In the end, aren’t all watches “fashion” and “jewelry”. No one nowadays “needs” a watch.

Some of us still need watches, not everybody works in an office or a place where phones are allowed.

Also, wrist watches came about after pocket watches. If having the time in your pocket was inherently superior to wrist watches, wrist watches would never have been developed.

That said, most watches are mostly fashion, so "fashion" brands shouldn't really be looked down on.

Cartier is not a “Fashion” brand never has been and Hermes well, he really has high watchmaking so.... end of transmission

I don't think anyone (at least on this forum) looks down on a Cartier or Hermes watch...rather the other way around 🙂

That is an interesting watch!

Cartier is most definitely not a fashion brand. They have a long and respectable history of watch making.

The Santos is arguably the first watch made to strap on a man's wrist. The tank was designed during WWI and has been worn by the rich and famous for over 100yrs. Cartier is second in watch sales and far surpasses many companies I'm sure you consider "real"

I'd also like to introduce you to the Masse Mysterious, a watch that came our 2022 where the rotor is the works, a fascinating and complex complication that I'd just die to get my hands on

I Love that Pasha. I would love the one with the plane as a rota. Mine was away to Cartier, took them 2 attemts to do whatni wanted and i really missed it.

I love the crystal guard cage. The Pasha’s lore and unique look makes it a banging watch

Cartier and Hermes look really nice fashion wise. Yet the materials used and movements put them in a category of luxury brands. Even though other watches aren't made with these fancy materials they still are a fashion brand in a sense. The makers still want their watches to look nice though being used to dive with or what ever it's being used for.

To say one watch is better than another is solely based on one's own opinion. As long as it does what you want it to do most, tell the time, that's most important. Not everyone can afford a luxury brand so there is nothing wrong with one wanting their dive watch to look nice while wearing a suit.

This has me rambling on. To sum it all up I say this. A person that can't afford a luxury/fashion brand is going to subconsciously say that a dive watch is better. I guarantee you this. If that person were given a luxury/fashion watch they are going to wear it with a suit before they wear the diver. Unless that diver is a luxury brand diver. Then that's another can of worms.

"Better" is subjective to intended use and application.

Nothing against Cartier, et al, quite like them actually. But I doubt they'd be as useful for me in the field.

I am also in the "needs" a watch camp for a variety of reasons. Also honest enough to admit any watch will do, but something shiny is less desirable. I also don't mind a useful bezel, destro crown, or legibility.

For example, see pics, used the elapsed time bezel to track how many minutes since fire gone from a thermite grenade burn. Note, I mean active flames, not molten slag.

And yes I prefer analog, digital is great, until you need an extra hand to push the illuminate button, and your other hands are occupado.....

Cartier, Hermes, LV and Bulgari make awesome watches and have established their stands and identities in the watch world. I would love to own a Hermes H08 someday.

It’s nice.

A beauty

Amazing #cartier piece

I will always need a watch to know the time of day. Much easier than pulling a phone out of my pocket. And unlike the phone, my watch isn't a resource hog lol!