[montelatici]

As usual Rolex is way overrated. Cartier way underrated.

 

[I Like em BIG ! !]

Well, at least I have at least 2 - 3 from every category except the "Ultra".

Consumer:
Too many to mention

Enthusiast:
4

Quasi Lux:
3

Entry Level Lux:
2

Lux:
3

High End Lux:
3

Ultra Lux:
0

This is just of the brands mentioned, there are so many more!

OBTW... Arnold & Son in the Ultra Lux...? As much as I love them... not so sure when your talking rarefied air!

 

[Simon]

Consumer level watch -

 

[palletwheel]

You forgot to add Parmigiani Fleurier to your ultra luxury list. Like many here have said, it's a pretty credible list, but after looking up Vincero I don't understand why you call them "Affordable Luxury". They look more like a nice consumer brand to me. They use decent Seiko quartz movements and fit the tier below Presage, which you also forgot, and which I think would probably fit your Enthusiast category.

 

[J__D]

Everyone saying Omega and Rolex are on the same level - not going to happen.
By any objective measure, there is a clear step up between the two brands in terms of prestige and pricing.

There is literally no "objective measures" to say Rolex is in a different tier to Omega, maybe different ends of the tier, but in the same group either way.

Even owning both, I can say they're in the same category, same types of buyers (normal consumers and enthusiasts) and the broadly the same brand recognition, I mean look at the 99 million posts comparing the two endlessly.

I would put GS on par with Omega and Rolex, I see no reason why they wouldn't, similar types of watches, unique movements, unique pieces costing a fortune, precious metals etc

 

[Earthjade]

but after looking up Vincero I don't understand why you call them "Affordable Luxury". They look more like a nice consumer brand to me.

Yeah, look - it's a joke some people will get because "affordable luxury" (an oxymoron) and "cutting out the middleman" are boilerplate statements made by start-up brands that are essentially selling branded Chinese watches and trying to pass them off as something more exclusive than that. But you're right - if Vincero were truly on the list, they would be in consumer.

As for Seiko, don't blame me for where they are on the list. Blame Seiko for making watches all the way up the scale from consumer to entry-level luxury and not thinking maybe having different brand names and identities (other than a subtitle) might have been advantageous for when posters on watch forums decided to make tier lists.

 

[ffritz]

Tutima must be placed higher as a brand, they make an in-house minute repeater(!!). That puts them waayy above many of the other brands in several categories.

 

[ffritz]

There's no reality in which Panerai and Rolex belong anywhere near JLC, GO, Chopard, Credor, and Girard-Perregaux.

I agree regarding Rolex.

Panerai though, you mean that reality in which they creates tourbillon movements like this?

 

[RynoRex82]

😂😂😂. well played!

 

[Earthjade]

Tutima must be placed higher as a brand, they make an in-house minute repeater(!!).

I am going by the typical median watch of these brands. It's a fair way to approach this. There are plenty of companies that make high-horology pieces that are an exception to what they generally make. TAG and Tissot are examples. But I'm not about to put TAG into high-end luxury. It's also why Seiko is such a tough one to place given how broad they use their name on their range of products.

In Japan, there is a brand called Kentex. Their philosophy is to make "high-quality watches that appeal to Japanese sensibilities at a reasonable price". That reasonable price is anywhere from $200 to $2,000 USD. I would consider them an enthusiast watch, given their small reach within Japan, the style of their watches (tool watches) and the price brackets they operate in. However, they also make and sell an in-house tourbillon worth many times their next most expensive watch.
Would I bump them up into luxury or high end luxury because they make a tourbillon watch? Uh, no.

 

[Aspartame]

You forgot to add Parmigiani Fleurier to your ultra luxury list. Like many here have said, it's a pretty credible list, but after looking up Vincero I don't understand why you call them "Affordable Luxury". They look more like a nice consumer brand to me. They use decent Seiko quartz movements and fit the tier below Presage, which you also forgot, and which I think would probably fit your Enthusiast category.

Vincero is a meme brand, have you ever seen their youtube ad?

Sent from my SM-N975U1 using Tapatalk

 

[aks12r]

I am going by the typical median watch of these brands. It's a fair way to approach this. There are plenty of companies that make high-horology pieces that are an exception to what they generally make. TAG and Tissot are examples. But I'm not about to put TAG into high-end luxury. It's also why Seiko is such a tough one to place given how broad they use their name on their range of products.

In Japan, there is a brand called Kentex. Their philosophy is to make "high-quality watches that appeal to Japanese sensibilities at a reasonable price". That reasonable price is anywhere from $200 to $2,000 USD. I would consider them an enthusiast watch, given their small reach within Japan, the style of their watches (tool watches) and the price brackets they operate in. However, they also make and sell an in-house tourbillon worth many times their next most expensive watch.
Would I bump them up into high end luxury because they make a tourbillon watch? Uh, no.

View attachment 15775202

given that price is a factor then some of the owners of the $6000 Seiko's might expect the brand to be higher than consumer grade. I would also argue that full vertical integration should be the main guide for brand placement. This alone should provide luxury items even if there is excessive range of prices & products (Seiko) or not much range at all ( Roger Smith). For Seiko, maybe split off Credor?

 

[Mr.Jones82]

I know this is a joke but I'm curious if most people actually see Breitling as being on the same "tier" as Omega. I don't know why but I've always had kind of a so-so opinion of them, they definitely don't seem nearly as prestigious or popular as Omega or Rolex.

I own watches by both and have handled many and I definitely would not use so-so to describe Breitling. Sure, they're not as popular as Omega and Rolex and their lineup is a bit convoluted due to unnecessary models and distinctions (not so much these days), but the quality is there. The way they engineer their bracelets is very unique (their clasps really suck in comparison to all the work they put into their bracelets) and I actually really love their modified ETAs and prefer them over anything in-house from Omega because Breitling actually does modify these movements as opposed to just tossing a rotor on them and you can go anywhere to get them serviced not just a pricey Omega tech. My COSC Avenger Seawolf is still within COSC standards and it is just a tank. I'd still probably place them slightly below Omega for several reasons, but not too far, especially if we compare chronographs. I'd take the new Chronomats over a Speedy any day of the week.

 

[americanbam]

I'm not sure if my glasses need cleaning, but Dubey & Schaldenbrand aren't on the chart?

This is 'Hyacinths' -

 

[Georgie_Porgie]

As a proud owner of a Mako 2, I take offence at Orient (and Seiko, Citizen, etc) being in the same category that Calvin Klein, Fossil or Daniel Wellington 😣😂.

Even though all those brand belong to the same price bracket, I think it very unlikely to see a young person that is into fashion wearing an Orient Triton or a Vostok Komandirskie, hence that should be (imho) split into two different categories, let's say, fashion and entry-level enthusiast.

 

[G_Garcia]

Seiko fits in like three different tiers

 

[G_Garcia]

The biggest problem I have with these rankings and lists is how they always are based on market logics.

 

[gekota]

Agree with the list for the most part, except maybe RD needs to be down a tier.

 

[Earthjade]

Agree with the list for the most part, except maybe RD needs to be down a tier.

Good point.
I've moved Roger Dubuis and Harry Winston down one tier. They are close, but not enough to be ultra luxury.

 

[Fatal_emission]

Gucci would not elevate beyond being a consumer fashion watch to me. Same as any other non specialist watch maker piggy backing off a fashion background.