Anyone purchased a Code41 watch before?

JimInOz · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
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

Not so daft.

There are thousands of vintage watches floating around so the spares pool is there for hard to find parts. It may just take some effort.

Try to find parts for a Code thingy in a few years time.

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

JimInOz
Not so daft.

There are thousands of vintage watches floating around so the spares pool is there for hard to find parts. It may just take some effort.

Try to find parts for a Code thingy in a few years time.

OK so if I name one vintage watch, and specify a part, you will be able to source that part and provide a link showing where I can find it.
Yes or no

Archer · 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?

Never said such a thing, so no need to be overly dramatic.

When you say “parts won’t be a problem” the limited thinking of only looking at the movement is missing the rest of the watch. It’s a common error people make when talking about future maintenance.

It’s not about avoiding something or not, it’s about going into a purchase being fully informed.

Larry S · Feb 20, 2022

This whole thread is hysterical. Remembering my late avatar. Was at the dog park and a woman came over “you should see what your dog is doing”. He had caught a mouse and was wading about 5’ out into the pond, making it swim back and bopping it with his paw.

Dan S · Feb 20, 2022

Larry S
This whole thread is hysterical. Remembering my late avatar. Was at the dog park and a woman came over “you should see what your dog is doing”. He had caught a mouse and was wading about 5’ out into the pond, making it swim back and bopping it with his paw.

When I lived in New Orleans, there were big permanent puddles in various places that collected groups of small frogs over time. My dog Rosie would walk around the puddle gently nudging each frog with her paw to make them jump into the puddle.

Dan S · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
OK so if I name one vintage watch, and specify a part, you will be able to source that part and provide a link showing where I can find it.
Yes or no

Haha, you're funny. Must be a lawyer.

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

Archer
Never said such a thing, so no need to be overly dramatic.

When you say “parts won’t be a problem” the limited thinking of only looking at the movement is missing the rest of the watch. It’s a common error people make when talking about future maintenance.

It’s not about avoiding something or not, it’s about going into a purchase being fully informed.

Dials and hands rarely if ever need replacing.
In fact I know people who flatly refuse to do this because they like these parts to look aged.
My 13 year old Speedy is away being serviced right now and I've given specific instructions that these parts are not to be touched.
That leaves pretty much nothing else that doesn't come under movement parts except possibly the signed crown which of course can be removed and fitted to a new stem if needed.
So unless it gets run over by a bus there's very little I can see apart from the crystal to worry about, except maybe biased blinkered forum so called experts who are determined to hate no matter what.

Archer · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
Dials and hands rarely if ever need replacing.
In fact I know people who flatly refuse to do this because they like these parts to look aged.
My 13 year old Speedy is away being serviced right now and I've given specific instructions that these parts are not to be touched.
That leaves pretty much nothing else that doesn't come under movement parts except possibly the signed crown which of course can be removed and fitted to a new stem if needed.
So unless it gets run over by a bus there's very little I can see apart from the crystal to worry about, except maybe biased blinkered forum so called experts who are determined to hate no matter what.

Well, your personal, examples fly in the face of the reality unfortunately. I service watches for a living, and I replace case parts on a regular basis. Dials not so often, but hands certainly, crowns regularly, case tubes, pushers, crystals, gaskets, etc.

No one is attacking your purchase here, so I have no idea why you are taking this personally. I'm simply refuting the idea that because movements parts are available, that service will not be a problem in the future - that is false.

redzer007 · Feb 20, 2022

Pushers? Gaskets? Stem tube?

S.H. · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
So unless it gets run over by a bus there's very little I can see apart from the crystal to worry about, except maybe biased blinkered forum so called experts who are determined to hate no matter what.

Gee, thanks. But maybe there is more to it and it does exist even if you don't see it.

Some people like to actually use their watches as intended (in rain / mud/ rough conditions etc) and it is nice to know that a well established corporation has some inventory regarding specific gaskets, crystals, pushers, crown and bezel for at least a few years. One-shot designs made in whatever faraway country by unknown subcontractors can be cool, but for the long haul?

Next time maybe read the room a little better, and the actual posts some people take the trouble of writing regarding parts and servicing. You may just learn something useful.

Archer · 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.

It's actually not the same as vintage, really. For vintage watches, they were for the most part made in an era when spare parts were freely available to watchmakers. That means that parts are out there floating around, even after all the brands stopped selling parts. Parts that were bought by watchmakers in the past and not used, so they get sold off as watchmakers retire or die (I've personally bought many parts from retiring watchmakers for various brands that I can't buy directly from). Parts from when the brands used to sell to the watch material suppliers, who still have them in stock. Many of these suppliers will buy out entire watchmaking shops or stores for the spare parts. That's why I can get get a part for a vintage watch of a particular brand, far easier than I can modern parts for the same brand in many cases.

If you look back to page 2 of this thread, I've contacted both Code 41 and Concepto, so the brand and the movement maker/assembler. Neither of these entities sell spare parts for the Code 41 watches. This means there is never going to be a pool of spare parts out in the open market for Code 41, like there is for vintage watches. The only place you can get these serviced is through the brand, so if they go under, that's it - no parts.

Again, this isn't to dissuade people from buying what they want to buy, but just to go in understanding that if the brand doesn't survive, or they decide to stop supporting a particular model after a number of years, you may be left with a watch that can't be repaired back to original specs.

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

Archer
Well, your personal, examples fly in the face of the reality unfortunately. I service watches for a living, and I replace case parts on a regular basis. Dials not so often, but hands certainly, crowns regularly, case tubes, pushers, crystals, gaskets, etc.

No one is attacking your purchase here, so I have no idea why you are taking this personally. I'm simply refuting the idea that because movements parts are available, that service will not be a problem in the future - that is false.

No I'm just perplexed as to why so called enthusiasts seem to take great pleasure in trying to make sure young brands get strangled at birth.
Your analysis in respect of replacing certain parts is valid I'm sure, but are you seriously suggesting that you never encounter problems obtaining these parts for some vintage watches that may have cost the owner a fortune?
I have a vintage 1975 Seiko 6138 chronograph that desperately needs a cosmetic makeover
So Seiko being an established brand with a long history, means of course you would have no problem sourcing case and hands (including sub dial) for this watch?
Point being that just because you buy an expensive vintage watch from a known manufacturer, does not mean you will always be able to get parts for it

vintage hab · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
I picked one of these up in a second hand jewellery shop the other day.
I really like it

Interesting that you found one since they are such low production numbers. Which model did you get? There were a lot of questions about holding value on this thread. I would love to see a wrist shot of your new watch just to see how they hold up over time compared to the marketing photos.

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

vintage hab
Interesting that you found one since they are such low production numbers. Which model did you get? There were a lot of questions about holding value on this thread. I would love to see a wrist shot of your new watch just to see how they hold up over time compared to the marketing photos.

Sure no problem.
It was a very strange coincidence
A few weeks ago a feature on code 41 appeared on my news feed and I found it very interesting.
I really liked the look of the watches but then forgot all about it.
Then just the other day I was browsing my local second hand watch shop and what did I see in the cabinet?
A Code 41 Anomaly 01 which was their first piece.
What are the chances
Although on paper it doesn't look like much, trust me in the metal its superb and I just decided it was meant to be.
I paid half of the original retail price which is still quite a lot for a Miyota driven watch but using a cheap movement (albeit a very durable one) meant they could focus attention on the other aspects of its design.
Also this is the only watch I've ever owned that has received compliments.
Only yesterday one of the young girls who works in my local coffee shop as she was serving me said "your watch is cool"
I know after posting this photo I'm going to get the piss ripped out of me, but I just love this thing.
But then I do tend to go for weird stuff

Archer · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
Your analysis in respect of replacing certain parts is valid I'm sure, but are you seriously suggesting that you never encounter problems obtaining these parts for some vintage watches that may have cost the owner a fortune?

I've never said or implied that I didn't have issues getting parts for some vintage watches, so not sure where you get this idea from.

A andyals
I have a vintage 1975 Seiko 6138 chronograph that desperately needs a cosmetic makeover
So Seiko being an established brand with a long history, means of course you would have no problem sourcing case and hands (including sub dial) for this watch?

I don't really work on Seiko, so I can't really answer that.

A andyals
Point being that just because you buy an expensive vintage watch from a known manufacturer, does not mean you will always be able to get parts for it

No one is suggesting that you will "always be able to get parts" for any watch. That would be an absurd assumption to make of course, and that is exactly my point.

The question at hand for this and many other smaller brands is, what is the likelihood of being able to get parts in the future, compared to a major brand, or even a more well established smaller brand. If you look back to page 2 of this thread, Code 41 has told me that they do not sell parts, and the movement maker and assembler of the watches, Concepto, also doesn't sell parts for this brand. There is zero availability of parts so your only option is to send the watch back to the brand. If they choose to no longer support it, you are out of luck.

This is a problem across many smaller micro brands, so it's not unique to Code 41. Many of these brands (not specifically referring to Code 41) are run by people who have no watchmaking experience, and are having the entire watch made for them in China. I get the emails from the Chinese factories often asking me to send them my design ideas so they can do the complete fabrication for me to my specs - you don't have to know anything about watches, watchmaking, servicing, or running a company to create a watch brand. These are often watches in the $500 range, using cheap movements, and are essentially disposable.

Code 41 seems to be a cut above those types, but to what extent they are able to support the watches after the initial sale and into the future remains a question unanswered. You are clearly willing to gamble on it, and that's great. Many are not, in particular when it comes to a watch that is quite expensive - I see references to these Code 41 watches being in the $4,000 range - that's not a cheap watch for most.

My caution on this comes from being in a position where someone brings me one of these watches to service, I contact the brand, and they have no parts for sale. In many cases they don't even bother to carry spares for their watches. Now the watch that the person has become attached to is bricked. There are brands that do support the watches quite well, so this isn't a blanket condemnation as you keep trying to portray it.

I always encourage people to contact the brand and ask about their servicing and support, before they purchase. If they know up front that the brand doesn't support the watches, then they can make an informed decision regarding making the purchase or not. If you just assume that because it's a common movement you will be good, it may end differently than you expected.

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

Archer
It's actually not the same as vintage, really. For vintage watches, they were for the most part made in an era when spare parts were freely available to watchmakers. That means that parts are out there floating around, even after all the brands stopped selling parts. Parts that were bought by watchmakers in the past and not used, so they get sold off as watchmakers retire or die (I've personally bought many parts from retiring watchmakers for various brands that I can't buy directly from). Parts from when the brands used to sell to the watch material suppliers, who still have them in stock. Many of these suppliers will buy out entire watchmaking shops or stores for the spare parts. That's why I can get get a part for a vintage watch of a particular brand, far easier than I can modern parts for the same brand in many cases.

If you look back to page 2 of this thread, I've contacted both Code 41 and Concepto, so the brand and the movement maker/assembler. Neither of these entities sell spare parts for the Code 41 watches. This means there is never going to be a pool of spare parts out in the open market for Code 41, like there is for vintage watches. The only place you can get these serviced is through the brand, so if they go under, that's it - no parts.

Again, this isn't to dissuade people from buying what they want to buy, but just to go in understanding that if the brand doesn't survive, or they decide to stop supporting a particular model after a number of years, you may be left with a watch that can't be repaired back to original specs.

So can you get new original replacement dial and hands for my Seiko 6138 0040?
I've spent a few years trying but maybe you know where these can be sourced?

Archer · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
So can you get new original replacement dial and hands for my Seiko 6138 0040?
I've spent a few years trying but maybe you know where these can be sourced?

Read my previous reply to you above mate. Seriously, you really need to take a step back from this very absolutist stance...it's ridiculous.

andyals · Feb 20, 2022

Archer
Read my previous reply to you above mate. Seriously, you really need to take a step back from this very absolutist stance...it's ridiculous.

I asked a serious question.
I've been searching for these parts for almost three years.
No need to throw your toys out of the pram because you don't have an answer

Archer · Feb 20, 2022

A andyals
I asked a serious question.
I've been searching for these parts for almost three years.
No need to throw your toys out of the pram because you don't have an answer

I gave you an answer in the previous post...I don't work on Seiko.

When you have enough posts to do so, you can post a WTB thread. Doing so before you have the posts is considered poor form here.

ConElPueblo · Feb 20, 2022

Archer
It's actually not the same as vintage, really. For vintage watches, they were for the most part made in an era when spare parts were freely available to watchmakers. That means that parts are out there floating around, even after all the brands stopped selling parts. Parts that were bought by watchmakers in the past and not used, so they get sold off as watchmakers retire or die (I've personally bought many parts from retiring watchmakers for various brands that I can't buy directly from). Parts from when the brands used to sell to the watch material suppliers, who still have them in stock. Many of these suppliers will buy out entire watchmaking shops or stores for the spare parts. That's why I can get get a part for a vintage watch of a particular brand, far easier than I can modern parts for the same brand in many cases.

If you look back to page 2 of this thread, I've contacted both Code 41 and Concepto, so the brand and the movement maker/assembler. Neither of these entities sell spare parts for the Code 41 watches. This means there is never going to be a pool of spare parts out in the open market for Code 41, like there is for vintage watches. The only place you can get these serviced is through the brand, so if they go under, that's it - no parts.

I have read the thread and your previous post. I specifically wrote that the issues are "more or less" the same and that "in some ways" like owning a vintage watch. I have several vintage watches that are impossble to find some parts for, which is in some ways (possibly) like owning one of these in the future. I think the comparison is fair.