Cozmopak
2372
There has been a trend among many independent watch brands
Sep 18, 2023,17:46 PM
That the price of precious metal watches is only marginally more than steel or titanium. Personally, I don’t place much of a premium on precious metal, if any at all. I actually prefer steel or titanium in most cases, and none of it has to do with cost.
Comments:
view entire thread
Easy to justify, or hard to justify??
By: Thomas_3 : September 18th, 2023-15:58
Precious metal watches. The cost is usually way more that the same watch in stainless steel, but it is the same watch with the one difference being the case material. I wouldn't mind having a gold watch but sometimes ask myself why. When it comes to white...
Yes! My grandmother would be confused!
By: patrick_y : September 18th, 2023-16:10
My grandmother would look at a white gold watch and think, "why didn't they just get it in yellow or rose gold?"
;-))
By: FabR : September 18th, 2023-16:59
Great point, and I do feel this way.
By: MichaelC : September 18th, 2023-16:19
Especially in the white metals. No hiding colored gold cases, which have never been my interest. But white gold or platinum, it is only the wearer (or maybe a keen fellow Purist!) who knows what it is. I rather like that quality.
+1
By: Mr.Gatsby : September 18th, 2023-18:01
Precious, uncolored metals always feels special, especially in a highly finished watch. Unless it’s a steel AP or Patek. For some reason the usage of steel in a dress Patek is less common and rare so there’s an appeal. Steel APs and Patek sports… also has...
;-)
By: FabR : September 18th, 2023-22:28
Entirely personal choice!
By: patrick_y : September 18th, 2023-16:09
I like gold very much. But I find that for watches, I'm perfectly happy for them to be in steel! But some watches only come in gold, so gold it is!
As Patrick says, sometimes they are the only option on a particular model.
By: MichaelC : September 18th, 2023-16:22
For example, the Glashutte Senator Chronometer. I have been smitten with that watch and movement since it debuted in 2009. And to this day, it has only been offered in precious metal cases. But in general, if a brand makes a watch in steel, and then asks ...
Case in point
By: blau : September 18th, 2023-18:01
Does the fact that this Zenith El Primero is in a precious metal, while most of them are in steel, make me think this is better than the regular ones, and worth paying extra for? No! It was just so darned pretty I couldn't help myself. ...
MY THOUGHTS AND JUSTIFICATIONS
By: vicunaman1 : September 18th, 2023-16:31
PRECIOUS METAL CASES ARE PRODUCED IN SMALLER QUANTITIES> A timepiece is judged/valued by its movement first, its case metal, and artisanal qualities (subjective). Summation of these qualities in most cases should denote the price. Not including collectabl...
There has been a trend among many independent watch brands
By: Cozmopak : September 18th, 2023-17:46
That the price of precious metal watches is only marginally more than steel or titanium. Personally, I don’t place much of a premium on precious metal, if any at all. I actually prefer steel or titanium in most cases, and none of it has to do with cost. ...
Precious metals often have cultural symbolisms, meanings, or mythologies.
By: Spangles - Dr. Tabby : September 18th, 2023-19:51
For example, in Chinese Daoism, gold does not tarnish and represents that which we wish to remain eternally unstained in ourselves--while platinum refers to our aspirations. That's important to my own collection, which is mainly precious metals.
Because
By: Aquaracer1 : September 18th, 2023-21:29
My ALS isn’t available in SS 😉
If we are talking < $10k watches, steel is fine.
By: jleno : September 19th, 2023-01:39
Beyond that price point, the idea of using inexpensive materials begins to bother me. But as you mentioned, the premium is important if steel is also offered, along with whatever the dial design is.
For me it is all about the feel.
By: Carlos22 : September 19th, 2023-01:54
It could be entirely subjective, but when I switch from, say, a steel Rolex to the same watch in 18k, the substantial weight of the precious metal watch makes it feel more durable in a way, even though the opposite is true. In comparison, the steel watch ...
Steel is fine for me but . . .
By: chippyfly : September 19th, 2023-10:14
. . . the Rolex 1908 is beautiful and is only made in precious metal cases. Thus, price exclusivity, which I just cannot justify for myself. I mostly buy vintage, which usually happen to be cased in steel, although a few are gold and even .925 silver. The...