The differences between a Watchmaker Watch & a Designer Watch are bigger than you think!

If you’ve never worn a luxury timepiece before, it’s easy to understand why people would think that designer watches are high-end pieces. 

To start, it is helpful to share what I am referring to as a designer watches: Michael Kors, Armani, Gucci, Versace, Chanel, etc. are all designer names that have branded their own line of watches that you typically find at retail outlets like Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, and Macy’s or in their own stores. 

Think about a designer, if they're making also clothes, handbags, shoes, etc.. they're designers, NOT watchmakers.

These watches are not worth nearly as much as there are sold for, and the marketing of the brand lures you into thinking you’re rocking an awesome timepiece when really you are just wearing a toy, and it shows (believe me).

Your watch brand is a major takeaway. People who have real luxury timepieces will look at you and judge you in 4 seconds based on this.

To give you some better insight into this, let’s look at a few reasons why designer watches are poor investments.

Cheap Feel and Cheap Materials :

Designer watches are made with cheap materials because they are made in bulk.  Cheap materials like plastic, quartz batteries, and painted on dial markers, are all very typical in these watches.

When you put on a designer watch, you can feel the light plastic.  Everything about it feels like it could get broken by even the lightest force.  When you put on something cheap you feel cheap.

They All Use Cheap Outsourced Hearts

By hearts, read "the movement" - the inside piece.  Did you know that almost all designer brand watches outsource the watch itself to companies that provide them the cheap heart of the watch?  That’s right. 

Then, the designer brand just puts their logo on the watch and ask a higher price for it.

Gucci, Armani, Michael Kors, Coach, they all use Fossil watch movements or something similar.  So, the next time you see a cute Gucci watch for $600, just remember that it’s almost the EXACT same thing as buying a $50 Fossil watch with a cheap battery and cheap parts.

You’re Paying for the Brand Name

The simple fact is designer watches aren’t worth more than $50.  And after you buy one, they’re worth little to nothing. They hold no value at all and they cannot be held as an asset.

All you’re really paying for when you buy a designer watch is the brand.  Please keep that in mind the next time you want to buy one.

When brand names like Rolex, Patek, Audemars Piguet, and Omega dominate the headspace of vintage watch collectors not only due to their exceptional quality but also because of their historical significance. These are names that have been around for decades, and in some cases, for centuries; they’ve come to help define what the watch industry is today.

With each of these watches come the highest materials, high technology, hours and hours of handmade work, and decades of savoir-faire. They are extremely high-quality and represent excellence in terms of elegance.

These watches are made to last over a lifetime and to be passed on to future generations as a family heirloom.

You always better saving a little more and investing in a real watchmaker, timeless, classic, elegant, and valuable watch.

Again, quality over quantity, always and forever.

But don't think that you need to spend thousands and thousands of dollars in a watch for it to be of good quality. Any $50 Timex or Seiko watches are better than a $900 Chanel watch!

Here's my list of favorite watchmakers (knowing that there is way more out there!)

Audemars Piguet

Vacheron Constantin

Patek Philippe

Hamilton

Blancpain

Timex

Omega

Chopard

IWC Schaffhausen

Longines

Rolex

Jaeger-LeCoultre

Cartier

Piaget

Seiko

Tissot

And as always only splurge on what you can really afford. Don't get into debt to buy something you don't need to impress people you don't even like.