What are some of the most underrated Swiss Watch Brands? What do you guys like and look for in a quality watch?

Hi People Into Watches - 

What are some super underrated Swiss Watch Brands? When looking at quality brands and quality watches, what do you look for? Is it history, heritage, original designs, technology, or what is it? 

Personally I have been a huge fan of Longines and I think Longines watches are criminally underrated! 

They've got a great catalog of watches for all occasions and their history is extremely rich!

My two favorite brands right now are Longines & Tudor

What are some of your favorite Swiss watch brands ranging from entry luxury to affordable and why?

Let's TALK!

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I like Zenith, somewhat well known but still a relatively minor brand in the public eye. At the 'entry level' I'm a big fan of Longines, Frederique Constant and Tudor, they offer a lot of watch for not a lot of money (relatively speaking, spending 4 figures+ on a watch that isn't as accurate as a casio you can pick up for 10 quid makes no sense to anyone other than a watch guy). 

 

I absolutely love Longines, I have 3-4 of their retro manuals and they're gorgeous. 

"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion
 

I like Omega, not in the sense of them being a competitor of Rolex, tho. There's just a lot to love about the brand, and I think they do maintain some of the "effortless elegance " element in their modern lineup today. However, I believe you do get more from the vintage models. 

A tangent from the Swiss watch is the brand Grand Seiko. I think they also handle the sense of elegance and sharpness pretty well. And if you are not completely opposed to a quartz movement, they are the best choice IMO. Newer models like SBGX347 and older models like SBGF015 are my favs. 

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Seiko 5's got me into the world of mechanical watches!

I love the Grand Seiko White Birch!! Those are insane! Of course, a fan favorite is the GS SnowFlake! 

The Seiko SARB033/035 & SARX055/057 are also top tier Seiko watches! 

 

Mido? I was looking into dress watches in the sub 2k range and I found that their Baroncelli Heritage Line to offer absurd value for money (39mm case, 7 mm thick, display case back, sapphire crystal, blued second hands, decent ETA movement => all under 1000).Btw if u have any good suggestions for dress watches sub 2k, let me know. My ideal specs are 38 mm case, under or equal to 10 mm thick, sapphire crystal, simple but classic design. So far, I've checked Seiko, Tudor, Longines, Junghans, and Nomos (really couldn't get over the lugs on the Nomos Orion despite hitting most if not every mark for an ideal dress watch).

 

I have a Tudor black bay ceramic which is great and relatively affordable for ~$5k. Threw an aftermarket strap on it. Rolex is always a good option but overpriced as they're hard to get at retail and secondary market prices are 20+% higher depending on the model. Grand Seiko is great -- superior finishing to Rolex/Tudor/Longines and top tier tech. Check out the snowflake (spring drive gives a true sweeping second hand), night birch, white birch, or green birch (on available online for the last one). Formex for $1k watches that are super well made (I have the field watch and like it). FC is also worth checking out, along with Longines (Zulu time GMT). JLC/Cartier also are good options.

 

I want to say JLC as they're not as talked about with most folk who don't care for watches but definitely are a stronghold for watch enthusiasts and worth mentioning. Some of the best movements in the industry (just research the history here) and some of the best dials (master ultra-thin moon) / models (reverso).Usually 10-12K on average is my guess depending on the complication of course but never exorbitantly expensive. Don't think they hold value well at all but I'm a buyer of watches to wear, not to invest so I'm in a different thought bucket on that.

 

I totally get what you mean, Longines is such a solid choice and definitely doesn’t get the love it deserves. For me, when I’m looking at a quality watch, I care about the design, reliability, and how it feels on the wrist more than just the name.

If we’re talking underrated, I’d say check out Asorock Watches too. They’re not Swiss, but they’ve got that quality build, unique designs, and great value without the crazy price tag. It’s a cool option if you want something different that still feels premium. 

 

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"If you don't have any enemies in life you have never stood up for anything" - Winston Churchill | "It's a testament to the sheer belligerence of the profession that people would rather argue about the 'risk-adjusted returns' of using inferior tooth cleaning methods." - kellycriterion

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