The Watch Thread - Part 16

[Renzokukenz]

Just remember that nowadays, watches are worn as a clothing accessory and not really to tell the time. You wear a watch to complement your outfit - raise it to the next level... lol. It shows that you appreciate the artistry of that tiny 'machine' that you are wearing on your wrist. In a business setting, it contributes to your professional image.

If there is any one who derides watch wearing because "you can equally tell the time from your phone", you can only look on the person in pity. He/she does not know the true value and purpose of a watch in the modern context. But to each his own ...

What I mean to say was the usage purpose of the watch has shrunk.

traditionally watches were worn to BOTH tell time (and for specific models) and also to alleviate one’s fashion, just like what you’ve mentioned.

my point is that in the past watches are worn by more people because there’s BOTH The purposes of utility, and also, the alleviation of personal style.

the pool has shrunk, it is now* just for personal style. People don’t need to rely exclusively on a watch to tell time anymore.

I agree with everything you said. That’s why I rolled my eyes when my friends who are richer than me ask me to just buy an Apple Watch. Money really can’t buy a sense of style and culture I guess.

 

[Renzokukenz]

@paul02 I gave* the official SG Retailer of Steinhart a visit at Millenia Walk. They say they have a service center in SG now.

the young chap seems to know his inventory very well.

 

[paul02]

man I wish I am at your level of collection
this is going to be a big purchase for me and I want it to mark a turning point in my life

that's why I am so hesitant over which to get

I don't have a big collection. Just buying what I like.

@paul02 I have the official SG Retailer of Steinhart a visit at Millenia Walk. They say they have a service center in SG now.

the young chap seems to know his inventory very well.

That is good news but in case you are buying directly from Steinhart, do check if he will still service it.

 

[Johnpierpontmorgan]

Where to get good quality reputable tannery leather strap

 

[cichlid]

My Instagram @chriscentro

 

[pwillie]

I read that watches (due to the presence of a lot of metal, parts, and metal spiral) will get magnetized over time easily.

You think too much

 

[bubblemunche]

It's been a long while since I posted. Hope everyone is doing fine.

Interesting question about the relevance of watch wearing in modernity. My philosophy is quite simple: As long as wearing one makes you happy, why not?

 

[Renzokukenz]

My Instagram @chriscentro

is this limited edition??

looks very similar to the SPB143 but better, I can't pinpoint what it is specifically, but it looks better built

 

[patryn33]

How come most people don't wear watches nowadays?

City Chain pays high rental, but now has to give up to 70% discount to generate some cashflow.

Is the watch business a dying industry, which is being replaced by smartphones which give a very accurate time?

Remember one time, everybody who was anybody would carry a compact digital camera (Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Casio...) but when the smartphone camera got better, the compact camera industry died.

most ppl you see?

a lot of ppl around me don’t wear watches, it’s a generation thing. Gen Z hard to find then wearing. gen Y or Millennials maybe little more ppl wearing. gen X maybe most ppl wearing. When these Gen X becomes 60 say 6-10years time demand

it can be a potential dying industry which is why they are transforming their biz. Big brands like Rolex still strong today, demand so strong that used watch is 50% more than used.

A lot of things is changing due to tech, fewer ppl carry wallet around

 

[patryn33]

The earth's magnetic field which can affect the movement because the parts inside are metal....

Physics and science man
Car and plane also a lot of metal parts inside…

 

[peaceheart]

Just curious. Anyone WFH but everyday still wear a watch?

 

[bwaysaikryptonite]

Just curious. Anyone WFH but everyday still wear a watch?

many just hoarding and buying as investment to flip notch to wear...it’s a growing problem

 

[cyrenic]

 

[cyrenic]

How come most people don't wear watches nowadays?

City Chain pays high rental, but now has to give up to 70% discount to generate some cashflow.

Is the watch business a dying industry, which is being replaced by smartphones which give a very accurate time?

Remember one time, everybody who was anybody would carry a compact digital camera (Olympus, Nikon, Canon, Casio...) but when the smartphone camera got better, the compact camera industry died.

If you are comparing compact cameras to watches, it means you don't understand either market or the underlying mechanics of demand very well.

The photography hobbyists do not really use compact cameras, they go for DSLRs in the past. Now that has been replaced with mirrorless cameras. The compact camera market died because of 2 key things - smartphones got better, and bigger sensor cameras got cheaper. So the hobbyists have zero reason to go for it, and the layman has no reason to go for it.

And the hobby is about the output (photos).

Watch hobby is about the watch, there is no other output, so your analogy is a terrible one.

 

[cyrenic]

How does the community here feel about Homage brands like Steinhart??

It looks really good but it bothers me it doesn't have magnetic shielding:

Also, I am asking based on quality
if you have brand bigotry, please don't comment

watch this:

The quality is good, and nothing to complain about. If you are OK with wearing a homage, go for it.

My problem with the Steinharts is that the 42mm ones are too large because the lugs are very straight; the 39mm ones use the same handset so they look distorted. Else, I would have kept one of their OVMs.

 

[cyrenic]

In my opinion, it wears well and I do get the occasional "what watch is that?".

If we're talking quality, I would probably say sub-par if you compare with Seiko. I had some dust and blemish on my Steinhart when it first arrived. Sending it back for service (within warranty period) wasn't too difficult and it was all paid for by Steinhart but the wait time was about a month.

Hope this helps to compare with getting a Seiko which has decent quality and ease of service locally.

To be honest, I think for the price paid it is quite good, and top tier for that bracket.

Seiko is alright, but in recent 2-3 years the value proposition has dropped a fair bit, nothing wrong with that, just economics. Demand has gone up, so prices will go up.

I just think that they need to improve things like bezel alignment for the prices they are commanding these days.

 

[Multiversal]

Do you have stats for that or based on own assumption?

High end watches are doing well, selling like hotcakes. Likewise for lower end ones. Go to bencoolen and ppl are still buying gshocks regularly. New models always oos

You sound combative with that "request" for stats. This is not about PAP versus Oppies, vote for OYK or Raaesah Khan.

No, I don't have stats, and nobody in this freaking world has either.

I made that comment based on observations.

If you are living in and posting from Malaysia, I have no comments. My observations were made in Singapore, and it is not very hard to make an observation here as we are very densely populated.

Just go to any shopping mall, any supermarket like FP, or food court/hawkers' centre or bus interchange which is connected to a MRT station for eg Bishan or AMK, and simply OBSERVE.

 

[Renzokukenz]

The quality is good, and nothing to complain about. If you are OK with wearing a homage, go for it.

My problem with the Steinharts is that the 42mm ones are too large because the lugs are very straight; the 39mm ones use the same handset so they look distorted. Else, I would have kept one of their OVMs.

i went to the boutique to see, you are right the 39mm looks weird
for the 42mm the dimensions are bigger and thicker than a Seiko Samurai, which is considered a BIG watch for small wrist people, kinda a "no" for me. I realized seeing the watch in person is really very important

I might save up more and get a SPB143 instead, but tbh it exceeds my budget

 

[Renzokukenz]

Just curious. Anyone WFH but everyday still wear a watch?

when I WFH i wear cause my SKX no manual hand-winding and power reserve only 40 hours
my next watch MUST have manual hand winding options, rather wind it daily than to adjust the time everytime I want to wear a watch =.=

 

[Renzokukenz]

many just hoarding and buying as investment to flip notch to wear...it’s a growing problem

most watches even expensive ones don't appreciate in value (from what I know, correct me if I am wrong)
even for Rolex, only the more well-known mainstream famous models appreciate in price

I wonder why people won't just put their money in an ETF or Hedge Fund instead of putting their money on watches when it comes to investment.

I mean unless you have a constant supply to Rolex Submariner, then of course that's like >10k profit every watch you buy and sell, but how many people actually have a constant supply to this watch???