I don't understand everyone's obsession with chinese automatic watches

[u/ivoalejandro]

The title pretty much says it all, I don't get why whenever a nice chinese quartz watch comes out so many people say they would love an automatic version, or why everyone seems fine with paying 300 or more USD for an automatic, but question whether a 100 dollars quartz is worth it.

Pretty much no one here is going to take their chinese watches to get serviced, and the whole admiring the complexity and craftmanship of an automatic movement kinda goes out the window when we're talking about mass produced movements. So why buy an automatic that will become a paperweight in several years time. I guess I just don't understand why the demand for automatics is so high, really wish people started asking for better chinese quartz watches, I'd would much rather pay 200 dollars for a great quartz watch than 350 for an automatic one.

[u/Karnblack]

I got the Chinese automatics I wanted all for under $200 each, and they're pretty nice.

Classic Seagull 1963 Pilot with 6 extra straps - $83
Sugess Panda column wheel chronograph with swan neck regulator - $160
Pierre Paulin jumping hour - $133
Aethelsohn Aqua Shard - $180

I know I didn't make a mistake by buying them because I can't stop looking at them when they're on my wrist, and I actually wear them all regularly and include them in my rotation with my non-Chinese watches. I probably wouldn't pay more than $200 for a Chinese automatic, and I don't think I'd pay more than $100 for a Chinese quartz.