Is it worth getting Swiss Movt?

[Omega88]

A lot of times, forumer here will tell me to get Asian 2836 clone instead of swiss 2836 cos, most likely you will get a Asian 2836 disguise as Swiss Movt.

And the price different can be as much as $80 or $50. I mean who is willing to pay more for a fake swiss 2836?

But after some purchases in my past few months, I somehow feel that paying for a swiss movt for more is worth it.. Its not just different of movt but the finishing and QC is much much better for a so called 'swiss movt'.

I mean I don't mind even paying more for a faked swiss movt inside as long as the finishing and attention pay is far more superior than a so called Asian 2836 movt version.

If we go by logic, I think it is also correct to guess that dealer will give you a better quality watch since you pay more.

So the most common advise of telling people to buy a Asian 2836 seems to doesn't sounds as it is..

Somehow if I am obsessed with a certain model even there is a option of getting a cheaper A2836 or swiss 2836. I feel safer for paying more for swiss option even the movt might not be real swiss movt in order to get a better quality watch.

 

[Bonesey]

Honestly I've never noticed a difference in case finishing between Clone and 'Swiss' movements. In fact a lot of dealers have the movement choice as a drop down menu showing that they are usually the same case sets.

Why pay $50-80 more for something you might get, over a lower price for something you know you will get.

If we go by logic, I think it is also correct to guess that dealer will give you a better quality watch since you pay more.

The rep makers do not run on Logic. By that reasoning they would have fixed all the little issues long ago.

The advice for getting a clone over a claimed Swiss is that you know exactly what you've paid for. Any detailing and quality issues should be more than prevalent in the dealer shots and also in the QC photos / videos. I'd much much rather purchase a clone movement watch and if needed slot in a gen ETA later on down the line than risk getting ripped off over a claimed movement. There are probably only two dealers I would trust to get me that, T4D and BK.

Gonna have to say I disagree with you on this one.

 

[P4GTR]

A lot of times, forumer here will tell me to get Asian 2836 clone instead of swiss 2836 cos, most likely you will get a Asian 2836 disguise as Swiss Movt.

And the price different can be as much as $80 or $50. I mean who is willing to pay more for a fake swiss 2836?

But after some purchases in my past few months, I somehow feel that paying for a swiss movt for more is worth it.. Its not just different of movt but the finishing and QC is much much better for a so called 'swiss movt'.

I mean I don't mind even paying more for a faked swiss movt inside as long as the finishing and attention pay is far more superior than a so called Asian 2836 movt version.

If we go by logic, I think it is also correct to guess that dealer will give you a better quality watch since you pay more.

So the most common advise of telling people to buy a Asian 2836 seems to doesn't sounds as it is..

Somehow if I am obsessed with a certain model even there is a option of getting a cheaper A2836 or swiss 2836. I feel safer for paying more for swiss option even the movt might not be real swiss movt in order to get a better quality watch.

Not true. clone and ETA based reps should share all other features, regardless of which you choose. The dealer doesn't hold any grudge that you ordered clone and give you a sub-par rep.

 

[ck6459]

To ensure that you get a genuine swiss movement, buy a watch with clone movement and source a swiss movement from ebay, it is about $150, but it is certified Swiss movement. Clone movements are pretty good, so perhaps you can use the clone until it died, then swap to the Swiss movement. It is cheaper than servicing it.

 

[Fortey]

Not true. clone and ETA based reps should share all other features, regardless of which you choose. The dealer doesn't hold any grudge that you ordered clone and give you a sub-par rep.

I'm sticking with the conventional wisdom of only buying asian clone movements after everything I've read here, but in other cases, say buying a quartz or a 21j, the overall finishing and detailing can often be of lower quality than that found in higher priced reps with nicer movements, right? In those cases it seems that the lower priced model does suffer.

I have seen the advice that you get what you pay for with reps often times, but the ETA/clone example seems to be an exception as I understand it.

 

[phillycheez]

if you really think that... then buy swiss.

experience and wisdom over the years has taught us to buy the ETA clones but if you really think you get a better watch if you choose swiss then go for it.........

nothing wrong with learning the hard way.

 

[Omega88]

Not true. clone and ETA based reps should share all other features, regardless of which you choose. The dealer doesn't hold any grudge that you ordered clone and give you a sub-par rep.

I know the features shall be same but the finishing is much better. For example a better bezel pearl or a rolex crown etched exactly center at 6 o clock.

While a A2836 somehow finish is more shabby. Just want to share my experience. I even reject a A2836 thru QC before as finishing is too bad while peer counterpart of Swiss movt seems much better in their QC pictures.

 

[Omega88]

Double post---

 

[ispytonyv]

What I'm curious about, which isn't exactly what's been asked, is:

Is it worth getting a Swiss movement if you KNOW that's what you're getting (that is, verified by a trusted forum member or the like)? I assume all else being equal the answer is an obvious yes, but is confirmed Swiss worth... $50 more? $100? How much value should one assume it adds?

 

[Fortey]

The problem there seems to be that even a real ETA could be a refurb that ends up being lower quality than the Asian copy. Just recently I saw some pictures here taken by someone who opened up an "ETA" movement to discover that although it looked great on the outside it was old crap on the inside.

Although in the case you mentioned where you're picking one up from a member who knows it is a good ETA, I guess that might be a different story if for example they swapped out for a gen ETA. I'm also curious to know what that price difference should be. is it the $50 charged by dealers?

 

[Bonesey]

I think Omega is saying that he feels it's better to pay the extra $50-100 or whatever because in paying for that the dealer makes sure that he sources an extra special, or more perfect watch than a 2836 clone version. Whereas this has not been my experiences so far.

 

[Wiz]

:beatahorse:

 

[Bonesey]

Is that you tenderising your dinner Wiz?

 

[pilworx]

I think Omega is saying that he feels it's better to pay the extra $50-100 or whatever because in paying for that the dealer makes sure that he sources an extra special, or more perfect watch than a 2836 clone version. Whereas this has not been my experiences so far.

i totally agree with this and you definitely are not getting any better case set etc. by making the swiss choice. that being said an eta movement "feels" way better than the clones do and i'm sure all the experienced forum members would agree. you can tell instantly the difference when winding and setting the movement.

there are trusted dealers here who definitely supply real eta movements if that is what is being offered. MR makes this claim and even on some watches offers "new" eta movements. i have had this verified by my local watchsmith. the movements are genuine and new, not rebuilt pieces of goo. now this might not always be the case with other dealers and perhaps MR has had slip ups from the factories in the past but he is opening the watches and regulating them and you do get qc pics of the movement.

i know this has been a hotly debated topic in the past and i don't want to get ripped off either in a watch deal but i would rather have an eta movement than a clone if i can know for sure that is what i'm getting.

 

[phillycheez]

The problem there seems to be that even a real ETA could be a refurb that ends up being lower quality than the Asian copy. Just recently I saw some pictures here taken by someone who opened up an "ETA" movement to discover that although it looked great on the outside it was old crap on the inside.

hehehe... must be talking about me.

Paid for clone but got an a21j... besides the mix up... i couldn't imagine the "swiss" being any better in quality.

 

[Wiz]

Is that you tenderising your dinner Wiz?

I used to believe Asian clone were now almost as good as their Swiss counterparts, but lately I started dissassembling movements, and realized the finish on Asian movements is not as good as on Swiss movements.

Worst finish means more friction, and more friction means more wear and less accuracy.

As for the refurbished Swiss movement, it happens, but not always. I've seen some brand new (and clean) Swiss movements. Just ask your dealer if the Swiss movement on the watch you're after is worth the extra money. If he's a good dealer, he'll tell you.

 

[appled]

I know the features shall be same but the finishing is much better. For example a better bezel pearl or a rolex crown etched exactly center at 6 o clock.

Lots of people think that paying more money necessarily gets you better quality - this is a fallacy. Read the posts about this, and if you still know better, go for it.

 

[Fortey]

hehehe... must be talking about me.

Wasn't there another spread where a nice looking ETA movement was disassembled and turned out to be crap inside?

 

[phillycheez]

Wasn't there another spread where a nice looking ETA movement was disassembled and turned out to be crap inside?

Oooh ... you are talking about smidsy breaking down a supposed Swiss but it was really refurbished ...

What the OP was trying to get at though (I think) was that paying more for Swiss gives you a better over all quality rep.

 

[tracyl]

I would go for the ETA if it was $100 more just because it is easier to source exact parts.