An American built wrist watch with ETA 2824 automatic movement

[Thomas Carey]

Thought some of you might be interested in a project we are working on at Minuteman Watch Co. We are working bringing to market a watch with ETA 2824 auto movement with price of $600 or less.

We will be assembling and testing these in the USA. Other brands that we consider to be in our same market segment. Which are brands that also build in the USA. Typically charge about $795 for an auto watch with a Miyota 9015. For those of you that don't know the ETA movement actually costs at about $100 more.

These will come with a high quality American leather strap.

Our watches carry a 5 year warranty.

25% of the profit from each sold will go to charity.

We believe that would be the lowest price for a watch assembled in the USA with a ETA 2824 auto movement. We have parts on order now to build and test a working prototype.

The current plan would be to build just 100 of these initially.

To keep up to date with that and other efforts if you have not done so. We suggest you sign up for our newsletter here http://minutemanwatches.com/subscribe




Here is how the design looks on paper right now.

 

[leghog]

You can buy Swiss made watches with that Swiss movement for 1/2 that price.

Why would "assembled in the USA" be worth twice as much?

 

[RevDevil]

Thomas update your usergroup

You can buy Swiss made watches with that Swiss movement for 1/2 that price.

Why would "assembled in the USA" be worth twice as much?

Why is anything made in the USA worth "twice as much" as stuff made elsewhere? Basic economics should account for paying people a living wage, health insurance, retirement, and other benefits, right? Maybe the company would like to make a little profit too, can't pay bills with "kindness of your heart dollars". Would you like to have a job making $3 a day? Serious question and not intended to turn this into a political crap storm or derail either.

 

[Rupestris]

You can buy Swiss made watches with that Swiss movement for 1/2 that price.

Why would "assembled in the USA" be worth twice as much?

Ask a Harley Davidson owner. Better yet, check the resale value of an HD as opposed to a BMW or Suzuki.

 

[Thomas Carey]

I have not seen a brand new "Swiss" made watch with an ETA 2824 with a retail price of $300. In fact not many "Swiss" made watches in general for that. You might find one with a quartz movement..

 

[farmboy]

I never got a raise by saying that I needed or wanted one.

I always got a raise if I proved I was worth more.

When it comes to the average consumer dollar, value for the dollar is everything. In a capitalist system, that's just how it works.

As it comes to the Minuteman Watch, Thomas, could you share with us how your $600 watch would compare to a Hamilton branded watch, for example? I believe Hamilton uses ETA movements. How would your watch be a better value?

 

[Thomas Carey]

I never got a raise by saying that I needed or wanted one.

I always got a raise if I proved I was worth more.

When it comes to the average consumer dollar, value for the dollar is everything. In a capitalist system, that's just how it works.

As it comes to the Minuteman Watch, Thomas, could you share with us how your $600 watch would compare to a Hamilton branded watch, for example? I believe Hamilton uses ETA movements. How would your watch be a better value?

I am not saying it would be a better value than a Hamilton. The Hamilton is not assembled in the US. We would most likely have a better strap though and we do have a better warranty. I don't know that there actually is a Hamilton with a ETA 2824 and an MSRP of $600. I think most have a higher MSRP. Now can you find one for less than $400 from a liquidator that is not even an AD. Which means the warranty is no good and it could be like a $25 pair of Ray Bans. I am saying ours would be a better value than other brands that assemble in the US.

If you compare us to other American brands like Shinola that gets about $795 for a quartz I think you will see the value. Of course the next comment will likely be Shinola is way too much money. Well they are growing very rapidly as a brand. If your looking for a bargain it's not for you. But the people that buy them are likely looking for something else. It's the same sort of thing with us and other brands like Lum-Tec.

For those that think a "Swiss" watch at this price is really Swiss I can tell you it is as much as ours is. What I mean is most of the parts come outside of Switzerland at this price point. In fact when they get their parts in from that other country. Generally part of those parts are already assembled which we do not do that with ours.

Back on the subject of Hamilton which is owned by Swatch Group who owns ETA. They have better access and buy at much lower prices. ETA basically is wanting to cut off all non Swatch Group companies. All this and more requires pretty complex discussion that I really don't want to go into when a simple search would find it on a watch blog or forum.

 

[EricV]

I never got a raise by saying that I needed or wanted one.

I always got a raise if I proved I was worth more.

When it comes to the average consumer dollar, value for the dollar is everything. In a capitalist system, that's just how it works.

As it comes to the Minuteman Watch, Thomas, could you share with us how your $600 watch would compare to a Hamilton branded watch, for example? I believe Hamilton uses ETA movements. How would your watch be a better value?

In most businesses you don't get a raise if you don't ask for one, or have negotiated one on hiring, but that is quite OT.

With watches as with knives, so much of the cost is driven by unseen things. Warranty is a big deal, build quality is huge, materials, function design, size, and the ever important aesthetic value.

Models from many makers vary by thousands just because of very minute details in the movement of materials. It looks like a fair price for the design compared to what else is out there. I just wish Minuteman would make a chronograph, probably going to save up for a Sinn, but a decently priced USA alternative would be sweet.

 

[Thomas Carey]

In most businesses you don't get a raise if you don't ask for one, or have negotiated one on hiring, but that is quite OT.

With watches as with knives, so much of the cost is driven by unseen things. Warranty is a big deal, build quality is huge, materials, function design, size, and the ever important aesthetic value.

Models from many makers vary by thousands just because of very minute details in the movement of materials. It looks like a fair price for the design compared to what else is out there. I just wish Minuteman would make a chronograph, probably going to save up for a Sinn, but a decently priced USA alternative would be sweet.

Thanks so much for the kind words.

I think we would be more likely to do a dive type watch as based on a recent poll we saw they are much more popular now than any other type with pilot types coming in at a distant 2nd. Having been a retailer of other brands the chrono's just did not sell as well as other types and there were extra challenges with those as there is more to go wrong. =)

Sinn is a great watch to be sure.

 

[justin.chambers8]

Hey man I am all for the watch. What some guys fail to realize is that made in America still means a lot to some people. I would rather support a U.S. Company any day because I know that the money I spend is going to help our economy and the people of the United States. I believe that part of the problem with America is we don not encourage each other to take possible chances. There isn't enough diversity. So many companies are owned by one corporation who put a monopoly on things. Competition has always been the backbone of America.

 

[leghog]

You can buy Swiss made watches with that Swiss movement for 1/2 that price.

Why would "assembled in the USA" be worth twice as much?

Thomas update your usergroup



Why is anything made in the USA worth "twice as much" as stuff made elsewhere? Basic economics should account for paying people a living wage, health insurance, retirement, and other benefits, right? Maybe the company would like to make a little profit too, can't pay bills with "kindness of your heart dollars". Would you like to have a job making $3 a day? Serious question and not intended to turn this into a political crap storm or derail either.

I'm fairly certain the Swiss companies pay their Swiss employees a living wage, health insurance, retirement, and other benefits and also make a little profit too. I doubt any of those Swiss employees in those Swiss companies making Swiss made watches earns only $3 a day. Again, I posted of "Swiss made watches with that Swiss made movement".

 

[leghog]

I have not seen a brand new "Swiss" made watch with an ETA 2824 with a retail price of $300. In fact not many "Swiss" made watches in general for that. You might find one with a quartz movement..

I would post links but not sure I'm allowed. They are available. Google "ETA 2824" and link to shopping.

Or look just look at Victorinox automatic watches. For his university graduation last spring, I bought my son a brand new one with an ETA 2824-2 movement for a tad less that $300 USD from a reputable dealer. It too was on a leather strap (though a very good one) vs. a bracelet. I bought the bracelet separately from another dealer.

That movement, while a workhorse and a solid performer, is nothing special. MANY MANY MANY companies use it.


Here's a stock photo of the watch I bought my son.

Hey man I am all for the watch. What some guys fail to realize is that made in America still means a lot to some people. I would rather support a U.S. Company any day because I know that the money I spend is going to help our economy and the people of the United States. I believe that part of the problem with America is we don not encourage each other to take possible chances. There isn't enough diversity. So many companies are owned by one corporation who put a monopoly on things. Competition has always been the backbone of America.

"Made in America" and "assembled in America" are too different animals entirely. I'm not sure much/many of the components in the Minuteman watch above are actually made in America.

There was a time when America made the world's best watches and I own a few of them, but that time was several decades ago.



.

 

[leghog]

.....

 

[Thomas Carey]

Hey man I am all for the watch. What some guys fail to realize is that made in America still means a lot to some people. I would rather support a U.S. Company any day because I know that the money I spend is going to help our economy and the people of the United States. I believe that part of the problem with America is we don not encourage each other to take possible chances. There isn't enough diversity. So many companies are owned by one corporation who put a monopoly on things. Competition has always been the backbone of America.

Well said! =)

 

[Ryanol]

With modern manufacturing, crowdfunding and easy access to consumers through e-commerce it's a fun time to be a consumer.

Outfits like benarus, maranez, hell even jim skeltons Strider watch brand are making fun and exciting products.

I personally think the "for patriots by patriots" is pretty "thin" marketing wise but that's just my opinion.

Good luck with your project.

 

[bdmicarta]

There are a lot of boutique manufacturers and they manage to sell well at various price ranges. It seems to require a style/design that people like, and good service.

The closest I've come to a 2824 for $300 was some years ago when Archimede first started making pilot watches. One of my favorite brands now is Steinhart and their dive watches with 2824 movements are available between $400 and $500.

 

[razcob]

It is easy to charge more, when your product has features that the others don't possess. Separate yourselves from the others. Yes, there are some in this crowd that enjoy wearing an automatic watch for special occasions, or other, but why don't you make it rugged enough to use with some of the outdoor knives on this forum. Something you would wear using an axe, but in an automatic.

How about an automatic watch with day/date, luminous hands and a seriously reinforced, raised bezel, and protected crown and case. Or, you could make the bezel steel, and add different color protective plastic covers, so you wouldn't have to worry about ruining during rough use. A raised bezel like a G-shock, that really protects the crystal. Or, you could make the bezel removable, hard plastic or steel, so if they get dinged, you can just unscrew them and replace them. Make the numbers bold and easily readable, like some of the Fortis or Sinn dive watches. Build it like a tank.

 

[Thomas Carey]

We should have the 1st completed prototype in October. Currently we are just not sure the market will support the effort.

While we feel a price point of $600 for an American assembled watch with an ETA 2824 movement is a pretty good deal.

Based on feedback so far that just might not be good enough.

 

[thegamettt]

that is a pretty decent deal. Only other American company around that price point is Lum-Tec, and they are quality stuff. Your price point is actually a bit lower. Are the movements regulated or decorated? see thru case back?

 

[Thomas Carey]

that is a pretty decent deal. Only other American company around that price point is Lum-Tec, and they are quality stuff. Your price point is actually a bit lower. Are the movements regulated or decorated? see thru case back?

We are going with a solid back which is more fitting for our military/field type watches we feel. Thus the movement will not be decorated. We are planning on regulating them.