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Location: Blogs ATG Vintage Watches |
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| Posted by: ATG |
08/01/2007 10:47 |
I like cool looking watches! But I do not like watches that are very cheap!
I make 'no' excuses for it I just do and don't, respectively... and it distresses me how the general consumer has such a short term memory and how much control the mid to bottom range watch manufacturers have in the UK.
These watches are rubbish.
A guy I know in the US was talking the other day about how he saw some advertising in a shop for Fossil watches. Check this out.
Quote!
"Fossil's new mechanical line uses Exclusive Fossil revolutionary
automatic mechanical technology to keep your watch running without EVER
needing a battery!!!!"
What!!!!
Are we all so stupid?
Look at this link to H. Samuel which is the UK's largest High street jewellery store chain H. Samuel their watch inventory reads like a clothes store stock room, Ben Sherman, LaCoste, Timberland, Tommy Hilfiger, DKNY, Morgan, Ellessee, Playboy.
What is going on ??? These are clothing brands not watch companies, where are Rolex, Longines, Oris, TAG Heuer, Zenith, Omega. They do not even figure on one of the UK's largest jewellery chains list ??????
In the UK Fossil make their own watches, Diesel, Zodiac and some others. They are basically a very cheap manufacturer of interesting looking, 'last you 18 months' watches. My neighbour keeps coming up to me and asking if I can fix the spring bar that holds his strap on or should he send it back to Diesel?
What!!!!!!
Let's get this straight, there is a place for those watches and I even think some of them are quite nice but they are not real watches and anyone who buys one needs to know that. They full fill their role as 'things that tell time and look nice' but that is it...... £100 + gets you one but as I said, 18 months and that is it....
Swatch have been doing the same thing for years now but as they are plastic people don't expect so much from them.
I have a friend who has always wanted a Breitling Navitimer, I have offered to find him one and even help him get it cheap and get it going for him. However last year he bought maybe 10 fake Breitlings and Omegas off Ebay. He has an aluminium collectors case filled with fakes, Storm, watches, NEXT watches, Diesel and the like....
Now he can afford a Navitimer but he can't afford 10 but he can afford 10 fakes. He is not a stupid guy but he just wants to have a collector case full of watches so what can I say, if he wants a 'collection' and he can only afford to do it this way then is it wrong?
I am afraid in my book he is, if you add what he has bought together it equals a Navitimer + a Speedmaster?????
Safe to say we do not talk watches any more.
Be warned!
If you must buy a watch buy one from a watch company, who make watches, who sell through watch sellers and not through high street retail chains. Or from Sunglasses manufacturers as above! Jeez!!
Phew! I am glad that is out.
Regards
Alistair
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| Copyright ©2007 Alistair Gibbons |
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Re: The state of the UK watch retail market! |
By David Alstott on
17/01/2007 00:51 |
TMAA as always, (The Masses Are Arses) and always will be. If these fools ever wise up they would drive the prices of quality watches out of sight so that we true believers would not be able to buy any more. Well maybe one or two perhaps.
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Sorry, I own a Timberland! |
By angus hasloch on
20/01/2007 16:28 |
| I feel I must put my hand up and confess. I own a Timberland watch and actually quite like it. Since I've been wearing it on and off for my work (gardening) It has held up well and it must be 6 years old. But then again if I could afford to have a robust automatic watch and not mind trashing it... |
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Sorry, I own a Timberland! |
By AlistairGibbons on
20/01/2007 16:54 |
Angus,
I am not saying there is anything wrong with them as they are 'fit for purpose' but I just think trying to convince people that they are as good as something from Omega, Rolex, TAG, Oris, the list goes on.... is just ridiculous.
I have a G Shock that I use if I am doing similar work and it is great!
Remember this is just my opinion.
Al |
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Re: The state of the UK watch retail market! |
By David Shannon on
10/05/2007 13:13 |
| It's interesting how major clothing brands have decided that people will want to not only buy clothes from them but also watches.Endorsements from high profile individuals and the whole concept of "lifestyle" encourage people for that quick fix. Whilst it is true that you get what you pay for I have seen people wearing waches that whilst costing the price of a small car were just the most horrendous things I have ever seen. I suppose that goes to prove you can have a whole wad of cash but if you don't do the research first and thoroughly you may end up not buying a piece of high quality engineering and design with a good pedigree. Cheapness is all relative to someone's budget, but as Hardy Amies said, I think, style never goes out of fashion. |
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