19-01-2015, 06:51 PM
These are my views on a few popular watch brands What do you think about them ?
Rolex .
Still the benchmark for quality and reliability . This is the brand that still sets the standard for the watch industry . Nobody makes watches with such a high standard , every Rolex sold to the public is just about perfect . You just do not hear about many defect watches . On the downside they are becoming a little boring , to say the least . It was bound to happen when you make ca. 1.000,000 watches a year . I personally am tired of looking at the same Sub or Dweller again and again . That is why i now have a Yachtmaster
. I see no real competitors to the Rolex crown .
Seiko .
This is the closest you can get to Rolex quality in top range models , and some of their models like the Grand Seiko even surpass Rolex . The biggest drawback for Seiko is the image , and unless they change the name on these watches they will never get rid of the image they now have in the eyes of most watch buyers . But in general quality all across the line Seiko are better than most Swiss brands .
Omega.
This brand dares to do things in a different way , and they have my respect for this . New models pop up all the time , and they make some fantastic new models while keeping the traditional watches up to date . I think you actually get a lot of watch for the money compaired to say a Rolex at the same price . The quality of the calibers and the casework has taken a gigantic leap forward in the last ten years or so . There is to put it shortly , an Omega watch out there for everyone .This itself is quite an achievment
IWC.
The Greatest all round brand on the planet . This is what they used to be . Nobody covers all the aspects of watchmaking like them . They make great complications , and have made classics for under the water or in the skies . They still make some great watches , but they are no longer a real competitor to Rolex like they used to be . Their dive watches and gimmick pilot watches have destroyed the image they once had . The quality does not justify the price in their basic line of watches . In this price segment against Omega or Rolex they have fallen way behind . Their top of the range watches are still far ahead of anything made by Rolex or Omega . In my opinion they went for the quick buck . And they will learn that once you loose the image of quality all across the line , it is a bastard to get it back again .
Patek.
A legend in the high end watch brands for factory made watches . They used to be the benchmark for other high end brands . But this is not so today . They are guilty of standing still in a ever changing industry . I expect them to be sold within the next ten years or so , before they lag further behind Lange . They are trying to do a Rolex with high end watches . But it will not work , because i do not think they have the resources to do it . They have a unique image , but make watches that look like a Zenith my grandfather used to wear . To call any of their latest offerings beautifull would be a downright lie . They remind me so much of Rolls Royce , and i think they will go the same way . And in my opinion this would be a good thing for a once great brand .
AP.
Well you cannot accuse them of standing still . But i wish they would . Endless limited editions , and watches that look like a casio on steroids do nothing for the image they once had . But if you look past the Royal Oak models , they still make a lot of beautifull and very well made models . They have a good future in my opinion because they better than any other high end brands appeal to a wide range of high end buyers . Variety is the spice of life , seems to be their motto . I have always liked AP because they are not afraid to go in new directions .
JLC.
The Watchmakers Watch is what this brand are known as . Okay they still make some great watches . But they like IWC have to drop the cheap gimmick watches they are spitting out . Navy Seals springs to mind here . They do not need this kind of advertising crap in my opinion , it totally screws up what could have been a great watch . They still supply many high end brands with their calibers , but love to keep quiet about it . So that Panerai owners can keep believing the watch brochures they read
A real inhouse watchmaking brand . And there are not many of them about .
Panerai.
Everyone should own a Pam at least once in their lives . It is quite simply a unique and charming watch . It has a small amount of watch making history compaired to the other brands i have mentioned . But they are basicly a great design that does not look like any other watches out there . They are now putting better calibers inside , but the quality is no where near Rolex standard . Collectors will always go after some of their so called limited editions , and they have the most fanatical followers in the watch world . I like them just because of the design , not for any contribution they have made to watchmaking .
Lange & Sohn.
In my opinion the best factory made watch you can buy today . They looked at Patek as the benchmark , and their only ambition was to beat them . And in a very short time and a lot of money , they have done this . They have several abilitys that Patek do not have . They are able to blend the conservative with the modern and achieve a broader appeal to the people who have the money to buy their watches . They have unlimited resources from the Richmont Group to develop new ideas . They are the prestige brand of one of the worlds biggest watch making firms . It is really a uneven contest , and one that Patek will never win . In their effort to be the best they first assemble every watch and check all the functions . Then they take it all apart again and give each part a final finish before putting it all together again , and giving it a final check . Buy one now if you can afford it .
These are just a few brands and my opinions of them today .
Rolex .
Still the benchmark for quality and reliability . This is the brand that still sets the standard for the watch industry . Nobody makes watches with such a high standard , every Rolex sold to the public is just about perfect . You just do not hear about many defect watches . On the downside they are becoming a little boring , to say the least . It was bound to happen when you make ca. 1.000,000 watches a year . I personally am tired of looking at the same Sub or Dweller again and again . That is why i now have a Yachtmaster
. I see no real competitors to the Rolex crown . Seiko .
This is the closest you can get to Rolex quality in top range models , and some of their models like the Grand Seiko even surpass Rolex . The biggest drawback for Seiko is the image , and unless they change the name on these watches they will never get rid of the image they now have in the eyes of most watch buyers . But in general quality all across the line Seiko are better than most Swiss brands .
Omega.
This brand dares to do things in a different way , and they have my respect for this . New models pop up all the time , and they make some fantastic new models while keeping the traditional watches up to date . I think you actually get a lot of watch for the money compaired to say a Rolex at the same price . The quality of the calibers and the casework has taken a gigantic leap forward in the last ten years or so . There is to put it shortly , an Omega watch out there for everyone .This itself is quite an achievment
IWC.
The Greatest all round brand on the planet . This is what they used to be . Nobody covers all the aspects of watchmaking like them . They make great complications , and have made classics for under the water or in the skies . They still make some great watches , but they are no longer a real competitor to Rolex like they used to be . Their dive watches and gimmick pilot watches have destroyed the image they once had . The quality does not justify the price in their basic line of watches . In this price segment against Omega or Rolex they have fallen way behind . Their top of the range watches are still far ahead of anything made by Rolex or Omega . In my opinion they went for the quick buck . And they will learn that once you loose the image of quality all across the line , it is a bastard to get it back again .
Patek.
A legend in the high end watch brands for factory made watches . They used to be the benchmark for other high end brands . But this is not so today . They are guilty of standing still in a ever changing industry . I expect them to be sold within the next ten years or so , before they lag further behind Lange . They are trying to do a Rolex with high end watches . But it will not work , because i do not think they have the resources to do it . They have a unique image , but make watches that look like a Zenith my grandfather used to wear . To call any of their latest offerings beautifull would be a downright lie . They remind me so much of Rolls Royce , and i think they will go the same way . And in my opinion this would be a good thing for a once great brand .
AP.
Well you cannot accuse them of standing still . But i wish they would . Endless limited editions , and watches that look like a casio on steroids do nothing for the image they once had . But if you look past the Royal Oak models , they still make a lot of beautifull and very well made models . They have a good future in my opinion because they better than any other high end brands appeal to a wide range of high end buyers . Variety is the spice of life , seems to be their motto . I have always liked AP because they are not afraid to go in new directions .
JLC.
The Watchmakers Watch is what this brand are known as . Okay they still make some great watches . But they like IWC have to drop the cheap gimmick watches they are spitting out . Navy Seals springs to mind here . They do not need this kind of advertising crap in my opinion , it totally screws up what could have been a great watch . They still supply many high end brands with their calibers , but love to keep quiet about it . So that Panerai owners can keep believing the watch brochures they read
A real inhouse watchmaking brand . And there are not many of them about .Panerai.
Everyone should own a Pam at least once in their lives . It is quite simply a unique and charming watch . It has a small amount of watch making history compaired to the other brands i have mentioned . But they are basicly a great design that does not look like any other watches out there . They are now putting better calibers inside , but the quality is no where near Rolex standard . Collectors will always go after some of their so called limited editions , and they have the most fanatical followers in the watch world . I like them just because of the design , not for any contribution they have made to watchmaking .
Lange & Sohn.
In my opinion the best factory made watch you can buy today . They looked at Patek as the benchmark , and their only ambition was to beat them . And in a very short time and a lot of money , they have done this . They have several abilitys that Patek do not have . They are able to blend the conservative with the modern and achieve a broader appeal to the people who have the money to buy their watches . They have unlimited resources from the Richmont Group to develop new ideas . They are the prestige brand of one of the worlds biggest watch making firms . It is really a uneven contest , and one that Patek will never win . In their effort to be the best they first assemble every watch and check all the functions . Then they take it all apart again and give each part a final finish before putting it all together again , and giving it a final check . Buy one now if you can afford it .
These are just a few brands and my opinions of them today .
- Jeg er engelsk - bor i Danmark, forstår dansk - men foretrækker at skrive på engelsk 
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