Watch Brands to Knife Brand Analogs

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Muaddib1116

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Dec 26, 2010
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So, to start, I honestly don't think I'll start collecting watches, mostly because of the price and that I have gotten out of the habit of wearing one (I had a job that required me to remove mine whenever I entered certain areas). I am, however, interested in them as cool, precision, lust-worthy things, and I'd like to be able to appreciate them a little more when I see or read about them. I've started doing some research, but I thought it might be helpful if some of you watch&knife guys could help put watch brands into perspective for me in terms of knife brands, which I know fairly well. Something like (just making this up, since I don't know anything):

Rolex ~ Like the CRK's of the watch world, most well-regarded luxury production brand?
Seiko ~ Maybe like Benchmade or Spyderco?
Casio ~ Same as above?
Timex ~ Maybe like Byrd or Tenacious Family?

I don't know if this type of comparison even makes sense, but I thought I'd ask. Thanks!
 
So, what would you compare Patek, Vacheron and Audemars to? In the watch-world considered the top three most prestigious manufactruers. I'd say we're talking individual makers now that are precious metal/jewel embellished. JLC? Glashütte (and other German manufacturers)? Lange? Breitling? List is endless. Ohh... what about Panerai? Who makes the biggest, gaudiest looking retro-inspired knives?

CRK like Rolex? Rolex well-regarded? No... well, maybe. Depends who you ask. It's well marketed and strictly regulated. Similarity might be change - Rolex has for the past 30-years been stagnant in their design release. And now all of a sudden we have the new ceramic bezel models with larger cases and upgraded clasps, for example. CRK brought out the 25... which people like to hate... just like Rolex. I remember when Rolex first came out with these changes - people hated them... now they don't.

Benchmade/Spyderco are Omega for me. Omega in the last few years has stepped away from ETA and does in-house now - they seem to want to be more like Rolex. Benchmade has changed it's pricing/dealer structure. And, Rolex... wants to be more like PP/VC/AP now - since they got rid of a bunch of dealers, limited stock and are either self-boutiques or only sell with the highest regarded jewelry shops. Omega and Benchmade/Spyderco release/upgrade models very often.

What about Tag Heuer? This is undoubtedly THE brand that most non-watch people get when they want a good quality mid-tier piece.

Seiko? Which ones? The run-of-the-mill mall Korea-made stuff? Or? The grand Seiko Japan made stuff.

Casio? Which? If you only concentrate on the the G-Shocks... I'm thinking more like Cold Steel.

Timex? Wall-Mart bought Kershaws.

So... as you can see... it isn't that easy to do this.
 
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I'm subscribing to this thread :D
 
Another way of looking at it could be the Swiss mechanical wathes are like the traditional knives, and the quartz watches are like the modern tacticle knives.
 
I can't take away from Rolex - they did a lot of "firsts" in the watch world. They're workhorses, no doubt.
 
Rolex has only been a bling item over the last 40 years. Back when my dad was doing hand practice for the momentous occasion that would later be known as my conception, Rolex was known as a watch you could beat to hell and still keep good time. I don't take mine off. Only had the Deepsea just past a month and it's already aquiring some nice character marks.
 
Charlie Mike said:
Rolex has only been a bling item over the last 40 years. Back when my dad was doing hand practice for the momentous occasion that would later be known as my conception, Rolex was known as a watch you could beat to hell and still keep good time. I don't take mine off. Only had the Deepsea just past a month and it's already aquiring some nice character marks.
Click to expand...

Back then, Omega was the more prestigious brand. Forty years is a long time for a company whose most of the current sport's line up has been around for a little over 50 years. I think it would be more accurate to say the 80s... the 80s is when the bling for Rolex happened... with the likes of the Miami Vice series. Before then, a Day-Date (aka Presidential with the correct bracelet) was elegant business attire - just look at the Eisenhower's gold DJ and LBJ's yg DD.
 
Sufler said:
I can't take away from Rolex - they did a lot of "firsts" in the watch world. They're workhorses, no doubt.
Click to expand...

Rolex firsts:
-selfwinding movement offered in watch sold to public. Also first full rotor selfwinding movement.
-waterproof case with stem and external crown.
-date in dial.
-dual timezone.
-wristwatch chronometer certificate.
 
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