- Joined
- Jan 2, 2017
- Messages
- 1,851
Interesting thoughts all ‘round (with the exception of the military state posts that escalated really quickly). This is what I get for leaving this thread for a couple of weeks...lol
Given i’m a watch guy, I see De Beers working in a similar manner as Swatch Group (SG) does with watches with their new strategy re: MMD. Just like SG has high end covered with brands like Breguet, Harry Winston, Rado, etc (equiv to natural stones), they also cover the low-mid range of the market with Tissot, Mido and Swatch (equiv of MMD).
All of the brands produce the exact same thing: a timepiece that is to tell the time. But what really counts is how much the consumer wishes to indulge on a high end timepiece or one at the more affordable end of it.
My own current thinking on watches is that I’d prefer something more affordable and low maintenance than my mechanicals [and I’m already dreading the servicing costs on the mechanical watches I have in rotation now]. To the point where I’m considering a route that many watch geeks would consider as anathema: a quartz timepiece (in particular, a solar powered digital display quartz, e.g. a Casio G-Shock).
Same things about diamonds, if i’m in the market for something better than ultra cheap costume jewellery with the same optical properties as diamonds. Why not MMD?
Of course there will be some that will Pooh-Pooh the thought that a quartz Swatch is in the same league as a Breguet with a tourbillon, but unless you are a real snob about it, it’s very difficult to argue that both timepieces are not fit for purpose: that is, to tell time. It’s the same equivocation in my mind: gem grade diamonds are there to provide bling.
As a student of horology and gemmology, it can be very easy to go down the rabbit hole of why one is more superior than the other. But to me at least, an appreciation of both sides of the story is warranted.
I hesitate to equate fake/counterfeit/replica watches with CZ or Moissanite (or silicon carbide) in my analogy however because those three gems are distinct, each with their own pros and cons. Provided that a vendor doesn’t go down the road of fraudulently advertising them as MMDs, they are also fit for the purposes of bling (they will just look different optically as they reflect light).
Fake/replica/counterfeit watches are in another class of douchebaggery in my books. Why wear a fake Rolex Datejust when one can wear a vintage Omega Geneve instead? Or at the other extreme, a real Timex or Casio G-Shock?!? Or hell, even a “real” fashion watch (insert name of brand like Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Armani Exchange, Fossil or even [God forbid], a Daniel Wellington).
Given i’m a watch guy, I see De Beers working in a similar manner as Swatch Group (SG) does with watches with their new strategy re: MMD. Just like SG has high end covered with brands like Breguet, Harry Winston, Rado, etc (equiv to natural stones), they also cover the low-mid range of the market with Tissot, Mido and Swatch (equiv of MMD).
All of the brands produce the exact same thing: a timepiece that is to tell the time. But what really counts is how much the consumer wishes to indulge on a high end timepiece or one at the more affordable end of it.
My own current thinking on watches is that I’d prefer something more affordable and low maintenance than my mechanicals [and I’m already dreading the servicing costs on the mechanical watches I have in rotation now]. To the point where I’m considering a route that many watch geeks would consider as anathema: a quartz timepiece (in particular, a solar powered digital display quartz, e.g. a Casio G-Shock).
Same things about diamonds, if i’m in the market for something better than ultra cheap costume jewellery with the same optical properties as diamonds. Why not MMD?
Of course there will be some that will Pooh-Pooh the thought that a quartz Swatch is in the same league as a Breguet with a tourbillon, but unless you are a real snob about it, it’s very difficult to argue that both timepieces are not fit for purpose: that is, to tell time. It’s the same equivocation in my mind: gem grade diamonds are there to provide bling.
As a student of horology and gemmology, it can be very easy to go down the rabbit hole of why one is more superior than the other. But to me at least, an appreciation of both sides of the story is warranted.
I hesitate to equate fake/counterfeit/replica watches with CZ or Moissanite (or silicon carbide) in my analogy however because those three gems are distinct, each with their own pros and cons. Provided that a vendor doesn’t go down the road of fraudulently advertising them as MMDs, they are also fit for the purposes of bling (they will just look different optically as they reflect light).
Fake/replica/counterfeit watches are in another class of douchebaggery in my books. Why wear a fake Rolex Datejust when one can wear a vintage Omega Geneve instead? Or at the other extreme, a real Timex or Casio G-Shock?!? Or hell, even a “real” fashion watch (insert name of brand like Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Hugo Boss, Armani Exchange, Fossil or even [God forbid], a Daniel Wellington).
lol
Not me. Not today. Not my style. John
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