What is considered to be a quality watch?

Quality is often judged by the brand name and often linked to price, with more expensive luxury watches considered to be of better quality than the cheaper watches. This may not necessarily be a good criteria as perception does not equal reality always. However, I have realised that the top brands (which are also quite expensive) are judged to be of high quality by watch aficionados. I guess the quality of the brand have to match the expectations of the consumers.

There are a few criteria of a good quality watch based on the views of various watch experts:

Accuracy: You may have a watch made of gold or other precious materials but if it is not accurate, then there is no point in wearing a watch. However, it should be noted that the most accurate watches are of course the quartz watches but they are considered lower in quality then the mechanical watches - either automatic or hand wound.
The movement: This is related to the first. Watches with their own in-house movements are considered better quality than those which use a mass produced generic movements, either Swiss or Japanese.
Location of manufacture: Swiss watches have been able to achieve a certain level of recognition from customers and they are acknowledged as the best quality watches, regardless of the brand. The words “Swiss made” carries a certain premium that watches made in other countries cannot achieve. Not the Japanese, the Germans, the French or the American manufacturers. Again this may be mere perception, as the Japanese watches have beaten the Swiss watches in terms of accuracy, in the past and the level of work and detail that goes into some of the German watches are really outstanding.
Finishing: Good quality watches usually pay really fantastic attention to the finishing, from the fonts used on the wording, the colours and texture of the face, the clarity of the crystals, the bevels on the edges, the polishing, the stitching of the threads on the bands, etc. all matter.
Materials used. Good quality watches will use the best quality materials - whether it is the crystal, or stainless steel or even carbon fibre.

Comments

[ascencionreed]

Hi folks! I tend to err on the side of caution regarding quality. I generally only buy watches from brands I know and trust, and I'm willing to pay a bit more for a watch that I know will last me a long time. I've had some bad experiences with cheaper watches falling apart or breaking after just a few months of wear, so it's worth spending a little extra to get something that I know will last. This is why I suggest taking care properly and considering buying a watch winder box for storage. Where do you keep your watches?
I look forward to your reply! Cheers!