea what you might look to from the Swiss? I recently got a LeJour and an Ollech & Wajs and can recommend both if you’re wanting to look past the mainstream brands.

I completely understand that sentiment. My Microbrands definitely outnumber my mainstream one. That’s partly what sparked my interest as my micros come from everywhere but I’ve still got a few from the Swatch group, Seiko and Casio.

I consider Sekonda a British brand and Dugena a German one, but as was said earlier in the thread it probably depends when the watch was made. Are the Chinese ones Chinese brands or do you mean that’s where they were made?

I’m not a student and probably buy too many watches so I get what you mean.

Good luck with your studies and your 5 year watch fast 😉.

I love Sinn watches from Germany for their design language, robustness and superb accuracy. I also have another German watch on order, a Hanhart 417 ES 39mm.

After selling my Rolex Sub last year, I don’t miss it on but.

Yeah Sinn have been on my radar for a while and that Hanhart looks great.

Well, the Sekonda I own has "made in USSR" on the dial, and the Dugena "Swiss made".

My Chinese are Chinese brands (at least one of my Casios is made in China, but I counted that as Japanese), out of the top of my head:

• 5 Parnis,

• 3 each from Forsining, Lobinni and Ochstin

• 2 each from Corgeut, Skmei, Carnival, Pagani

• 1 each from Hruodland, Tandorio, Addiesdive, Fngeen, Xonix, SanMartin, Baltany, Merkur, Jenises, Xinew, Lige, Winner, Cadisen, Carisen, Starking, Sunven, Infantry, Naviforce, NorthEdge, Runnerr, Wworr, Diamond, IBSO, Olika

That’s quite a collection. I recognize a few of those Chinese Brands but most are new to me.

A few of those are underrepresented among those youtube aliexpress reviews. Fans of digital watches should definitely have a look at Xonix (they are more Lorus-like than Casio-like though). And if you like vintage style dressy watches, Baltany and Merkur should take your attention.

I'm a mixed bag with 3 Swiss, 2 Japanese and 1 British brand. Right now my collection is in the affordable range. However, I do see myself going for more Swiss brands and explore a few American brands as I move up the price range in future

There are a few Swiss ones in the affordable range as well, I’m thinking Swatch, Hamilton and Tissot, but these might be the Swiss brands you already have.

I already have a Swatch and a Tissot. Also a Marathon that although Canadian brand, is made in Switzerland. Hamilton is definitely on the list :)

Great I’ve hota titanium Khaki Field Automatic from Hamilton and love it.

I think it's safe to say they come from China and even when they don't come from China, the subcomponents come from China

Yeah that’s probably true for most if not all the collections on here, I probably should have specified the brands. 👍

I am a Brit so I really should have a British brand in my collection, on my next visit back to Blighty it’s on the list 😜

Fellow Brit here that’s why I’ve got a large amount of British brands, that and they all look great. You’ll have to let us know what you get.