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WATCH TALK WORLD :: WATCH TALK :: GENERAL FORUM :: Unknown/Underrated Brands

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Topic: Unknown/Underrated Brands (Read 376 times)

NiCkDoLiN
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Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Thread Started on Jul 2, 2008, 3:46pm »

I like watches that offer something special or different than what many mainstream watches can offer. I also like a good bargain, which many unknown brands have a chance to offer due to smaller advertising budgets. What are some of your guys favorite "unknown" brands and why? I belive I'm going to purchase a watch from each of these three brands as my next three watches..

Epos- Either the Sophistiquee or Kensington (4-500 bucks)
I like this brand simply because they offer elegant watches with well decorated movements for a reasonable price. They aren't well known but I've only read good things about them.

Christopher Ward- Aviator or Malvern- (3-350 bucks) Much the same as above but he uses Eastern Cases and bracelets with Elabore grade/decorated ETA movements for a really nice price.

Jacques Lemans Geneve- Grande Classique Automatic- Again, somewhat unknown here in the US, seems to offer awesome quality for the price along with decorated Automatics for around $300 US.

Other brands that I like but cannot afford-

Sinn, Damasko, Nomos, Stowa.

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James13
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Re: Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Reply #1 on Jul 2, 2008, 6:49pm »

I like some of the same as you Nick: Damasko, Sinn, Stowa, Glycine, Archimede, RGM, and of course Ball. :-/

« Last Edit: Jul 2, 2008, 6:53pm by James13 »

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SopheNic
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Re: Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Reply #2 on Jul 2, 2008, 7:08pm »

When ever I think of underrated brand I always think of Maurice Lacroix. Not exactly a bargain brand they still don't get nearly the recognition they deserve. My local jeweler was an AD for ML at one time and I would occasionally play around with them. They are fantastic.

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WWW.IRVINGSHOMECENTER.COM
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automatik
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Re: Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Reply #3 on Jul 2, 2008, 8:17pm »

Here's a brand and a watch that Mr. Cyclonefever introduced me to. This particular watch is a bit too small for my liking at 36mm, but the fit and finish of it is superb:
[image]

From the fredawatchstraps.com site

Here are the details, also from freda:

This is a military style watch that was very popular with American soldiers during the Vietnam War. Swiss ETA 2824-2 automatic movement, can be manually wound, quickset date, screw down crown.....

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cbeeches
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Re: Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Reply #4 on Jul 3, 2008, 2:12pm »

I have my list as well, but....
I sorta gave up trying to figure out why certain brands get little respect from WIS and why other brands get "Loved" out of proportion to what they are or how many can even afford them.

Some brands make very nice stuff like Corum, Concord, EBEL, Longines (enter your favorite here), etc. and yet get little "Love" at all. On the other hand on some other forums you'd think Omegas, (enter your favorite here) etc. are delivered to Earth by Zeus himself from Olympus. It all just makes me scratch my head sometimes.

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NiCkDoLiN
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Re: Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Reply #5 on Jul 3, 2008, 4:15pm »

Agreed cbeeches

For the life of me there are brands out there that are so nice, yet are so rarely seen on the forums. Perhaps its a history thing or a who was there first kind of thing. It must be really hard to make a new brand these days at any decent price due to the competition out there and the unwillingness for people to try new things and or the drive to have a "prestige" piece instead of a lower price, higher quality piece. But, competition is good, I like it and it's good for our passion, if we only had one brand... We'd still be using folded link bracelets, hollow end links, acryllic crystals and unfinished movements.

« Last Edit: Jul 3, 2008, 4:15pm by NiCkDoLiN »

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scottw44
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Re: Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Reply #6 on Jul 3, 2008, 7:15pm »

I like to wear stuff that is a bit off the beaten path. I tend to march to my own drum, and sort of have a way of finding stuff that's less common, be it a road bike frame, guitar, or watch, etc.

Fun thread...I enjoyed everyone's views,

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kind regards,

scott

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NiCkDoLiN
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Re: Unknown/Underrated Brands
« Reply #7 on Jul 3, 2008, 7:37pm »

Yeah Scott,

Some of my pieces are mainstream (Monster, Dive Master for example) but others offer something "special" that the others don't. I have a couple of JDM (Japan Domestic Market) only pieces, and the Sea Vulture is completely unique. When buying a piece, I want something that is different than my others, either in brand/movement/design.

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