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JLC Price Increase?

guaranteed.rohu
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Just looked recently, and was shocked at the RRP of some JLC watches - 10k GBP (or what is about 13k USD I think) for a steel, manual world mono faced reverso, as an example.

Likewise the cheapest steel master ultra thin (has a date) is not much less.

It looks like they're really pushing their prices up, seems like up to a 30 or 40% increase in a single year? Will be interesting to see how it goes.

Relative to their second hand/grey market prices, for just 8600 GBP more than the reverso classic below, you can get a JLC tourbillon

upload_2023-8-15_23-42-11.png upload_2023-8-15_23-44-39.png upload_2023-8-15_23-51-10.png
 
Dan S
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I think the Master Ultra thin is a tough sell at that kind of price point. I'm sure it's a great watch, but it looks totally generic.
 
Jones in LA
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Wow, that's really something. I presume JLC is setting prices at what they think the market will bear. It wasn't long ago that a Duoface Reverso was priced at $US 8k.
 
sonicosa
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guaranteed.rohu guaranteed.rohu
Just looked recently, and was shocked at the RRP of some JLC watches - 10k GBP (or what is about 13k USD I think) for a steel, manual world mono faced reverso, as an example.

I was pretty surprised to see the prices recently too. In the US, the monoface is $10,100 - $10,600 depending in the case size. The duoface is $13,300 for the larger case size, which is almost 40% increase from MSRP two years ago when they were $9600.
 
watch_my_six
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Dan S Dan S
I think the Master Ultra thin is a tough sell at that kind of price point. I'm sure it's a great watch, but it looks totally generic.
Do you think that applies to all MUT models or just the date and small seconds complications, for example?
 
Evitzee
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A simple Atmos clock is $11,100 now, up from around $7,500 18 months or so ago. JLC has really ramped up prices.
 
STANDY
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Price of a tub of butter has gone up $2-3, dog food $1.65 (over 40%)

Everything is going up everywhere.

Seems inflation has the whole western world by the balls.
 
gbesq
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Wow. I picked up a BNIB Master Ultra Thin Moon in steel on the grey market two years ago with all the trimmings including the 8 year manufacturer’s warranty for $7,700 USD. I guess those days are over. 🙁
upload_2023-8-16_8-12-56.jpeg
 
watch_my_six
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gbesq gbesq
Wow. I picked up a BNIB Master Ultra Thin Moon in steel on the grey market two years ago with all the trimmings including the 8 year manufacturer’s warranty for $7,700 USD. I guess those days are over. 🙁
upload_2023-8-16_8-12-56.jpeg
BNIB is nice, but it looks like there are still some lightly worn MUT moons available on Chrono24 right now for around $6-8k (some black and some silver, and some in other countries)....
 
gbesq
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watch_my_six jspdl
BNIB is nice, but it looks like there are still some lightly worn MUT moons available on Chrono24 right now for around $6-8k (some black and some silver, and some in other countries)....
Yes, what I got mine for new seems to be roughly the upper end of the range of what they’re selling for used these days. IMO, there is no better dress watch available in that price range. JLC design and build quality is simply outstanding.
 
guaranteed.rohu
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STANDY STANDY
Price of a tub of butter has gone up $2-3, dog food $1.65 (over 40%)

Everything is going up everywhere.

Seems inflation has the whole western world by the balls.
Yeah absolutely. I guess it's interesting that for luxury goods unlike household goods, to my understanding (I might be wrong) things like luxury watches usually NEVER go down in price right, as it's considered 'a bad look'. Interesting that JLC seems to be consciously looking to place themselves in the 'closer Vacheron/AP, maybe similar to Breguet but has more steel dress watches' segment and 'very far away from breitling, tag heuer, etc.' as it seems like other big watch brands definitely have not gone up this much.

Makes Grand Seiko's offering now look very, very compelling to be honest
 
guaranteed.rohu
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Dan S Dan S
I think the Master Ultra thin is a tough sell at that kind of price point. I'm sure it's a great watch, but it looks totally generic.
Yeah agreed. Even the Reversos, the Cartier Tanks or Tank Americaines are probably a good equivalent comparison and it's half the price!

Cartier probably have much more brand equity with the average punter too.

upload_2023-8-17_19-48-13.png
 
texasmade
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guaranteed.rohu guaranteed.rohu
Yeah absolutely. I guess it's interesting that for luxury goods unlike household goods, to my understanding (I might be wrong) things like luxury watches usually NEVER go down in price right, as it's considered 'a bad look'. Interesting that JLC seems to be consciously looking to place themselves in the 'closer Vacheron/AP, maybe similar to Breguet but has more steel dress watches' segment and 'very far away from breitling, tag heuer, etc.' as it seems like other big watch brands definitely have not gone up this much.
A couple of years ago, Cartier actually lowered their prices in the US most likely due to FX since prices in Europe remained the same. I bought a Tank Americaine in NYC at the time for over $6k from the boutique and within a year it was listed at $5700 on the website. The Tank LC manual wind was over $13k at one point and then dropped to $12,800 and now it's back at $13k.
 
MikeMan2727
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Funny, I was just talking about the JLC price increases last night with a friend. The Reverso prices really stand out as others have said.

However, I do love how much of a hit these watches take on the secondary market. JLC is one of my favorite manufacturers so it is nice to get a significant discount buying pre-owned.

I just picked up the Polaris Perpetual Calendar last week for a significant discount. MSRP on this has also increased, starting at $33k in 2022 during Watches and Wonders - now $36.1K.

1648860-f6bb0855e49e01693093fe76c8ff01e8.jpg
 
guaranteed.rohu
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MikeMan2727 MikeMan2727
Funny, I was just talking about the JLC price increases last night with a friend. The Reverso prices really stand out as others have said.

However, I do love how much of a hit these watches take on the secondary market. JLC is one of my favorite manufacturers so it is nice to get a significant discount buying pre-owned.

I just picked up the Polaris Perpetual Calendar last week for a significant discount. MSRP on this has also increased, starting at $33k in 2022 during Watches and Wonders - now $36.1K.

1648860-f6bb0855e49e01693093fe76c8ff01e8.jpg
that is a beauty, I have to say that is one of the coolest perpetual calendars out there on the market! particular sporty on rubber. I think the JLC polaris colection is probably the primary mass market luxury sports watch on rubber out there that I think they've designer well with a rubber strap in mind. Kinda like the Aquanaut, I think you can tell they've designed the case with a seamless rubber strap in mind.

Overall though yes, I'm not sure if they represent a whole lot of value anymore at RRP, 40% price increases in 12 months is pretty crazy.
 
MikeMan2727
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guaranteed.rohu guaranteed.rohu
that is a beauty, I have to say that is one of the coolest perpetual calendars out there on the market! particular sporty on rubber. I think the JLC polaris colection is probably the primary mass market luxury sports watch on rubber out there that I think they've designer well with a rubber strap in mind. Kinda like the Aquanaut, I think you can tell they've designed the case with a seamless rubber strap in mind.

Overall though yes, I'm not sure if they represent a whole lot of value anymore at RRP, 40% price increases in 12 months is pretty crazy.

I agree, I think that this perpetual is also one of the most "wearable" perpetuals available right now. 42mm case around 12 mm thick. Automatic with 70HR power reserve and water resistant rating 100m. The calendar is adjustable with a single pusher and doesn't need to be reprogrammed until the year 2100. Super cool watchmaking!
 
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