IMO timex should be in the good value tier. Also I would put GS in the second tier. They have some of the most innovative movements in the whole industry and they are in the same range as Cartier and omega for a lot of their watches

Just bought a lovely Tissot PR100 this weekend. Great value for money, would completely agree on your assessment there.

Traska good value?

Cartier innovative? 😂

An upper middle class professional with responsibilities who wants to make a statement that they are an upper middle class professional with responsibilities should go with the ‘interesting but over-priced’ slot. Nothing screams ladder-climbing upper middle like an oversized two-tone Breitling

My thoughts on some of the brands for which I don’t totally agree:

• JLC: great watches, but getting quite expensive (see below my comment for ALS);
• Cartier: not so sure about innovation unless you’re talking about their high-end pieces; their most successful lines are quite traditional;
• ALS: not that expensive given the quality; for example, a Saxonia Thin goes for 24,500 EUR and the JLC Ultra Thin Small Seconds is 22,200 EUR (see my comment above);
• BVLGARI: not all pieces are overpriced; for example the Octo Roma Chronograph goes for less than 10k which aligned with competition;
• UN: For the Freak alone, it doesn’t deserve to be in the “meh” category, and the Marine range has very interesting pieces;
• RM: because you have a lot of money, and you like to show it.

When was the last time Cartier innovated?

I mean, a dressy dive watch is kind of different? But that’s the only thing I can think of

FWIW many of the choices identified are luxury watches

How much luxury are you willing to pay?

For Some folks, their luxury adoption cost is much higher

But at the cost of functionality.

All brands being equal, It’s still just a watch.

other people have already mentioned it, but I think Nomos should be in the “consistently great and innovative and would buy” tier. why?

• impeccable design
• great dial and case finishing (beautiful straps too)
• in-house, super precise and ultra slim movements
• reasonable prices, with most of their stainless steel watches between 1500 and 3000 dollars.

Where is Glashuette Original

Sinn? Or some cool microbrands?

How is omega innovative? Maybe 20 years ago…

Nomos?

There’s a lot to unpack here. There are so many things to argue with. And value is what you are willing to pay for it, etc.

But honestly that’s being silly. This list doesn’t matter in the least and it’s a fun thought experiment.

In the spirit of your post, I’m going to say that IWC should move down one and Chopard up at least one — personally I would put it on the FU prices row, though the fact is you should never pay list for a Chopard. Breitling I would absolutely put on the FU row, this sub is strange in its contempt for the brand, and you also should never pay list for one.

I won’t risk my neck by saying where I think Tudor should go.

Ulysse Nardin is… I think they do fascinating yet hideous mechanical things and are basically what Hublot wants to be when it grows up. And therefore should be on the bottom row unless you’re realllllly into mermaid pornography you wear on your body.

AP is almost impossible to even truly place on this list, i would almost put them in the bottom row were it not for their tradition and still being family-owned (if not for the Royal Oak they probably wouldn’t be). I also think AP doesn’t give two figs what we think of them down here in the cheap seats lol.

I respect JLC but am struggling to consider them innovative, not in 2023.

The “Super but cost too much” row should be named “I think Monsieur has mistakenly entered the wrong establishment. Shall I call security or a taxi?”

Great value: Glycine Airman. Rich heritage with Vietnam pilots and Pete Conrad with Gemini 5 and 11