Any of these modern mechanical watches good enough to be collectable down the road ?

[Magnum Wheel Man]

so I've been wanting a mechanical watch with a "wind indicator" or "power reserve meter"... something new enough to wear for everyday, & I don't want to spend much more than $200.00...

... my trouble is, most of the cheaper watches have just tons of gimicks stuck on them... I'm looking for something clean & classical looking ( which of coarse most of the more expensive watches seem to be able to pull off )... I'd like something with a stainless case, & even if I have to switch bands, something with a leather band...

I have found at least something I would wear from a number of these cheaper offerings, but would like to know that the movement is of good enough quality to last me a couple years, & may be something worth servicing every couple years as needed... do any of these newer, cheaper offerings meet my requirements, or would I be better off looking for a classic watch, even if it would end up taking some abuse ??

some of the offerings I've found, include... ( in no particular order )

Stuhrling 113A Century Plaza Power Reserve Black Dial Black Leather Watch
Arbutus Chelsea Series New York Collection Automatic Power Reserve
from Germany "JAVELLE POWER RESERVE+
43mm Parnis white dial Power Reserve Chronometer
Orient CFD00001W Men's Stainless Steel Automatic Watch with Power Reserve
Timex Mens Classics Black Dial Power Reserve Automatic Brown Leather Strap Watch
parnis white dial 43mm Power Reserve Chronometer seagull watch
Rousseau Gents Canon Automatic Power Reserve Stainless

my concern, I really like a couple of the Parnis watches, only most of the sellers seem to be from Hong Kong, or China... basically I want a watch that will last a couple years of daily use, a mechanical watch that would be reasonably accurate, in this electronic age, would be good enough to service after a couple years if needed...

any recommendations if my list is all junk ( list was compliled off E-Bay looking for watches that I'd wear, & that had options I was looking for, & cost $200.00 or less...

appreciate any comments or suggestions

[doug sinclair]

Many $ 200.00 watches try their darndest to mimic more expensive watches. They often succeed in luring the unwary to acquire a wannabe watch. The true test comes in about two years when the owner finds the case is not stainless steel, but plated base metal. When I look through my crystal ball at the list you have posted, it is difficult to see a real future winner. By the time a watch is offered for sale on line or elsewhere, it has passed through several hands, being marked up each time. So perhaps you have an idea of what it actually costs to produce the $ 200.00 watch! You sometimes get what you pay for, but not always!

[m.underwood]

The only one of the watches you listed that I'd trust for a length of time is the Orient. It should have an in-house Japanese made movement and a solid stainless case. Orient is one of Japan's largest watch producers.

Seagull is one of the more respectable, older, Chinese brands. I believe they are state owned. I haven't heard anything negative about their watches except that their movements often find their way into knockoff watches. Could be a bit difficult to get serviced however.

I would suspect that the Timex, and possibly several of the others, have Seagull movements in them.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

that may have been what I was looking for... I was leaning towards the German watch, but there is no guarentee that it doesn't also have a Chinese movement... I don't know... maybe all of these new mechanical watches ( even though they claim to be jeweled ) are more similar to those old "dollar watches" in that they are never designed to be repaired or serviced... I'm guessing getting parts would be tough, & it would be more practical to change movements, or just change out the whole watch...

part of what makes me nervous, is I've seen some extreme junk, & would just like to make an informed purchase, & if I could get something diecent in my price range, even better...

Orient does have a watch that I like quite a bit, without all the added gimmicks

[doug sinclair]

There's plenty to review on line about Stuhrling watches. I've long had my suspicions about these which have almost been confirmed by how often the name "Chinese" appears in most everything that is written! One on line shopping channel was showing a Stuhrling (has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?) tourbillon for four large which is almost identical to one a friend bought through the BHI for $695.00! Read the many posts available on line from those who own these watches before you decide! Some $ 200.00 watches are worth that, many aren't, but none of them are worth MORE than $ 200.00!

[Cary Hurt]

Chinese movements are not inherently bad. Most are based on proven designs. The quality control in their production is very inconsistent, but has been improving.

As Doug intimated above, the issues are much more likely to do with the quality of the case, the crown, dial and hands, and any other components that would be sourced from the lowest bidder. I would expect these components (especially the cases) to be made in China, India or the Philippines.

M. Underwood's comments regarding Orient should be good advice, as Orient has been a subsidiary of Seiko for the last ten years or so. Seiko is near legendary for their durability and I believe you are much more likely to be happy with a watch from them.

I do not believe that any of these will stand the test of time too well as "collectible timepieces", but of course fifty years ago, I would have said the same about some of the watches that people clamor for today.

[GeneJockey]

Cary touches on a point that has long interested me - what makes collectibles collectible? I think one thing is that they are tied to an era.

Think about it - toys, comic books, cars - they are peculiar to their era, often when the collectors themselves were young and either had that toy or comic book, or lusted after that car.

Inexpensive mechanical watched from pre-1970 are collectible because they are very much tied to that era. Everyone had one. But they don't make those anymore, and in particular, no American company makes affordable mechanical watches. This ties them to an era. And the more collectible watches - the higher-end Swiss watches, or Hamilton among the American companies - are those that were considered more desirable at the time. More people owned Elgins, but Hamilton had the prestige. Today that translates into a much bigger price difference than there was back in the day.

So, what cheap mechanical watch of today will be collectible tomorrow? Possibly none. Today, a new, inexpensive mechanical watch is an anachronism, and many of the styles reflect that.

Mind you, I could be wrong and maybe in 50 years there will be bidding wars on whatever Ebay evolves into over those direct reading watches than look like bathroom scales....

[Magnum Wheel Man]

I have a pretty good grasp on collectability, & agree with those posts... my concern, would be are any of these either durable enough, or servicable enough to stand up to use... just like that GTO that got put away with 10,000 miles, there may be watches that for what ever reason are appealing, & if in good shape, would bring top dollar, even if they aren't durable... but I'm guessing none of these new watches are ( even close ) to comparing to a railroad watch as far as durability... even though we have improved lubricants, materials & metalurgy...

I'd be happy with something that appeals to me as far as styling ( which I can live with a few of these ) as long as I can get a couple years out of it... having a servicable movement would be a bonus...

[Watchfixer]

Most of the mechanical watch still made is seagull movements, I saw them: Costco, Walmart, jewelry store and another jewelry in Husdson Bay. Price for these were all nuts. And they usually used fake tourbillion using a gear over the balance for that effect. Cheaper to go to ebay for seagull and Oriet. Not all sell automatic Seiko & Citizen watches, again ebay and specialized stores, reseller. Time had changed on where one get real mechanical watches.

Cheers, Watchfixer

[mike184]

Hi!

Javelle is as typical German as Chop Suey.
Just a German label of the usual China watches - some of them offerd at astronomical prices to make people believe that they have found a real bargain in the bay.
I agree with m.underwood, Orient is a good deal with an excellent cost-performance ratio.

[Magnum Wheel Man]

yep... I think you guys have me talked into the Orient watch I was looking at... did like that Parnis set up best, but the Orient set up 2nd best... nice clean lines, no Gimmicks added... switch this metal band to an extra long padded black leather band, & it should fit my needs nicely



thanks for all the suggestions / information

[Watchfixer]

Hey that's one I like too but is there one in gold instead of silver?

Cheers, Watchfixer

[Magnum Wheel Man]

maybe... I was only looking for stainless cases... this model is available with the white face & black face with the same hands & markers, & with a brown face with gold hands & markers... it's just about the cleanest looking watch with the wind indicator... I might have to try it with the stainless band, but my wrists are usually too big, & I don't like how they can grab & pull out my arm / wrist hair... so I'll likely order a nice extra long leather band

[Magnum Wheel Man]

Well I pulled the trigger & settled on the white face ( I had been going back & forth the last couple days between the white face & the black face ) think this one has a good classic look...

[Kevin W.]

Magnum are you only interested in mechanical movements.I like the Orient watch you showed, i will look it up, looks interesting.