Story in today's Japan Times. Japanese brands making a run at Swiss Watches.

Alphasports · Mar 20, 2018

Kdog1971
Currently in Japan and saw this in the morning paper they leave on my door everyday. Pretty interesting story.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2...watch-making-industry-run-money/#.Wqz38W3wY2w

Did not get a chance to check out any watch stores. My Japanese friend took us to an Orix Buffaloes game today and he was sporting a nice FOIS!!

Good read thanks for the post

Reddy_Kilowatt · Mar 20, 2018

Alphasports
Good read thanks for the post

Yes, well, that's nice, but back to the syrup!

Theognosis · Mar 20, 2018

tyrantlizardrex
I want my shoes to last more than a week in rain/sleet/hale/snow/sun/wind/alien invasion... and fit my huge feet... English made shoes... that's where it's at 😉

No blake stitching for my feet either. Hand-welted or Goodyear welted only, thank you. 😀

Reddy_Kilowatt · Mar 20, 2018

Incidentally, at risk of stirring long-simmering border tensions, buy American maple syrup. And the sap is running!

https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/maple-sap-new-england/index.html

Meme-Dweller · Mar 20, 2018

I want a GS without the ugly new GS branding on the dial and a sports watch under 42mm.

ahsposo · Mar 20, 2018

Quick thread summary for you new folks:

Japanese watches will never have the market cache of maple syrup or flip-flops.

Got that?

Reddy_Kilowatt · Mar 20, 2018

ahsposo
Quick thread summary for you new folks:

Japanese watches will never have the market cache of maple syrup or flip-flops.

Got that?

What if the maple syrup has a cartoonishly large case size, or the flip-flops are some sort of BS James Bond LE?

ctpete · Mar 20, 2018

It certainly is a good read. I was surprised to learn that Rolex produces 800,000 watches per year, according to the article. Let's see...at an average price of ...$8000 each???....that's $6.4 billion in revenue from just watch sales. And that's one luxury watch brand. If you look at all the mid-luxury watch brands, the market I'll bet is plenty big to sustain addition competition. And while Grand Seiko does not have the luxury cache today that Rolex has, remember that neither did Toyota in the 1970s. It may be a really good long term decision for Seiko to enter this market. Just my 2 cents.

ClarendonVintage · Mar 20, 2018

U ulackfocus
I'm with you, and would add American shoes to the list of top quality foot wear (Allen Edmonds, Alden, etc). The soles on Italian shoes are too thin to wear well, and the leather of their uppers is generally softer. It's part of their look and feel, but they don't hold up to abuse as well as English or American shoes. My post was more a generalization about reputation of certain countries for certain luxury items.

Well the dress shoes aren't made for the working class to wear to the steel mills are they

tyrantlizardrex · Mar 21, 2018

ClarendonVintage
Well the dress shoes aren't made for the working class to wear to the steel mills are they

Sod the steel mills, they aren't made for wearing on the pavements of London if there's even a hint of moisture in the air.

I mean, like most of you, I'd normally get my staff to lay down a red carpet before I'd even consider treading on a pavement, but still.

SeanO · Mar 21, 2018

Archer
Sap has been running for weeks mate...

Fortunately the Canadian in the room had the actual facts, rather than just making stuff up on the spot.

You and your goddamn facts! Not only that but you’ve gone and derailed the thread again.

Archer · Mar 21, 2018

SeanO
You and your goddamn facts! Not only that but you’ve gone and derailed the thread again.

Hey my bad for posting facts. I should know better being on a watch forum. 😉

gostang9 · Mar 21, 2018

U ulackfocus
I'm with you, and would add American shoes to the list of top quality foot wear (Allen Edmonds, Alden, etc). The soles on Italian shoes are too thin to wear well, and the leather of their uppers is generally softer. It's part of their look and feel, but they don't hold up to abuse as well as English or American shoes. My post was more a generalization about reputation of certain countries for certain luxury items.

I agree with your addition of Allen Edmonds to the list. I've tried on many of the big Italian names and have never found a pair I wanted to wear. Something about the softer leather that doesn't appeal to me. I have many styles and colors of AE and simply like the look of them. I can attest to their robustness as they last a long time and with a refurbishment are good as new again.

Your point about reputation of certain countries is spot on, and reputation is huge when it comes to charging large premiums for 'luxury' goods.

We stayed at the Four Seasons Maui last week, and the brand's 'reputation' helps them charge 2 to 4 times more than many other hotel chains with similar rooms and amenities.

gostang9 · Mar 21, 2018

Archer
Hey my bad for posting facts. I should know better being on a watch forum. 😉

Anyone who spends any amount of time here knows that Squirrel memes are a much bigger hit than facts...

Archer · Mar 21, 2018

gostang9
Anyone who spends any amount of time here knows that Squirrel memes are a much bigger hit than facts...

Trust me I know...

ulackfocus · Mar 21, 2018

gostang9
Anyone who spends any amount of time here knows that Squirrel memes are a much bigger hit than facts...

First, squirrel memes and videos make people laugh. So do any funny animal hijinks. 😜

Second, facts are always facts - indisputable and permanent. Innuendo, rumor, and tall tales can evolve, are more interesting, and generate MANY more posts (usually to disagree and/or call the OP names). 😉

ICONO · Mar 21, 2018

tyrantlizardrex
I want my shoes to last more than a week in rain/sleet/hale/snow/sun/wind/alien invasion... and fit my huge feet... English made shoes... that's where it's at 😉

The most comfortable shoes I ever wore, in my entire life.....were Black Gucci Loafers.....Lasted 3 only months in the Studios

The most uncomfortable shoes I ever wore, in my entire life.....were Black Prada Brogues....Worn once only...and Ebay sold to a British Officer in Afghanistan....( God knows what he did with them?...supplemented his personal body armour perhaps ! )

The most unusual Shoes I ever owned, and still do........Originally belonged to Mick Fleetwood......And at size 12, still marginally too small

gostang9 · Mar 21, 2018

U ulackfocus
First, squirrel memes and videos make people laugh. So ado any funny animal hijinks. 😜

This is true.

U ulackfocus
Second, facts are always facts - indisputable and permanent.

Although facts are often unknown or misunderstood. 3 blind men approaching an elephant from different directions all get a 'factual' representation of the truth, but their first impressions can be vastly different depending on whether they find the head, the feet or the 'arse first.

U ulackfocus
Innuendo, rumor, and tall tales can evolve, are more interesting, and generate MANY more posts (usually to disagree and/or call the OP names). 😉

Hear hear! When added as a garnish to a healthy meal, they make dinner more enjoyable for all.

Reddy_Kilowatt · Mar 21, 2018

U ulackfocus
First, squirrel memes and videos make people laugh. So ado any funny animal hijinks. 😜

Second, facts are always facts - indisputable and permanent. Innuendo, rumor, and tall tales can evolve, are more interesting, and generate MANY more posts (usually to disagree and/or call the OP names). 😉

I'll offer a fact, Jack
It's not whack you lack
So all y'all
need to step back

That nut you want to crack
Don't buy your shoes from the Rack
Get off the track
Get 'em from the original Daddy Mac