DiscussWorldIssues - Socio-Economic Religion and Political Uncensored Debate - View Single Post - Swiss Watches

**adsexpist** · 07-28-2012, 06:30 PM

Hello roughbarked

Thanks for your input. I have spent the last 3 days looking through that Mactalk link you provided. Some fascinating stuff there.

On balance, I have decided to go ahead with my plans to obtain a good quality mechanical movement Swiss watch – notwithstanding the fact that it will probably contain a mass-produced ETA ebauche. However, I don’t want to pay through the nose by purchasing at a city boutique. I see that Amazon’s watch prices are generally 20-30% less expensive than Australian retail outlets. What do you think of Amazon as a place to purchase a Swiss watch? Do you have other sources you would recommend?

At this stage of my research, I am favouring a TAG or Baume & Mercier chronograph. The models I am considering are these:

http://www.amazon.com/TAG-Heuer-CAR2...ograph+watches

http://www.amazon.com/Baume-Mercier-...ercier+watches

http://www.amazon.com/Baume-Mercier-...ercier+watches

As you can see, I favour the classic uncluttered look, with white face and leather strap. Do you have an opinion about any of these watches? Is there any way I can get information on the movement they contain? I have heard that the TAG chrono actually contains an in-house manufactured movement. Would this be a good thing or a bad thing? Why is the Baume and Mercier about $1,000 less expensive than the TAG?

Any information appreciated.

Good, I'm glad you have read the thread. Though it was not all necessarily about your choice of watch, it should have cleared up a lot of your questions. One I will ask is; what is it about a chronograph that you desire? Is it simply the complication of hands and buttons or do you specifically have a need to wear a stopwatch? The reasoning behind such a question is multi-faceted.

As to which is the best place to buy, should eventually be your decision. Comments in this thread from say Captain Spalding, should give you a little of his experience of buying from the web.

Yes, if you clarify your searches with one or two words ie: movement, calibre. All watches carrying price tags like the above should have a model number on the back. Using that as your search should be of greater assistance. Some manufacturers include the movement calibre as part of the model/case numbering.

One aspect of buying in Australia from a local you can talk to, is that you can get service. Now these days, service is always debatable. It used to be that if you bought your car in the next town rather than your own, that you had to drive the car to that town to get all the warranty servicing done. It probably still is, because these extra percentages quoted in sales prices usually mean that the seller is indebted to you for at least the warranty period. You are their customer. Most anything may be purchased less expensively on the web than through an outlet in Australia. Though the service componet may not be viable, it depends upon whether the savings are worth it to you or perhaps that you have a highly skilled watch service person in your pocket. A mechanical watch may run for decades without a service but by then, the service will become more expensive.

As to in-house manufacturing. Most of this is done to simply qualify being able to change the calibre number stamped on to the base plate. In the case of the TAG and the Cal.1887 Carrera, they purchased exclusive rights to the Seiko Cal.6S37 base model, specifically the TC78 revision. Which gives them the rights to modify the components. This does cost a little extra.

07-28-2012, 06:30 PM	#34
adsexpist Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 339 Senior Member	Hello roughbarked Thanks for your input. I have spent the last 3 days looking through that Mactalk link you provided. Some fascinating stuff there. On balance, I have decided to go ahead with my plans to obtain a good quality mechanical movement Swiss watch – notwithstanding the fact that it will probably contain a mass-produced ETA ebauche. However, I don’t want to pay through the nose by purchasing at a city boutique. I see that Amazon’s watch prices are generally 20-30% less expensive than Australian retail outlets. What do you think of Amazon as a place to purchase a Swiss watch? Do you have other sources you would recommend? At this stage of my research, I am favouring a TAG or Baume & Mercier chronograph. The models I am considering are these: http://www.amazon.com/TAG-Heuer-CAR2...ograph+watches http://www.amazon.com/Baume-Mercier-...ercier+watches http://www.amazon.com/Baume-Mercier-...ercier+watches As you can see, I favour the classic uncluttered look, with white face and leather strap. Do you have an opinion about any of these watches? Is there any way I can get information on the movement they contain? I have heard that the TAG chrono actually contains an in-house manufactured movement. Would this be a good thing or a bad thing? Why is the Baume and Mercier about $1,000 less expensive than the TAG? Any information appreciated. Good, I'm glad you have read the thread. Though it was not all necessarily about your choice of watch, it should have cleared up a lot of your questions. One I will ask is; what is it about a chronograph that you desire? Is it simply the complication of hands and buttons or do you specifically have a need to wear a stopwatch? The reasoning behind such a question is multi-faceted. As to which is the best place to buy, should eventually be your decision. Comments in this thread from say Captain Spalding, should give you a little of his experience of buying from the web. Yes, if you clarify your searches with one or two words ie: movement, calibre. All watches carrying price tags like the above should have a model number on the back. Using that as your search should be of greater assistance. Some manufacturers include the movement calibre as part of the model/case numbering. One aspect of buying in Australia from a local you can talk to, is that you can get service. Now these days, service is always debatable. It used to be that if you bought your car in the next town rather than your own, that you had to drive the car to that town to get all the warranty servicing done. It probably still is, because these extra percentages quoted in sales prices usually mean that the seller is indebted to you for at least the warranty period. You are their customer. Most anything may be purchased less expensively on the web than through an outlet in Australia. Though the service componet may not be viable, it depends upon whether the savings are worth it to you or perhaps that you have a highly skilled watch service person in your pocket. A mechanical watch may run for decades without a service but by then, the service will become more expensive. As to in-house manufacturing. Most of this is done to simply qualify being able to change the calibre number stamped on to the base plate. In the case of the TAG and the Cal.1887 Carrera, they purchased exclusive rights to the Seiko Cal.6S37 base model, specifically the TC78 revision. Which gives them the rights to modify the components. This does cost a little extra.
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