What's a good watch for $1000 or less.

[Quasmo]

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Maybe a dive watch? Otherwise, the only difference between a $20 timex and a $1000 over-priced watch is in the status symbolism.

My girlfriend got me this as an early engadgement gift. (More like a, "if you leave me I'll kill you" gift) But I don't like the black ring around the top. So I can exchange it at Macy's for a different watch.

Dude, you do not exchange that watch! You wear it and you have to say "I love the watch" to everyone else when she is around!

When I went to Macy's I realized that there is no other watch I could pick out that would be better than the one she thought I would like, and to get anything less expensive would almost cheapen the gift. This watch will have far more sentamental value than any other watch I could have picked.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

Originally posted by: Rubycon
Wow when you get into the $1k range you have a lot of options, namely automatic instead of quartz! Long live the automatic!

example

I'm not a watch expert like Descartes but I'm pretty sure that quartz and automatic are not mutually exclusive.

 

[xchangx]

I second an automatic watch. Well, one that doesn't have a quartz.

 

[Rubycon]

Automatic always refers to mainspring movement that's wound by the movement of the user's wrist. There are newer types namely Seiko kinetic that use the movement to power a tiny dynamo which charges a capacitor. The escape of electrons from the capacitor drives the quartz movement.

Regular quartz movements use stepper motors and the second hand moves in one second intervals. These are much more accurate than any automatic movement, however the automatic movement will have a very smooth sweeping of the second hand.

 

[ShockwaveVT]

OK, I understand the difference. Thanks Rubycon.

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
However, there are two points that you yourself made: the expensive watches are indistinguishable from the cheap watches, and the cheap watches keep just as good of time.
So, I don't understand the justification for spending so much other than for status, or some perceived status or satisfaction.

its SELF-SATISFACTION, not social acceptance. ie. "i know im wearing a quality product, but i dont need to announce it to the world, and i dont really care what the world thinks of it"

 

[edtsui]

I guess the best way to try to explain something like this is a quote ripped from Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear talking about supercars which is one of the most superfluous things a person can buy, but I fully understand it.

You don't buy these things with your head, you buy them with your heart because you love them and who can explain love?

Sappy, I know but it makes sense.

 

[Tweak155]

Originally posted by: edtsui
I guess the best way to try to explain something like this is a quote ripped from Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear talking about supercars which is one of the most superfluous things a person can buy, but I fully understand it.

You don't buy these things with your head, you buy them with your heart because you love them and who can explain love?

Sappy, I know but it makes sense.

So you need material for love? I feel I need to quote the Beatles:

Money can't buy me love.

THAT makes sense. What would you do in a world without money?

 

[edtsui]

Originally posted by: Tweak155


So you need material for love? I feel I need to quote the Beatles:

Money can't buy me love.

THAT makes sense. What would you do in a world without money?

You've basically missed the point. You're not buying the love of an inanimate object. You're buying a piece of art whether it was handcrafted, engineered, or just built. It's no different than someone buying a painting.

You can't buy something you love or you can't love something you buy? Is that your point?

It's ok if you want to have some purely functional/utilitarian view of life. I think you miss out on a lot if you live that way but it's still your choice. But it'd also be quite a bit hypocritical if you knock on someone who spends 1000 dollars on a watch if you were to have say a stamp collection or baseball cards.

That's not to say that there aren't pretentious idiots out there who buy these things purely on status.

 

[Tweak155]

Originally posted by: edtsui

Originally posted by: Tweak155


So you need material for love? I feel I need to quote the Beatles:

Money can't buy me love.

THAT makes sense. What would you do in a world without money?

You've basically missed the point. You're not buying the love of an inanimate object. You're buying a piece of art whether it was handcrafted, engineered, or just built. It's no different than someone buying a painting.

You can't buy something you love or you can't love something you buy? Is that your point?

It's ok if you want to have some purely functional/utilitarian view of life. I think you miss out on a lot if you live that way but it's still your choice. But it'd also be quite a bit hypocritical if you knock on someone who spends 1000 dollars on a watch if you were to have say a stamp collection or baseball cards.

That's not to say that there aren't pretentious idiots out there who buy these things purely on status.

I applied it to the OP original situation. Keep in mind she bought it for him. That now brings it into the scenario where it means a lot to her as well.

Having enjoyment in stuff makes sense, but not being able to easily adjust without something like a watch for example, is just fool hearted.

 

[Ns1]

w/o knowing Macy's selection, I would say Tag, ESQ, or Tissot


maybe a Movado if you're into the styling.

 

[DrPizza]

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: DrPizza
However, there are two points that you yourself made: the expensive watches are indistinguishable from the cheap watches, and the cheap watches keep just as good of time.
So, I don't understand the justification for spending so much other than for status, or some perceived status or satisfaction.

its SELF-SATISFACTION, not social acceptance. ie. "i know im wearing a quality product, but i dont need to announce it to the world, and i dont really care what the world thinks of it"

Yes, that's what I implied: self-satisfaction. Now answer the question I've been pondering: what makes the quality so much better?! For virtually any other product, I understand the difference in quality, and why it costs so much for that increase in quality. I don't understand the difference for watches.

 

[sdifox]

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: sdifox

Originally posted by: Quasmo

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Maybe a dive watch? Otherwise, the only difference between a $20 timex and a $1000 over-priced watch is in the status symbolism.

My girlfriend got me this as an early engadgement gift. (More like a, "if you leave me I'll kill you" gift) But I don't like the black ring around the top. So I can exchange it at Macy's for a different watch.

Dude, you do not exchange that watch! You wear it and you have to say "I love the watch" to everyone else when she is around!

When I went to Macy's I realized that there is no other watch I could pick out that would be better than the one she thought I would like, and to get anything less expensive would almost cheapen the gift. This watch will have far more sentamental value than any other watch I could have picked.

There, problem solved. Now repeat after me "I would have bought this watch myself, thank you honey."

 

[LS21]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Yes, that's what I implied: self-satisfaction. Now answer the question I've been pondering: what makes the quality so much better?! For virtually any other product, I understand the difference in quality, and why it costs so much for that increase in quality. I don't understand the difference for watches.

for the end PURPOSE of time-keeping, a high-quality quartz is superior.

as a mechanical device, an artisanal automatic watch is better. its got old-world "technology". its about care and craftsmanship

make the analogy to a home art piece... sculpture or painting. one produced in a factory will be impeccable in precision and detail.. but wouldnt you rather have one that you know was made with care , by hand , though however imperfect?

aside from those emotional attachments, heres what i like about automatic watches: looking through the glassback, seeing the cogs and wheels and gears rotate, hearing their rhythmic movement, and looking at the smoothly sweeping hands

 

[Ns1]

Originally posted by: DrPizza

Originally posted by: LS21

Originally posted by: DrPizza
However, there are two points that you yourself made: the expensive watches are indistinguishable from the cheap watches, and the cheap watches keep just as good of time.
So, I don't understand the justification for spending so much other than for status, or some perceived status or satisfaction.

its SELF-SATISFACTION, not social acceptance. ie. "i know im wearing a quality product, but i dont need to announce it to the world, and i dont really care what the world thinks of it"

Yes, that's what I implied: self-satisfaction. Now answer the question I've been pondering: what makes the quality so much better?! For virtually any other product, I understand the difference in quality, and why it costs so much for that increase in quality. I don't understand the difference for watches.

Assuming we're talking about automatic watches here...

automatic watches require tons of parts and careful craftsmanship. In addition, all automatic watches need to be 'tuned' because they will lose a few seconds every year. the better quality ones will lose less seconds then the cheaper ones.

in addition, IIRC the more expensive automatic watches can do crazy shit like leap year, DST, etc, etc, etc. Pretty much paying for a little automatic machine on your wrist to do all kinds of crazy shit.

Mine just tells time/date, so maybe somebody who is more of a watch aficionado can chime in

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: DrPizza
Maybe a dive watch? Otherwise, the only difference between a $20 timex and a $1000 over-priced watch is in the status symbolism.

Indeed. Though it is amusing sometime. Back at Walmart, one of my managers was getting annoyed that it was taking a long time to get the departments stocked (snowy night, lots of call-offs), so he took me and we both took care of the furniture department. He was a bit overzealous, as he generally was, and as he quickly slid a boxed desk set into the shelf, he wound up smashing his expensive watch against the metal shelf.

My $6.43 Walmart watch has lasted almost 5 years now, keeps time very well, and is comfortable. If it breaks, it's certainly cheap to replace.
Quartz crystal oscillators are stable, reliable timekeepers, even when used in cheap circuitry.

 

[Minjin]

There is a HUGE difference between a cheap watch and a quality watch to the discerning eye. The thing is, many people just don't have a eye for quality. Just like many people see no difference between a walmart computer and a high end computer with hand chosen compoents, they can't see the difference in watches. Personally, I love quality because I respect excellence in anything. Fine crafted watches are some of the most amazing little machines you will ever see. I don't always need quality in the things I purchase but I always respect it.

An example of how amazing these watches can be: http://www.timezone.com/library/rdnotebook/200503149532

edit: and oh, for the OP, I suggest going over to PMWF or timezone for better answers.