At what price should our standards drop?

If you need a loupe to see an imperfection on a watch costing under $5K, it's not really an issue. You shouldn't be expecting that level of detail from a mass produced consumer good. Look at a $70K car with a loupe and you'll find imperfections...

If it visible to the naked eye, then there is some nuance depending on how visible, and at what price.

If it's not visible to the naked eye is it actually there?

Too many go out of their way to find unseen things by using high powered loupes and macro photography and then,once they see it under high magnification , it sticks in their heads that there's a flaw, even when invisble to the naked eye.

I agree. At 4k that watch better not have any cosmetic issues at all

Everything has flaws.

I don’t think our standards should drop, but I also don’t think we should be looking under a loupe trying to find imperfections.

True. It's a mixture of managing my expectations and respecting the value of my money. I don't know if I'm expressing that properly. I'm not smart... lol

Oooooo this is a tough one. Par course is probably a bad phrase used I’d say. I mean the person who’s saved to buy the dream piece @7k for example should not inadvertently expect an inferior finish on a watch costing 14k(again for example).. In answer to your question i think I think whether it cost £300 or £1500 it should be bang on the money. Perfect to the best as possible for that target watch consumer. I think many of the watch brands out there pride themselves and their craftsmanship enough to produce the best they can, and position it well.

The comment made by Bruce on Tudor in short is bollocks as far as I’m concerned. We know they were initially a rebrand designed for the affordable watch market but them at was along time ago. But hey, that’s what makes it all so interesting🤷🏻great topic by the way🤝

To be fair, he didn't exactly say "par the course", but did say that these small imperfections are normal for watches under $5000. That is where I completely disagree with him. I try to be as flexible as I can with standards but I can't be that flexible.

Appreciate the discussion. As always there is no right answer; good to hear others thoughts on it🍻

100%👍

True. No right answer here I think. I'm more asking myself the question: "at what point am I being a blind fanboy and when am I being too nitpicky?"

Good discussion🍻

One can put a $10k GS under a loupe and find imperfections. Almost every watch has something if you look under a 5X+ loop.

You make the assumption the flaws are necessarily bad. They are part of the character of the watch especially when not visibly to the naked eye.

We've already given Seiko a pass on poor QC, let's not add Tudor to that list as well.

After so many seikos with misaligned somethings, i have been conditioned to let anything under 1,000 usd have a slight imperfection. Higher than that, i am very nitpicky 🧐

I even found a qc issue with my newly acquired longines spirit zulu time 😁

I hope and pray no one ever looks at me with a macro lens. They definitely won’t like what they’ll find…and I’m cheap 🤣

Correct. It's only a question of the magnification. There are simple limits as to what can be accomplished. Ink might run slightly on textured dial. Machining marks can be reduced, but are often visible with enough effort. Small parts of paint may break off the dial during installation. Watch hands are particularly tricky.

Below the bargain range of $70 ish I don't expect much. It more or less just needs to work 🤣

Unfortunately, i have seen some terrible examples.

Fortunately I have been lucky.

im kinda dissappointed too when i bought an omega speedmaster. for 6000$ it has a few flaws that i recognized sharp edge on case and buckle, also misalligntment on the chrono hand but what can i do lol.

I said this earlier and I think it applies here:

"I don't think it's so extreme as to ruin the entire experience, but I also think there's room to point out flaws while still coming out with a net positive."

Too many people feel like they are bound to only have positive reactions towards a watch because it should be that way. I don't think it has to be so black and white. I can enjoy 95% of a watch; that's still an "A". I can also strive for a 100%. It really does just depend on the situation, person, etc.

Oh I know! Some are much better than others. I was using GS simply because someone else brought them up, but we could swap them with any other brand making a highly finished product. I try never to get too close with my lenses! :-)

I use this often. Not to find flaws rather to appreciate the beauty of the watches we collect

Like most things, for me its a sliding scale. If you are going to be a watch manufacturer, there are certain things that you just need to get right. The basics. The more a watch costs, the more I expect to be perfect. At $4000, there is a LOT I would expect to be perfect! Once I get to about $1500, I would expect essentially whatever is in that watch to be 100% - alignment, no material under the dial, consistent lume, etc. Above $1500, I expect just more in the actual watch, in terms of finishing or movement or complications. Whatever I buy at around the $1500 price point or above, that should be just right.

With anything if you look hard enough you will find faults.

Bruce Williams is too nit picky imo

I Suggest not wasting $4K on a watch that has blemishes on a dial that shouldn't be there. $4K warrants high level QC, point blank

I don't disagree. Being hard to find is key. Personally I dont consider a quick zoom with a camera or close inspection hard.

I understand, but seriously 4k is not alot of money for a watch..JMO, Try to enjoy the hobby..

IMO, that's a weak outlook on the subject. A bit too low of a standard for me. Reasonable quality control is not difficult to achieve. Any man with half an ounce of pride in their work can achieve this. A perfect watch isn't reasonable, but something as simple as a clean dial is.

Good talk👍

I cerainly agree with you there..Sadly it seems everything is twice as expensive as the quality is going down...JMO.Have a terrific week..