The best watch channel on TH-cam, for me. This is the second video where you’ve done a phenomenal job in explaining how you define value, and at different price points. The addition of models and brands in each of these price tiers I’m sure will be incredibly helpful to people trying to sort through options when purchasing. Love the content. Appreciate what you do!
Bet it's going to be a kind of Glashutthe or go to Universal Geneve .... kind of bet there will be 2 editions 😊 with different calibre's /price matters ... a diver and a dress watch versions
This episode was super good. I'm a manufacturing engineer by profession, and it's crystal clear that you understand these things very well. I like your model as a comparison tool. Pretty straight forward. For me craft is the most complex parameter. It's really hard so understand what it adds to the experience of a watch. It's always a pleasure to look at good craftsmanship, but in my opinion it's easier to have a more consistent quality with a proper process, then handmade. But usually there is a feel to handmade things that's hard to quantify. I have been a collector for a very short time and it's an affordable collection were my favorite is my Willard. But during this journey my mindset have changed a lot. I more or less only buy with my heart. And heritage and cool story connected to the watch is far more important than accuracy or power reserve. Also fit and finish is more important than specs. I don't know if my thought made any sense. But anyway, thanks for a great episode and I wish you a good 2025.
I am a relatively new watch enthusiast and every time I watch one of your videos, I feel like I'm attending a graduate level seminar on horology, watch making, and the watch industry. What I appreciate most about your content is that you're gifting your viewers with thoughtful frameworks for how to evaluate watch purchases. Your channel should be mandatory viewing for every watch collector.
Mike is so well informed and articulate about the multifaceted details of a watch that his vids are professorial. Thank you for these weekly updates and a great channel. Cheers!
What’s great about this, is that it helps watch enthusiasts determine their own priorities, provides a framework for determining how to assess “value”. In theory this approach will save enthusiasts from the constant buying and selling (and usually losing money in the process) that historically is required to gain experience and determine preferences and priorities. Great job. And happy new year to you and your loved ones.
Watched this twice, I generally don’t buy anything that costs more than one thousand, so I have a few NH movements, accuracy is so so, but I don’t think it matters too much, they are good enough, my circle of friends doesn’t do watches, so I buy for me, Rolex is a benchmark that I don’t need to reach, but understanding the benchmarks for various levels of perceived quality is important. Love this watch channel.
It’s not often that you’ll get watch folks on TH-cam letting you know about what manufacturers make what for different watch brands. This knowledge is excellent and very rarely shared. So refreshing and transparent
I saw you on Teddy‘s year-end video and got so excited and it was that point I realized, “Wow I’m a fanboy.” And you know what? I’m super cool with that.
I'm still new to the hobby having been in it for about 2 years and only having the funds for maybe 2 watches a year at the $500-$1000 range. There's so many things I learn here that you just articulate extremely well to help guide me through the watch landscape. Thank you so much for your videos!
I have loved watches since I got a Mickey Mouse watch when I was about 10 year's old. I probably have 15 or 20 watches. I don't have any, "high end" watches. Most expensive or 'nicest' watch is a quartz TAG-Heuer that I overpaid for..........in a mall jewelry store almost 25 years ago. If I'm not mistaken, I paid $1,500..............25 years ago. It still works. I liked the look of the watch then. I still like the look of the watch. "So what?" I see near zero correlation between "quality" and price. I overstand that my phone or a $100 G-Shock will keep better time or is a more "logical" choice for tracking time, but I am of an age where I am uncomfortable if I'm not wearing a(n) (analog) watch. Recently, I was on a watch forum and was surprised to read how many people claimed to have returned Seiko Marinemaster's and Omega Planet Ocean's for some repair or another. I have a quartz Timex Reefgear Indiglo that I've had for probably 15 years. I don't remember purchasing it. Could not possibly have cost more than $75 (15 years ago). For about 5 years, I wore it 7 days per week, 2 of those days per week it was worn while performing manual labor. During that time it was routinely exposed to temperature extremes...........20 degrees F to 100 degrees F. For the last 5 years, the watch was, "lost". It was somewhere in the house, but I had no idea where, and wasn't really looking for it. Turns out the watch was out in an unheated garage..........in a drawer.........full of metal tools..........for 5 years. Found the watch 3 months ago........running.........at the correct time.........the illumination light on the dial still works........but get THIS........I cannot see a single scratch anywhere on the crystal, case, bezel, or metal band........the ONLY sign of use is a few barely visible scratches on the underside of the stamped clasp........on this 15 year old $75 watch. No Kryptonite case coating, no MEMS technology, no sapphire crystal, no triple powder coated Kevlar bezel. Go figure.
I try and follow the keep it simple stupid idea. If I like the watch and I can reasonably afford it. I buy it. I also look for how comfortable it is on my wrist(which comes down to proportions, machining tolerances, etc). Great video, happy new years!
Fantastic video as always Mike - the comparison elements were so clear and summed up the offerings so well. You and ID Guy bring such a clear defined approach to watches with no hype.
At the end of the day, your favourite watch youtuber is the one you agree with the most… probably 😂 i don’t agree with everything you say but i just think you have a mostly object opinion on the watch industry nobody else has has! And I appreciate that very much. You and tim mosso are my favourites. Keep it up mike ❤️
Wow Mike has over 85k subscribers. I remember when I first came across his channel and he was sub 25k, maybe less. It’s so heartwarming to see so many people gravitating to true educators and enthusiasts!! Bravo Michael 👏👏👏
I have small wrist, thin always my focus, followed by legibility, minimalist, and design. My favorite watch is Blancpain Villeret 1180 chronograph, 8mm thickness & 34mm diameter, minimalist design in the dial without nonsense words like daytona. 2nd favorite is Breguet 5177 enamel dial, thin and simplicity white enamel are the icon. 3rd and last is Damasko DC71, central minute chronograph with date, no nonsense dial design.
Also mentioned by Mike in this excellent edition, my #1 criterion is the law of diminishing returns. Purists scoff at thoughts of price as a key factor but sorry guys, it is. You cannot have a phrase like "Value Proposition" without considering ticket prices. Due to that and after many years of journey down the rabbit hole, my personal preference has focused on two niches in the market: 1) $500 to $1k watches. I derive more pleasure from watches in this price category than any other. Below that and quality is obviously lower. Above that and they tend to melt into one level of quality. Way above? I don't have the budget. I love finding the "cheap jewel" that gives me 95% of the luxury watch for 10% (or less) of the price. Recent top purchase: Baltic. 2) Pre-owned. Amazing what you can get for $2k if you have patience. Recent top purchase: An Omega virtual-NOS for $1200, the owner had worn it perhaps 5 times.
I appreciate your commentary about the differing values for manufacturing, craftsmanship, and brand identity. This is nice to hear when a lot of reviewers just recite spec sheets give a rating.
Most of the watches I have bought over a very long lifetime have fallen into the sub 500 range. Some of them have not only stood the test of time and wear, but design as well. Yes, at some point, like all watch enthusiasts, I will probably buy my "Holy Grail", but in the meantime the exceptionally clear information you provided helps me understand differences between certain price points for watches that I will continue to buy and wear on a daily basis. Thank you.
Let’s not downplay the value of branding. All high end brands invest in events, people, customer care and relationship that is the soft part of the ownership experience. My last Audi was bought from a dealership group that also had Bentley, Jaguar, McLaren, etc. I would get invited to events for all of them, and the food, drinks etc., were all premium….and the ‘goodie bags’…from Jaguar, I have a pair of leather driving gloves, a branded (by Jaguar, and the umbrella maker) umbrella, as well as coffee mug….and McLaren? - a $500 pen in a custom wooden box…I looked up the pen model and was astounded…all for showing up at a launch party, and a test drive… Excessive? Yes. Does it differentiate the ownership experience from Toyota? Absolutely….thats the point.
Quickly becoming my favorite horological TH-camr! Thank you for getting into things that most will not because it doesn’t get them a free watch! Love it!
Logical and down to earth approach. No nonsense or temperamental opinion as I find on other watch channels. Always interesting, thank you for your good work!
I’m having a difficult time classifying the PF as a sport watch. The simplicity of the design makes it absolutely elegant. Your description of the PF is spot on as is your model for determining value. Great job!
The best channel in the business. Happy new year Mike. Citizen mentioned. Happy Days 🙂 Another great analysis 👌 For 500-2000$ price bucket it is really hard to beat some of the microbrands in my opinion. In terms of design, materials, specs, value for money and mostly fit & finish - big brands cannot compete. I'd take Farer, Christopher Ward, Direnzo, Wise, Zelos, or Baltic in place for Tissot, Longines, Hamilton, Mido, Certina, Seiko etc. all day, everyday. 💪
I love the application of intellectual horsepower to a subjective hobby. Always well thought out, a great set of options, and well thought through explanation of price points.
I own a Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic (steel). Even the steel version is light and wears, as you say, like a dream. For me though, the value of this watch is in it's original and very bold design statement. Yes, it's a Gerald Genta design, but this luxury watch projects (to me) a refined masculine elegance that is truly unique. It hasn't proved to be very collectable yet, and may never, but many do regard it as a design icon. As others have said here, you are a pleasure to listen to, and your rational, considered, approach contrasts nicely with the bombastic sensational style of some others. Thanks!
Another great video providing food for thought. It got me thinking about is the Rolex Datejust the ultimate "sports" watch - for me IMHO I think the Rolex Turno-graph (especially the last few years of the model) had the functionality as one of the ultimate sports watches. In the integrated sports category - taking into account your categories, quality, design, form, function, craft, manufacturing etc the only watch I came up with & left field (without the exorbitant price tag) is the Horage Supersed Date - A fully manufactured watch that has come on the scene in the last couple of years -fully in-house Swiss manufactured micro rotor with 72 hrs power reserve & COSC . 904L steel body and bracelet with 10mm micro adjustment in 1 mm increments, 200m WR and 10.28mm thickness - this is one of the few watches in the integrated sports watch category that has jumped out to me costing approx 5500 euro that offers best bang for your buck - including as well their Supersede GMT and recently released Dual Time all integrate sports watches with the similar specifications.
Fantastic show, Mike! As an engineer turned management consultant, I agree with your analysis, and excluding indies, I cannot imagine a more opaque, inbred, and slightly disingenuous industry. Now, let's agree that the moment we spend more than $50 for a device to tell time, we all become predictably irrational, even if we don't cross into Veblen territory. Just like in fashion, high prices represent a "restriction" to most and "reassurance" to the fortunate few! After 30+ years collecting watches, I started selling most modern ones. Santa brought me a big box marked Bergeon so I can continue working on a couple of vintage JLCs. Have an incredibly average New Year, Mike, and keep posting!
Great video - as always - thanks Mike and please keep the content and thoughtful analysis coming. I would add the overall balance to the mix. This is where something like an overseas really differentiates from a Rolex. The considered balanced elegance of an overseas is hard to describe but it beats a Rolex with ease. It may not justify the jump in price, but the overseas on the wrist has that additional ingredient which only becomes apparent in the higher tiers. I’d also mention the overall package of an overseas - bracelet and 2 straps, the box and overall thoughtfulness of VC as an owner experience is far better than the plastic box from Rolex - a side comment, but it’s also not nothing!
Another excellent video, Mike. Always appreciate your insight on the nuances of watchmaking itself and the business side of watchmaking. For me personally, I love all things horology but don't have the disposal income or patience to own high end watches. So the most important thing to me about a watch is whether or not it can take a beating and keep on ticking. (I work outdoors and dabble in triathlons during my time off, so I tend to be hard on watches and the safest bet is anything with a solar movement, good gaskets, screw down crowns and backs.)
In the price range up to 1500 (grey market) my favourite would be the ML Aikon. Up to 4 sizes and 3 wristband options and a lot of color versions for the dial.
Solid model Mike. Well considered as always. I might perhaps add a couple of points. One is that this is I think a consideration of what watch to buy on its own merit. But for many viewers, especially of this channel, we will also need to consider how a watch will sit amongst others in our collection. I also think, again more pertaining to the enthusiast perhaps, is that different spokes of your model will weight differently for different types of watches. Eg a chronograph. The movement will be super important, at least to me. Identity for a dress watch I think plays a bigger role than in other types of watch. Cartier for example can get away with selling you a battery operated movement in a steel case for well over a thousand pounds on a good quality but simple leather strap.
A friend of mine was brave enough to buy a Tonda (36mm 3 hands) 😅 at first I was kinda like "crazy move you gonna loose your shirt on this one" but he allowed me to borrow it for a few days and I have to say those watches are absolutely wonderful: built like a Rolex but with some high horology vibes, and to my personnal taste it's my favorite bracelet ever: very comfortable, nice looking and sturdy. Nothing flashy but the more time you spend with it the more you notice small but great details, and I have got grounds to compare since I do own Rolexes, a Streamliner and a Royal Oak
Great video! I agree with your points. You pretty much covered the key points since somethings, like history, are part of the brand aspect. I guess my addition would be are you comfortable buying used/grey market. Because that can really change what’s attainable in each price point. Take my personal favorite, and therefore the best, Glashutte Original. Retail price is absolutely high however, if you go secondhand/grey market, you can get a significant discounts on them and putting many models less than 10k… so that’s really what I would add.
Excellent video, one of the best and most concise as far as explaining quality and manufacturing vs craft levels. Should be a must watch video for new watch buyers possibly even older ones. 😅
My Breitling Galactic 41 black dial big date is my ultimate watch. Checks off all the boxes and it’s my favorite in my 20 watch collection above the Speedmaster, Seamaster prof 300, Tudor GMT…looking for a longines GMT Zulu time 39mm next 😊
Another great analysis, well done. There’s none other I came across here has such articulation and deep understanding of the watch brands and the industry and lay it out in a structured manner to view it other than the brand marketing and user experiences. The more content I watch the more I am intrigued about your profession. Maybe you mentioned before but I can’t remember it. Have a wonderful new year celebration into 2025! 🎉🎊
Mike might be the only TH-camr that understands that the hobby isn't about min/max-ing specs at every level and that people are going to want to value identity and branding in the luxury segment.
Happy New Year Mike! Well thought out and presented with an engineer’s eye since these are mechanical devices. My model is a little bit more streamlined: 1. Does the dial catch my eye?Regardless of the price. 2. Does the brand have heritage/provenance for the class? Meaning dive watch, dress, beater, chronograph etc. I am not into clones. 3. Can I buy it new, pre-owned, or slider condition and have it retain value? 4. If I was buying a $25,000+ watch, how much hand craftsmanship is involved? Like an A. Lange or Patek. 5. Power reserve is important, but not necessarily a deciding factor.
Hi Mike: your model is spot on. It took me many years and a lot of money to wrap a similar model for myself. However, I weigh up the individual aspects differently depending on the purpose of the watch. One additional aspect that becomes increasingly important with age: Sustainability. I now only buy a watch if I am convinced that I will enjoy it for the rest of my life. Since then I have been buying watches more selectively and consciously and no longer have to worry too much about depreciation.
Great video. Some of my evaluations are probably a bit "amateur", but one thing I look for is how well the date is centered in the date window. Another thing that is very important to me is legibility; I want to be able to glance at the dial and very clearly read the time within a couple of seconds. If it takes any longer, I am likely to pass on it unless there is some other feature that is very interesting and/or unique. I own both the Longines Spirit and Omega AT and both keep great time, have very well-centered dates, and are incredibly legible.
Love your videos. My watch collection is very much at the lower budget end of things, but I enjoy your insight and explanation of the whole watch collecting spectrum. Looking forward to your 2025 thoughts on the watch world.
Another stellar video from Mike. I've been waiting all day to watch and it was worth it. Tons of info with clarity regart subjective opinions. Good stuff. He's one of the few I pay attention to as I navigate this world of watches. Maybe the most. I finally bought a mechanical watch to hold me over until i get what I REALLY want. Yes Mike, I got that Seagull 1963😂. Why not? It's like my water bill. Plus it's something I can attempt to disassemble and reassemble where the total loss is irrelevant. I would get a far more respectable and serious watch if I could decide on one. For now, that'll do. Even if it is some silly Chinese whatever, it's got a pretty cool looking movement and I like the aesthetics so I'm excited.
Hi Mike! That’s so cool that you put your “days till last purchase” icon in the end of the video xD Also i really really admire the fact that you actually have an excel with every watch you have and how much time you are spending with each one “down to the day”… amazing ocd really 🥰 Also very good info in the video! Didn’t saw any other talk about this! Very nice and thoughtful work! Keep it up 🤘🏼😎
Well done. I would only add lifetime cost to your 5 points of comparison, although service costs could also be expressly factored into the evaluation of the movement.
Over the past three years, I’ve gone from being a watch guy…to almost an exclusively Grand Seiko guy. That finishing you reference translates into dials that are the fastest and most accurate to read. Add to that, the dial surfaces/textures and you have something that is truly unique. My Rolex, Tudor, Sinn, Breitling…nothing came close. I don’t find the Grand Seiko bracelets subpar - but they’re nothing to write home about. That said, 5 of my 7 GS watches are on leather or nylon straps 😅
1st of all, great content. My criteria can consist of a lot of frustration. My budget is usually less than $1000:00 Australian. So looks, robustness,versatility & usually 100m of water resistance, so I can swim with it confidently. Most of my attire is casual, so I usually don’t go with a dress watch. Love the channel.
Another great discussion Mike. I think your model is a very useful tool to rationally sift through many watch choices and narrow to a few. Ultimately though, emotive factors drive the purchase. If the watch doesn’t give you the “wow”factor (wow can mean different things for different people) when it gets on the wrist…conversion to purchase is much less likely--no matter what the rational model says.
For me this is your best video ever and the bar was high :). I love the idea of a structured, modelled approach to the hobby, knowing that we may regret at least a third of the decisions we make (I work in investment management where we have more models and a worse hit ratio). Your segmentation is spot on. I would just add this purely subjective dimension, irreducibly idiosyncratic which is about feeling, love, whatever. Oh and I realize that sometimes there are market inefficiencies: thinking about the sub $1000 “theory one” I bought from the young watchmaker JS Elliott which had a ton of “craft” in it. Thanks again !
As a daily I wear a current model black dial TAG Monaco, I swapped the steel bracelet for the black leather strap & Heuer clasp of the current Steve McQueen version.
One sleeper watch that will also throw a wrench in this discussion is the longines ultra chron. Top level eta high beat movement in the +or - range of 1 seconds a day. That will make you second guess any manufacture in house movement from all these other brands.
Congratulations Mike for another awesome program. I much appreciate this approach you've made. It's truly a dissection (a surgical exposure) of these matters. It's quite useful this style , method, of doing things - to organize our thoughts while we are gaining knowledge to organize our own. Loved it. Cheers.
Hi Mike, enjoyed the video! I recently bought the Tissot PRX Carbon. I also have a Datejust 41 (fluted bezel, jubilee, black dial) and an Omega Speedmaster, and the Tissot is far more sports watch than both of these (granted the Speedmaster is a Chronograph). Not kidding but it has become my favourite watch amongst these three. I'm glad you mentioned at least the Gentleman if not the PRX. I understand where you are coming from, but in my opinion the Datejust in this configuration is far more a dress watch than a sports watch. Not even suitable for my office job because it is too much bling. Don't get me wrong, I love my Datejust. But I would only consider the smooth bezel, oyster bracelet combination a sports watch. Also, I don't understand your comment re bracelet quality on Zenith. The Defy Skyline wipes the floor with my Datejust. I agree the Parmigiani is stunning! Last but not least, the IWC Ingenieur does not deserve to be completely silenced by you in this particular video topic ;)
Mike, I am fascinated by the concept of the model. As I was following your categorization, I was struck by the challenge of not just scoring a watch on these dimensions, but inter-price point commensurability of the ratings. Without worrying about whether you get it exactly right for any given watch, the rigor of the framing is bound to be very useful. I would LOVE to see an episode specifically geared around teasing out how one might apply the model in VERY different contexts. Let me suggest a few that would be awesome to see compared via your model...1) Studio Underdog, 2) Baltic, 3) Christopher Ward, 4) Omega Speedster, 4.5) grand Seiko snowflake or tentagraph, 4.6) Tudor Black Bay, 5) Rolex Sub, 6) Moser Endeavor Perpetual Calendar, 6.5) JLC Reverso, 7) Lange 1, 8) Lange Zeitwork, 9) Patek 5270, 10) F.P. Journe Resonance, 11) one of any a) Roger Smith, b) Philip Dufour, c) Rexhep. Doesn't have to be exactly that list, we I tried to pick a few pieces off the top of my head that would really push on the different dimensions, and how to plot each of these. It would be cool to to see spider charts!!! Rather than just suggesting work, if you're interested in going down a path like this, I;d be happy to help. It's hard to identify exactly what I look for across a collection precisely because I THINK my definitions move around a bit as I go up in price point. I need to think about this in a bit more detail,. but I am inclined to think I mentally divide my collection into 2 parts, those that I wear a great deal and routinely bring me joy, vs those that I truly "collect", e.g., worn only rarely / special occasion, and have something truly distinctive about them. I think the things I "collect" are things that are hard to scale, and the things I wear, are pleasing quality at a reasonable price point. Maybe if I scored my two parts separately, the exercise of applying a model would be more straight forward. A Journe Resonance would score very high on the "can't scale it" dimension both because of the cost and complexity of the movement, but maybe even more important, its a true chronometry innovation that makes it very unique. the DESIGN of the moser perpetual calendar movement is unique, I dont think would scale across brands, but would be more readily machine/mass produced than the Journe. but that fact that its an innovative movememnt certainly counts against scaleability. Sorry, turning into a book.. too many thoughts, not enough time to write.
4 main things i look when making a decision to purchase a watch: 1- Dial (I guess this is equivalent to design in some way) 2- Fit (it has to have acceptable set of dimensions according to my liking) 3- Brand (this equals your identity) 4- Clasp adjustability (I like bracelets, my wrist swells a lot, almost 1/4 of an inch between morning and night, during summer time, so on a fly adjustability is a big thing in my decision making)
Thx Mike! Enjoyed your vid once again. I think customer service needs to be included as well. That starts with the information provided in the beginning continues with the purchase experience itself, goes on with follow-ups (i.e. they value my feedback after some time or offer me e.g., new bracelet options) and ends with the servicing for instance pick up at home etc. Think that goes beyond the brand stuff because it's something a third person looking at my watch (or it's (second hand) price) can't see
One thing to mention about the Grand Seiko SLGH005 is that the finishing on the movement is head and shoulders above anything I've seen at the price point. In many aspects it throws punches with the finishing found on Glashutte Original.
Very interesting video. I was glad to see Citizen Super Titaniums - love them. Sports watches are so popular for a reason primarily because of the versatility. I like to operationalize things - to make it measurable so to say - therefore I like the model approach. However out of my experience I would consider to take one more factor into account and that's the serviceability of a watch. How is the service of a brand? I got some pretty chilling experiences even with well reputated brands. For a Patek owner revision costs may not be an issue because money isn't but for the vast majority it is especially when owning a decent collection. Finally I don't like to have the feeling to be ripped off, looking at Rolex specifically but they are not the only ones. Some brands have oppressive contracting when it comes to service and spare parts. You want to have a bracelet repaired but you have to include a revision for the price of decent watch for no reason.....
Biggest surprise I had about CRAFT when I started this journey is how some watches could cost a fortune only because they had hand finished movement under a solid caseback. Crazy.
The best watch channel on TH-cam, for me. This is the second video where you’ve done a phenomenal job in explaining how you define value, and at different price points. The addition of models and brands in each of these price tiers I’m sure will be incredibly helpful to people trying to sort through options when purchasing. Love the content. Appreciate what you do!
This dude is f*kn absolutely underrated. His articulations, his explanation make him so enjoyable to listen to. Great work.
Mike developing a model / algorithm doesn’t surprise me in the least.
It's the logical step, after the spreadsheet.
As soon as he said it; I said (aloud to my screen) “of course you are”. Mike is 1 of 1😂
Absolutely. If the video had started with “…and I haven’t developed a model to assess this, we’ll pretty much wing it”, AUDIBLE GASPS EVERYWHERE 😮
Bet it's going to be a kind of Glashutthe or go to Universal Geneve .... kind of bet there will be 2 editions 😊 with different calibre's /price matters ... a diver and a dress watch versions
Mike is the best on YT by a country mile. No shiller filler all watch content killer!
This episode was super good. I'm a manufacturing engineer by profession, and it's crystal clear that you understand these things very well. I like your model as a comparison tool. Pretty straight forward. For me craft is the most complex parameter. It's really hard so understand what it adds to the experience of a watch. It's always a pleasure to look at good craftsmanship, but in my opinion it's easier to have a more consistent quality with a proper process, then handmade. But usually there is a feel to handmade things that's hard to quantify.
I have been a collector for a very short time and it's an affordable collection were my favorite is my Willard. But during this journey my mindset have changed a lot. I more or less only buy with my heart. And heritage and cool story connected to the watch is far more important than accuracy or power reserve. Also fit and finish is more important than specs.
I don't know if my thought made any sense. But anyway, thanks for a great episode and I wish you a good 2025.
Perfect sense to me. And I also agree.
I am a relatively new watch enthusiast and every time I watch one of your videos, I feel like I'm attending a graduate level seminar on horology, watch making, and the watch industry. What I appreciate most about your content is that you're gifting your viewers with thoughtful frameworks for how to evaluate watch purchases. Your channel should be mandatory viewing for every watch collector.
Mike is so well informed and articulate about the multifaceted details of a watch that his vids are professorial. Thank you for these weekly updates and a great channel. Cheers!
What’s great about this, is that it helps watch enthusiasts determine their own priorities, provides a framework for determining how to assess “value”. In theory this approach will save enthusiasts from the constant buying and selling (and usually losing money in the process) that historically is required to gain experience and determine preferences and priorities. Great job. And happy new year to you and your loved ones.
Watched this twice, I generally don’t buy anything that costs more than one thousand, so I have a few NH movements, accuracy is so so, but I don’t think it matters too much, they are good enough, my circle of friends doesn’t do watches, so I buy for me, Rolex is a benchmark that I don’t need to reach, but understanding the benchmarks for various levels of perceived quality is important. Love this watch channel.
Another superb presentation Mike! Happy New Year to you and your family sir.
I don't comment on your videos enough, but this channel is great! Love your style of presentation and how you explain your reasoning
Thanks for all your content in 2024 Mike. Glad I found your channel. Learned a ton about watches and always enjoy your videos 🍻
It’s not often that you’ll get watch folks on TH-cam letting you know about what manufacturers make what for different watch brands. This knowledge is excellent and very rarely shared. So refreshing and transparent
I saw you on Teddy‘s year-end video and got so excited and it was that point I realized, “Wow I’m a fanboy.” And you know what? I’m super cool with that.
I'm still new to the hobby having been in it for about 2 years and only having the funds for maybe 2 watches a year at the $500-$1000 range. There's so many things I learn here that you just articulate extremely well to help guide me through the watch landscape. Thank you so much for your videos!
Bought a LV gmt years ago, got invited to LV events all year🎉
I have loved watches since I got a Mickey Mouse watch when I was about 10 year's old. I probably have 15 or 20 watches. I don't have any, "high end" watches. Most expensive or 'nicest' watch is a quartz TAG-Heuer that I overpaid for..........in a mall jewelry store almost 25 years ago. If I'm not mistaken, I paid $1,500..............25 years ago. It still works. I liked the look of the watch then. I still like the look of the watch.
"So what?"
I see near zero correlation between "quality" and price. I overstand that my phone or a $100 G-Shock will keep better time or is a more "logical" choice for tracking time, but I am of an age where I am uncomfortable if I'm not wearing a(n) (analog) watch.
Recently, I was on a watch forum and was surprised to read how many people claimed to have returned Seiko Marinemaster's and Omega Planet Ocean's for some repair or another. I have a quartz Timex Reefgear Indiglo that I've had for probably 15 years. I don't remember purchasing it. Could not possibly have cost more than $75 (15 years ago). For about 5 years, I wore it 7 days per week, 2 of those days per week it was worn while performing manual labor. During that time it was routinely exposed to temperature extremes...........20 degrees F to 100 degrees F. For the last 5 years, the watch was, "lost". It was somewhere in the house, but I had no idea where, and wasn't really looking for it. Turns out the watch was out in an unheated garage..........in a drawer.........full of metal tools..........for 5 years. Found the watch 3 months ago........running.........at the correct time.........the illumination light on the dial still works........but get THIS........I cannot see a single scratch anywhere on the crystal, case, bezel, or metal band........the ONLY sign of use is a few barely visible scratches on the underside of the stamped clasp........on this 15 year old $75 watch. No Kryptonite case coating, no MEMS technology, no sapphire crystal, no triple powder coated Kevlar bezel. Go figure.
Hats off to you sir! Your love of watches comes through, and you enjoy wearing your watches! The essence of a true collector. Have a Happy New Year🥂
I try and follow the keep it simple stupid idea. If I like the watch and I can reasonably afford it. I buy it. I also look for how comfortable it is on my wrist(which comes down to proportions, machining tolerances, etc). Great video, happy new years!
It’s been a pleasure meeting you this year. Looking forward to the next. 100k just round the corner. 🎉
Fantastic video as always Mike - the comparison elements were so clear and summed up the offerings so well. You and ID Guy bring such a clear defined approach to watches with no hype.
At the end of the day, your favourite watch youtuber is the one you agree with the most… probably 😂 i don’t agree with everything you say but i just think you have a mostly object opinion on the watch industry nobody else has has! And I appreciate that very much. You and tim mosso are my favourites. Keep it up mike ❤️
Greatly enjoyed your videos this year. Looking forward to the new year. Thanks Mike
Wow Mike has over 85k subscribers. I remember when I first came across his channel and he was sub 25k, maybe less. It’s so heartwarming to see so many people gravitating to true educators and enthusiasts!! Bravo Michael 👏👏👏
I have small wrist, thin always my focus, followed by legibility, minimalist, and design. My favorite watch is Blancpain Villeret 1180 chronograph, 8mm thickness & 34mm diameter, minimalist design in the dial without nonsense words like daytona. 2nd favorite is Breguet 5177 enamel dial, thin and simplicity white enamel are the icon. 3rd and last is Damasko DC71, central minute chronograph with date, no nonsense dial design.
Also mentioned by Mike in this excellent edition, my #1 criterion is the law of diminishing returns. Purists scoff at thoughts of price as a key factor but sorry guys, it is. You cannot have a phrase like "Value Proposition" without considering ticket prices. Due to that and after many years of journey down the rabbit hole, my personal preference has focused on two niches in the market:
1) $500 to $1k watches. I derive more pleasure from watches in this price category than any other. Below that and quality is obviously lower. Above that and they tend to melt into one level of quality. Way above? I don't have the budget. I love finding the "cheap jewel" that gives me 95% of the luxury watch for 10% (or less) of the price. Recent top purchase: Baltic.
2) Pre-owned. Amazing what you can get for $2k if you have patience. Recent top purchase: An Omega virtual-NOS for $1200, the owner had worn it perhaps 5 times.
I appreciate your commentary about the differing values for manufacturing, craftsmanship, and brand identity. This is nice to hear when a lot of reviewers just recite spec sheets give a rating.
Most of the watches I have bought over a very long lifetime have fallen into the sub 500 range. Some of them have not only stood the test of time and wear, but design as well. Yes, at some point, like all watch enthusiasts, I will probably buy my "Holy Grail", but in the meantime the exceptionally clear information you provided helps me understand differences between certain price points for watches that I will continue to buy and wear on a daily basis. Thank you.
Let’s not downplay the value of branding. All high end brands invest in events, people, customer care and relationship that is the soft part of the ownership experience. My last Audi was bought from a dealership group that also had Bentley, Jaguar, McLaren, etc. I would get invited to events for all of them, and the food, drinks etc., were all premium….and the ‘goodie bags’…from Jaguar, I have a pair of leather driving gloves, a branded (by Jaguar, and the umbrella maker) umbrella, as well as coffee mug….and McLaren? - a $500 pen in a custom wooden box…I looked up the pen model and was astounded…all for showing up at a launch party, and a test drive…
Excessive? Yes. Does it differentiate the ownership experience from Toyota? Absolutely….thats the point.
Quickly becoming my favorite horological TH-camr! Thank you for getting into things that most will not because it doesn’t get them a free watch! Love it!
Logical and down to earth approach. No nonsense or temperamental opinion as I find on other watch channels. Always interesting, thank you for your good work!
I’m having a difficult time classifying the PF as a sport watch. The simplicity of the design makes it absolutely elegant. Your description of the PF is spot on as is your model for determining value. Great job!
By far my favorite watch channel. Thanks, Mike, insightful content, per usual.
(Now picture Comic Book Store Guy saying “Best. WatchTuber. Ever.”)
The best channel in the business. Happy new year Mike.
Citizen mentioned. Happy Days 🙂
Another great analysis 👌
For 500-2000$ price bucket it is really hard to beat some of the microbrands in my opinion. In terms of design, materials, specs, value for money and mostly fit & finish - big brands cannot compete. I'd take Farer, Christopher Ward, Direnzo, Wise, Zelos, or Baltic in place for Tissot, Longines, Hamilton, Mido, Certina, Seiko etc. all day, everyday. 💪
I have „discovered“ your channel and Aevig watches this year.
You offer brilliant analysis,
Aevig offers brilliant design in the below 800€ league.
I love the application of intellectual horsepower to a subjective hobby. Always well thought out, a great set of options, and well thought through explanation of price points.
Best watch channel on the internet.
Happy New Year Mike.
Mike, Happy New Year. This is your most awesome horological watch video yet. I am learning so much . Thank you 🙏
I own a Bulgari Octo Finissimo Automatic (steel). Even the steel version is light and wears, as you say, like a dream. For me though, the value of this watch is in it's original and very bold design statement. Yes, it's a Gerald Genta design, but this luxury watch projects (to me) a refined masculine elegance that is truly unique. It hasn't proved to be very collectable yet, and may never, but many do regard it as a design icon. As others have said here, you are a pleasure to listen to, and your rational, considered, approach contrasts nicely with the bombastic sensational style of some others. Thanks!
Another great video providing food for thought. It got me thinking about is the Rolex Datejust the ultimate "sports" watch - for me IMHO I think the Rolex Turno-graph (especially the last few years of the model) had the functionality as one of the ultimate sports watches. In the integrated sports category - taking into account your categories, quality, design, form, function, craft, manufacturing etc the only watch I came up with & left field (without the exorbitant price tag) is the Horage Supersed Date - A fully manufactured watch that has come on the scene in the last couple of years -fully in-house Swiss manufactured micro rotor with 72 hrs power reserve & COSC . 904L steel body and bracelet with 10mm micro adjustment in 1 mm increments, 200m WR and 10.28mm thickness - this is one of the few watches in the integrated sports watch category that has jumped out to me costing approx 5500 euro that offers best bang for your buck - including as well their Supersede GMT and recently released Dual Time all integrate sports watches with the similar specifications.
Fantastic show, Mike! As an engineer turned management consultant, I agree with your analysis, and excluding indies, I cannot imagine a more opaque, inbred, and slightly disingenuous industry. Now, let's agree that the moment we spend more than $50 for a device to tell time, we all become predictably irrational, even if we don't cross into Veblen territory. Just like in fashion, high prices represent a "restriction" to most and "reassurance" to the fortunate few! After 30+ years collecting watches, I started selling most modern ones. Santa brought me a big box marked Bergeon so I can continue working on a couple of vintage JLCs. Have an incredibly average New Year, Mike, and keep posting!
Great video - as always - thanks Mike and please keep the content and thoughtful analysis coming.
I would add the overall balance to the mix. This is where something like an overseas really differentiates from a Rolex. The considered balanced elegance of an overseas is hard to describe but it beats a Rolex with ease. It may not justify the jump in price, but the overseas on the wrist has that additional ingredient which only becomes apparent in the higher tiers. I’d also mention the overall package of an overseas - bracelet and 2 straps, the box and overall thoughtfulness of VC as an owner experience is far better than the plastic box from Rolex - a side comment, but it’s also not nothing!
Love this channel. No bs just great info
Another excellent video Mike. Always look forward to your spot on analysis of the Watch Market. Great work as always my friend ✊
This is your best of '24. Yes! We need more models!
Another excellent video, Mike. Always appreciate your insight on the nuances of watchmaking itself and the business side of watchmaking. For me personally, I love all things horology but don't have the disposal income or patience to own high end watches. So the most important thing to me about a watch is whether or not it can take a beating and keep on ticking. (I work outdoors and dabble in triathlons during my time off, so I tend to be hard on watches and the safest bet is anything with a solar movement, good gaskets, screw down crowns and backs.)
In the price range up to 1500 (grey market) my favourite would be the ML Aikon. Up to 4 sizes and 3 wristband options and a lot of color versions for the dial.
Citizen's Tsuyosa line is one of my favorites in the sub-500 price point, but now I have the Zenshin to check out too...
Solid model Mike. Well considered as always.
I might perhaps add a couple of points.
One is that this is I think a consideration of what watch to buy on its own merit.
But for many viewers, especially of this channel, we will also need to consider how a watch will sit amongst others in our collection.
I also think, again more pertaining to the enthusiast perhaps, is that different spokes of your model will weight differently for different types of watches.
Eg a chronograph. The movement will be super important, at least to me.
Identity for a dress watch I think plays a bigger role than in other types of watch. Cartier for example can get away with selling you a battery operated movement in a steel case for well over a thousand pounds on a good quality but simple leather strap.
You did your homework for this video and articulated it extremely well. A great video!
I love watching your videos, it’s like having a conversation with the partner of my consulting firm
A friend of mine was brave enough to buy a Tonda (36mm 3 hands) 😅 at first I was kinda like "crazy move you gonna loose your shirt on this one" but he allowed me to borrow it for a few days and I have to say those watches are absolutely wonderful: built like a Rolex but with some high horology vibes, and to my personnal taste it's my favorite bracelet ever: very comfortable, nice looking and sturdy. Nothing flashy but the more time you spend with it the more you notice small but great details, and I have got grounds to compare since I do own Rolexes, a Streamliner and a Royal Oak
Great video! I agree with your points. You pretty much covered the key points since somethings, like history, are part of the brand aspect. I guess my addition would be are you comfortable buying used/grey market. Because that can really change what’s attainable in each price point. Take my personal favorite, and therefore the best, Glashutte Original. Retail price is absolutely high however, if you go secondhand/grey market, you can get a significant discounts on them and putting many models less than 10k… so that’s really what I would add.
Mike, I enjoy immensely all your videos. Your ideas introduce structure in this massively chaotic and emotional hobby. Thank you!
Excellent video, one of the best and most concise as far as explaining quality and manufacturing vs craft levels. Should be a must watch video for new watch buyers possibly even older ones. 😅
Great video, thank you. What are your thoughts on Yema, generally, and the Urban Traveller, specifically.
My Breitling Galactic 41 black dial big date is my ultimate watch. Checks off all the boxes and it’s my favorite in my 20 watch collection above the Speedmaster, Seamaster prof 300, Tudor GMT…looking for a longines GMT Zulu time 39mm next 😊
Another great analysis, well done.
There’s none other I came across here has such articulation and deep understanding of the watch brands and the industry and lay it out in a structured manner to view it other than the brand marketing and user experiences.
The more content I watch the more I am intrigued about your profession. Maybe you mentioned before but I can’t remember it.
Have a wonderful new year celebration into 2025! 🎉🎊
Mike might be the only TH-camr that understands that the hobby isn't about min/max-ing specs at every level and that people are going to want to value identity and branding in the luxury segment.
Great video. I have fallen hard in love with the new Tonda PF line and indeed so much so I am selling my newly acquired RO to get one.
Happy New Year Mike! Well thought out and presented with an engineer’s eye since these are mechanical devices. My model is a little bit more streamlined:
1. Does the dial catch my eye?Regardless of the price.
2. Does the brand have heritage/provenance for the class? Meaning dive watch, dress, beater, chronograph etc. I am not into clones.
3. Can I buy it new, pre-owned, or slider condition and have it retain value?
4. If I was buying a $25,000+ watch, how much hand craftsmanship is involved? Like an A. Lange or Patek.
5. Power reserve is important, but not necessarily a deciding factor.
Hi Mike: your model is spot on. It took me many years and a lot of money to wrap a similar model for myself. However, I weigh up the individual aspects differently depending on the purpose of the watch.
One additional aspect that becomes increasingly important with age: Sustainability. I now only buy a watch if I am convinced that I will enjoy it for the rest of my life. Since then I have been buying watches more selectively and consciously and no longer have to worry too much about depreciation.
This is an excellent point. I use this when considering a ‘big’ purchase especially.
Hi Mike, another 1st video. You have improved my insight in to the watch world so much.. and I thank you for that.
Great video. Some of my evaluations are probably a bit "amateur", but one thing I look for is how well the date is centered in the date window. Another thing that is very important to me is legibility; I want to be able to glance at the dial and very clearly read the time within a couple of seconds. If it takes any longer, I am likely to pass on it unless there is some other feature that is very interesting and/or unique. I own both the Longines Spirit and Omega AT and both keep great time, have very well-centered dates, and are incredibly legible.
Lots of videos do reviews. Yours provide data and perspective - thank you.
Love your videos. My watch collection is very much at the lower budget end of things, but I enjoy your insight and explanation of the whole watch collecting spectrum. Looking forward to your 2025 thoughts on the watch world.
Another stellar video from Mike. I've been waiting all day to watch and it was worth it. Tons of info with clarity regart subjective opinions. Good stuff.
He's one of the few I pay attention to as I navigate this world of watches. Maybe the most.
I finally bought a mechanical watch to hold me over until i get what I REALLY want. Yes Mike, I got that Seagull 1963😂. Why not? It's like my water bill. Plus it's something I can attempt to disassemble and reassemble where the total loss is irrelevant. I would get a far more respectable and serious watch if I could decide on one. For now, that'll do.
Even if it is some silly Chinese whatever, it's got a pretty cool looking movement and I like the aesthetics so I'm excited.
Hi Mike! That’s so cool that you put your “days till last purchase” icon in the end of the video xD
Also i really really admire the fact that you actually have an excel with every watch you have and how much time you are spending with each one “down to the day”… amazing ocd really 🥰
Also very good info in the video! Didn’t saw any other talk about this! Very nice and thoughtful work! Keep it up 🤘🏼😎
Well done. I would only add lifetime cost to your 5 points of comparison, although service costs could also be expressly factored into the evaluation of the movement.
Enjoyed the informative presentation. Well done Sir.
I really like this channel. I am not sure why. I just like listening to this guy talk about watches. 😂
Wonderful presentation! I really appreciate the model- it is a great way organize one's thoughts!!
Astonishingly brilliant analysis.
Over the past three years, I’ve gone from being a watch guy…to almost an exclusively Grand Seiko guy.
That finishing you reference translates into dials that are the fastest and most accurate to read. Add to that, the dial surfaces/textures and you have something that is truly unique. My Rolex, Tudor, Sinn, Breitling…nothing came close.
I don’t find the Grand Seiko bracelets subpar - but they’re nothing to write home about. That said, 5 of my 7 GS watches are on leather or nylon straps 😅
Nice to see some love for PF
1st of all, great content. My criteria can consist of a lot of frustration.
My budget is usually less than $1000:00 Australian. So looks, robustness,versatility & usually 100m of water resistance, so I can swim with it confidently.
Most of my attire is casual, so I usually don’t go with a dress watch.
Love the channel.
Happy New Year! Keep up the excellent work …. Love the analytical aspects of your arguments
Another great discussion Mike. I think your model is a very useful tool to rationally sift through many watch choices and narrow to a few. Ultimately though, emotive factors drive the purchase. If the watch doesn’t give you the “wow”factor (wow can mean different things for different people) when it gets on the wrist…conversion to purchase is much less likely--no matter what the rational model says.
For me this is your best video ever and the bar was high :). I love the idea of a structured, modelled approach to the hobby, knowing that we may regret at least a third of the decisions we make (I work in investment management where we have more models and a worse hit ratio). Your segmentation is spot on. I would just add this purely subjective dimension, irreducibly idiosyncratic which is about feeling, love, whatever. Oh and I realize that sometimes there are market inefficiencies: thinking about the sub $1000 “theory one” I bought from the young watchmaker JS Elliott which had a ton of “craft” in it. Thanks again !
Thank you so much for explaining why I prefer Longines over Tudor, and Omega over Rolex.
Happy new year!
As a daily I wear a current model black dial TAG Monaco, I swapped the steel bracelet for the black leather strap & Heuer clasp of the current Steve McQueen version.
Great video, as always. Have a great New Year. I always appreciate the design, especially the dial.
Another excellent presentation.
Quite refreshing to get a more objective view of this watch game.
WHY DO I FEEL I AM VISITING A SHRINK EVERY TIME I WATCH HIS VIDEOS 😂
One sleeper watch that will also throw a wrench in this discussion is the longines ultra chron. Top level eta high beat movement in the +or - range of 1 seconds a day. That will make you second guess any manufacture in house movement from all these other brands.
Congratulations Mike for another awesome program. I much appreciate this approach you've made. It's truly a dissection (a surgical exposure) of these matters.
It's quite useful this style , method, of doing things - to organize our thoughts while we are gaining knowledge to organize our own.
Loved it.
Cheers.
Hi Mike, enjoyed the video! I recently bought the Tissot PRX Carbon. I also have a Datejust 41 (fluted bezel, jubilee, black dial) and an Omega Speedmaster, and the Tissot is far more sports watch than both of these (granted the Speedmaster is a Chronograph). Not kidding but it has become my favourite watch amongst these three. I'm glad you mentioned at least the Gentleman if not the PRX. I understand where you are coming from, but in my opinion the Datejust in this configuration is far more a dress watch than a sports watch. Not even suitable for my office job because it is too much bling. Don't get me wrong, I love my Datejust. But I would only consider the smooth bezel, oyster bracelet combination a sports watch. Also, I don't understand your comment re bracelet quality on Zenith. The Defy Skyline wipes the floor with my Datejust. I agree the Parmigiani is stunning! Last but not least, the IWC Ingenieur does not deserve to be completely silenced by you in this particular video topic ;)
Mike, I am fascinated by the concept of the model. As I was following your categorization, I was struck by the challenge of not just scoring a watch on these dimensions, but inter-price point commensurability of the ratings. Without worrying about whether you get it exactly right for any given watch, the rigor of the framing is bound to be very useful. I would LOVE to see an episode specifically geared around teasing out how one might apply the model in VERY different contexts. Let me suggest a few that would be awesome to see compared via your model...1) Studio Underdog, 2) Baltic, 3) Christopher Ward, 4) Omega Speedster, 4.5) grand Seiko snowflake or tentagraph, 4.6) Tudor Black Bay, 5) Rolex Sub, 6) Moser Endeavor Perpetual Calendar, 6.5) JLC Reverso, 7) Lange 1, 8) Lange Zeitwork, 9) Patek 5270, 10) F.P. Journe Resonance, 11) one of any a) Roger Smith, b) Philip Dufour, c) Rexhep.
Doesn't have to be exactly that list, we I tried to pick a few pieces off the top of my head that would really push on the different dimensions, and how to plot each of these. It would be cool to to see spider charts!!! Rather than just suggesting work, if you're interested in going down a path like this, I;d be happy to help.
It's hard to identify exactly what I look for across a collection precisely because I THINK my definitions move around a bit as I go up in price point. I need to think about this in a bit more detail,. but I am inclined to think I mentally divide my collection into 2 parts, those that I wear a great deal and routinely bring me joy, vs those that I truly "collect", e.g., worn only rarely / special occasion, and have something truly distinctive about them.
I think the things I "collect" are things that are hard to scale, and the things I wear, are pleasing quality at a reasonable price point. Maybe if I scored my two parts separately, the exercise of applying a model would be more straight forward. A Journe Resonance would score very high on the "can't scale it" dimension both because of the cost and complexity of the movement, but maybe even more important, its a true chronometry innovation that makes it very unique. the DESIGN of the moser perpetual calendar movement is unique, I dont think would scale across brands, but would be more readily machine/mass produced than the Journe. but that fact that its an innovative movememnt certainly counts against scaleability.
Sorry, turning into a book.. too many thoughts, not enough time to write.
Thoroughly enjoyed. An interesting evaluation plan, I like it.
4 main things i look when making a decision to purchase a watch:
1- Dial (I guess this is equivalent to design in some way)
2- Fit (it has to have acceptable set of dimensions according to my liking)
3- Brand (this equals your identity)
4- Clasp adjustability (I like bracelets, my wrist swells a lot, almost 1/4 of an inch between morning and night, during summer time, so on a fly adjustability is a big thing in my decision making)
Thx Mike! Enjoyed your vid once again. I think customer service needs to be included as well. That starts with the information provided in the beginning continues with the purchase experience itself, goes on with follow-ups (i.e. they value my feedback after some time or offer me e.g., new bracelet options) and ends with the servicing for instance pick up at home etc. Think that goes beyond the brand stuff because it's something a third person looking at my watch (or it's (second hand) price) can't see
Excellent video sir, love the model and detailed explanation across every price point.
One thing to mention about the Grand Seiko SLGH005 is that the finishing on the movement is head and shoulders above anything I've seen at the price point. In many aspects it throws punches with the finishing found on Glashutte Original.
Excellent video as always Mike! It is interesting to see how you analyze these watches. I look at Brand/Design/Movement/Materials (dial and case)
Very interesting video. I was glad to see Citizen Super Titaniums - love them.
Sports watches are so popular for a reason primarily because of the versatility. I like to operationalize things - to make it measurable so to say - therefore I like the model approach. However out of my experience I would consider to take one more factor into account and that's the serviceability of a watch. How is the service of a brand? I got some pretty chilling experiences even with well reputated brands. For a Patek owner revision costs may not be an issue because money isn't but for the vast majority it is especially when owning a decent collection. Finally I don't like to have the feeling to be ripped off, looking at Rolex specifically but they are not the only ones. Some brands have oppressive contracting when it comes to service and spare parts. You want to have a bracelet repaired but you have to include a revision for the price of decent watch for no reason.....
What a great video. Superb information done in an entertaining style. Happy Holidays! Cheers!
Fantastic video Mike! Thank's for sharing such a detailed analysis!
Never stop teaching Mike, cause we will never stop learning!
learn what a sports watch is
2025 will go down in history as the year of the Mike Score
As always, a fantastic take on the watch industry Mike! All the best for the new year!
Biggest surprise I had about CRAFT when I started this journey is how some watches could cost a fortune only because they had hand finished movement under a solid caseback. Crazy.