Question about old school watches and the Apple Watch.

[landune]

Just out of curiosity, how much does a watch with sapphire and stainless steel typically cost (on par quality wise with a AW)? Is the Apple Watch way overpriced as a watch (not as a gadget)?

I am just trying to see if I am crazy for spending $850 on a SS w/ milanese Apple Watch (Canada pricing). I consider it a watch first, gadget second, but I really don't have a problem spending on fashion (unless it's super overpriced).

 

[starbot]

The cheapest watch, other than the AW, I own is a Victorinox Dive Master 500M-- stainless case and sapphire crystal. Purchased for $700 on Amazon, $1200 retail.

I also have an SS Longines that was ~$3k. Plenty of Rolex's are SS/Sapphire and exceed $15k.

Nope, you're not crazy. You probably won't find too many mechanical SS watches with a sapphire crystal for <$500 from a reputable brand (and I consider Apple fairly reputable in their industry). Perhaps a quartz would be in that range, but still a tight squeeze.

It's a good question you asked, and a good way to frame the purchase. You actually are getting a lot for your money here. I went for the sport because I do not consider the AW my primary/high-end watch. If this is going to be your primary piece, $850CAD is not unreasonable by any stretch!

Just out of curiosity, how much does a watch with sapphire and stainless steel typically cost (on par quality wise with a AW)? Is the Apple Watch way overpriced as a watch (not as a gadget)?

I am just trying to see if I am crazy for spending $850 on a SS w/ milanese Apple Watch (Canada pricing). I consider it a watch first, gadget second, but I really don't have a problem spending on fashion (unless it's super overpriced).

 

[AS90]

You can buy sapphire crystal watches for £50.

 

[PhantomCypher]

I'd say real Sapphire Crystal with real SS would run somewhere in the range of 300$ for a non-name brand watch. This is just based off some quick googling.

 

[rhsmd1]

It depends on the company, and country of manufacture.
a good swiss watch,with sapphie and SS, which is a heavy steel, BTW. can run $3000-7000

AW is a lightweight puney guy in comparison.
but it is still cool.

 

[spiderman0616]

The last watch I bought (about 5 years ago) was a Citizen EcoDrive. It was $300. This is a pretty low price to pay for a mid tier watch. Replacing the scratched up band was going to cost me about $200, so I never replaced it, but I'm just mentioning that to show that even Apple's prices on the SS link bracelets are not outlandish.

The build quality on my Apple Watch Sport is every bit as good as any other semi-expensive watch I've owned, if not better.

 

[jjlannoo]

I have two Tissot T-Touch Navigator 3000's they are both stainless with sapphire. I think retail is $600 but you can buy them for around $400. These are touchscreen as well.

 

[AS90]

A lot of Chinese replica watches are made of 316L steel and have real sapphire crystals. They make a mockery of the high end watch makers.

 

[EthanLMT]

Google could be your ally in this situation.

 

[Aleks65]

I bought a limited edition SS w/ Saphire Citizen Eco-Drive with radio control (time set automatically using atomic clock radio signals) and solar powered about 4-5 years ago for $700cdn on sale, retail was $999cdn I think.

Brand name watches with SS and Saphire screens were hard to find for under $500 at the time. This watch has taken a lot of abuse and it still looks great.

The SS  Watch range is on par with mid-tier SS w/ Saphire regular watches as far as I can tell.

 

[T5BRICK]

Tissot PRS 516.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003RITVIO/

I've had mine for about 6 months and it's awesome.

 

[KojiH]

Watch prices vary drastically based on the brand, internal components (movement), and materials.

On the low end, you can purchase an S Coifman swiss made dress watch with an off-the-shelf swiss automatic mechanical movement (Sellita SW200), sapphire crystal, and genuine leather brand for around $150.

Moving up to a more well known brand, Oris, they make this Depth Gauge dive watch with a sapphire crystal, ceramic bezel, and a slightly modified version of the same Sellita SW200 automatic movement and a hydromechanical depth gauge incorporated into the crystal for $3500.

Moving beyond that you can get a sapphire crystal swiss dive watch with a ceramic bezel, and an in-house designed (less common) automatic mechanical movement like the Omega Planet Ocean 45.5 for $6200.

Rolex goes higher but is still what I would consider mid-level luxury.

At the ultra high end of swiss watches you will find examples that range upwards of half a million dollars or more!

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A lot of Chinese replica watches are made of 316L steel and have real sapphire crystals. They make a mockery of the high end watch makers.

Very true. While not technically a "replica" here is a chinese homage to the Rolex Sea Dweller Deep Sea by a company called Parnis. It includes a sapphire crystal, chinese mechanical automatic movement, ceramic bezel, along with solid 316L surgical grade stainless steel construction for under $200.

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The difference between the Apple Watch and a traditional mechanical watch is that the Apple Watch circuitry will become obsolete in 2-3 years. The battery can only be recharged for a finite number of cycles. The software apps that it runs now will eventually evolve to require more powerful hardware.

On the other hand fine mechanical watches can and are often passed from generation to generation as family heirlooms. Sure they do require periodic maintenance but if properly lubricated and cleaned can last indefinitely.

I believe it was Leo Laporte from the MacBreak Weekly podcast who had pondered purchasing an Apple watch and keeping it unopened inside the package to see if it may be a collectors item in the future. But he realized that 20-30 years from now there probably won't be any way to even activate the watch with a phone anymore.

 

[mav]

I would say that the fit, finish and perceived quality of the Apple Watch is on par with an entry level $2,000 Swiss equivalent. It's about the same quality as my Longines Legend Diver, but not as good as my Omega Seamaster 300 that retails for $6,500.

I have to say that as a watch guy, I was blown away by the straps, especially the Ikepod-inspired rubber strap and the Milanese loop reminiscent of the mesh bracelets on diver watches in the 1950's. To me, it says a lot about Apple and how much thought and R&D they put behind the Apple Watch.

 

[JPIndustrie]

I don't know about being on par with a swiss watch manufacturer.

To me, I compare it to 'multi-function' or electronic watches of the past. At first they were also too expensive but as time went on they were more and more affordable...

I've always loved multi function electronic watches (G-shocks, Hamilton touch, etc) to me, the Apple Watch is the best multi function out right now. But like with my g shock it just isn't going to compare with a high end mechanical watch.

Thats fine !

 

[macduke]

I believe it was Leo Laporte from the MacBreak Weekly podcast who had pondered purchasing an Apple watch and keeping it unopened inside the package to see if it may be a collectors item in the future. But he realized that 20-30 years from now there probably won't be any way to even activate the watch with a phone anymore.

Well it could still be a collectors item. I believe an original iPhone in sealed packaging went for about $12,000 a few weeks back. I have an original iPhone used but in decent shape and still boots running iOS 3 and the original box and accessories but it can't activate when I've tried. People still pay for them. I've debated picking one up myself but figured that nowadays they sell higher quantities and more people are prone to do this so probably not worth it?

 

[Blakjack]

I don't know about being on par with a swiss watch manufacturer.

To me, I compare it to 'multi-function' or electronic watches of the past. At first they were also too expensive but as time went on they were more and more affordable...

I've always loved multi function electronic watches (G-shocks, Hamilton touch, etc) to me, the Apple Watch is the best multi function out right now. But like with my g shock it just isn't going to compare with a high end mechanical watch.

Thats fine !

You must have a sport because my SS is nothing like a G-Shock.