Luxury Watch Challenge: Cheap vs Expensive | Watchfinder & Co.
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- Опубликовано: 21 авг 2024
- If you’ve not heard of the watchmakers Frederique Constant and Patek Philippe, I’ve got a challenge for you. If you have, pretend you haven’t and join along anyway. These two watches, both rose gold, both displaying hours, minutes, seconds and the date, stand apart in price by a factor of twenty to one. Can you tell which is which?
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All good points, but I still think Frederique Constant is one of the best values in the watch world. They fill a very specific niche - watches that evoke the elegance and complexity of the likes of Patek Philippe but at a fraction of the cost. I'm a fan of both.
And has the luxury to claim 'Swiss Made', which is the only little mark that always seems to leave Seiko on the outlines even if they make the objectively better product!
At 1000/2000 the best is Longines imo
100% agreed, If you want quality entry level automatic watch, FC is a great start.
I mean. If you have the money to throw at a Patek then why would you be wearing a FC ..in the circles that you will move when you make that money it is almost expected.
But if you are not stupid rich but still move in serious business environment then the FC is fine and no one will judge you bad for it. it is a fine swiss watch.Just the fact that you are wearing an automatic watch when everyone is wearing a smart watch people that know about these things will judge you favorably over wearing the alternative.
I like to check people's wrist. if I see a smart watch i get dissapointed. if I see any quartz watch I get surprised positively . specially if its analog and some quartz are really nice. if I see someone with an automatic i immediately get a positive image of that person. this is a person that knows and values horology. unless it is a Rolex. most people wear Rolex to show off.
Anyone see it the FC slimline monolith?
Am I the only one that thinks the hands on the FC look nicer? That PP destroyed the datepointer hand by not painting it properly? That finds the PP hands ugly due to its simple and rough finishing?
Yep your the only one
No, you`re not...
You are definitely not, I was going to say the same thing lol
PPs hands are solid brushed gold... They aren't "painted", except for the date hand.
The red paint is sloppy as hell. They should take a leaf out of Langes book.
The less expensive watch has more class. I prefer it.
You really should have used the Frederique Constant Manufacture Automatic for this comparison.
Open caseback and beautiful movement to see !
Nice video as always!
The red paint on the date hand of the PP is sloppy, why go to that much detail only to fail at the bit that stands out? I'd send it back.
That is not sloppy. That the way the paint is applied. Its not made my a machine.
@@cheemsdoggo3119 then those hands should do better
PP often lacks the finishing needed to be elite. The wider public simply don't know, though.
Do you realize that the naked eye can’t see that and to be able to notice there’s s spec of paint off place you need proper jeweler magnification
@@estbeta yes. And the top end watch makers go to extreme lengths for that standard, yet pp drop the ball on the but that would stand out.
Oddly enough, but it's one of those rare cases you've used the word "cheap" instead of "affordable". Frederique Constant itself uses "affordable luxury" in order to describe their watches.
“Affordable luxury”=cheap
@@yunlongwu8071 Call it whatever you want, it's up to you. The author of this channel along with other guys who are into horology trying not to use the word "cheap". Since it could be offensive to enthusiasts who just got into horology. After all, not all of us are collectors here.
@@sergeyusik9934 tru respect that comment rite there
Yeah, but pointing out what FC itself writes doesn’t add anything to the discussion: I mean, I doubt they would ever write “cheap”, even if it were...
@@yunlongwu8071 , ''cheap'' is as in ''poorly made''. Is the FC poorly made in your opinion?
Patek Philippe another company that can't paint hands red. There I've said it.
I love both. But Frederique Constant is all I can afford.
Everyone does.
Seiko is what I can afford! At least it's not from AliExpress
It's still a great watch. I love Ferrari, but all I can afford is Honda. Honda is a perfectly good car...but it's no Ferrari. No shame in that at all.
@@Skibbityboo0580 Honda lighter on fuel and more reliable. All the smart money you're not wasting on keeping a Ferrari on the road you can put towards your future grail watch :-)
@@johnflynn4923 Not going to be many 20k Patek Philippe owners in a honda that's for sure. Unless it's a mega bucks special edition.
“As pure of gold as the heart of Kenneth Parcell”. I laughed so hard I almost spit out my drink.
Would have been a little fairer to choose an FC model from slightly higher up the range to go up against a PP!
was looking for this comment thnx. this doesn't seem a good comparison for me as I assume that the quality in watch making would have been higher with a more complicated or equal counterpart. like the a watch from the highlife series.
World Class narrative... ✔️ The best explanation of RATIO 1:1 Macro lens: very close! 👌🏼
Seriously very good this guy.
Just when I thought I couldn't love these videos anymore, you hit me with a 30 Rock reference.
I came to see what is "cheap" here mean
1k is cheap for a decent automatic watch.
Never use the word “cheap” in our context.
One wrist watch is inexpensive, and one watch is more expensive.
@@joshuaelliot2020 laughs in seiko
1k is cheap
@@MaNiChOxX its relative m8. But you can get a decent auto for 100
The FC looks nicer, simple yet classic. I would add a Hamilton Jazzmaster to this as well. The PP is too busy, and cluttered.
The frederique constant is so basic yet so... perfect... I don't know why. Not a fan of gold, it doesn't suit me, so I looked up the steel version, which is just 895€
I can really recommend the Tissot Visodate then for you. Was my first automatic watch as a young kid and I still think it is extremly pretty even if really cheap and simple. (The movement is probably as good as the FC)
Jomashop is where I got mine, an automatic classics index in steel for $445 new. Shop around there are steep discounts on these from time to time
@@champstation143 the case of the visodate has an angle to it that I don't like
@@christophernichols9387 got my bambino from jomashop, I sold it. But yes, they have crazy discounts
The tissots with the silicium powermatic 80 is the end all for this class of dress watches.
The Frederique Constant reminds me alot of the Tissot Visodate, which might be a bit small for some wrists, and a bit cheap for some wallets, but as a design is a thing of simplistic beauty.
I wish you had popped the case back of the FC to give the comparison of finishing. Would be enlightening to see the two side by side with your camerawork.
I don't know that it'll be meaningful. I wouldn't expect the finishing to be the same calibre of refinement simply because it's not designed or built as an open case-back.
The channel is cheap, couldn’t afford to open up an FC nor to get one of the Tourbillon FC’s to compare. We British are synomous witn snobbery. The etymology of the word snob comes from the 15th/16th Century A.D. As British colonialism started to grow using the private army of the East India Company, many people started to socially climb. Of course, at that time, education was now possible for the nobility having previously being the preserve of the Roman Catholic Church and the monarch. When universities started to accept scholars who were not noble, I.e. had a title bestowed upon them by the monarch, the pluralistic British society had to keep the sons of merchants in their place. They did this in many ways. The main one that reminded the world of their inadequacy of birth, was the Honours Board.
The Honours Board listed all the names of the scholars who had graduated from that university. When a scholar who was not noble graduated, his name was written (painted) on the board with the Latin phrase, “sine nobilitate”. (Pronounced “see-nay no-bill-it-tart-ay”. This translates as “without nobility” I.e. a commoner. The sign writers started to get bored as more “nouveau riche” got into the hallowed cloisters of learning, Thus, to save time it was abbreviated to “s.nob” This is the origin of the word snob. It simply means trying to keep up with the nobility, when really you’re just a rich oil….just like the sort of person who buys a Patek Philippe.
It reminds me of the time I was at the Motor Show which had its very first outing at the NEC, after being held for years at Olympia. I was walking past the Aston Martin stand when I happened to hear a conversation between a show goer and an exhibitor. The show goer had his customary bag of brochures and free pens, and he politely asked the exhibitor who was holding a rope to limit the number of gawpers on the stand “how much does the Aston Martin child’s replica cost, please?” The officious, pompous, twit replied to him “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it!” In his best fake Received Pronunciation accent. I hate seeing people being humiliated, so I said to the cheaply dressed exhibitor ‘“and how much does your agency pay casual workers, nowadays, is it still £3.50 an hour? If it is, you can’t afford one either! The thronging crowd cheered and clapped at my retort. I finished it off nicely by saying, “having driven a recent Vantage lately, I wouldn’t waste my money on one either”. OK it wasn’t mine, it was the MD’s I had a Merc 450SEL with my position, but it was actually true.
You see, my dear father had a saying “the hungry man talks about food”. Basically, someone who doesn’t have something or has never had it, obsesses about it. It’s akin to the loud mouth twits in the pub who talk about their sexual exploits. I think the channel owner is of the same ilk.
No macro shots of FC face whilst discussing it?!
Frederique Constant makes open casebacks and in house movements too. My Moonphase Manufacture has this.
The red paint on the date indicator of the Patek is a bit crap. Look at 4:05.
The brushing on the hands seems to be a bit off too, look at 4:04. Seems strange... a fully polished case and then slap on a few brushed hands.
Ah well, maybe it's just envy.
Yeah, and people always bash on Rolex for "crappy" paint application...
The centre of the topmost Patek hand also has fine scratches that don't match the grain. You can see them at 1.54 and 2.10.
Everyone seems not to get the paint job right. Its the surface tension of the paint.
Patek doesn't seem to deserve their great reputation - very subpar finishing
What on earth were Patek thinking of ? That seconds sub dial is an absolute aberration, the visual equivalent of painting a moustache on the Mona Lisa.
I'm so early that the comments are in single digits.
Those hands of the PP tho, they could've probably made it not so sharp (edgy) and probably polished it a bit
Sushim Shah they could have made them resemble the ALS pointer hands. Best in the business. Opinion obviously!
The sharpness is nice quality in its own imo
@@adawg3032 I agree somewhat, but I'd have liked if they had polished it to a mirror finish & not leave it like that with the brushed look
so put simply. It is the story that makes the watch expensive. HOW it was made rather than WHAT it can do. WHAT = telling time. HOW = craftsmanship.
Could we ever get an FC video that's not using them to make people want to buy Pateks and Breguets? I understand the reason you do it but I'm considering a slimline perpetual calendar manufacture in steel. Any chance of a feature video? I can't find a good video online anywhere!
Pretty much for all watchmakers, the same CNC machines are used to create basic watch parts: they are not that much different to each other, or those used in Germany, Japan...or even China. But what separates the Patek Phillipes of this world from the others is the many, many hours of careful hand finishing by incredibly skilled craftsmen, who slavishly file/brush away any imperfections from the machining process, then add a final level of artistry by hand that no machine can truly replicate. That is what you pay for with Patek: the human touch of perfection.
When you pay $25,000 for the Patek Philippe, you pay for the brand name, history and status symbol and then you pay for the great craftsmanship and gold.
That Frederique Constant is one of the best watch designs I’ve ever seen. So much so that, twelve months ago, I bought one. Unfortunately, WF’s aversion to FC is justified: the all-round quality falls well short of my Oris, which in itself is a ‘lowly’ luxury manufacturer. The audible grinding of the winding mechanism and ‘there or there abouts’ accuracy of the second hand quickly diminished the lustre. A real, real shame, as it was a beautiful thing to behold.
I'm clearly a philistine, I couldn't care less about all the hype behind an expensive watch, I have never even worn a watch, but I far prefer the simplicity of the Frederique Constant which does what it needs to do elegantly, beautifully and without fuss.
The Patek was disappointing. I would be upset if I paid that price and got this.
Patek is on another level,but between this two watches I like Frederique more to be honest.
He really should have compared a Patek Calatrava with the FC instead
My Frederique constant has an exhibition case back..and it's a nice view to me.
The hand finishing on the Patek is outstandingly bad not to mention having the same looks as my 1974 Sekonda!
3:14 i can't be the only one annoyed at that lazy red paint job 🙄
The more I see Patek watches up close the less I am impressed.
@@nrbrown5985 The more I hear about this Patek fella, the more I don't care for him.
Lol Rolex has a solid caseback but has better advertising
Interesting comparison. Keep up the good work. Regards.
Observation: While I love and appreciate the PP, you’re kind of dissing FC quite a bit. Somewhat redeemed at the end saying “they each have their place” but I’m not sure I’ve seen this done on the channel before....unless we were talking about a replica.
FC also has 30 in house movements. This is their cheapest auto. I would love to see this channel review a higher end FC.
Good point well made Graham! By the way, I’m called Gary Lawton! We might be related? 👍😜
I must have missed the part where you talk about the cheap watch
😂😂
Both look expensive, but I can tell which is the more high demand watch. The Patek on the right is partly so much more expensive due to high demand and limited supply. Plus I never met a Patek I didn't like.
I would really love to see a video about the Arnold and Son Globetrotter. See your honest take about it.
The bottom line is if you want among the best you have to pay an commensurate price. The amount of craftsmanship, workmanship, materials and engineering is relatively rare and those skills do not come cheap.
I’d still take an ALS Saxonia before the Patek
agree, they have this dark dark blue with white specks it looks like stars, man i love that dial.
I took the platium 1815 with a sax o mat movement over Patek
At 8:17, the gold text on the engraving on the Patek Phillipe's movement says 'Meat' instead of 'Meet'.....
HEAT
That PP movement shot, absolutely money shot (pun intended)
The fade-in, the lighting does a superb job in presenting the finishing and otherwise superb quality of the movement. Nowadays watchmaking is art, filming it is art as well.
Always love these vids. Great topic!
Tbf fredrique constant is the absolute best affordable luxury watch
Been enjoying my FC for the past month.
Nice, inconspicuous, discrete and cheap.
how did u get?
Great video thank you for the production. In the future could you please compare same complications or similar watch dials
Plus, the FC will depreciate in value and the PP will increase in value.
Beautiful video, thanks for making it. This Patek Philippe is absolutely stunning!!
3:16 yikes that red paint job is shockingly sloppy. wow.
This Frederique Constant is an absolute gorgeous watch, Patek is at another level of watchmaking all together.
Thank you! Beyond just information, this particular video taught me a few lessons I didn't know earlier. Bravo!
I didn't know why the decorations on a movement were this way, and that was really interesting to learn ! Thanks a lot for the videos you make, it's always great watches, great explanations, great content !
The downside of macro lenses, you see every flaw that the naked eye cannot see. My issue here is the use of gold plate in the Frederique Constant, if worn regularly this will wear off and the watch will start to look tired, in these situations you are better off spending the same amount on a smart SS model which will not tarnish.
Exactly
That Kenneth reference was magnifique!
Certina please.
The difference is with the Frederique Constant you'd pay for the watch and with the Patek Phillippe you'd be paying for the name. I absolutely can't see any difference big enough to justify the price that is 20 times higher. There you have my 2 cents.
The way I see it, you're paying an awful lot for craft rather than artistry. I also get that a considerable effort is made to encourage consumers to confuse one for the other. I often wonder how things would have turned out had it been Patek, and not Seiko, who had developed Spring Drive for example.
a bare minimum of triple the price for PATEK
Ian Gibson they wudnhave marketed thenshit outa it for sure.
No way that happens even in my dreams.
@@levedia well its bc Seiko never will be Patek Philipe. Its like comparing Rolex to OMega and asking why Rolex more expensive
@@javokhirbekerkinov3239 omega is better than rolex.
U pay for the name. Some omegas are -1 +1 accuracy and some rolexes -3 + 3.
And omega has more nice detailed dials. And grand seiko is not just a seiko. Its the luxury version and they go 15k 20k etc... and with there springdrive mov it annihilates overated flashy rolex. Rolex is only good to buy and flip. As for patek theres seiko Creddor. A much better watch. Seiko starts with a timex comparison and it goes to patek.
The red paint on the date crescent on the PP looks like I did it from the other side of the room...
Probably the loser that gave birth to you surprised him by grabbing his junk while he was painting the hand....
@@foxmulder3980 Well, that was unnecessary. What drives your need? Is it an attention seeking thing? Who hurt you? Here, show me on the dolly where they touched you..
@@BuckFutton Don't get your feeling hurt now princess... It's all in good fun, right?
I feel like the calatrava would be a better point of comparison
That is a Calatrava, a 6000R
think he meant the simple time only calatrava with baton indices
Yeah, It was a bit like watching the Hulk beat up some kid in a wheelchair.
Great vid, really does talk about the relevance of perceived value. To each his or her own. On the Macro subject, I guess we could all give our friends those nearby eyeball thingies that watchmakers wear so the the X rated party may begin. All in good fun. Great channel, excellent content.
Awesome video, thank you Watchfinder.
Fantastic video as always! Would love to see a review and get your take on the new Longines heritage tuxedo and chrono!
WOW! That wrist shot morph was beautiful. Another top quality production, thank you.
The red colour on the date hand on the patek is spilled all over. Woudn't have expectedthis mess on a patek to be honest. Grand seiko is way better on dials
Could I know the model number of the Frederique Constant in the video?
You should make a video about the complete history and variations of the Royal Oak. I don't particularly like that watch but I understand it's significance, I have seen it pop up in some videos but the very video explaining the history and merits and consequences of it, I have missed.
Great video! That Patek Philippe is stunning 🤩 The FC is pretty, too. Only point I’d disagree with is the mention of a case back because you wouldn’t want to see the movement... I can think of so many Rolex watches with case backs
2:28 why exactly is the centre seconds trickier to pull off than the sub seconds?
Throw in a GS and the water becomes far murkier.
@Watch ProSite thank you - always overlooked
Based on the hands the PP is the £1k watch....
To me, the surface of the hands are better polished on the FC than on the PP.
Wouldn't it be fair to compare the £1000 FC to a £3000+ Montblanc/IWC/Baume et Mercier that also use Sellita/ETA movements? Oh wait... they're owned by Richemont.
You never explored a Jacob&Co on your channel - EpicX, Astronomia, Bugatti and many more!
It’s kinda common sense at this point that the Least to Greatest is Left to Right. It’s only a real guessing game when there’s 3 or more subjects to compare.
The frederique constant is over priced too at a grand. (1) Gold plating is no good as it wears / scratches off and not real gold. (2) the frederique constant is fitted with a plastic lining ring around the automatic movement to the edge of the inside casing, a sign of low quality with no proper care and attention and detail to any kind of quality (3) The movement is the totally bog standard basic version bottom of pile selita movement with no rated accuracy precision, and of course there is no finishing to the movement. For your thousand pounds your better off with a Hamilton, longines, oris, so on etc, the well know longer established brands that will give the better value for your £1000. The frederique constant here is not the best value watch for your hard earned £1000 cash sum of money to spend on your automatic watch. It should always be imperative that you always do your research as to the kind of quality you are actually receiving inside and outside any particular watch that you might want to put down your hard earned money on.
Not my FC clear vision...simply buy what you like, maybe someone that finds interest in an FC doesn't like a Hamilton or oris or longines.?
Was not expecting a 30 Rock reference on this channel.
Oh! Watchfinder bringing a bit of Jerry Springer drama to the watch world! I love it and your channel is amazing. I could listen to you read the phone book.
Learned some interesting facts from this video!
How about a review of the 40Hz FC SLIMLINE MONOLITHIC?
I own this FC model Great watch
Gold plated watches ⌚ just look cheap when the gold starts flaking off. I do like frederique constant in steel! The selita sw200 is a good workhorse movement.
Rather telling that Rolex doesn’t have skeletonised case backs
Tell me about it...seriously! I feel you!
I have an FC clear vision. It's an exhibition case back, and I swear it's more decorative than any Rolex movement I've ever seen; when the case back was removed of course...🤔
Another great video. Love that Patek. The FC is also very nice.
In the end, they both show the time kind of correct, being automatic, and they both have 60 minutes in one hour. I like the FC a lot more.
Guys, make a video about sidereal time, based on the movement of stars. Hamilton khaki navy UTC, my mid-way grail.
I find the dial of the Patek too busy & of course given the price difference it should be better finished with a superior movement. But FC make their own in house movements so why choose one which has the Sellita movement. This comparison dosen't make sense!
I can afford the FC..
The Patek I can see in movies and videos.
check out the ORIENT symphony 3 and sun & moon V3
Yes, there should be some introductory comparisons of watches nd explanations of why there is such a difference in the cost of two pieces. But this does not even scratch the basis. There was a much better video that compared ah entry level watch with a JLC and a Patek. This is just so basic no one will benfit. Just nkce macro shots of the 6006.
Those hideously rough hands on the Patek, come on!! It's unbelievable that the hands on the FC are better looking and finished than those of such reputable brand.
You really have no idea what is great craftsmanship and finishing. Enjoy your Seiko.
@@TaipeiGeek ohh really, for me the grand seiko silverflake has the best dial, way better then pp's.
Taipei Geek youve never seen a Grand Seiko
Uuuuh... If is a GS has very little to envy from PP.
@@TaipeiGeek It seems like you set your bar really low if you consider those abominations as "great craftsmanship and finishing". Also, you really like to make very convenient assumptions from people who disagrees with your low standards.
Please feature the Tissot Seastar 2000 Professional. It is perhaps the best value in luxury dive watches today.
Very interesting to watch ur videos
You’ve done it again! You’ve captivated me with your smooth delivery of an excellent video. I look forward to your presentations like no other. Thanks & Stay Safe. P.S. Love those 1:1 macros.
Bizarre comparison. So I'll give you an appropriate opinion. In it's price range the FC is elegant and good value for money money. If I had the amount of money to be able to buy the PP I'd tell them to put a dial on it that didn't look like it was designed by a four year old.
Excelente reloj
great video
i happy to see your channel!
I would love to see a mini series about cheap and expensive watches and what parts or features set them apart up close.
Watchfinder has such a video, search: Nomos vs Jaeger Le-Coultre vs A. Lange & Söhne
Real watch lovers and experts wouldn't only evaluate a watch price and the stable value of a watch. They would see the quality and the beauty of a watch. Brands like Grand Seiko or Frederique Constant etc. making watches in a very high quality and a good design for a good price. You can't tell me, that the quality and design of Rolex etc. are 100 times better. The image of Rolex etc. ist the expensive part. The very smart trick is, to scarce the watches to hold the price in a high level but this is not a true value, not a sign of quality, not a sign of good design. It's a simple trick. Do you really think a Rolex clock work 100 times longer as a Seiko or Frederique Constant etc. ? If you see watches as an investment then you have to buy Rolex but if you love watches and don't want to pay for an image to upgrade yourself, then you are able to see that there are a lot alternatives to Rolex or Patek etc. ... (by the way...I like Patek too...)