Discover has lots of ads for watches that are very photogenic at very reasonable prices. For example, I am looking at one in the December issue that is $189 and has a day-of-month dial, power level indicator dial, exposed balance wheel, glass back. Works by winding or wrist motion, apparently no battery. It gives a list price of $929.
The photo looks very nice, although I know that a good photographer can make a pile of shit look like a gourmet meal. It is gold-plated, and I imagine the plating is cheap and wouldn’t wear well. (I have a fake Rolex that looked really good on the first day next to my real one but a year later, no comparison.)
But I still wonder if it’s a decent value for this price. There are similar watch ads in this magazine every month under various brand names. Anybody ever order one?
I’m interested to know this too. The watches look really nice, but something pings my radar, saying “If it’s so great, why isn’t it sold in stores?” What’s the poop?
Often those are by Sturhling. They make a decent watch. I own one, and it has held up pretty well, and I have gotten compliments on it. Note that you can often get their watches on Amazon or similar on-line sellers at a very large discount. The watches are very attractive and well packaged.
Once in a while, I have heard that there’s a big FAIL associated with one of these. But the seller or the Manuf does make good.
Over-all the value (if you get one at a discount price) is excellent. Do not confuse them with a Rolex, etc however. There, the value is low (due to super-high price), but the quality is there, no doubt.
I bought a watch from a magazine by a manufacturer called Steinhausen in 2004. I paid between $150 and $160 for it. It looks similar to this one. I get many comments on its looks.
It is the nicest watch I’ve ever had and well worth what I paid for it. It’s supposed to be a recreation of a watch made in 1922. Although it’s made in China, the movement is very smooth. It has a mechanical self-winding movement. The second hand sweeps across the face of the dial in one smooth movement, without any noticeable pauses, unlike most watches that move the hand from second to second. If you hold it to your ear, you can’t even hear it tick. I still wear it seven years later, and have not bought another watch since.
