Anyone purchased a Code41 watch before?

RonaldN · Feb 27, 2021

M MyNameIsNigel
I am currently wearing my Seamaster Railmaster Chronometer (ref. 2802.52.37) if you want to know. I purchased it back in 2004 before leaving my earlier position within the Swatch Group 😀

It's somewhat baffling and ironic that this particular post seemingly triggered a ban for "spamming". I guess I shouldn't have used a stock photo to illustrate my post. I would have loved to be given some opportunity to respond to the apparent (further) suspicion this post generated before this account was banned.

Is this any better ?

This is probably my last post in this particular thread. And do not blame me for the fact that this thread is located in the "OPEN DISCUSSION", I did not initiate it 😉

I hope that I have the right to be both amused and somewhat frustrated by this rather strange and awkward situation.

And check my "first" post for a "proper" introduction if you wish.

Cheers !

smoothsecondscom · Feb 27, 2021

I'm so sick of their ''breaking the watch industry'' ads

timoss · Feb 27, 2021

Ok @mynameisnigel, time to come clean...

RonaldN
It's somewhat baffling and ironic that this particular post seemingly triggered a ban for "spamming". I guess I shouldn't have used a stock photo to illustrate my post. I would have loved to be given some opportunity to respond to the apparent (further) suspicion this post generated before this account was banned.

Is this any better ?

This is probably my last post in this particular thread. And do not blame me for the fact that this thread is located in the "OPEN DISCUSSION", I did not initiate it 😉

I hope that I have the right to be both amused and somewhat frustrated by this rather strange and awkward situation.

And check my "first" post for a "proper" introduction if you wish.

Cheers !

You are the spam, not the pic you posted. Hence the ban.

JetLinks · Feb 28, 2021

ExpiredWatchdog
I'm amazed that this blatant shill hasn't been dumpstered yet. And, what does @JetLinks have to do with this; is he part and parcel? He certainly hasn't returned to add any opinion.

Looking at his profile, I don't see any obvious connection; perhaps he's a friend of our salesman or perhaps he was duped into starting this thread. I know if it had happened to me, I'd be hiding my tracks right now.

Nope, no connection to the any watch companies, I just thought it had a different look/features (front rotor and materials) so wanted to get opinions of others, which the Code41 team surely got! Lol. Feelings aside, @Archer makes the most important point about serviceability and parts.

I'll hold onto my money for something special (Snoopy or a Zenith?).

DSotW · Mar 3, 2021

S.H.
FWIW, when I was an engineer in a big Renault R&D center (15000 people in it at some point) in France, the cost of an empty seat for an engineer desk in my division was around 15000eur per year (meaning it was the cost of using the facilities, except some specific informatic tools). That is 7eur per working hour if I'm not wrong. So, low number? I don't know.

France and Switzerland have significantly different costs... I agree that CHF 43 may seem low, but it all depends what is being done. Plus, odds are, the place that is assembling these watches will be in a low-rent part of Switzerland (yes, this does exist) and staffed with French workers (in fact most Swiss Made watches are actually made by the hands of French workers these days).

DSotW · Mar 3, 2021

M MyNameIsNigel
😁

On a different but related note, CODE41 have exceeded yesterday 5 mioCHF in preorders for the NB24 chronograph. 1'336 pieces (out of a total of 1'500 pieces) have been preordered so far. This is the most successful new project for CODE41. Congrats to them 😉

Well, you know what they say about fools and their money.....

Archer · Mar 3, 2021

DSotW
France and Switzerland have significantly different costs... I agree that CHF 43 may seem low, but it all depends what is being done. Plus, odds are, the place that is assembling these watches will be in a low-rent part of Switzerland (yes, this does exist) and staffed with French workers (in fact most Swiss Made watches are actually made by the hands of French workers these days).

Well, as our friend has stated, the assembly is done by Concepto, and part of that assembly cost is rolled into the movement cost.

As for the work being done in a "low rent" part of Switzerland, Concepto is in La-Chaux-de-Fonds...not sure if this is considered low rent or not.

Concretepuppy · Mar 12, 2021

yes a very personal and subjective choice, not for me either, too busy to look at, if you want a reliable tool watch with lots of feature get a suunto, but this code 41 concept thingy is a bit too big for it's boots, one for the 4x4 / SUV enthusiasts i'd say
you can't beat an old 14761-2 with a wave dial and 552 movt for beauty and simplicity, personally speaking of course

DSotW · Mar 12, 2021

Archer
Well, as our friend has stated, the assembly is done by Concepto, and part of that assembly cost is rolled into the movement cost.

As for the work being done in a "low rent" part of Switzerland, Concepto is in La-Chaux-de-Fonds...not sure if this is considered low rent or not.

La-Chaux-de-Fonds is actually low rent by Swiss standards... A 4 room / 80m2 apartment is +/- CHF 1100 per month. The same thing in Geneva is CHF 2'800 per month.

Waltesefalcon · Mar 12, 2021

C Concretepuppy
yes a very personal and subjective choice, not for me either, too busy to look at, if you want a reliable tool watch with lots of feature get a suunto, but this code 41 concept thingy is a bit too big for it's boots, one for the 4x4 / SUV enthusiasts i'd say
you can't beat an old 14761-2 with a wave dial and 552 movt for beauty and simplicity, personally speaking of course

Hey now! I drive a Jeep and I'd never wear something as horrific as that. Most of us like functionality, which is something that puddle of dog vomit doesn't seem to possess.

Concretepuppy · Mar 12, 2021

Waltesefalcon
Hey now! I drive a Jeep and I'd never wear something as horrific as that. Most of us like functionality, which is something that puddle of dog vomit doesn't seem to possess.

Very sorry, didn't mean to offend, i'd wear a puddle of dog vomit before i would wear that thing though (the code 41)

Waltesefalcon · Mar 13, 2021

No offense taken. I figure everything on this post is in good fun.

tikkathree · Apr 27, 2021

Archer
Well, that is a thing, but that really wasn't my point.

Bulk of the cost is the outsourced movement. But I am somewhat surprised at the remainder of the costs...in particular the Swiss costs being as low as they are, given the wages in Switzerland.

Assembly costs of $43 per watch? I am assuming this would include mounting of the dial, hands, casing, and final regulation. That is extremely cheap for that work...

Might that be in that part of Switzerland often known as Wuhan?😗😗😗

andyals · Feb 19, 2022

Bugbait
The problem I have with most niche/micro watch brands is confidence in their long term support and service. When you're spending under £1000 then it's probably less of a concern. When it's over that, or many multiples of it then it's certainly a big factor, for me anyway. I'm not sure how much the movement deviates from the original Valjoux 7750 it's based on but I'm guessing it could be significant. How many watchmakers can service these with access to parts? Do I have to ship it back to them for a service?

Part of any premium I'm willing to pay for a luxury watch factors in the confidence in long term support and service (i.e. replacement parts) from the manufacturer.

To be fair they do state that because their movements are outsourced to established makers, parts and servicing won't be a problem if the company goes under.
I picked one of these up in a second hand jewellery shop the other day.
I really like it

Archer · Feb 19, 2022

A andyals
To be fair they do state that because their movements are outsourced to established makers, parts and servicing won't be a problem if the company goes under.
I picked one of these up in a second hand jewellery shop the other day.
I really like it

Movements are not the only issue with regards to spare parts. Case parts are not standard really, so if you need a new crown, case tube, hands, dial, or other brand specific component, if the brand goes under you will have difficulty replacing these with genuine parts.

rob#1 · Feb 19, 2022

Thanks for bringing this thread back to life, an entertaining way to spend a rainy Sunday morning. From what I’ve read and seen I most certainly won’t be getting anything from this ‘community project full of Creators’ 😉

Foo2rama · Feb 20, 2022

🍿

Thank you folks, that was an enjoying read...

Nigel did not cover his tracks well.. some basic OSINT gives up some details... His Twitter is very very odd.... He posts like a liberal Texan, it could be an old account of his hacked by russian propaganda but it seems to match is earlier posts all over the place where he basically wants to marry an Audi R18...

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

Archer
Movements are not the only issue with regards to spare parts. Case parts are not standard really, so if you need a new crown, case tube, hands, dial, or other brand specific component, if the brand goes under you will have difficulty replacing these with genuine parts.

So the message here is never buy a watch from any start up brand.
Is that your stance?
Strangle them at birth?

ConElPueblo · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
So the message here is never buy a watch from any start up brand.
Is that your stance?
Strangle them at birth?

Relax. The point is that you need to - in some ways - treat the purchase as if you had bought a vintage watch, more or less the same issues.

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

ConElPueblo
Relax. The point is that you need to - in some ways - treat the purchase as if you had bought a vintage watch, more or less the same issues.

You preempted me.
Absolutely correct.
If lack of parts availability is the issue then buying a vintage watch should be out of the question.
A daft argument