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Does Anyone Else Find it Hard to Justify $150+ for a Band?
- Thread starter wbitsky
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As long the quality is good and the mechanism never change or atleast last for a while its fine by me;
I was planning to buy a couple extra bands for special occasions. But, looking at the prices, I simply cannot justify it. I'll have to make due with the band that ships with the watch.
It's definitely a bit too high for mass produced crap quality cow hide strap.
I can get a hand made crocodile strap for $150-200 and get a high quality croc strap from high end watch companies for $200-300 (brand name markup over the custom 150-200 ones).
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I have rolexes, Patek n a breguet.
$150 for crap leather strap is definitely too expensive.
I can get a hand made crocodile strap for $150-200 and get a high quality croc strap from high end watch companies for $200-300 (brand name markup over the custom 150-200 ones).
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I have rolexes, Patek n a breguet.
$150 for crap leather strap is definitely too expensive.
I just wish more people here would come to realize, and they may do one day that price and quality are not always that much connected.
One would like to think, in all walks of life, you pay more, you get better.
However I'm sure some are wise enough to understand that's not how the world works.
You can pay more for something that's branded differently, or pay less for something simply made better but in higher quantity.
Same as the beloved phrase of "Hand Made" which can mean utter junk, badly made.
However it's used to imply craftsman quality, which is just a totally false concept.
A machine could bang out 100 items a hour of far far higher quality for example than a craftsman could make 1 of in the same amount of time
Of course some cheap things are poor, however the curve of how much better items get as the price improves will flatten out very fast.
eg:
A $50 strap will be much nicer made than a $5 strap, probably many times over, but how much better will a $200 one be over a $50 one.
And how much better would a $500 one be over a $200 one.
Diminishing returns.
Of course we also have the 'What name is written/stamped on the side' issue to deal with also.
$50 strap, press a logo on the side = now a $200 strap.
One would like to think, in all walks of life, you pay more, you get better.
However I'm sure some are wise enough to understand that's not how the world works.
You can pay more for something that's branded differently, or pay less for something simply made better but in higher quantity.
Same as the beloved phrase of "Hand Made" which can mean utter junk, badly made.
However it's used to imply craftsman quality, which is just a totally false concept.
A machine could bang out 100 items a hour of far far higher quality for example than a craftsman could make 1 of in the same amount of time
Of course some cheap things are poor, however the curve of how much better items get as the price improves will flatten out very fast.
eg:
A $50 strap will be much nicer made than a $5 strap, probably many times over, but how much better will a $200 one be over a $50 one.
And how much better would a $500 one be over a $200 one.
Diminishing returns.
Of course we also have the 'What name is written/stamped on the side' issue to deal with also.
$50 strap, press a logo on the side = now a $200 strap.
The leather ones are made in, or at least from Italy, I think...
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"Italian" leather doesn't resonate with me. We have cows here in the USA. I am aware of the Italian heritage and tradition wrt leather but it's not like these straps are artisan made in a small shop. It's marketing spin to justify the extreme cost. It's selling the sizzle with the steak.
Why are people still comparing made in China Apple watch with a Rolex, Breitling etc..
I can justify paying high prices for a band for high quality Swiss made watches but not for an Apple watch
Note: It does not matter what area of rock with humans standing on it, any item is put together.
Americans are/were known for terrible cars, that cannot corner and have interior trim of a level similar to plastic trash bins, with farmyard suspension and massive engines with tractor technology that produce small amounts of power for their cubic capacity.
That does not mean an American Man or Woman cannot design and build a very very high quality car though, and I'm sure there are some.
We should be past such concepts these days.
I think they are overpriced...but I've also purchased a blue leather loop and an additional sports band and if my Amazon Milanese loop sucks then I'll be purchasing that too 
Oh boy, where to start. "Swiss Made" is a legal definition that says 51% of the *value* of the watch must be added in Switzerland. Are you aware what the big watch companies do? The basic parts and mechs (e.g. Valjoux/ETA 7750 Chronograph) are made in China at very low cost. They ship these parts to Switzerland, where a high-paid technician does the final assembly, and perhaps adds decorative engravings. At least 51% of the total cost has been added in Switzerland, so now its legally "Swiss Made".
This is all well-known to the horological community. Your Breitling, Tag, IWC, Omega, etc. bands have all been made in China.
51% is still so much better than 100% made in China - Worth the extra cost for the higher end watches
Yes I think $150 is high for the blue leather loop that I want. But holy smokes does it look good with the space gray sport! I'm hoping 3rd party bands will be available very soon.
Anybody know if bands will be available in stores on the 24th? I haven't been reading a lot of threads. I'm sure it's been covered already. Thanks.
Anybody know if bands will be available in stores on the 24th? I haven't been reading a lot of threads. I'm sure it's been covered already. Thanks.
You were specifically referring to bands, which are 100% made in China for nearly all the "Swiss Made" brands you refer to.
Depends on the quality, as SHNXX says below. The bracelet on any of my Rolexes costs more than the most expensive stainless Apple Watch.
I too think the leather options, especially the leather loop from Apple, look a little cheap. As SHNXX says, I can get custom, high quality leather straps made for $175-200. Have a couple on order now actually.
I do however think the Apple Link bracelet appears to be a decent design and value for the money, comparatively speaking. Maybe the Milanese loop, but I'm not particularly fond of the look.
This is one of the many reasons I stick predominantly with Rolex. One of the few manufacturers that 99% of the watch and all watch components are made completely in house. I think it's the sapphire crystals and maybe hands on some watches that aren't 100% in house.
100% correct here. Rolex is one of the very few mass-manufactured Swiss brands that are almost all truly made in Switzerland by Rolex themselves. I think you're right, the crystals are sourced from elsewhere, or maybe its just the antiglare coatings. They also make their own movements; they don't buy standards from ETA like nearly all other makers do.
I just cant @ people complaining about paying for a name say they own rolex and omega watches.... Helloooo folks... I loved the way the stone leather color as well as the blue color looked with the watch. Blue is too specific a color imo but damn
My point is the carrier paid Apple FULL retail price for both those phones with the agreement that your parents would not leave the carrier for another in the next 2 years and if they did they'd get stuck with a cancellation fee that would cover the cost of the 2 phones. On top of all this they are also paying extra every month for their service plan. I save $70 per month because all 3 iPhones on my account are out of contract with Verizon. They are baiting me now with a free iPhone 6 with a 2 year contract.
I got the cheapest band available for the SS Watch. I am not sure the existing offerings are to my taste until I get to see them in person. I've never spent more than about $60 for a watch band before so I do need to see these in person and give it some thought. And to wait to see what third parties will be offering.
Yeah Rolex is the best solid option for an everyday "tool" (half-serious) watch.
I think Tudor (Rolexes little brother) may move into that position (for me), now that they are starting their own in house movements. Better pricing to be a true tool watch. I'll be picking up the new blue Pelagos as soon as it's released in June. But none of this is relevant to the thread topic!
I think Tudor (Rolexes little brother) may move into that position (for me), now that they are starting their own in house movements. Better pricing to be a true tool watch. I'll be picking up the new blue Pelagos as soon as it's released in June. But none of this is relevant to the thread topic!
Tudor blue is such an amazing little design.
It's a bit oversized for me though. Wish they had it designed with 40mm case.