Horological Meandering

docsnov
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Value

as related to price, as already stated in so many words, is related to what the market will bear.  New luxury watches are priced highly because there are people who are willing to pay that price.  If watches are not moving at the given price, the price should go down.  The gap between the price and what it actually costs to make a watch (materials cost and time/expertise) must be high, because there are plenty of new watches being sold at a discounted rate and I assume these sellers are still making a profit.

I don't think of value when I buy a watch, whether it is a Casio or a luxury model.  The watch serves a purpose or it satisfies a desire/need.  The Casio keeps time during exercise:  luxury watches are "toys" that I love to play with, polish, wear, and discuss.  I know there are those on the site who espouse the value of brands that have less expensive price points and still have quality materials and movements.  There are also those of us who purchase these watches because it is the best we can afford.  I did not buy a Glashutte, UN, Cartier because they were good values for the money.  I loved the way they looked, and could afford them.  If we just bought watches to tell time, the luxury market would not exist.  None of us need these expensive watches.  There is something about the asthetics, and expertise in creation, that resonates with us and we are willing to pay the price.

There is value in some watches I own due to a link of that watch to a memory, event, or place.  I have a gold Omega with a quartz movement that was given to me by my wife 11 years ago for my birthday.  At the time the price was a lot of money.  This year my wife bought a Baume and Mercier for my fortieth birthday that we were celebrating in NYC.  These watches are not the most expensive I own but I value them because they make me think of my wife and the thought she put in to buying me something special.  That value exists for others when they speak of watches being handed down from a father/grandfather.  In this light value is discussed all the time on this site, and it should be, because the emotions these watches stir up is what links us and  is why we are all on this site.

Value can certainly be discussed without ever bringing up price, and that allows us all to be on an equal playing field, in which the owner of Omega or Tag or Seiko can discuss watches with owners of tourbillons, perpetual calenders, etc. and not feel less than for the difference in price of the watches.

Stewart