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gatorcpa
··ΩF InvestiGatorSo a $195 Speedmaster back then is now about $1,704 due to inflation, but the outgoing model was $5,350, about 3x over inflation.
Does it make more sense now?
gatorcpa
Let’s imagine it’s 1960
Does it make more sense now?
gatorcpa
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wagudc
·The story is based in London.
I can give you the perspective Western U.S., but I don't think it will add to what you have seen already. I suggest you seek archived newspapers from the area, and search for adverts. It would be clear what the dream watches are from the ads and the prices.
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TimeODanaos
·I suggest you seek archived newspapers from the area, and search for adverts.
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JwRosenthal
·Take a look at the exchange rate of the US dollar to the Swiss Franc. In 1960, $1 bought 4 francs. Today, it takes $1.12 to buy a single franc.
Does it make more sense now?
gatorcpa
To use my mentor as an example, he made $5.6k/yr which is dead on for the median income in 1960. After-say- 30% taxes, he was taking home $327/mo. His $150 GMT was just less than 1/2 one months salary.
The median US income for 2020 was $78,500. Less the same 30% for taxes and the take home is $4,579. By that calculation- if the purchasing power of the US dollar were equal, then the current model of the same watch should be around $2,300....it’s $9,250 MSRP.
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Evitzee
·Take a look at the exchange rate of the US dollar to the Swiss Franc. In 1960, $1 bought 4 francs. Today, it takes $1.12 to buy a single franc.
Does it make more sense now?
gatorcpa
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SkunkPrince
·My US inflation calculator says a dollar in 1960 is now $8.74 in 2021. So a $195 Speedmaster back then is now about $1,704 due to inflation, but the outgoing model was $5,350, about 3x over inflation. Granted it might be a little better in construction terms (case/bracelet) but it shows how the watch business has been pushed due to marketing and resultant demand as people around the world have the disposable income to buy such items. The fruits of capitalism on display.
So the comparison isn't strictly even.
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gatorcpa
··ΩF InvestiGatorYou are all overthinking this. The Speedmaster is a very good example, as it has changed very little since the 1960’s. Movements are similar (not the same, I know).
If you converted the $195 into 1960 francs, you’d have about 800 francs. Then apply the CPI computation of 8.74 and you are at $6,992. A little bit over today’s price of a Speedmaster, but there has been about a 10% dip in the dollar over the last few months.
Not exact, but pretty close.
gatorcpa
If you converted the $195 into 1960 francs, you’d have about 800 francs. Then apply the CPI computation of 8.74 and you are at $6,992. A little bit over today’s price of a Speedmaster, but there has been about a 10% dip in the dollar over the last few months.
Not exact, but pretty close.
gatorcpa
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Waltesefalcon
·Disregarding what the prices were and saying I was buying a nice dress watch in 1960 I'd either go for an Omega Constellation or a Longines Conquest. If we open it up to more utilitarian watches I'd consider an Accutron Astronaut, a Rolex Explorer, an Eterna Kon Tiki, or a Nivada Grenchen Antarctic.
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.I’m four years old. I want a bike.
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Darlinboy
··Pratts! Will I B******S!!!With no hindsight? Would buy whatever I liked best for the money. Same as today. 👍
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imfagent449
·I just searched the New York Times Timesmachine for Longines. It searches articles but not advertisements. I thought I would see what was in the paper on the day that the first moon landing was reported.
I just noticed that the seconds hand on the diver has a little arrow at the end. I don't recall seeing the arrow in the pictures that I have seen of that watch (perhaps I am not recalling correctly).
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kip595
·I write as well, and recently had a similar debate about what a gift to a hero GI might've been in 1945 - I settled on an ornate "gold and black Omega wristwatch, so different from the one he'd worn in Europe and at the same time, an old friend..." because he would be familiar with the tech (in the story) and ornate because it's meant to be congratulatory.
Anyway I just mean to me this would be very dependent on your personal interpretation of who the character really is, how he gets it, etc. For example, a Jay Gatsby type might swan around in the most heavily golden Rolex he could get, hoping it's uncommonness (for the era) would give credence to his false fortune, whereas a Henry Chinaski might be embarrassed his Hamilton CLD even is gold to begin with.
For what you describe...hrm...actually, here's a consideration you may not have considered: a solid gold Smith's DeLuxe!
If he's self-made whether by hook, crook, or honest work, he'd be familiar with Smiths in England in that era, might dislike the 'mainstream' like Omega, Longines, etc, know that Smiths went to the summit of Everest along with Rolex (Smiths used it heavily in ads in the 50s) and by the time you describe, those ads would have been just a few years earlier, when perhaps he couldn't achieve such and mayhaps have worn a steel model when younger - a LOT of nouveau riche in both fiction and real life cling to what they know even if it gets 'blingier', to use the current term.
An of example of what I mean, aprox 1955 production (not my pic):
Anyway I just mean to me this would be very dependent on your personal interpretation of who the character really is, how he gets it, etc. For example, a Jay Gatsby type might swan around in the most heavily golden Rolex he could get, hoping it's uncommonness (for the era) would give credence to his false fortune, whereas a Henry Chinaski might be embarrassed his Hamilton CLD even is gold to begin with.
For what you describe...hrm...actually, here's a consideration you may not have considered: a solid gold Smith's DeLuxe!
If he's self-made whether by hook, crook, or honest work, he'd be familiar with Smiths in England in that era, might dislike the 'mainstream' like Omega, Longines, etc, know that Smiths went to the summit of Everest along with Rolex (Smiths used it heavily in ads in the 50s) and by the time you describe, those ads would have been just a few years earlier, when perhaps he couldn't achieve such and mayhaps have worn a steel model when younger - a LOT of nouveau riche in both fiction and real life cling to what they know even if it gets 'blingier', to use the current term.
An of example of what I mean, aprox 1955 production (not my pic):
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Engee
·If he's self-made whether by hook, crook, or honest work, he'd be familiar with Smiths in England in that era, might dislike the 'mainstream' like Omega, Longines, etc, know that Smiths went to the summit of Everest along with Rolex (Smiths used it heavily in ads in the 50s) and by the time you describe, those ads would have been just a few years earlier, when perhaps he couldn't achieve such and mayhaps have worn a steel model when younger - a LOT of nouveau riche in both fiction and real life cling to what they know even if it gets 'blingier', to use the current term.
So this raises a really interesting question for writers - I'm actually writing a play, and therefore I think the brand name needs to be immediately meaningful to the audience as well as being authentically accurate. They need to know what I'm trying to convey without any further explanation and they can't go and look it up. So, while Smiths may be a suitable brand name, I think its may be a little obscure or even be misunderstood, and so Longines will probably work better for my purposes.
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TimeODanaos
·So this raises a really interesting question for writers - I'm actually writing a play, and therefore I think the brand name needs to be immediately meaningful to the audience as well as being authentically accurate. They need to know what I'm trying to convey without any further explanation and they can't go and look it up. So, while Smiths may be a suitable brand name, I think its may be a little obscure or even be misunderstood, and so Longines will probably work better for my purposes.
