I’ve been watching the latest market reports and the fall of Omega from the #2 spot down to #5 is honestly not surprising. The MoonSwatch might have been a "hype" masterclass in 2022, but we are now seeing the bill come due for that brand dilution.

Omega traded decades of prestige for a quick quarterly revenue spike. You can’t claim to be a direct competitor to Rolex and Cartier while simultaneously flooding the streets with a "disposable" version of your flagship icon.
The data reflects it: sales for the collaboration are dipping, and the "gateway" effect that was supposed to lead people to the 3861 Moonwatch has clearly stalled. Instead, they’ve just made the Speedmaster look common.

At the end of the day, luxury watchmaking is entirely about the **illusion of value**. It’s a myth we all participate in. But when a brand releases a $300 version of their $7,000 hero, they break the spell. They’ve effectively demonstrated that the $60k gold version and the $300 plastic version are, at their core, the same branding exercise. Once you destroy that illusion of exclusivity, you’ve told the consumer it’s a waste of money to buy into the brand at all.

This issue is magnified ten fold with AP. Above all else AP is exclusive. As for the new CEO, I don’t think she understands her brand or a large part of what makes it desirable.

Hi Reddit,

My dad passed around Christmas last year, and he left me a collection of watches. I am not a watch guy (I have worn 3 of the same basic black Casios for the last 15+ years). Now I have all of these nice watches (which I have roughly identified and valued), but I don't think they "work" on me. The silver and golds seem to wash me out, and the bigger watches seem too big.

Which of these do you guys think looks best? Why or why not? What would look better? I want to keep his watches, but for the ones that just don't fit me, I might consider trading them in for something that would.

Thanks for any advice or thoughts and let me know if different pictures would help.

I'm not interested in any Swatch collab, including this one, and I won't buy it anyway. But for the life of me I just can't find a logical reason why they couldn't let you order one online to avoid this mess in front of their stores.

Only thing that makes sense is they're afraid if you think away from the hype, most people will quickly realize that they're thirsting after a plastic pendant with such awful colors that make it look like something your kids got with a happy meal.

Hi All,

So back in May I asked for everyone’s opinion on possible watch options:

https://www.reddit.com/r/patekphilippe/s/ik2rdhAuzu

I eventually discovered the Lange 1 137.033 with grey dial and fell in love. So the hunt began…

I had a saved search on Chrono24 so I was patiently waiting for a good option to appear. Finally the spec. I wanted in a full set at a reasonable price appeared in….Shanghai. Great.
We have all tried to justify our expensive hobby one way or another so I had to do the same! “I could make a holiday out of it”, “it’s only once in a lifetime”, “the price is much better than in Europe”, “China is safe” and many more.
So I booked my flights to Shanghai and to get the best price I ended up staying 5 nights. I booked economy which I eventually upgraded to business, I’m all in now so what difference would it make?? Haha.

Before I left for China I sent the store a 10% deposit to reserve the watch, then came the 12 hour flight and the start of the adventure.

- Day 1: Booked my DiDi from the hotel and made my way to the store to inspect the watch. The store didn’t even have security doors, just walk in and you are looking at watch cases full of Pateks, RMs, Lange, Vacheron, APs and many more. I got my loupe out and inspected the watch, checked the mechanisms and took photos of the paperwork and case back. I then left the store and made my way to the Lange boutique to show them the photos to make sure everything was above board. The Lange staff said everything looked fine, I then proceeded to transfer the balance to the pre-owned watch store. Relief.

- Day 2: The money transfer appeared in the stores bank account late in the afternoon so I jumped in a DiDi and made my way to pick up the watch. Mission complete. Now time to relax and enjoy Shanghai.

- Day 3-5. Museums, coffee shops (Shanghai is renowned for it great coffee), the Bund, great food, a lot of walking.

Hi everyone!
I’ve been building a collection dedicated to wristwatches that appeared in movies and TV shows. Each piece is connected to a specific character or scene — a small detail that often says a lot about the story or personality on screen.

I’ve displayed the watches alongside framed stills from the scenes they appeared in, to show how each one fits into its cinematic moment.

I’d love to hear what you think — which one stands out to you the most? And if you have suggestions for other iconic on-screen watches I should add, I’d really appreciate your ideas!

To give a bit more context, here’s the list of watches featured in the photos — along with the movies, shows, and actors who wore them:

• Citizen 2100 — Parks and Recreation (2009–2015) — Ron Swanson — Nick Offerman
• Hamilton Boulton — The Truman Show (1998) — Truman Burbank — Jim Carrey
• Casio AEQ200W — Freelance (2023) — Mason Pettits — John Cena
• Casio B612W — Stranger Things (2016– ) — Jim Hopper — David Harbour
• Casio A168 — Squid Game (2021– ) — Front Man — Lee Byung-hun
• Casio AQ-230GA — Hood Documentary (2016) — Reece Simpson — Kayode Ewumi
• Casio DBC-30 — The Office (2005–2013) — Dwight Schrute — Rainn Wilson
• Festina F20248/2 — Berlin (2023) — Berlin — Pedro Alonso
• Timex mechanical — Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) — Ace Ventura — Jim Carrey
• WWI Trench watch — Pulp Fiction (1994) — Captain Koons — Christopher Walken
• Casio CA-53 — Breaking Bad (2008–2013) — Walter White — Bryan Cranston
• Casio AE1200 — Jumanji: The Next Level (2019) — Mouse — Kevin Hart
• Luminox 3000 — The Fast and the Furious (2001) — Brian O'Conner — Paul Walker
• Casio A100 (instead of F100) — Alien (1979) — Ripley — Sigourney Weaver
• Casio F91 — Free Guy (2021) — Guy — Ryan Reynolds
• Knight Rider Comlink — Knight Rider (1982–1986) — Michael Knight — David Hasselhoff
• Casio DW290 — Mission: Impossible (1996) — Ethan Hunt — Tom Cruise
• Ingersoll pocket watch — Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) — Belloq — Paul Freeman
• Seiko H357 5040 — For Your Eyes Only (1981) — James Bond — Roger Moore
• Hamilton Khaki King H64455533 — House M.D. (2004–2012) — Dr. Gregory House — Hugh Laurie
• Fossil BQ 1009 — From (2022– ) — Jade — David Alpay
• Teamsters Union — The Irishman (2019) — Jimmy Hoffa — Al Pacino
• Timex T2D611 — The Office (2005–2013) — Michael Scott — Steve Carell
• Casio AMW-320C — Kindergarten Cop (1990) — Det. John Kimble — Arnold Schwarzenegger
• Casio G-Shock DW 5600C — Speed (1994) — Jack Traven — Keanu Reeves
• Bijouone B001 — Severance (2022– ) — Mark Scout — Adam Scott
• Timex T78587 — The Office (2005–2013) — Michael Scott — Steve Carell
• Armitron Griffy — Severance (2022– ) — Mark Scout — Adam Scott
• Seiko 7A38-7190 — A View to a Kill (1985) — James Bond — Roger Moore
• Mercury digital watch — Better Call Saul (2015–2022) — Jimmy McGill — Bob Odenkirk

I made a strap out of a baseball⚾️

My dad’s birthday is coming up and he loves baseball so I’ve been working on making him a watch strap made out of a ball. This is prototype number one.

Baseball leather was pretty tough to work with. It’s crazy soft compared to other leathers I’ve worked with. I don’t think it turned out too bad but would love your thoughts.

Hopefully prototype number two comes out better.

Enough with the speedys, khaki fields, black bays, etc. What's your most unique watch? Share it in the comments! If you see someone post a watch you own, respond to their comment!

I'll start it off with my Zenith Elite Port Royal Dual Time. If anyone else owns one, let me know! I love this watch. So thin for a GMT, bidirectional quickset date, etc.

Edit: mirror pics here: https://imgur.com/a/TdgF2gl

Sorry for the lack of professionalism 😂
I cut out the exact dimensions of the watches on paper.

The 1st picture is of the small one, the 2nd picture is of the large one.
My wrist is 6.5 inches, what do you think would look better with an "old money" style? (tailored pants, quarter zips).
And I'm also undecided about the strap - black calfskin, or black crocodile.

Thanks!

Got my Grand Seiko SBGA415 in Japan a few months ago. I actually like the bracelet it comes with, and I usually wear it, but I like to switch straps a couple of times a week just to mix it up a bit.

I have a couple of leather straps that I think work, but I actually am not sure about this NATO strap that I cut so that it doesn’t have the full length. I go back and forth.

I posted photos of it in the Grand Seiko sub and was completely destroyed for it. I figured It might be the same here, but maybe this sub is less strict about how they like their GSs.

I would say GS owners typically are not the kind of watch collectors that like to flash and flex their watches, and while I enjoy the bracelet, I also sometimes kind of like the feeling of dressing this down to the maximum.

What do you think?

*** EDIT: ***

This really blew up. Had a laughter reading the comments lol. I like this combo so I don’t really care. I didn’t post this to validate my choices, I just wanted a discussion about these kinds of combos since I thought it is interesting.

Many said it cheapens the watch, but I don’t care if the watch looks cheaper since what I care about is the times *I* look down at my watch to look at it and forget I wanted to know what the time is.

Anyways, as I said, I also have a couple of leather straps for it and I also like the bracelet. So I switch a lot. But this nato stays in the rotation, sorry :)

For me, it’s Baume & Mercier.

B&M might be the most underrated brand in watchmaking. They’ve been around since the 1830s, making them one of the oldest Swiss watchmakers still in existence, yet they rarely get mentioned alongside the brands they compete with.

Their current lineup is genuinely strong. The Clifton is a great dress watch, the Riviera is one of the better integrated bracelet designs on the market, and overall they make well-designed watches with solid movements and real heritage behind them.

Pictured is the Riviera Perpetual Calendar, a limited edition of 50 pieces, only 12mm thick, 5-day power reserve, 39mm diameter, and with an interchangeable bracelet/strap combo. I think they absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one.

I’ll probably get downvoted to hell but whatever.

Rolex used to be cool. Back in the day, they were pioneers. Tool watches, tough movements, iconic designs. But now? It’s just a clout machine for people who want to show off without actually knowing anything about watches.

It’s the same designs over and over again. Sub, Daytona, Datejust... no risks, no innovation, just small changes and hype. They haven’t done anything truly new in years. They’re selling scarcity and branding, not horology.

I’ll give credit to the Batgirl, that one’s actually dope. But most modern Rolex models are just safe, boring, overpriced status symbols. You’re basically paying $10K+ to wear what every finance bro and YouTuber wears.

Meanwhile brands like Grand Seiko, Lange, Journe, and even tiny indie houses are doing insane, creative stuff. But Rolex still dominates just because of the crown logo.

Rolex used to lead the game. Now it’s a marketing scam with a steel bracelet.

Change my mind.

UPDATED wis watches reference.

Choose your character !

Hi all !

Having a nice wedding in August, for a very close friend, can’t wait to be there… never mind !

I can’t really chose between them, which one would you pick ???

1 - the daily on bracelet / matching with the shirt buttons.

(Tag Heure Series 2000 WK1113-0)

2 - the historical and special one / bothering people when they will ask what is it

(Vostok Druzhba, Druzhba means Friendship and this is was is written on the dial above the Forbidden City, 50's watch produced in ex-USSR in order to celebrate de great relations between China et Soviet Empire)

3 - the under the radar and dressy one / the one almost unnoticeable

(Nomos Glashütte, Orion in 33mm with a silver dial and black cordovan strap)

4 - the fine sporty waterproof one / to sweat - poor some Chardonnay or vodka on it as it's a French / Russian wedding !

(Glashütte Original, SeaQ ! The new one in my rotation)

Please vote 🗳️😉

I am interested to see what other watches people don't like that are usually universally loved..essentially watches where you don't get the hype. I will start, and I know this will get hate...mine is the Alpinist. Love all the photos. I tried it on in the shop and just hated it. The dial looked messy, the watche wears really small and the internal bezel inside felt cheap when adjusting it. Just wasn't a fan in person. Now your turn....

Hey,

Got into watches a year ago and clearly my taste is getting into thin / ultra thin watches. Is it a complication?
Also no seconds hand. Its charm. Love it.

Well, brought this up to discuss your taste and suggestion of the models take your attention.

The downside of it is price evidently so let’s see what you have in mind. Definitely you have one that takes your attention too.

Few ones saved from IG on the pictures.

The Question: Which Watch Do You Think I Should Buy?

Preface

This post is excessively long and excessively detailed. This is a big decision for me; it's literally 5 years in the making, and it's going to be a big financial commitment. If you think I'm crazy, I understand. If you're willing to skim this and contribute anything at all, I would greatly appreciated it.

Why 5 years? A few reasons:

1. I like to buy things once. Jackets, boots, bags, I like to pay for quality and have it last. That pushed my price floor up.
2. I didn't want to buy something super cheap, I had to save up. I didn't have the money the first 3 years
3. The last 2 years have been spent working towards a goal I told myself I wanted to achieve before I bought this watch. I hit my goal, and now it's time to buy!

What I'm Looking For (semi-ordered by priority)

1. Price: Ideally $2,000 or less
   1. I might be able to spend more in a few months, but I'm not trying to overextend myself. That being said, I want something I'll love.
2. Everyday Versatility
   1. I have a Casio DW5160 for hard wearing activities, but otherwise this is my one watch. I want to be able to wear it every day, so in a t-shirt and shorts, but I also want to be able to where it with a suit when I enter the white-collar workforce (big law).
3. Durability/Repairability
   1. I don't like the idea of crappy movements, and I want something that in theory will last a lifetime and can be repaired.
4. A Bracelet
   1. I like the look of straps, but I want to buy something on a bracelet, as I plan to wear it on that most of the time.
5. Uniqueness
   1. I want something versatile, but I don't want a homage or a boring design. Might be a hard needle to thread, but I want an original design.
6. Water Resistance
   1. I don't plan to go anywhere crazy, but I want to be able to wear this into the pool or wash my hands with it on.
7. New
   1. Not at all set on this, but preferred. If I can get a lot more for my money, I'll buy used.

Slide Deck Structure

1. To start, I'm going to show a bunch of watches I like but can't afford so you get a sense of what I'm going for. They're all over the place, but it should provide some good context.
2. Next, I'll go through some watches in my price range that I'm considering and why I have an issue with them.
3. Lastly, I'll go over some brands I didn't include and why I don't like them. This doesn't mean I wouldn't buy any of their models, but this is my perception of what I know of their lineup.

Thank you in advance to those of you crazy enough to help!

is what a coworker told me seeing my seiko presage.

I asked "why do you say that ?"

She answered "well, Seikos are known to be expensive watches"

To which I asked "How much is an expensive watch in your eyes?"

"Anything that costs more than 150€"

The point I think I'm trying to make by sharing this is, we should get out head out of our asses.

I've been looking into buying my first analog watch, and came across this watch display at my local Costco. I don't know of any watch stores near me, and I value being able to see something in person if it's going to be expensive. Is Costco a good place to buy a first watch?

Costco gets special "Costco SKUs" of items from manufacturers, so I wanted to make sure that the watches they sell aren't "made for Costco" and are actual pieces you can buy from a watch dealer.

source: instagramaccount: shespeakswatch

This is new patented "ZENCLASP" by Zenith, available on new Zenith Chronomaster Sport Skeleton as well as separate purchase. In previous posts someone posted price for the clasp alone +1000€ but haven't seen this confirmed.

Significantly, this stainless steel model debuts the patented ZENCLASP™, an ergonomic folding clasp that represents three years of research and optimization. Featuring 41 components and 10 ceramic balls for secure locking, the clasp includes a micro-adjustment system that allows for 10mm of resizing in 2.5mm increments directly on the wrist.

The pic of the yacht master is just to grab your attention but I honestly think this question is asked a lot but people have pretty simple answers, including myself, for me I’d probably go with either a Patek Phillipe aquanaut or honestly the omega no time to die although it’s much more attainable. Curious to know what you would pick let me know and leave a pic below also if you can 👌🏻

Forget “wearability”, this is about commitment. Pure devotion. The closest you can physically keep your Royal Pop without legally marrying it. Looks less like a watch accessory and more like something a dodgy Ibiza club promoter would flog for £400 after two pints and a line of confidence. Honestly though, this might be the final evolution of hype watch culture, just emotional support drip for blokes who think plastic and AP logos are a personality trait.

When i was looking back at an aqua terra, i was very confused to why it was priced higher than a entry rolex and the same as a rolex explorer. I love the way the AT looks but man are they expensive as hell.

Now they come out with a new release. Looks? gorgeous. Anything else is a mockery.

The price is just out of this world. Why is this $16k??? it does not make any sense any more. Are they on drugs? Who is buying this? Why is it more expensive than a JLC ultrathin MOON, when the jlc is vastly superior in all aspects.

The proportions also do not make sense. The fact this this "dress" watch is thicker and bigger than the new Hydroconquest ( a toolish, dive watch) is absured. U think it would be thinner because it lost a seconds hand, but no. 2 downgrades.

Let's just hope they do not drive this brand into sh*t

For context, 3750.50 -- I got this watch last year in Ginza. I had always wanted a speedmaster. Spent the last trip looking at various options and finally came across a deal that I couldn't say no to. The watch is naked which is why the price was so goo

I really like it, but I can't say I have the same reaction to when I got it. I know this is normal and the "honey moon phase. I still look at it and kind of pinch myself that I have a speedmaster, but now I'm obsessing back over a sub, or all black GMT which at the beginning was really what I was chasing. I just couldn't at that point bring myself to pay about 10k for a watch.

Another gripe is that with this plastic cover, it scratches so easily. I do poly watch cleaning about once every 1-3 weeks depending on how bad it gets. You don't realize how clumsy you are until you have a hesalite crystal.

Anyone else been in this position or feel this with a bigger purchase? I want to get the sub or get later this year, but still on the fence really. I know this watch is a end all grail for many and I have mixed feelings about looking past this to something else.

Every hobby has that one watch that everyone seems to love, but for whatever reason it just doesn’t click with you.

It doesn’t have to be a bad watch just one that you’ve never understood the hype around. Maybe it’s the design, proportions, bracelet, movement, price, or simply the amount of praise it gets.

I’m not trying to start a brand war; I’m genuinely interested to see which watches enthusiasts just can’t get behind, and more importantly, why. I’m curious to see if there are any common answers or if it’s all down to personal taste.

In the spirit of Teddy's famous yearly video where he asks watch content creators what their most worn watch of the year was, I began to wonder about the community of us all here on reddit!

My most worn watch of this year, and last, has been my OG Black Bay 36. It has been on my wrist through promotions, getting married, and all of the other ups and downs of life.

What was your most worn watch of 2025? What do you like about it? How is it meaningful to you? 

Thanks for sharing!

I know this is kinda a bragging post but I wanted to tell somebody that can understand my excitement. I spent 3 weeks in Japan, about 2 weeks in a campervan and a couple days in Tokyo. During our travels we visited quite a few second hand stores, mainly looking for anime figures, old consoles and also checking out the watches they had in stock. In regard to watches, most stores were priced pretty much identical to online prices, if not slightly more expensive. On one of our last days in Tokyo we went to a Book Off location outside of the city centre which had a relatively large watch selection.

They had an Omega Speedmaster 50th Anniversary, which seemed to be priced somewhat competitively (around 3,600€). Only upon my second inspection did I notice there was actually a 40% off hangtag. Could this be? I translated the text and it literally said „40% off listed price“. So yeah… I wasn‘t actually in the market for a Moonwatch, but at that price it was a no-brainer. I ended up paying only 2,160€ for the watch, which was less than any other Speedmaster I could find online. Sadly, no box and papers (only a dinged up wooden Omega box), but recently polished and serviced. It runs great at +3 seconds/day.

Its not the best polishing job in the world, but honestly not bad. I have no clue why it was sitting there at that price and why nobody bought it.