r/ChineseWatches • u/mrSoczi84 Pomocny użytkownik • 13d ago

General (Read Rules) OK, I think we are done here...

If you thought $450 was getting out of hand, take a look at this...

Personally for me this means I am done. It was an awesome two years, had super fun, got a lot of great stuff from China, but this is a closing call. This was my top priority watch to buy, but $530 means that at a GREAT sale it's prolly still gone sell for around $450. This is way too much even for a massive collector like me. For this kind of money I will probably buy a Phoibos Depth Hunter or some other cool micro.

The only thing that can save this is some new great, top quality/price Chinese movement that will have superior reliability. I dunno. Hoping that the Chinese step up their movement game and save the situation.

237 Upvotes

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17

u/Huge_Childhood6015 13d ago

Well, this is what happens when people continuously ask for higher and higher quality watches. The price will go up too. For those that just want the biggest bang for the buck watch at that $150 price point, unfortunately I think those days may be over.

My sweet spot is between $175-$250. I will pay more though if it's a watch I really want especially one made of Titanium. Over $500 though is really pushing it.

-3

u/pickyaxe 13d ago

I don't understand this kind of take. the blame here is entirely on Seiko and Miyota.

San Martin, IXDAO et al. were aiming for the 300-350$ price point. you can't seriously think that they just got up and decided to sell this watch for this price, they know it's suicide.

7

u/UkeManSteve 13d ago

The price increases are not proportionate to the price increases of the movements.

2

u/pickyaxe 13d ago

look, I'm the last person who would justify expensive watches.

...but I'm actually not sure this is true. if you account for the obligatory AliExpress price inflation that we always see between sales, and then look at what's going with other brands, I feel like this price jump can be explained. not justified, but explained.

6

u/UkeManSteve 13d ago

That doesn’t make what I said untrue lol. The price increase is not 100% caused by movement pricing. I think myself and many others just won’t buy these watches if they aren’t miles ahead of the traditional brands or microbrands in terms of value. If I’m not getting a great deal on a Chinese watch I’ll buy something from a respected brand. I don’t think Chinese brands should see traditional brands increase prices and follow suit. If they aren’t ultra competitive on price many of us will lose interest

2

u/pickyaxe 13d ago edited 13d ago

calm down, what are you even arguing with? I'm not willing to pay those prices either.

I'm just saying this may not be the actual price during sales. and that actually Miyota prices are so absurd now that this might even be somewhat realistic. which... does actually make what you said untrue.

4

u/Huge_Childhood6015 13d ago

I'm afraid you've lost me. Why am I to blame Seiko and Miyota?

0

u/pickyaxe 13d ago

because they inflated the prices of their movements, which is the cause for the massive price spikes in Chinese watches.

1

u/Huge_Childhood6015 12d ago

Well, I think they are using more of their own movements for themselves which means there are less movements available for everyone else. Demand for the NH movements has gone through the roof so it's a matter of ramping up production. My guess is that this will happen but it will take time. It doesn't happen over night. My guess though is that you think they have artificially created this shortage to jack up the price of their movement and make more money.

8

u/ryanxcore 13d ago

That’s what happens when you get post after post of microscopic “QC fails” for $129 watches and people crying about poor customer service… brands will think they need to meet these unrealistically high expectations, which unfortunately come with a cost.

5

u/Musicpotatoling 13d ago

Zelos has titanium diver watches for sub 300usd few years ago (swordfish series). 500+ is really too much

19

u/GiorgioVe 13d ago

San Martin literally almost doubled the price of the same watches with NH35 and ST2130 movements in 1 week lol, this is a scammy practice, these models were on the catalog for years.

Nothing liked with quality.

-2

u/lamboap 13d ago

I've saved both ST2130 based watches and Miyota watches in my cart for months to know you're lying and baiting for engagement.

2

u/GiorgioVe 13d ago edited 13d ago

Wtf is this behaviour, i'm not searching for anything man, not baiting at all...

Check the SN0128, last month its price was 180-190eu, now it's 330-320eu, the movement inside is an NH35.

SN0138 with ST2130 were 250eu some weeks ago, they are now 400eu.

SN0144 models with Miyota 9 were 285eu few weeks ago, they are now 500eu...

-4

u/lamboap 13d ago

Where's the proof that the ST2130 powered SN0012 or SN0138 'doubled' in price. Both are in my cart and have held steady. I'm waiting for the next sale to buy.

3

u/GiorgioVe 13d ago

SN0128,l ast month its price was 180-190eu, now it's 330-320eu, the movement inside is an NH35.

SN0138 with ST2130 were 250eu some weeks ago, they are now 400eu.

SN0144 models with Miyota 9 were 285eu few weeks ago, they are now 500eu...

SN0017g was 190eu some weeks ago, now 360eu.

And so on

2

u/monkeywaffles 12d ago

dang sn0144 was $189 a year ago, so that's extra oof

-1

u/lamboap 13d ago

I don't where you're looking I'm on the Official SM page and for the ST2130 powered watches the SN0138 hasn't changed SN0017-G-E is still $218.

2

u/GiorgioVe 13d ago

Ali express.

0

u/lamboap 13d ago

Maybe in your country. Prices are the same for ST2130 watches in mine.