Do you consider the Speedmaster to be a luxury watch?

wkimmd · Jul 18, 2017

I think as far as the traditional definition of LUXURY goes (Oxford Dictionary, when referring to an item) - an inessential, desirable item which is expensive or difficult to obtain - I think that for the majority of the population, the Speedmaster fits the definition of LUXURY.

For watch folks, for example the many people who frequent a website like this, or the typical Hodinkee reader (per their website, Master's degree or higher, professional office, makes >200K per year, buys an average of 3 watches per year at a value of $7000 or greater): then a definite NO as a LUXURY item: for these folks, the Speedy is NOT INESSENTIAL (because of course it is essential, why are we here??), NOT EXPENSIVE, and NOT DIFFICULT TO OBTAIN.

kov · Jul 18, 2017

Owlsu said:
Do you consider the Speedmaster to be a luxury watch?

Some Speedmasters don't give a franc luxury feeling :

Some others do :

(Not my pictures)

😉

djmusicman · Jul 18, 2017

Luxury is for wimps 😁

jimmyd13 · Jul 18, 2017

After reading the whole of this thread, I feel the need to throw in my two penn'th ....

the Speedmaster is a tool watch that has acquired the air of a luxury piece. No good tool is ever cheap and few cheap tools are ever good. I can show you a chest of spanners that cost more than a Speedmaster or let you compare a cheap voltmeter to a good Fluke multimeter with a price difference, the latter costing more than 10 times the price of the former. More than that, I'd offer a comparison to a Range Rover: something that came out in the 1970s to let your average farmer have a car that could drop of bales of hay to the sheep through the week and still take the family shopping at the weekend. Hardly luxury back then, but no-one's going to try to argue that a modern Autobiography is anything other than a luxury barge today. It can still climb most mountains and ford any stream but it's not going to be used for that by most owners.

Many tools have made the move from utilitarian practicality to jaw dropping luxury price tags while at the same time creating a market for the vintage originals (I had a hard time a few months ago when I was offered a Series 1 Landrover that was being rebuilt ... I might still go back one day and say "yes").

So is the Speedmaster a tool watch or a luxury watch? I say, why not both?

Wills · Jul 18, 2017

I think it would be pretty difficult not to say the yellow gold on leather strap 304.63.44.52.02.001 model with a list of £19,600 wasn't a luxury item or £36,000 Platinum on leather strap 304.93.44.52.99.001.

SteveHH · Jul 18, 2017

I love my Speedy Hesalite Moonwatch. Even bought my wife a Speedmaster Reduced with baby Hesalite so we'd match. Is it a luxury watch? Yes, in my opinion. Of course. And this is coming from a guy who likes 34 or 36mm watches with little or no complications. A clean Rolex OP116000 is more my thing.

The Omega Moonie is a big, well made tool watch which doesn't scream "Hey, look at me!!" like any diver with a poster paint colored bezel.

It has a wonderful dial, great lume, nice understated bracelet, keeps great time, feels solid, has neat little pushers (I actually have timed a few things, more than I can say for any Pool-Dweller I've had) and it constantly stops people on the street who want to take a closer look. My Rolexes never get that reaction.

It's a comforting watch that is well-made with a rich history behind it and a warm Hesalite glow that still tickles me. Got mine at Watchmaxx for $3,200 and am still glad I did.

nonuffinkbloke · Jul 18, 2017

All down to perspective really.😕

watchmavan · Jul 18, 2017

Wryfox
My 0.02, I do not see the Speedmaster as a luxury watch. I consider it "High End Utility".

When dressing for an event, Casual or Business Casual is a Speedmaster. Smart or Business dress is a Rolex. Sorry guys....

This is assuming luxury means formal. Luxury can also be within the utility range I would think.

simon.pearl · Jul 18, 2017

The Speedmaster used to be a true tool watch, it's what it was built for. Nowadays at its present price point it's most definitely a luxury watch.

Riviera Paradise · Jul 18, 2017

Wryfox
My 0.02, I do not see the Speedmaster as a luxury watch. I consider it "High End Utility".

When dressing for an event, Casual or Business Casual is a Speedmaster. Smart or Business dress is a Rolex. Sorry guys....

I think it really depends on the Speedy and the Rolex model you are referring to. I would certainly not consider a Rolex Sub or GMT 2 more "dressy" than a CK 2998 LE (on its OEM blue leather strap)...but if you are thinking of the new Cellini moonphase launched at Basel 2017...well in that case I would agree with you that Rolex would be a dressier option than most Speedies...but still...would it be significantly dressier than the Speedy below (ignoring the "rock star" caseback😀?

Uniqez · Jul 18, 2017

Wow, what a can of worms has been opened by OP. My $0.02, it's really goes down to owner's income(like some people stated before). Some people are dreaming about Speedy Pro and could never afford one, some wearing Daytonas, as a daily beater. Richard Mille is a luxury watch brand( stuffed with high tech and diamonds and not so much of the history).Once again, probably, not so much luxury in Dubai.
I have purchased Speedy Pro, because it is cool watch, with great history, little machine that cuts people's attention years, after years being pretty much the same all that time.

w.finkenstaedt · Jul 19, 2017

Uniqez
Wow, what a can of worms has been opened by OP. My $0.02, it's really goes down to owner's income(like some people stated before). Some people are dreaming about Speedy Pro and could never afford one, some wearing Daytonas, as a daily beater. Richard Mille is a luxury watch brand( stuffed with high tech and diamonds and not so much of the history).Once again, probably, not so much luxury in Dubai.
I have purchased Speedy Pro, because it is cool watch, with great history, little machine that cuts people's attention years, after years being pretty much the same all that time.

You should really look more into Richard Mille. It's not my favorite brand (I think most are awful), but they make really significant watches. Most modern Omegas are rated for 5000G impacts; Richard Mille designs movements that can take 50,000G impacts.

History plays literally no role in what modern watch brands can and will do, only on the perception of the brand from consumers that don't understand that it's all heritage-focused marketing. Romain Gauthier makes the best finished movements on the planet and his brand hasn't even been around as long as RM; he makes Patek, AP, Vacheron, even FP Journe look like a joke.

SpeedyPhill · Jul 19, 2017

Well it's a tool and even when it's broken, it still displays the correct time twice a day 😟

kov · Jul 19, 2017

SpeedyPhill
Well it's a tool and even when it's broken, it still displays the correct time twice a day 😟

2 chances out of 1440, better than the lottery but nothing to win 😒

Archer · Jul 19, 2017

Wills
I think it would be pretty difficult not to say the yellow gold on leather strap 304.63.44.52.02.001 model with a list of £19,600 wasn't a luxury item or £36,000 Platinum on leather strap 304.93.44.52.99.001.

I'm sure most would consider a solid gold or platinum hammer a luxury item, but does that mean a steel one is too?

(Just playing devil's advocate on this idea - I really don't care either way if it's considered luxury or not)

w.finkenstaedt · Jul 19, 2017

Archer
I'm sure most would consider a solid gold or platinum hammer a luxury item, but does that mean a steel one is too?

(Just playing devil's advocate on this idea - I really don't care either way if it's considered luxury or not)

It's a good point; a piece of SS jewelry is generally considered very basic and not luxurious at all. Meanwhile, precious metals and diamonds definitely are seen as luxury items.

For me personally I believe the Speedmaster Pro is one of the prototypical entry-level luxury watches (in that it has been around for a very long time). It's for sure not the pinnacle, but it and the Sub may best represent the aspirational luxury that the Everyman looks to attain, as they're steel and still considered "manly" to wear (think of the people chosen to represent each, astronauts, race car drivers, James Bond, and scuba divers).

Wills · Jul 19, 2017

Archer
I'm sure most would consider a solid gold or platinum hammer a luxury item, but does that mean a steel one is too?

(Just playing devil's advocate on this idea - I really don't care either way if it's considered luxury or not)

I agree, I said that in a previous post on the thread, the steel versions are tool watches and glorious ones at that.

Although I'm not sure where my DSOTM sits in all this, a poor mans luxury watch I guess.

Uniqez · Jul 19, 2017

w.finkenstaedt
You should really look more into Richard Mille. It's not my favorite brand (I think most are awful), but they make really significant watches. Most modern Omegas are rated for 5000G impacts; Richard Mille designs movements that can take 50,000G impacts.

History plays literally no role in what modern watch brands can and will do, only on the perception of the brand from consumers that don't understand that it's all heritage-focused marketing. Romain Gauthier makes the best finished movements on the planet and his brand hasn't even been around as long as RM; he makes Patek, AP, Vacheron, even FP Journe look like a joke.

I think they are cool watches, they are hight tech watches, but frankly whoever pays $200k -$500k would never get into a situation where he or she is going to get watch impacted with 50000Gs.

Wryfox · Jul 19, 2017

I think it's worth noting that your wrist won't survive 5,000Gs, let alone 50,000.
[emoji2]

Archer · Jul 19, 2017

Wryfox
I think it's worth noting that your wrist won't survive 5,000Gs, let alone 50,000.
[emoji2]

I think it's worth noting that watches don't normally get dropped while strapped to your wrist...😀

Do you consider the Speedmaster to be a luxury watch?

wkimmd

kov

djmusicman

jimmyd13

Wills

SteveHH

nonuffinkbloke

watchmavan

simon.pearl

Riviera Paradise

Uniqez

w.finkenstaedt

SpeedyPhill

kov

Archer

w.finkenstaedt

Wills

Uniqez

Wryfox

Archer

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