WatchProSite|Market|Digest
WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Independents

Welcome!

 

I am so happy to see a new member from my country smile  Hope to see your posts and pics going forward.

Now to your questions....  Very valid and important questions.  Price is generally what the market (supply/demand) determines.  Everybody pays top money for Patek because people think they are worth it (in many ways).  Some independents do not charge so high maybe because they do not have so much overhead or to attract the potential buyers - brand must be recognized widely first.  Or, they don't even need to make money....?

Servicing is something always we need be mindful, I understand.  If you buy independents through the "agent" in Japan, the "agent" should be able to provide assistance.   Will your independent watches be serviceable in 50 years?... that is something we have to cross our fingers, unfortunately.  Many brands must have vanished in the past 50 years, but most are repairable by the experienced watchmakers - let us hope that will be the case in the future smile  If we are too afraid of these things, we cannot enjoy independents!

I am sure there are many other perspectives from the more experienced independent lovers - please chime in!

Ken

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6 Comments view entire thread 

Price vs Value and repairs questions

 
By: Yamaguchi : May 9th, 2011-16:33
Dear all, I'm a newbie to the world of independents, so I have a few questions. I'm very attracted by the watches of Vincent Calabrese (les techniques, power), Peter Speake-Marin (piccadilly) and Christian Van Der Klaauw (Pallas, Ariadna... Is Orion a wom... 

X p l o s i v e but very valid question

 
By: Bill : May 9th, 2011-18:30
First of welcome to the forum we are always happy to have new members from around the globe. Price is such a bad measure to capture value. I think there is obviously a cost that each manufacturer has with each product but the price is a function on many t... 

Welcome!

 
By: KIH : May 9th, 2011-20:33
I am so happy to see a new member from my country Hope to see your posts and pics going forward. Now to your questions.... Very valid and important questions. Price is generally what the market (supply/demand) determines. Everybody pays top money for Pate... 

Thank you so far!

 
By: Yamaguchi : May 10th, 2011-01:32
Thank you for the responses so far! When I saw the prices for the watches I was interested in, I thought it was too good to be true, so I wondered what the catch was... I'm happy to hear it's nothing to do with quality. If anyone else has some opinions, p... 

In 40 years...

 
By: nickd : May 10th, 2011-04:36
I'm currently getting a 43-year old Grand Seiko 5722 serviced / restored, and it's not easy. Some watchmakers don't like working on them as they're apparently fiddly. Parts are to all intents and purposes not available. It needs a movement retaining screw... 

Movements

 
By: Greg D : May 14th, 2011-00:59
Most of the more modestly prices Independent watches are based on off the shelf movements modified slightly. So generic parts should be available for the movements, and even if the maker is no longer around, a qualified watchmaker should be familiar with ...