What is the difference between a cheap and expensive watch
Whats The Difference Between A Cheap Watch And An Expensive Watch?
Can you recommend a good, inexpensive watch for my husband?
I was around 20 years old, working the watch counter at Macys during the holidays when a woman asked me that question. Full disclosure, I was not a horologist (a watch expert). All I knew was that if you worked in the jewelry department, you got a commission for each sale.
I showed the woman a bevy of watches from Fossil to Movado, from automatic to mechanical, all at various price points. I stuttered, trying to convince the woman which watches were of the best quality and struggling to remember what my manager told me about the intricacies of watches. She balked at a few $1,000 watches I showed her, saying they were too expensive. She eventually chose one: a Citizen with a stainless steel case and a rotating bezel for around $300. A good watch, an associate told me after I sold the woman her gift. Still, the question stuck with me: Is it possible to buy a good watch without breaking the bank?
Buying a watch can be intimidating. There are more distinct types out there than there are face sheet masks, all at various prices. But what makes an expensive watch different from an inexpensive one? (And for this story, were excluding fitness watches from the conversation, because theyre a whole other beast.)
Watches vary from $50 to $500,000 for special collectors, limited edition or vintage watches. The trick is to figure out what youre intending to buy before you purchase it. Are you thinking about functionality, style, longevity or all the above? said Gary Girdvainis, publisher and editorial director of International Watch magazine. Though the devil is in the details. What does it cost to make the watch youre intending to buy?
We asked three watch experts and a watch enthusiast to explain the difference between a cheap watch and an expensive one, and whether youre getting the most bang for your buck when choosing an expensive one.
Engineering plays a huge part in a watchs value
When it comes to inexpensive timepieces, most use basic materials mostly mass-produced, said Sabir M. Peele, founder of Mens Style Pro and a watch enthusiast. There are several determining factors that set their value, brand legacy, materials, movement and man-hours to create the piece.
To put it simply, the materials used to make the watchs exterior, as well as the materials inside, can make or break a watch, literally. It has a lot to do with engineering. Inexpensive watches are often mass-produced and have fewer parts, thus not as easy to regulate for accuracy, said Edward Farber, one of two principals at the Aaron Faber Gallery in New York. Its not the exterior of the watch that counts; its the engineering inside.
photosindia via Getty Images
You can find a wonderful inexpensive watch, but you have to ask yourself, will it hold up? Does the engineering allow it to be worn every day and take the jolts of life? Will it scratch or break easily? Is it water- or shockproof? You have to consider the vulnerability of the watch in addition to its wearability, added Faber.
If youre paying $50 for a watch, the parts ... could be anywhere around $6 or $7 dollars to make, versus a $500 dollar watch, which might cost $100 or more to make, noted Girdvainis. So, if the watch is cheap, chances are it was cheaply made.
There are noticeable markups on watches
When you buy a brand-new watch, you have to understand that youre paying for a certain amount of markup. Most brands are particularly secretive about production numbers, costs and the tools needed for engineering, but its been estimated that the markup could be up to 100%. It depends on the price range, said Tim Mosso, a watch specialist and the director of media for WatchBox. The added-value cost to a manufacturer can encompass anything from research and development to product engineering to capital expended on tooling. For watches sold by mass-market brands such as Rolex, Omega and Breitling, most of the cost of a watch will reflect research and development, engineering, training and production equipment.
Much of a watchs value comes from its advertising
Theres truth that the longer you keep a watch thats of a good brand and works well, the more its value increases. And luxury watch brands spend millions on advertising each year that speaks to the prestige or exclusivity of a piece and how its manufactured. Yet most of a watchs value comes from its advertising, as Faber noted. Cartier, Rolex, Patek Philippe and all of the major luxury brands imbue a greater investment in marketing and advertising than other mass-market brands, Faber told HuffPost. They make their watches more exclusive, they engineer it better, and make it more difficult to obtain that adds to its value.
Personally, its hard to assess a watchs value because they have such personal intrinsic meaning to most people, Peele said. Maybe it was a gift from a relative that passed away or you received it as an award from work. To me, its value is weighted in its versatility. Can I wear it every day or with what Im wearing at the moment? Can I swim with it or travel? A watchs versatility is its true value.
Emotion, like design, plays a major role
Much like any accessory, a well-designed watch can not only meet a buyers physical needs, but it can also have a psychological component.
Theres the emotional appeal of wearing something thats not another disposable solid-state sealed box. As time passes, the enduring qualities of a watch become more pronounced; you grow to associate it with every vacation, promotion, good times, bad times, and life milestone you encounter, Musso said.
Do your homework on watches before you buy
Google is your friend. Look to online communities of watch collectors, journals and blogs to do some research, Musso said. There are plenty of YouTube communities and websites that offer niche guides, reviews and the basics in looking for any watch, Girdvainis said. The preowned market is pretty vast when it comes to watches, and you can find deals on quality luxury watches there.
When it comes to watch buying, you dont necessarily have to drop $20,000 for a good, high-quality watch. Below, check out a few options for mens watches at all price points.
HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability subject to change.
Bulova Futuro Gold, $425
Bulova
Fossil Neutra Chronograph Stainless Steel Watch, $149
Fossil
Movado Museum Classic, $495
Movado
Skagen Signatur Black Silicone Field Watch, $95
Skagen
Timex Standard 40mm Leather Strap Watch, $79
Timex
Jack Mason Diver Bracelet Watch, $315
Jack Mason
Hamilton Khaki Field Mechanical Watch, $475
Hamilton
Citizen Avion, $350
Citizen
Tissot Everytime Swissmatic, $450
Tissot
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What's the difference between a cheap and an expensive mechanical watch?
I've recently started to appreciate some of the finer things in life (for example, about six months ago I bought my first pair of Allen Edmonds shoes and I'm getting ready to have some shirts custom made).Now I'm considering upgrading my watch collection. For my whole life, I've owned nothing but cheap (under $100) quartz watches, so I was thinking about getting a mechanical watch.My Allen Edmonds shoes cost me $350, which is about three times what I was used to paying for shoes. But when I got them, I had some idea why they were so (comparatively) expensive (made in USA instead of overseas, a vast array of available sizes, etc).When I look at watches, though, I'm not sure what justifies the prices of the more expensive brands. Sure, some of them are made from platinum, white gold, etc, but that's not always the case. For example, I went to Tourneau a few weeks ago, and they had a Longines automatic (part of the Flagship series, I think) for about $1,000. There was nothing fancy about it--sapphire crystal, display back, stainless steel case, no complications (other than a date display). Then they had a somewhat similar looking watch by, I think, Jaeger LeCoultre which, again, was just stainless steel, and it was $5,000! :-s And, thanks to this forum, I've started looking at Orient watches, some of which look very nice and are only $150! :think:So, on the more expensive watches, are you just paying for the prestige of the name and the exclusivity of low-production numbers, or are there mechanical differences that I should be looking for? Does it have to do with the fit-and-finish? The Orients seem to look pretty nice in pictures, but maybe they somehow look shoddy in comparion to a Jaeger LeCoultre watch in person?
Difference Between Cheap and Expensive Watches
The price ranges available for watches can be remarkable at times. With both cheap and expensive options available, the price of a watch can vary from $50 and under to several thousands.
In fact, the most luxurious timepieces can exceed several thousand dollars, often reaching into the tens of thousands area in some cases. On the flip side, you have watches available for under $10, so it is clear there can be a significant difference in prices.
This makes buying a watch that bit more challenging. Granted there are noticeable differences between expensive and cheap watches, but at the same time there isnt much you can innovate in terms of functionality all watches will tell the time after all.
However, there are key differences that not everyone is aware of, and it may make it more understandable why the price range can seem so vast.
Craftsmanship
Perhaps the more prominent difference between an expensive and cheap watch is the overall craftsmanship. An expensive watch will be meticulously crafted by artisan watchmakers that have spent years perfecting their craft.
Watches are a remarkable engineering feat, involving hundreds of intricate parts that are carefully constructed to create a functioning timepiece. The attention to detail should be incredible on an expensive watch, while cheaper options will have nowhere near the same level of craftsmanship.
Cheap watches are easily manufactured, taking almost no time to produce massive numbers of products, hence their low price. The craftsmanship will be noticeably lower in various areas, such as in the casing, band/bracelet, and the watch hands.
Conversely, an expensive watch will look and feel better. It should be heavier yet more robust, while featuring all manner of small, intricate details.
The Movement
A watches movement is the inner mechanics that literally power the watch. Very much the heart of a timepiece, a watches quality can often be easily identified by the type of movement.
Watches will have one of two options for a movement mechanical and quartz.
Quartz
Quartz movements are typically found in cheaper watches as they are more affordable to manufacture, taking nowhere near the time and effort to make when compared to a mechanical movement.
A quartz crystal is powered by electricity to produce small vibrations at a desired frequency, which are then measured to help establish the time that has elapsed, allowing it to continually keep track of the time.
While cheaper to make, they still have high accuracy in terms of determining the time and are also very durable so can last many years without breaking. Funnily enough, the more affordable quartz movement produces a more accurate time than a mechanical movement.
Mechanical
A watch with a mechanical movement means that it is powered solely by mechanical mechanisms rather than electricity and a quartz crystal. All the mechanisms are powered by a spring, while an oscillating balance wheel regulates the time.
There are prominently used in luxury watches that are rather expensive, and they will always have a much higher level of craftsmanship that a quartz movement.
Additionally, a mechanical movement will consist of many small parts that must be carefully constructed to together in unison for the watch to function. It is one of the main reasons why collectors appreciate them, as there is a very high level of skill necessary to create them.
Mechanical movements can also come with additional features, such as being self-winding or automatic. This refers to the fact that the movements gather energy from the wearer using the watch, storing the energy to help wind the watch automatically.
Materials
Another clear sign of the differences between a cheap and expensive watch is the materials used in each.
For instance, the glass or crystal used to cover the watch face can vary quite significantly depending on the price. Cheaper watches will use cheaper crystal materials, often made form mineral glass, meaning that they are more prone to scratches and superficial damage.
This is quite difference when compared to more expensive crystals found on luxury watches. Materials such as sapphire are used in most cases, with the high-quality material being scratch-resistant.
In fact, sapphire crystal will be near impossible to break, so they boast a much longer life-expectancy that cheaper alternatives. This allows an expensive watch to last years and even decades without losing aesthetics.
Materials used inside of the watch are also costlier with expensive watches, usually being a large contributing factor behind their price. They use a variety of precious metals, but more important also feature various jewels to help prevent parts from deteriorating.
Complications
A specific term that refers to the additional features of a watch, complications can make another clear indicator of whether a watch is cheap or expensive.
As you may expect, cheaper watches feature very few, if any, complications. They usually tell the time and not much more, although some cheap options will have a couple of features, such as the day and date.
Expensive watches tend to have much more in the way of complications. For instance, a chronograph is a highly accurate stopwatch feature on many luxury watches, while water resistant features are popular among divers watches.
The time and effort needed to produce additional functional complications usually results in an increase price tag, which is why its mostly exclusive in expensive watches.
