Malaysia Watch Forum

Main Forums => General Discussion - Modern Watches => Topic started by: wslee on August 13, 2012, 07:17:52 PM

Title: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: wslee on August 13, 2012, 07:17:52 PM
I'm not sure whether this thread has been started yet.
Anyway like to know,for a similar price(For Example:RM15k). Would you guys buy an independent watch brand or common brand?
Do u think brand is more important?

 :Cheers:
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: GlySinn on August 13, 2012, 07:33:51 PM
Irregardless of the brand. The story & "soul" behind the brand is the attraction factor.
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: tonykpk on August 13, 2012, 09:36:58 PM
Hi Lee, Independent brand with own movement will cost more than rm 15k. Well, if  your budget permit, n your heart n head really desire why not. Brand n after sales service is very important .When buying a watch we actually buy the design, brand n usefulness  .   Beauty is in the eye of the beholder...Just my opinion..  fr..tony...
I'm not sure whether this thread has been started yet.
Anyway like to know,for a similar price(For Example:RM15k). Would you guys buy an independent watch brand or common brand?
Do u think brand is more important?

 :Cheers:
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: Godzillaz on August 13, 2012, 10:59:09 PM
Independent of course  ;D

My choice would be MIH, cost around RM15k like you said.
(http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w501/TdBean/451091d1307659949-your-relatively-affordable-realistically-obtainable-grail-mih_watch_1.jpg)

(http://i1079.photobucket.com/albums/w501/TdBean/_MG_3731Aweb1BW.jpg)

Regards
Tyler
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: terrenceterrence on August 14, 2012, 12:12:55 AM
A preowned Chezard movement Habring can be had around that price.
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: gapnap on August 14, 2012, 01:43:36 AM
*Taking off the RM15k price tag , back to Independent vs Common brand .

Why not both ?

Audemars Piguet & Patek .

Independent & Holy Grail .
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: Godzillaz on August 14, 2012, 09:42:51 AM
I don't think I'll consider AP as an Independent. Of course if we change the condition of the original question everything changes but that's not what the wslee have in mind I think.

Regards
Tyler

*Taking off the RM15k price tag , back to Independent vs Common brand .

Why not both ?

Audemars Piguet & Patek .

Independent & Holy Grail .
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: JOS2012 on August 14, 2012, 11:58:36 AM
If you are prepared to pay the servicing fees for an independent watch (AHCI) when its time, I'd say go for it.
It will be more exclusive but not necessarily a technically better movement than a non-AHCI. Its more of whether the DNA of the watch is to your taste.
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: JPSP on August 14, 2012, 12:14:59 PM
just my 2 cents worth..perhaps it depends on one's horological learning & acquistion curve?

some, after having owned mainstream brands, perhaps then one moves on to independents when he's the purchasing power, sense of adventure and pure love of the timepiece...

independent brands to me refers to very limited product of their time pieces..i would consider AP,PP, Blancpain and etc as mainstream although they own/manufacture their own movement and have a rich, old heritage. Independents that i would associate with will be speake marin, christopher claret, MIH, MB&F and Urwerk which are equally superior in manufacture, tech know-how, design, materials, the reputation of the people who are working on the timepiece, and more limited in production.

i wouldn't take chances on new funny funny ones that sprout out in almost every Basel event for the fear that they may not last..that will mean that the watch will be "worthless" (economic terms), hard to get rid off and who to send to when we need to service the watch? example: wyler, nubeo, alain silberstein (this is a surprise that they're no longer around) and etc...

if i've deep pockets...yeah i would go for independents...but then...i'm simply not there yet... :Praying:

Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: rusminag on August 14, 2012, 02:30:59 PM
In terms of general service cost:
Independent brand - high (extremely high)
Common brand - low (manageable)
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: SeaDwellerR on August 14, 2012, 02:57:55 PM
Brand is important due to certain factor of course...
But i am not sure what is "common brand" or "independent brand" you were referring to?

 :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: wslee on August 14, 2012, 05:05:14 PM
RM15k,just merely for comparison only.

For me,common brand(Which is commonly or widely known by public)-panerai,rolex,Ball,IWC, and etc.
Independe brand-Peter speake,saparneva, urweck,habring and etc.

My love still stays with Panerai.  :Laughing_on_floor:
But sometimes the temptation of independent design which attracts me too.
If give a budget,may hard to decide though.


 :Cheers:
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: wslee on August 14, 2012, 05:20:02 PM
It would be nice if for those who own independent brand,snap some pic :Dancing_banana:
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: SeaDwellerR on August 14, 2012, 07:33:27 PM
It would be nice if for those who own independent brand,snap some pic :Dancing_banana:

Cool, I would love to see those independent shots too.

My love with Rolex and Pam  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: Angryrodent on August 14, 2012, 08:52:44 PM
Im a dumbass... if i c something that I want... i read up a lill then buy it....independent movement service can be a bit high but once u get it back you'll be happy 4 weeks
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: Godzillaz on August 15, 2012, 08:03:12 AM
I disagree with the thinking of independent brand = high service cost.

Most cases of high service cost stem from the use of in house movement. An independent's watch could only cost more to service if the parts that need to replace are proprietary or else it is just the same as servicing a swatch.

One thing we need to realize is that in pursue of an in house movement we subject ourselves at the mercy of the watch company. The excuse is in house equal unique, which is not common, can't be made cheaply so must cost a lot to replace.

I don't think it will cost less than an independent when we take a big brand watch to service. I own a few of both. I don't recall paying more for service just because of its independent.

However I do realize service then to be high if there are more complication on the watch.

Finally I'll leave this to all of you. Do you know what do independent watchmaker do when they are not working on their own watches?

Yep, getting contract job from big brand for servicing their watch. You got it folks, there's a good chance ur in house/complicated piece end up on an independent watchmaker when u send it to the big brand service center.

It goes in to the reception then out it go to the independent workshop. When is done it goes back to the big brand's service centre and billed to you. How can it be cheaper?

This is just how the swiss watch industry works.

Regards
Tyler

   
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: The Godzilla on August 15, 2012, 09:22:24 AM
if cars to represent watches in terms of independent vs common, in my humble opinion would be:

independent - Koenigsegg, TVR, Spyker, Tesla and etc

common - Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin and etc

I think Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin they all have service center in Malaysia

Definitely going for common  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: rusminag on August 15, 2012, 01:02:44 PM
I want a common Ferrari too.... :D :D
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: G.MAC on August 15, 2012, 02:09:53 PM
Being a serial flipper, I do not dare to delve into the realm of the independent brands yet. It is not easy to flip and hard to justify the price. Maybe once the urge has stabilised.. :)
Title: Re: Independent watch brand vs common brand
Post by: The Godzilla on August 15, 2012, 03:32:49 PM
Being a serial flipper, I do not dare to delve into the realm of the independent brands yet. It is not easy to flip and hard to justify the price. Maybe once the urge has stabilised.. :)

Agreed, I guess when you want sell / flip off your Ferrari and Porsche, many potential buyer looking for it.

But if you were to sell off your Koenigsegg or Spyker, then I guess you either lose a lot selling it or can't sell at all.

Nevertheless, the scenario only happen when you have to choose between independent vs common.
 
But if you have the $$$ why worry about choosing independent? at least you get to "try" independent and have no problem keeping it and maintaining it.