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PatrickJ
路Lol. Better?
It is an improvement, still not there but a lot better.
Cons of Buying a Watch-Co Built Omega
It is an improvement, still not there but a lot better.
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Archer
路路Omega Qualified WatchmakerMaybe. I think some people would definitely see the same exact watch on a very different light if it was sold by Boris in Croatia. Or Sergio in Spain.
Anyway, they are Frankens, that's my point. Of course you can go much deeper and see that many brands really just assemble watches from different parts often if not always from different manufacturers...so what's the difference?
To me the difference is this. If the SM300 Watchco said Watchco on the dial, or the speedmaster said Watchco speedmaster instead of Omega and then they said they are making authorized replicas with authentic original parts then I would very much respect Watchco more. Of course Omega may not like that one bit.
As I said, it's a matter of perception. To me? they are great but overpriced Frankens.
So you think it would be "better" somehow if Watchco put their name on something that they didn't have any part in designing or manufacturing, except slapping it together? I find that odd.
To you they may be overpriced, but the market says otherwise.
I agree it's a matter of perception, and I will end by saying I fully support your right to be wrong. 馃槈
Cheers, Al
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Nobel Prize
路So you think it would be "better" somehow if Watchco put their name on something that they didn't have any part in designing or manufacturing, except slapping it together? I find that odd.
"Omega by Watchco" 馃槑
To you they may be overpriced, but the market says otherwise.
Yes 馃嵖馃え
I agree it's a matter of perception, and I will end by saying I fully support your right to be wrong.
and yes!! thank you馃榾
Now, its Halloween, So let's all wear our favorite Franken watches!
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WatchVaultNYC
路To you they may be overpriced, but the market says otherwise.
The market is an interesting thing, constrain supply and prices go high. Increase supply and prices go low.
The smart thing that Watcho is doing is that they are constraining supply of the Watchco SM300 so much, that literally the person with the most desire will buy the latest one to roll out of their shop, at the highest possible price.
Would be interested to see how pricing looks like if they had dozens for sale at the same time, instead of a waiting list.
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Archer
路路Omega Qualified WatchmakerThe market is an interesting thing, constrain supply and prices go high. Increase supply and prices go low.
Not always - many watches are Veblen goods...sometimes a higher price is more of a driver of demand than supply. Not saying this is the case here, but the market is not always driven as people think. There is a whole lot of psychology involved in pricing luxury goods...
The smart thing that Watcho is doing is that they are constraining supply of the Watchco SM300 so much, that literally the person with the most desire will buy the latest one to roll out of their shop, at the highest possible price.
Would be interested to see how pricing looks like if they had dozens for sale at the same time, instead of a waiting list.
I'm not sure the price would be any different. Look I'm no defender of Watchco, because quite frankly some of the things they do are unethical in my view, such as calling brand new parts that are recently made "NOS" which they do almost constantly. Having said that we should not be too quick to judge (or give them credit, depending on how you see it) for the price increases...
1 - Watchco has been cut off just like others have. I'm not sure "they" are constraining supply all on their own as I suspect they simply can't get cases, dials, and hands as easily as they used to.
2 - prices have gone up in part simply because the cost (from Omega) of the parts required for making an SM300 have gone up considerably over the last 2 years or so. For example the case has gone up nearly 40% in the last 2 years...
Cheers, Al
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PatrickJ
路Check out this guy's thoughts on Watch Co. He gives interesting analogies. In the main he is correct, my opinion of course.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkbVpxXX8Y0
www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkbVpxXX8Y0
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ulackfocus
路Archie? Oh no, not him again. 馃う
A good point made earlier was that for less money you could have an original watch like a Tudor or Seiko. 馃憤
A good point made earlier was that for less money you could have an original watch like a Tudor or Seiko. 馃憤
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Nobel Prize
路I LOVE to HATE Archie...in this case I do agree with him 100%... Pretty straight forward.
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Archer
路路Omega Qualified WatchmakerI LOVE to HATE Archie...in this case I do agree with him 100%... Pretty straight forward.
I could not sit through that annoying voice for more than 10 seconds...
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Nobel Prize
路I could not sit through that annoying voice for more than 10 seconds...
Another point is that many people don't actually know what Watchco is, or what the difference is between their watches and actual Omega watches. And I am talking about even members of this forum (albeit newish ones) that after the craze a few months ago where corresponding with me and they had not realized Watchco is a different company from Omega. They thought they where actually buying a genuine Omega seamster 300 that was styled without the ceramic and fake patina, and they thought that particular model was made for Watchco exclusively.
I insist, no one would buy that watch, or certainly not at those prices, If I was the one that made (or assembled it) and is selling it. Original parts or not it would be perceived as a sub-par watch and the expectation would be to price it accordingly or not sell it.
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kippyk
路They are not "Frankens", they are modern "rebuilds" from authentic Omega parts. Their value is in their functionality and cosmetic appearance. They should be more reliable than a vintage watch in my opinion. I have never heard of them until now. Now I am seriously considering a Baby Ploprof.
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路They are not "Frankens", they are modern "rebuilds" from authentic Omega parts. Their value is in their functionality and cosmetic appearance. They should be more reliable than a vintage watch in my opinion. I have never heard of them until now. Now I am seriously considering a Baby Ploprof.
a modern rebuild with parts from different sources is a Franken...wether you're building a car, a human being or a watch. That is what it is. It does not make it a bad watch, but it does make it a different watch.
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al128
路I would say a big drawback even if you don't "care" about value is that when the SwatchOmega parts crisis hits, you'll be sending your watch to Omega to get serviced and they won't service a franken.
Thus rendering your watch a parts watch.
Assembled from parts and disassembled for parts once again.
These are the WatchCos of our lives.
What ASSURANCE do you have TODAY that Omega wont say in 2020 "we wont be servicing watches built by us before 2000 AT ALL as servicing watches is not all that profitable - no new spare parts will be produced for those from today on" ???
they could do that anytime they want ... then you are hosed with a nice 69 speedy even though its all original ;-)
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ulackfocus
路a modern rebuild with parts from different sources is a Franken.
Exactly. It's just a nice franken.
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ulackfocus
路I could not sit through that annoying voice for more than 10 seconds...
I just tried and couldn't make it either. 馃憥
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Archer
路路Omega Qualified WatchmakerYeah, normally that and the constant whining and cursing...odd man.
Another point is that many people don't actually know what Watchco is, or what the difference is between their watches and actual Omega watches. And I am talking about even members of this forum (albeit newish ones) that after the craze a few months ago where corresponding with me and they had not realized Watchco is a different company from Omega. They thought they where actually buying a genuine Omega seamster 300 that was styled without the ceramic and fake patina, and they thought that particular model was made for Watchco exclusively.
I insist, no one would buy that watch, or certainly not at those prices, If I was the one that made (or assembled it) and is selling it. Original parts or not it would be perceived as a sub-par watch and the expectation would be to price it accordingly or not sell it.
As I've said, I don't agree with how Watchco markets their products, but honestly people buy watches all the time not knowing what they are buying, so this situation is hardly unique to Watchco. Do we blame Rolex for people who buy one and then show up wondering why it won't work after they let it sit for week and ask for the battery to be changed, because they have no clue it's an automatic?
And of course you are not a watchmaker, so yes I agree no one would likely buy them from you for that price if you were putting them together, but it's not because of Watchco - that's more to do with you than Watchco. These are being made by others and still sold as "Watchco" because again that is simply shorthand for "SM300 made with a recycled vintage movement and new replacement case, dials, and hands from Omega"...
I have 2 or 3 requests per week from people asking me to sell them a finished watch, so it's not just about Watchco mate. By the way, I don't make and sell finished SM300's for people who are thinking of sending me a message thanks...
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kippyk
路a modern rebuild with parts from different sources is a Franken...wether you're building a car, a human being or a watch. That is what it is. It does not make it a bad watch, but it does make it a different watch.
I always considered a Franken a watch modified with substantial non-OEM parts, parts from a different model, or cosmetically modified to look like something that was never officially released. I am not sure if there is an "official" definition. For example, I have a vintage Breitling that was overhauled. New crystal, new dial, new case, new crown, new pushers, etc. and a vintage Omega band. All NOS Breitling parts were used and the watch and case has been registered with Breitling. Is my watch a "Franken"? If it is, at what point did it become one?
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VetPsychWars
路Lol. Better?
No.
Tom
Source: http://www.behindgreeneyes.com/2014/05/nail-look-margot-robbies-holiday-nails.html
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路I always considered a Franken a watch modified with substantial non-OEM parts, parts from a different model, or cosmetically modified to look like something that was never officially released. I am not sure if there is an "official" definition. For example, I have a vintage Breitling that was overhauled. New crystal, new dial, new case, new crown, new pushers, etc. and a vintage Omega band. All NOS Breitling parts were used and the watch and case has been registered with Breitling. Is my watch a "Franken"? If it is, at what point did it become one?
I guess that's why there is such discussion. IMO and it is an opinion, it is a Franken if the work is not done by the brand itself, but by an independent watchmaker or another brand altogether ...of course the next question is what if an independent as part of a repair job has to use replacement OEM parts? no, it is not a Franken IMO. It is a fine a line...but most people will still expect you to disclose the replacements.
When a watch does not exist or has never been issued or sold...but instead it is made from scratch with a case from here, a hand from there and a movement from somewhere THAT is a Franken. And that is what Watchco does. It is a great watch, and it is an Omega watch, but not an original Omega. If I build a vintage Porche 911 with spare original parts in my garage is that an original Porsche? no. It may be better, or worse, more beautiful, or less, more durable or faster or sleeker...or less. But it won't be an original Porsche.
If the watch has no original parts it is not only a Franken, but it also becomes a fake. In the case of the watch the movements most often come from a different model that carries the same movement. As Archie says on the video. they would not take the moment out of a vintage SM300 to put on a watchco as it would be devaluating the vintage that can be sold for substantially more. They pick the movements from models of lesser commercial value. So your definition is correct, but mine is a little broader.
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