'fasion' brands

[watch_art]

so whatever a fashion brand is, what's the general opinion? things like fossil? dolce and gabbana? etc

good bang for the buck?

cheaply constructed junk?

not worth the factories they're built in?

and why not?

i'm not wanting to express any opinion or judgment for or against anybody who wears/buys them, just curious of the general opinions of this forum.

thanks.

[doug sinclair]

I have a 20 pound box of "fashion watches" that have been given to me by jewellers for whom I do work. They hate to throw them out. Many of these watches might be only a year or two old. Many people consider them a service item to be turfed when they quit. But some people love them. And many want them repaired, even if you or I might deem them unworthy of repair. Why do people cherish them considering what they are? Dunno. Like the story of the Czechoslovakian car (the name of wich I have forgotten) which was deemed to be one of the worst cars ever built (citations welcome) that the owner loved so much that, when it calved, he had it baled and made it into lawn art! They have their place in the scheme of things.

[Bazzab]

Is the car Skoda? its still around part of the VW group

[doug sinclair]

Skoda! That's it. Perhaps they are better now than I heard that they used to be.

[RonC]

I'd think that the more expensive ones, like Montblanc, if that is indeed a fashion watch, are good quality because the company's products are considered good and are prestigious and the company would want to maintain a reputation for selling quality products. That said, I'd rather spend $2k or whatever for a watch from a "real" watch company rather than from a fashion company that just sticks its name on a watch.

[doug sinclair]

Ron C,

I think your reference to Mont Blanc in a thread concerning "fashion" watches indicates you were intending to post in the thread re: the Tag Carrera. Would you like me to move your post?

Doug

[Jeff Hess]

Doug,

The debate over what is a "Fashion watch" and what is a "sport watch" is one that has been going on for a long time.

Many argue that AL wrist watches are "fashion watches" especially today when most tell time by cel phones.

Even during the debates to allow wrists on RR's, there was similar talk.

I see nothing wrong with this thread so far.

Mont Blanc is a fine watch and collectable.

Jeff

modern watches are collectable too.
-> posts merged by system <-
o whatever a fashion brand is, what's the general opinion? things like fossil? dolce and gabbana? etc

good bang for the buck?

cheaply constructed junk?

not worth the factories they're built in?

and why not?

i'm not wanting to express any opinion or judgment for or against anybody who wears/buys them, just curious of the general opinions of this forum.
--------------------


At Basel, they seem to make an attempt to put "Fashion watches" in one part of the fair.

but the lines are blurred. And sometiems nonsensical.

Why some brands are considered "fashion" and others are not is mystifying.

how does one define "Fashion" watches? Today, it is not a matter of price, nor a matter of movement.

Some fashion watches are big names who make cheap watches but also use fine movements. Some sport watches are for sure rather inexpensive.

What about Tag heuer, who makes fine experimental movements (like their belt drive) but also make really inexpensive quartz steel watches with diamonds?

Tough call. and a tough (if enjoyable) thread.

IF a watches function is to just "tell time" then a simple plastic encases quarts watch is fantastic.

To many though, a Rolex is just a "fashion watch".

Opinions??

Please post them here!

What is a fashion watch?
What is a sport watch?
What is a luxury watch?
What is a tool watch?
What is a beater?

Which do YOU wear?

And what brand?

Jeff

[RonC]

Doug,
I was mentioning Montblanc as a fashion watch because I seem that firm primarily as a high-end pen maker. However, I admit I don't know much about the brand and assume that the watches are fairly recent additions (past 10 years maybe) and that they use generic movements. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
'

[doug sinclair]

"Fashion" watches, years ogo, were oversized, junky watches sold by fashion jewellery companies. The quality of cases, and bracelets being no better than the cheap jewellery they sold, and often containing pin-lever or other cheap movements. As to Mont Blanc (also B & M, Tag, Longines, Rado, Franck, Rolex, Omega, et al), I would use the word "style" rather than "fashion". They each rely on a "style" to set them apart from other watches. Semantics! It just occurred to me that one post below this one (at the time), Mont Blanc was mentioned in a thread regarding a Tag Carrera watch, so I assumed this post might have been misplaced. But that's just me!

[RonC]

I would think that Rolex and Omega set themselves apart from other makers because of their quality and history more than their style. For instance, Rolex uses all in-house movements and, I believe, uses the highest-grade steel of any watchmaker.