Definitely not by asking "Is that a Timex?". And if someone asks you that, keep your hands close to yourself. 😀

I agree with one of the earlier comments that it would be great if CW had a physical shop in a local location to be able to see the watch in the flesh before committing. However, having said that, after reading/watching multiple reviews, I decided to go for one, and the watch has exceeded my expectations in terms of what I paid for it. I had initially thought that the arrowed hour hand might be an issue for me, but honestly, not an issue when I received their timepiece. Trident second hand, ok, nice to have something stand out a little on the seconds hand.

Ultimately down to your personal preferences on their design elements, but in terms of value for money, if you like their designs or are drawn towards it, I'd say go for it - the quality is great, and as someone else noted earlier, comparable to watches that are priced (much) higher.

In terms of the movement, I have had the chance to experience the SW movements from when the ETAs were starting to be lesser available in the market, and the SW's are good movements, and with the COSC certified ones, accurate. Most microbrands are able to price cheaper by using Japanese-based movements, being the Miyota and Seiko ones, primarily. Good movements as well, those, so it is a matter of your personal preference as well. I have some microbrands with the Miyotas, which are pretty accurate as well (depending on the version used).

I now have 2 of CW's watches, with a 3rd to come. Did not expect that as I thought I would only end up with the first one. There are many alternatives in the market, and as mentioned earlier, it is a very crowded market for that type of watch and that price range. But, I think you will enjoy your CW if you are already attracted to it, and it is definitely worth the money that you will pay for it.

Whatever you decide, enjoy the one you buy, or move it on (if you have bought it) and look for another. Happy hunting in your watch journey.

I have not seen the Ickler family brands mentioned, being Limes and Archimedes. Probably Archimedes may be the better known of the 2 brands, and also the more exploratory in terms of watch design compared to Limes. But, very well made watches.

Not sure if my observation is necessarily correct, but when I started to get into watches more than a decade ago, back when Swatch Group were still making the ETA ebauches, people were willing to pay more for a watch partly because of the movement, besides the aesthetics, especially when it was an in-house movement.

Hence, you would have a certain price range for the ETA movement-based watches (with the different grades of ETA having different pricing), and then modified movements, and then the ultimate being an in-house movement. From this perspective, it was not just about the viewable aesthetics but also what was inside the watch. For example, someone earlier in this thread mentioned about a Zenith, and that watch with the El Primero movement, is a watch most enthusiasts would pay the premium for, if they are interested in movements and because of the history behind that movement.

With ETA ebauches being withdrawn from the market, the other non-ETA movements came to greater prominence, the Sellitas, Seikos, Miyotas etc. I mean, they were always there, but the thing back then was to get an ETA movement (which itself had a few grades) as the entry point for a Swiss movement. During that time, most of the watch houses started to name the movements with their own caliber names rather than referencing it to the base ETA-grade movements. Over time, unless that watch houses mention it and/or if one is really aware of the movements, one does not know if a movement is in-house or otherwise.

Back to the topic at hand, with the rise of the microbrands, from an aesthetic viewpoint, as what was mentioned earlier, there is not much more in terms of the quality of materials as in how much more "ceramic" can ceramic get after a certain point. There can still be degrees of quality improvement, but the question is whether diminishing returns justify the premium payable for a luxury watch. Unless a movement is brought into the question, it is more of the service and brand name that comes after a certain level, and if there is a unique material type.

I have have both luxury and microbrands in my collection, and love them both (too many of them). With the luxury ones, it has been more for the specific movements and standout designs that I had picked them for, besides the watch material. A decade ago, for example, titanium and ceramic-accessorised watches were not so common as they are now.

If I were to start collecting today, I would not necessarily look at the luxury range with so much quality available in the circa-$2k and below mark. It would have to be a very special watch to get me to spend more above $2k, or $10k for that matter.

At the end of the day, buy what you like if you can afford it. As another poster has mentioned, not worth getting into debt for a luxury piece, after, a watch is just a watch, but it is what we make of the watch that makes it appealing. Just like a TV show is just a TV show but what we dream of that makes that TV show particularly appealing. Boldy go where no others have gone before; luxury or not, don't follow the crowd.

Hi, joining the conversation late. I have 2 watches under the Lines brand. Both Limes and Archimedes are owned and managed by the Ickler family, and the watch cases are all made by Ickler for both brands.

My experience with the Limes watch brand has been good. Both pieces are very well made and finished, and the time-keeping has been very good. I am trying to rationalise my watch collection, and everytime I think about letting my Limes pieces go, I can't bring myself to do it because they are really quality watches.

In today's market with so many quality microbrands, Limes may be a tad expensive. But, extremely good quality build for the watch at that price.

I mentioned this to some friends in a group chat. I reckon a Viking works in the Swatch group and he's singing something like:

My mother told me

Someday I would make

Watches with good plastics

That end up in the bin

Shaking up the market

Noble wrists will wear

Swatches for my riches

And hew many watch brands

And hew many watch brands!

...it's the whisky that's greasing my noggins tonight...

HAGWE all.

It is certainly a polarising move. Would they do it next with Glashuette Original? Or perhaps Breguet? Or would they do more complications with the Moonswatch / Swatch Fathoms? A skeleton version perhaps...and if this takes off, will it devalue or enhance the established brands? A positive to bring people who are not watch enthusiasts or have been sitting on the fence about buying a watch, but I do wonder whether it will devalue the brands over time if there is a strong uptake on the collborations. OR, as @SNWatchNerd commented, it might make people desire the real thing more. Hence, my curiosity on the long (or short, medium) term thinking of the Swatch group in making such an undertaking in the market.