There's been 1, just one major innovation in watch movements in the last 100 years. The coaxial escapement. Sure materials like silicone and titanium have been used but it just seems watchmakers have come lazy. 

Smart watches aka disposable watches are things I deeply dislike.  They are soulless and temporary.  The first Apple watch cannt be used today because it won't take updates. They honestly shouldn't be in the conversation. 

Whereas a traditional watch Automatic,  Quartz or digital last virtually forever.  

I tend to disagree.  Finishing, dial, bracelet/clasp and especially bezel can't be copied accurately. Surely there are decent watches that come close, but in the end they fall short. Then there is the fact I can go anywhere in the world and trade a Patek, JLC, AP, Rolex, Omega or Breitling for considerable goods or services. While there's nothing wrong with Seiko, Casio, Seagull or any of the Micro-Brands you can't do the same. 

You can't hold a Rolex Submariner and a "Place name here" and see and feel the difference.  The edges, polish,  assembly  are all just...better. Then there are the dials. To use a different example,  Imega compared to "Place name here" just has a better dial. From the dial face itsel to the lettering and indices. 

I own several micro-brands, Seiko, Tissot and others. All are fine watches that i love dearly, but none are not on the same level of finish and refinement of my Omega, Rolex, Breitling possess. 

Then you have to look at the fact every brand looks to and copies Rolex, AP, Patek, Omega and Breitling.  

So I don't agree anything outside of movements can be copied to the same level. 

There isn't a watch maker on the planet outside the luxury brands that can produce a movement, finish a watch that is of equal to a Rolex. Can't be copied. They have their own proprietary metallurgy and movements. Counterfeit watches are cheap watches all dolled up to look like luxury pieces with cheap movements.  Like a kit car, it may look like a Ferrari 20 feet away but upon closer inspection it clearly isn't. And once you pop the hood you instantly know if you still had your doubts. 

There are awesome brands out there making great watches. They just don't have the innovation, precision metallurgy or history that the big luxury brands have. This is reflected in their pricing and is why they are so attainable. They normally use a cheap movement straight from an source that hasn't had anything done to it mechanically or aesthetically. 

So in actuality they can't be faked . Much like the Mona Lisa, people have painted exact copies that have fooled others. That is until they were tested. 

It is extremely expensive to develop, manufacture and in house produce a perfect watch over and over again.  

Thanks! Oh yeah definitely.  The 42mm wears smaller than it is. 

The ONLY reason Rolex is where it is, is branding. Omega just makes better watches. Rolex can't compete with Omega movements.  Omega has one downside....they just make too many models. Imagine if Omega came out with 6 models only and then limited them the way Rolex does. Omega prices would soar as would the demand.  No Rolex isn't on the same level as Omega as a watchmaker,, but they are better as a status symbol.  Im not saying Rolex is bad, just more boring and less innovative as Omega.

Bulova Oceanographer Devil Diver.