Watch brands that speak to you

A place to discuss other watch-brands
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by Kip »

I forgot this one on my list. Jaquet Droz, especially the Automata collection.
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by StrapMeister »

Dickchins wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:37 am Zero West is a company that I am confident in saying, does absolutely everything right. From design, innovation, presentation, customer service, fit and finish. These guys are the stand out watches that shout to me, not just speak to me! The story, passion, and often history behind each watch is something to behold.
Yep, I'd go along with that :thumbup:

For me there are 3 brands that I'm always keen and intrigued to see what's coming next and whether their latest offerings speak to me. They are:
Christopher Ward - the introduction of the C63 range was, imo, well thought out and absolutely spot on. The C60 Concept is just stunning. What they are able to achieve horological speaking while keeping the price reasonable is simply amazing. Also there awareness of the global situation and tie in with the Blue Marine Foundation (#tide) is to be commended.
Bremont - I really like a lot of their offerings albeit they are a bit on the pricey side but you do get what you pay for. What they are doing for British Watchmaking can only be applauded. Their Customer Service is quite simply top class.
Zero West - I can't put it any better than what Dickchins stated previously (quoted above).
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by strapline »

iain wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 9:28 am So to answer your question, watch brands that speak to me. For a watch brand to speak it needs to be about more than just the watch. Most/all of the big brands to me are just big business and my love for IWC stops with the watches themselves. Whereas Bremont and CW are more than that and that’s what speaks.
^^ ^^
This is the appeal of Elliot Brown to me, and it will probably carry over to a couple of other companies that I have in mind for future watches. Smaller brands that are plowing their own furrow appeal. Brands that make it clear they value your custom, and where you may even have access to people high up in the chain of command. I seem to like something that's a little different. I like it when people say, 'Oh that's a nice watch, who makes it? Oh...I've never heard of them, tell me a bit about them." I guess I'm alluding to something that flys under the radar somewhat. Steve McQueen wore a Rolex Sub and a Heuer Monaco among others. Apparently the watch that adorned his wrist more than any other was his Hanhart 417ES. I think he may have been coming from a similar place to me.

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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

This discussion is taking quite an interesting turn. The starting point for me has to be the watches themselves. If I like the look of the watches, I’ll be interested in the brand. If I love the watches, I may well be disposed to forgive the odd peccadillo.

But while the ethos, practices, customer relations, VFM and quality of a brand may be admirable, if I don’t like the look of the watches it’s a non starter.
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by Peteo »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:30 pm This discussion is taking quite an interesting turn. The starting point for me has to be the watches themselves. If I like the look of the watches, I’ll be interested in the brand. If I love the watches, I may well be disposed to forgive the odd peccadillo.

But while the ethos, practices, customer relations, VFM and quality of a brand may be admirable, if I don’t like the look of the watches it’s a non starter.
This is a good point, and it encapsulates how I feel about H. Moser & Cie, which Kip mentioned earlier. I really like and admire what the brand is doing. They're innovative (love their take on the perpetual calendar), and they seem approachable as a company with good customer experience, but man the actual design of their watches does nothing for me.

The brands that speak to me the most are A. Lange & Söhne, Grand Seiko, Sinn and Bremont. In my mind, there's a common through line for all four of these brands that marries dedication to quality with a confidence in what they offer, but each brand also is able spread their wings a bit and express what makes them different.

Christopher Ward can do this too. There are watches that they offer that, in my mind, are clear expressions of who they are and what they are trying to do (the C60 Concept is a great recent example), but at the same time, I sometimes feel like it gets lost with the sheer range of watches they offer. Probably part of the tension in wanting to have a brand identity and a design language at the same time as wanting to be something for everyone.
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by nbg »

As regards my two favourite brands: :)
strapline wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:54 pm Is it the brand’s illustrious heritage?
Yes for both.
strapline wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:54 pm Do they make classic watches of a certain genre?
Yes for both. Fair to say they make a few that are regarded as iconic.
strapline wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:54 pm Are their movements beyond compare?
Yes. From one, bullet proof basic movements with a suitable power reserve, highly accurate and require minimal servicing. For the other a rather large range of movements, from basic to grand complications, movements that have over the years sometimes been used by other top brands
strapline wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:54 pm Do they have a very strong design DNA you like?
Yes for both.
strapline wrote: Fri Nov 19, 2021 3:54 pm Maybe that represent incredible bang for buck?
Well for one the effective cost of ownership over a period of years is negligible. The other are excellent as a preowned purchase.

Thing is I didn’t buy any of them because they are from famous brands. I bought them simply because I like them.

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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

Peteo wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 3:40 pm This is a good point, and it encapsulates how I feel about H. Moser & Cie, which Kip mentioned earlier. I really like and admire what the brand is doing. They're innovative (love their take on the perpetual calendar), and they seem approachable as a company with good customer experience, but man the actual design of their watches does nothing for me.
This, of course, is where we differ in the details if not in the principle. Moser would be very high on my list of desirable brands, because of the watches, most of which are truly beautiful. Whereas in the case of two of the brands you mention, Bremont and Sinn, they do absolutely nothing for me. Same with Elliot Brown and a few others. It’s a good job there’s something out there for all of us. :D
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by strapline »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 2:30 pm The starting point for me has to be the watches themselves.
Indeed...the starting point and ending point in all probability. Sometimes there's something of an X factor too.
Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 5:06 pm It’s a good job there’s something out there for all of us.
Indeed it is, there are a lot of watch brands on here that do less than nothing for me. Manners prevent me from divulging. :D

Des
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by Amor Vincit Omnia »

strapline wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 6:57 pm Indeed it is, there are a lot of watch brands on here that do less than nothing for me. Manners prevent me from divulging. :D
I think you should. As long as it’s constructive criticism it should help to promote healthy debate. It’s a forum, after all. :D
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by strapline »

Amor Vincit Omnia wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 7:10 pm
strapline wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 6:57 pm Indeed it is, there are a lot of watch brands on here that do less than nothing for me. Manners prevent me from divulging. :D
I think you should. As long as it’s constructive criticism it should help to promote healthy debate. It’s a forum, after all. :D
A forum can quickly turn against you. Look what happened to Julius Caesar. 😉

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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by nbg »

^^^ go on Des!

Just say Rolex.

You know you want to. :lol:

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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by Peteo »

:silent:

:lol:
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

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nbg wrote: Sat Nov 20, 2021 7:57 pm ^^^ go on Des!

Just say Rolex.

You know you want to. :lol:

Neil
I have no issue with Rolex, Neil. They make some fine watches, classics in fact. Not sure I’ll ever own one; think I’d take your recently acquired Seamaster over most models. 😉

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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by Noush »

I'm looking forward in the next few weeks to finally picking up my Grand Seiko Spring Drive. In my terms it's my first Big Dog watch and the discipline of waiting for this year's Xmas watch is killing me (20 days and yes, I'm counting). There's a brand that is all about what matters to me in watchmaking.

That said: Christopher Ward. The only brand I have more than one of, and if they produce something that fits me with an SH21 in it, there will be 3.
My C65 Trident Diver and C63 GMT are fantastic watches.
They are on a real roll I think. The design, innovation, quality and value does speak to me and is undeniable in the marketplace - on a different plane now.
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Re: Watch brands that speak to you

Post by TigerChris »

No surprise from me I’m afraid - Bremont is my weakness! The design of the case and watches, the commitment/investment in British manufacturing, how they fit my wrist - they feel more than just a watch to me. I bought a Zenith El Primero at the beginning of the year - it is, without a doubt, the best watch I’ve ever owned. However, when I put it on its ‘just another nice watch’ - when I put one of my Bremonts on it feels ‘special’, I feel a ‘connection’. I thought the Zenith would be the one to push me into selling everything else and keeping just that and my Black Bay (40th Birthday present from my parents so is the most special watch I own). How it’s worked out is that buying the Zenith has made me realise how much I appreciate my Bremonts. No prizes for guessing what will probably be appearing in sales corner shortly!
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