Buy brand or movement

[tomlaw]

Buying watches are very similar to buying cars.

If you're after brand name, you pay much more, but you get high resale value or they might appreciate in value in years to come and hence you make a profit.

If you're after movement, many lesser known brand uses the same movement, but you only pay about 1/3 of the popular brand price. Of course when you try to sell it, you will find a lot of used watch dealers prefer not to take them or will take them in at a very low price. (make more sense to get one of these second hand as the first owner suffer the depreciation).

Of course you have to take into account other factors such as the design (you must like what you see too!), comfortability (watch must sit comfortably on your wrist) and maintenance.

Hope this helps.

[1to12]

Hi Tyler,

Sorry to bring up your old post but just curious... what's BB?

Cheers

Only to those not famous one. The famous and successful ones spot ROO or BB. 

Regards
Tyler

[Godzillaz]

Hublot's Big Bang

Regard
Tyler

Hi Tyler,

Sorry to bring up your old post but just curious... what's BB?

Cheers

Only to those not famous one. The famous and successful ones spot ROO or BB. 

Regards
Tyler

[CKL1213]

i would say is Design > Brand > Movement

you won't but an ugly watch with a good movement right?

[Primus]

For me, if buying a time piece ill go for the double combo of both good brand and good movement. After all there are alot of wonderful brands out there with good movements or even movements of their own. Well not alot but they are certainly not rare. I would def save up a budget to get both brand and movement.

Although in the spirit of the original question, given the hard choice of choosing only one it would depends on what is ur purpose of the watch, if I was trying to inpress somebody in a meeting or a date ibwould definitely choose brand. If it was for me to wear for my own pleasure i would choose movement. So having two watches for two diff situation would help, or as above, get the two in one combo. Having said all this design that u like trumps everything


Just two months ago I had to buy watches as gifts for 5 friends (grp budgt) whom never owned nic mechanical watches before. for the two corporate (financial and banking related) working friends I bought popular swiss brands with eta movement for them as brand recognition would be a save assumption in their line of work. The othe two was mechanical engineers, I bought for them more obscure russian and german brands with clear caseback and all hand wound no automatics as I was sure thy would appreciate the beauty of thr clear case and the appreciation of mechanical genius of a mechanical watch in that just a wound spring can tell time of acceptable quality. The last guy was a professor in an australian university so I bought him a funky mechanical hamilton same as the onr worn by will smith inbmen in black (triangle shaped) as I was sure it will be a great conversational starter for his students and it is mechanical which is unique for its shape.  Three aspdct of design brand and movement all has its own purpose. I guess the right ans again would situational

[1to12]

Thanks Tyler. Personally, I would agree with Aesthetics > Brand > Movement.

Wah Primus, you and your frens are so generous. I've been thinking of buying "group watches" but for my siblings though. 

[kicksology]

brand!

[chrisyen]

Some times depend on occasions

If buy for ppl then another story... Budget > brand > design

If buy for wearing... Then design > movement/maintenance cost > brand

If buy for investment... Then brand > model/design > price offered

[Godzillaz]

Then again it also depends on the brand status stay the same.

Few brands that I dismiss years ago are on a comeback, Zenith, Arnold & Sons, Cartier, Montblanc, AP

Few brands I starting to dismiss now, IWC, PP,

Well, nothing stay the same for a long period of time ...

Some times depend on occasions

If buy for ppl then another story... Budget > brand > design

If buy for wearing... Then design > movement/maintenance cost > brand

If buy for investment... Then brand > model/design > price offered

[euclidorus]

I subscribe to the philosophy of buying a brand with heritage in engineering, hence the movement takes priority. Then I look for good finishing, be it in the movement, case or dial. Next the design must stand the test of time. If a watch meets these criteria it becomes a compelling case for ownership.

I may occasionally buy based purely on design (i.e. it appeals to me and is trendy and reliable) even if the movement is not in house, but these would not be a significant part of my collection.

[sinbad2k]

Definitely brand name for me

[Yoda]

I would go for movement because of its authencity.

Do you know that certain Nissan vehicle use Mitsubishi engine? This all because of achieving lower production cost. I don't mind if its a vehicle.

But then again you don't feel the authencity of the brand for watches.

[rusminag]

In my mind.....
Movement: JLC
Brand: Rolex

[GMTmaster]

In my mind.....
Movement: JLC
Brand: Rolex

I felt Rolex makes good movements too.

Of course, JLC is well known for all it's in house movements. And JLC makes interesting complications as well.

[wei2011]

I would base on the design..

Of course budget as well 

[Timeless]

dial -> brand -> movement

[tonykpk]

Brand and movements plus classic design is a must when i purchase a watch.

In my mind.....
Movement: JLC
Brand: Rolex

These are 2 of my favorite brands.

In my mind.....
Movement: JLC
Brand: Rolex

I felt Rolex makes good movements too.

Of course, JLC is well known for all it's in house movements. And JLC makes interesting complications as well.

You are right indeed, the AP Wempe diver uses the JLC Movement, so does the Ap Ro dualtime (39mm)  and also the Ap ro chrono (40mm) which uses the Frederic Piguet movement (One of the best vertical coupling chronograph movement money can buy). Pls correct me if im wrong. Only my opinion ,regards tony

[aequod1]

I select based on the features given with any watch. If my required functions are there then I definitely own the same watch.

[Cocas]

hi guys,

juz throwing some q..

you buy watch based on watch brand or movement.. coz some similar movement in different brand have so much gap ..

I buy both. Buy movement only limited to Swiss or Japan made.

[kfkwan]

I would look for in house movement if that's the situation.

[kygan711]

I would buy the watch design and brand first since its facing me everyday while the movement is inside.

[D'Andy]

For brands like Rollies, Omega, etc, I bought them based on the brand and design. Their in-house movements were proven, and customer services known over time. For brands like Tudor, Tag Heuer, etc, I bought them based on the brand and movement. For instance, Tudor used to go with ETA but their improvements on the standard movements were commendable, so I liked what they did with such workhorses. For micro-brand and kickstarter brands like Archimede, Maranez, Prometheus, etc, I bought them based on design and movements. For instance, in the Archimede Heritage pilot, one would get an ETA 2824-2 in classic Flieger design for less than RM3k. That's value for monies in my book. Ultimately, if the watch speaks to me, the hand reaches for the wallet. And the wife nags later 

[asimo]

 Brand + Design (in to tool/sport genre) ...

 Most watches with generic movement either ETA , valjoux, sellita , seiko or Miyota .. Unless u pay premium for in house


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[meoramri]

I go for design first, brand then movement last. On the last part I'm not as focused of wanting just mechanical pieces as before. A number of my recent purchases have been Quartz.


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[AbbasHabshee]

I go for design first, brand then movement last. On the last part I'm not as focused of wanting just mechanical pieces as before. A number of my recent purchases have been Quartz.


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+1

I'll go firstly for the design, secondly for the brand and thirdly for the movement.

I tend not to think that much of the movement if i really love the design