Anyone think that we get caught up in brand snobbery too often?
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Curtis Tebbutt
67 yo living Noosa hinterland QLD Australia, had a passion for old watches since inheriting my Dad’s Titoni Airmaster c1960 which my wife got refurbished for me. I like more obscure brands rather than...
Cooran QLD, Australia
Member since
Last active: 6 days ago
19.50 cm
They make nice watches and their cases are well constructed, no doubt, but it’s hard to compare an integrated bracelet design to a traditional dive watch. That bracelet can be massive on most wrists and rules out many buyers.
Throw in it uses more or less a basic ETA where the other is significantly more up market movement wise it’s a hard comparison.
Is it snobby? I don’t think so. There are a ton of brands offering excellent watches at $2k ish. It is okay to point out they are in different markets, especially when talking about movements.
That is a milgram question, which means you will rarely get a real response to it.
Most people will claim build quality, heritage, or some other answer, but rarely will people admit that they want a luxury watch mostly because of the name on the dial. It's generally seen as crass in Western cultures to aspire to show off your free money and socio-economic status.
They make nice watches and their cases are well constructed, no doubt, but it’s hard to compare an integrated bracelet design to a traditional dive watch. That bracelet can be massive on most wrists and rules out many buyers.
Throw in it uses more or less a basic ETA where the other is significantly more up market movement wise it’s a hard comparison.
Is it snobby? I don’t think so. There are a ton of brands offering excellent watches at $2k ish. It is okay to point out they are in different markets, especially when talking about movements.
Interesting take, it was my own bias that made me think,I can get a used Seamaster for A$5-6k but when I put this Tutima on the wrist it actually felt like a better quality watch, I was a bit taken aback when I looked at the finish. The image really doesn’t do it justice. The movement is another question,I can get the ETA serviced locally for a very reasonable price, the Omega would be expensive & hard to get to a service centre. It’s when I started thinking about the practicality of the Omega I was torn & the brand bias question popped into my mind.( I own two older Omega)
Keeps you thinking this watch habit eh?😀
They make nice watches and their cases are well constructed, no doubt, but it’s hard to compare an integrated bracelet design to a traditional dive watch. That bracelet can be massive on most wrists and rules out many buyers.
Throw in it uses more or less a basic ETA where the other is significantly more up market movement wise it’s a hard comparison.
Is it snobby? I don’t think so. There are a ton of brands offering excellent watches at $2k ish. It is okay to point out they are in different markets, especially when talking about movements.
Just a follow up on the Tutima they do a leather band option which actually has a vented silicone type liner which makes it wearable in humid climates, just like we have in QLD.Im impressed with the thought 5he6 seem to put into their designs.
Just a follow up on the Tutima they do a leather band option which actually has a vented silicone type liner which makes it wearable in humid climates, just like we have in QLD.Im impressed with the thought 5he6 seem to put into their designs.
I saw that! I am anti leather on a proper dive watch, but that’s me. Sadly, on my 6.5” wrist it would still wear like a cuff.
That is a milgram question, which means you will rarely get a real response to it.
Most people will claim build quality, heritage, or some other answer, but rarely will people admit that they want a luxury watch mostly because of the name on the dial. It's generally seen as crass in Western cultures to aspire to show off your free money and socio-economic status.
Fair point, no doubt some people really do follow the heritage of a brand too. I know I have a passion for Titoni/Felca because of the back story & my family history with the brand. In Asia they have been considered a lauxury brand largely because of the Swis made angle I think. They also aren’t expensive by luxury brand standards.
I saw that! I am anti leather on a proper dive watch, but that’s me. Sadly, on my 6.5” wrist it would still wear like a cuff.
That’s a bugger, I have similar problems my wrist is 73/4 which sounds large but it’s thick & subsequently quite narrow so 40 is usually my limit.
I couldn’t say this would be a serious diver just diver “style” I think you would be very surprised if you tried one on they wear smaller than the spec suggests more like a 38/9. The integrated bracelet could be a deal breaker though I appreciate.
Fair point, no doubt some people really do follow the heritage of a brand too. I know I have a passion for Titoni/Felca because of the back story & my family history with the brand. In Asia they have been considered a lauxury brand largely because of the Swis made angle I think. They also aren’t expensive by luxury brand standards.
For sure, there are people who genuinely love a brand because of it's history. The watch community is a narrow slice of a huge market though, and even with the watch community there are people buying luxury brands simply because they are showy/status symbols.
I'm not above this either, I love my niche brands like Damasko and Marathon because they aren't mainstream.
For sure, there are people who genuinely love a brand because of it's history. The watch community is a narrow slice of a huge market though, and even with the watch community there are people buying luxury brands simply because they are showy/status symbols.
I'm not above this either, I love my niche brands like Damasko and Marathon because they aren't mainstream.
Agreed, Sinn too? I had to make a call between a Damasko or a Sinn, I couldn’t actually get my hands on a Damasko so went with Sinn.
Probably a reason I’m attracted to Tutima for the same reason not that well known & still family owned. Enjoy your Damasko👍
Agreed, Sinn too? I had to make a call between a Damasko or a Sinn, I couldn’t actually get my hands on a Damasko so went with Sinn.
Probably a reason I’m attracted to Tutima for the same reason not that well known & still family owned. Enjoy your Damasko👍
Sinn is definitely up my alley, but when i was deciding between a Sinn 556i and DS30, the extra thinness of the Damasko and the option of a yellow second hand/date tilted the decision toward Damasko.
Looked at some Tutimas when I was in Denver recently. Beautiful watches with lovely finishes. I’m not ready to give up my speedy for one but would definitely consider them. Great example of how surprising actually trying on watches can be. On this trip it was the Nivada Grenchen Antarctic Spider I can’t get out of my head!
That spider is a great classic look of a bygone era. I know what you mean about the speedie, I keep looking but can’t pull the trigger.Have a look at the Smiths trans global, interesting vintage look too.
Combat sub by Glycine is the thinnest watch in the market. But it’s a tool watch
My first automatic watch was a Tutima FX-UTC. I wore it everyday for the better part of 10 years. SInce then I’ve had Tudor, IWC, Bell and Ross, Seikos, Grand Seiko, and Omega. I’ve enjoyed them all, for various reasons brand snobbery included (if I’m being honest). I don’t know if I can say if any of them are “better”. But I do know I still have a soft spot for Tutima. Especially their older watches. They are no slouch in the history and heritage department either.
I agree with you 100%. While I get the mentality behind "brand snobbery" (we're all guilty on some level), some of it is borderline irrational with little basis in fact when you consider the perceived reality behind said Faberge eggs. Outside the "name" what else does the thing bring to the table? A pretty face does not a good person make or however that goes lol!