I've often wonder how the Swiss watchmakers justify these exorbitant prices, personally I don't buy into the "these watches are entirely hand made by craftsmen" thing these manufacturers say. I would say that they are hand assembled at best which isn't quite the same thing but still highly skilled. I know several of the manufacturers don't make their own ébauche movements but buy them from ETA and then modify them to suit. I also vaguely remember reading somewhere that the Rolex assembly line is heavily mechanised.

Interesting site about manufacturing at Rolex...

http://horomundi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3577&highlight=Rolex

Probably the suppressed philistine in me, but I fear that I am to fine watches as Cruiser is to fine clothes. At the moment, I am wearing a watch that cost me all of $150 or so. It is handsome and accurate, and I just don't feel the need for anything more. Perhaps if I were still single and trying to impress women....

Oh, speaking of Cruiser, I somehow forgot his Mickey Mouse watch. Perhaps, had I worn one of those for the past quarter-century or so, I, too, could be enjoying a "six-figure retirement income."

Last edited by captainpreppy (2008-04-07 15:11:28)

Last edited by The_Shooman (2008-04-07 23:30:16)

http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/07/best-in-show-live-at-baselworld/#more-677

That was six years ago now and fashions change......

Few if any watches are completely "hand made", but where there is prestige is in-house movements and the collector will generally pay the extra for this.