Patriotism in watch collecting

I wish there were more Filipino brands that would be cool! I do have a soft spot for American brands like Nodus and DuFrane.

Great question. I live in America and don’t consider myself patriotic (your google search is spot on lol). If I cared to buy American, I’d buy Monta and Traska. But they’re using Japanese and Swiss movements so is it really American? Plus I enjoy watches from companies that make them well, that’s why my quartz is a #grandseiko 9F. I’d rather enjoy quality pieces no matter where they are made.

I'm American and my watch collection is a melting pot of countries as are we lol.

I don’t have a specific affinity to any one country for watches but won’t buy ones from a certain county for personal reasons.

It’s nearly impossible to get a “Made in the USA” watch. There are a few small brands that I believe can legally make that claim, but “Assembled in the USA” is the closest most brands can get. Under current Federal Trade Commission (FTC) guidelines, a product may be advertised as “Made in the USA” when all or virtually all of the labor and materials in the product are domestic.

I think only 2 of my watches are from Malaysia and even that is debatable since the factories where they are made are probably in China.

I picked 4: but don’t hate Aussie watches but none of them actually are made in Australia 🇦🇺 just “ Branded Chinese watches “ which means overpriced and ludicrous.

As a non-American who only views America through a Holywood lens, yeah, you might get that impression. As an american, I think it use to be something pushed in the 90’s by the car industry, and tooling industry. Today, businesses around the world are so multi-national in their chain of dependencies that it seems silly or disingenuous. I do wear an Apple Watch on my right wrist along with my analog on the left wrist. It has zero to do with the fact that I’m American and it’s an American watch. The decision is purely functional. I drive a German brand car, which I would be surprised if it didn’t have parts in it that were manufactured from many countries likely including the US. My American brand watch and American brand cell phone are manufactured primarily in Taiwan, S. Korea, and China though “designed in California”. The whole nationality thing seems silly to me, and something more appropriate for decades long past.

I’m an equal opportunity collector.

If you can afford it a JN Shapiro is 100% fully made in the USA. Truly stunning work and he is a Mensch!

But in general I buy a watch if I like it or not. I have a hodgepodge collection of maisons and brands from around the world. I remember after 9/11 buying American was viewed as an act of patriotic rebellion against Al-Quaeda that got a little out of hand (Freedom fries...really?!), but became a bit of social mockery when it went super extreme. I don't feel any less "American" wearing a Japanese, British, Swiss, or Chinese watch. Nor do I feel any more "American" once I get my hands on a RGM Model 222-RR Classic.

My watches are from all over. I’d like to have a couple more American watches (yep, I’m an American ), but only have one American watch currently: a 1960 Helbros Invincible (with a Swiss ETA movement)

RGM is currently the only American watch company that has some 100% American made watches (including the movements). They’re also really expensive.

I love the fact Haute Horlogerie is coming back to America. RGM in Pennsylvania (we are moving to a town just a short drive away from RGM) and JN Shapiro in California. Josh just mentioned they are now making their own jewels now too which is super cool!

My cars are Japanese, my trucks are American, my watches are Swiss but I would love to be able to afford a RGM 801SW-COE "Corps of Engineers" Sweep Second someday….

Ugh, technically all my watches are made outside the US. Close as I get is Monta (St. Louis) and Traska (Jacksonville) being based in US with Swiss and Chinese (?) manufacturing respectively. Most of my watches are Swiss, Japanese, German, French, or Asian outsourced in manufacturing origin.

I buy watches from all nationalities, the main driver being how the watch looks and makes me feel. As long as the watch has a good build quality, excellent finish and dependable movement, then I'd be inclined to purchase.

However nationality is a small factor, as a small business owner, I have spent time looking for independent british brands, which has lead me to some wonderful companies. Most notably farer. I really love what they are doing and will certainly be buying a couple more from them.

Brit here. My favourites here.. Bremont, Fears, Christopher Ward etc. But I'm picky, and won't buy something unless it works for me. So I'm waiting to buy British as long as the right watch comes along.

I just like watches, the more bang for the buck the better. I have no brand loyalty lol

My goodness, those JN Shapiro watches are gorgeous..how have I never heard of these before?

Needs to be a “as long as the watch is cool I don’t care 🤷” option. :)

As an American, I can personally attest that my love and patriotism for my country is something that makes me who I am. I adore my country, and am immensely proud to be an American. Now, that said, when it comes to watches, I’m all over the place. However, my Timexes and Bulovas do have a special place in my heart for the above reasons 🇺🇸

German here. If I liked two watches equally and one was Swiss/Japanese/American/British (or whatever) and the other was German, I would probably gravitate more towards the German one. Supporting the local economy is still a factor after all. I also think that I tend to consider German brands more in the first place. But I still wouldn‘t want to have a collection solely consisting of German watches.

Proud American averse to wearing my patriotism on my sleeve either metaphorically or literally.

I’ll go with option “E. I don’t give a f* where it’s made as long as i like it”

While none of my watches are from South Africa, a lot of them have strong connections to the country. Camy was a very strong brand here back in the day, proving popular with miners for their value and durability, and I have two of them. My Tissot PR 516 Quartz Pepsi was likely given out exclusively by Pepsi South Africa.

Have you checked out De Guzman & Co? I've liked their designs enough to almost pick one up a few times. Can't vouch for the quality though.

I think patriotism with watches is a little difficult because it is so concentrated in a few locations. There are only a handful of countries where watches are made in significant volume, and even less at a great variety and quality. These are Switzerland, Germany, Japan, and China. There is some tinkering and assembly in the UK and even less in the US, but there really isn't anything of note beyond them.

Might sound strange - but I don’t know what is home for me 😅 I was immigrating and traveling a lot. I spent last two years in Germany and I enjoy the country, probably worth a separate post.

I don’t have any German watches so far, but I think most of my purchases will be from Germany (Sinn, Meistersinger, Union, Circula) as I developed a warm attachment to the country.

I don't care about where watches are made. A good analogy would be pretty girls are pretty regardless of skin color.

also if you are a true patriotic American you would be collecting their #1 exports instead of watches. (Guns and weapons)

I support local business as much as possible, but that is more of an environmental and economic thing. Patriotism isn’t as prevalent in Europe as it is elsewhere. I’m proud to be Irish, but at the end of the day I did not choose to be born here so I try not to make a faff of it

American, patriotic, and have lived in, traveled too and visited dozens of countries around the world. So I don’t limit my horizons to just one country when it comes to the finer things in life like cars, watches, beers, wines, cigars, whisky/whiskey, cuisine, or women (wife is from the Philippines) 🤣