How to Tell if a Watch is Well-Made
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As you get into watches, you begin to understand certain traits that are dead giveaways when it comes to a well-made watch, and it goes a lot deeper than simply looking at the brand. In this video, I'll share 7 ways to identify a quality watch. If you have some other great ways to identify a quality watch, be sure to share them in the comments.
0:00 - Intro and Organization
1:04 - Why Are Mechanical Watches Expensive?
4:04 - Materials
8:41 - Bracelets
11:42 - Straps
13:02 - Case & Dial Finishing
18:11 - Movements
22:12 - Testing Standards
24:46 - Movement Finishing
26:46 - Complications
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Teddy Bulbasaur
Teddy Bulldozer
Teddy Dodecahedron
@@spooch7728 i think you missed somthing
Teddy Baldassair
That’s the point
Thanks, Teddy. I'm excited to start looking for my first watch. I'm going to save up for a watch to celebrate overcoming drug and alcohol abuse, poverty (both many years ago), getting out of debt, buying a home, and saving my first emergency fund. Lol, it's a lot to celebrate all at once. Wish me luck that it won't be the last watch I buy to celebrate an accomplishment!
THAT'S EXCELLENT DUDE, I WISH YOU ALL THE BEST.
@@newfiejoe4998 Thanks so much! I wish you the best too!!! I do my best to inspire people with my story. It's true what they say about not giving up. That's the key!
What a great cause to celebrate! Congratulations and all the best! Enjoy the watch!
You've done so much and come so far! Get a really classy one, for a person who deserves it like you!
@@TIMETECH07 thank you! I’ll buy my first watch when I can purchase it with passive income. I’m still working very hard to make that a reality 🙂
“Expectations are the key to happiness in many ways.” Wise words, Teddy.
Expectations are the key to happiness. Quality control these days don’t care about your expectations.
"Expectation is the gateway to disappointment"
Lower your standards til you're never disappointed!
@@birdytiger That strategy did not work with my ex wife.
Rather Lack thereof
This video should be turned into a book.Each point could be a chapter on its own. I think it's a book that many watch nerds would buy! Thanks for the video Teddy!
Check out The Wristwatch Handbook if you haven't already. Awesome book with great detailed information on mechanical movements.
Yes, there is a lot to absorb in one video: excellent though.
Teddy I've been watching your videos since the days of fashion advice. This video shows how much you have improved since then, congrats.
Teddy been with you from the start. It’s amazing how much you’ve progressed, from visiting Essential Watches, Producer Michael, even before that from your own room. Cheers and congratulations on your business
I’d love for you to take 3 or 4 watches at different price points and compare each detail so we can really see the differences. Maybe a Baltic Aquascaphe, an Omega Seamaster, and a Rolex Sub (or a vintage looking watch) and walk through why’s each watch is progressively better made. Including the movements. Why is an ETA better than a Miyota. And why is a Tudor in house better than ETA? I totally understand why those handmade and hand decorated Vacheron or A Lange movements are so expensive, but what makes a Rolex’s hidden movement better than an ETA. Thanks.
Agree, also would be great to have the same video but on higher end watches. I think many of us already knew most of what was pointed out and would appreciate more high end examples and close ups.
ETA movements vary in quality, depending on the specs demanded by the company that orders them. The ETA movement in my Ball performed, looked and felt every bit as good as the co-axial movement in my Omega Seamaster. The ETA movement in my Rado, on the other hand, couldn't keep up with the 4R35 in my Seiko.
I don't personally know, but, on the channel "Federico Talks Watches" here on KZhead, he feels that the Tudor in-house movement is more comparable to a Seiko movement.
@@varanid9 Well said
It’ll break down at the Rolex mark.
"You can see by they way they bevelled the edges that they're not cutting corners." What?
that is SO what i thought!!
Hahaha crazy coincidence there. There is a watch pun waiting around every turn.
😆😆😆👊🏿
Teddy Baldassarre not A second goes by when its not A good time for A good watch joke. 😂
Lol, good one.
Thank you, Teddy. An outstanding practical guide for every watch enthusiast. I never buy a watch without watching your comprehensive and objective reviews.
Extremely informative. The cutaways to all the macro watch shots is simply awesome. What a well executed video. 30 minutes of my time very well spent!
I definitely appreciate your understanding and appreciation of engineering, machining and materials. The key is to aesthetically put this all together into a package called a watch. This video was an excellent way to understand how this process works, step by step.
You are absolutely right Sir,,buying watch for a men is like buying jewelry for a woman,, I can’t afford those expensive gems,but Seiko and Citizen have some affordable options,, I wear them every day and they just work,if you really don’t have much money Timex and Casio are really good option,,now he’s talking about over $1000 watches,,I am poor, and most people can’t afford none of them expensive watches because they would be stolen,,sooo why bother…
@@ilijabosnjak76 I hear me in what you are saying here....same collection in terms of Seiko & Citizen. But lemme tell you....both these watches don't come cheap....( If you are picking the right model...that is) have fun with your collection buddy 👍
@@siddharthaiyappa5583 Citizen EcoDrive is unstoppable beast,they’re not cheap but they always work,Seiko 5 Automatic is basic standard,cheapest and most dependable are Casio.When I was teenager that’s the only thing you could afford even in my early 20s I would buy them,because you go to a place,get drunk and you forget your watch.. Nowadays is different,I can wear nice watch that stays on my hand, but I don’t like to splurge too much money on it…
@@ilijabosnjak76 please share your email, I would like to share my collection wid you 👍
Definitely very good points to consider, nowadays it's a must doing a thorough research if you're planning to buy online. Excellent video Teddy!!
This video couldn't have been more complete. Insanely good stuff like always🙌
Great Job Teddy . I can rarely say that a video like this one should be used as a good reference that you can always get back to for info! 👍🏻👍🏻 Keep up the good work!
I find myself returning to many of your informational videos because there’s so much important info to know and I can’t take it all in with just one viewing. Thanks 🙏 Cleveland rocks!
Thanks for the knowledge Teddy!! Appreciate your efforts for us new at watch collecting.
Appreciate you all for watching! Happy to do it!
You definitely nailed it. Especially on the date window comment. For me also if the background and font match the dial.
Thank you for the video Teddy! I love to reinforce the basics and continue to learn new things.
So much detail and clear description, I was simply mesmerized while watching the whole video, surely Teddy knows a lot about watches.I appreciate your sharing of your expert
What an exceptional video on mechanical watches and why we like them. I think you answered some questions that aren't readily answered out there because they seem to obvious to watch collectors. Great job!
Great information Teddy, thank you for sharing. As a beginning collector this stuff is helpful to avoid mistakes.
Some channels give you the price, aesthetics or market aspects. Teddy gives us that and a boatload more information. To strike a balance between giving easily digestible information on a subject and on the other hand not making it into a 4 hour horological documentary is no small feat when a person has sage-level knowledge on a matter. He seems to pull it of effortlessly.
Sooo much to be on the lookout for. Endless variety, price, & most importantly cost. Your experience and knowledge is a very good 1st step in being content with your purchase. Unless your Dr. Strange, some of us spend alot of time sorting through ALL the hundreds of choices w/ options to make an informed choice. ( half the fun? ) I think so.
Teddy, you literally are the most informative "watch guy" on the internet. I was looking at movement watches before I found your channel. Thanks
Teddy I've been watching your videos for a couple of months now and you have quite literally been the inspiration for me to step into this exciting new world of horology and watch enthusiasm. A hobby which is having the unexpected but welcome domino effect of improving my wardrobe, my etiquette, and my revisiting of what it truly means to be a gentleman. Without getting too sappy let me say "well done, lad". At least for me, your videos have done far more than teach about watches.
Good man
welcome buddy 😁⌚️
Teddy comes at watches from all angles. Very informative stuff.
I think Teddy is the man when it comes to watches Hands Down. Thanks so much. Really appreciate you.
Wow. New to this channel. Clarity, knowledgeability, demeanor... hitting on all fronts. A pleasure to watch and learn. Thank you.
Teddy sir as the days are passing by you are looking much more stronger and younger. God bless you
Wow, I feel like I need to rewatch this and take notes. Incredibly informative video! This reminds me that I need to do more research. :)
Teddy! You are the guy I’m going to come to when I need a solid decision about money spent on a timepiece. Thanks 🙏🏻
One of my favorite watch channels! Great work as always Teddy! 😁 keep up the good work! 👍🏼
Very good video here, Teddy. I look at it as a good way to remind people and to bring them up to speed and give them that eye for detail. I feel like a lot of the stuff noted in this video are things the average person may not notice up front but will over time and then get annoyed by them! Good to avoid stuff like that and know what to expect and what you are willing to accept!
Another well made informative educational video from a man that just lives watches. Respect man
Great information I've been collecting for some time and you have hit the nail on the head in alot of points and topics
This video clearly shows why Teddy is way ahead of the rest! Simply great!
This is my third time watching this video, and I'm still learning something. Thank you so much for the service you do for us"watch nerds" out there. 😉
This was a GREAT video, Teddy. I have been in the hobby only since my retirement, and I am one week short of my one year anniversary of my retirement. One year is not a lot of time, and it isn't as if I started into horology 30 seconds into the first day. So...I have been involved something less than a year. In that time, I have picked up about 85% of what you shared with us here. That means there were some things I did not know before watching, that I know now. Very useful, and very helpful. Thank you for this!
I retired four years ago,and though I will get a decent mechanical watch. I knew nothing about watches.Now I have three limited edition Omega Speedmasters and a Tissiot Janeiro.It's beautiful watch and keeps time better than the most expensive Speedmaster which cost nearly three times as much! The Janeiro COSC certified,and came with the box and papers,at a great price. I am now building up a good knowledge of watches and an looking at buying a vintage Speedmaster.This is a bit of a midfield because there are a lot of them that have been messed around and have lots of service parts and are not original. I now can tell if something is not right very quickly though experience.It is very addictive. It may take me a year or two to find the model I would like,there's no rush as it's fun looking for one that is just right as the right price.
@@nearlyretired7005 Welcome to our little club, my friend!!
Or, wait a minute. Maybe the chronology suggests that it's you welcoming me. Haha...either way works for me!
Teddy I watch a lot of your reviews, Ilive in Nova Scotia, Canada. I find your reviews, very informative along with your learning video's. Thanks for taking the time, to keep us informed
I am very envious in the amount of knowledge you have on watches. Fantastic job!
Very interesting video as always. How about a new state of the collection? Cheers 🥂
Just saw your video, and my Timex that I received from my parents for my birthday in 1972 and it still works today. Must be an excellent watch, because it's still ticking and even though it's had many different bands over the years. I still wear it almost every single day. I guess the commercial was right, it takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
still wear mine too . Keeps my Mum and Dad alive ...in real time Happy New year
Another well-done video. Thanks for including chapters!
Hi y'all 👋 hope your day is going great. Thank you teddy for the knowledge. I have to say, I really love the new background.
Your explanation at 3:02 is pretty much exactly what I try to explain to non-car enthusiasts who can't understand why I prefer antique vehicles over modern.
Well stated observation here.. likewise I can relate to the car enthusiast parallel you make ... it's the same reason which draws me to stripped out 90s Honda's with huge turbo setups along with awd conversions taken from Honda suv/mpv's ... I've been mocked as being a 'fast an furious extra' or boy racer as I'm 35 but I love cars, esp fast ones and few platforms allow you to build a relatively reliable setup capable of 9 second 1/4 mile drag strip runs back to back for a 15/20k budget. It's a Honda yea I get it but line up a ferrari lambo and Aston Martin .. and my little Honda 4cyl is taking them all down! I'm a Honda car man and a Sinn/Glasshaute watch man lol .. each their own
Thanks Teddy, a very thoughtful overview with tons of relevancy. I learned a lot. You said you were wearing a Sinn, is it a 556-I ? Nice looking watch.
Lots of great vids on this channel, but this should rank as a must for new/novice enthusiasts starting their journey.
This series of videos are excellent, Teddy. Well done sir. 👏
Great info all in one place, but did I miss a mention of smooth winding and setting as quality indicator? I guess these would be expected in $500+ watches but are an important metric for me with assessing sub $300 watch build quality snd determining condition of vintage watches. Thanks again for a great video😎
He's like the Dave2d for watches.
"Okay."
agree. very clean and beautiful editing video.
@@liquidtunes 🤣🤣🤣
@@LeonXOV you got it 😂
Like James Hoffman but not for coffee
Great stuff Teddy. Look forward to seeing a video on accuracy in mechanical watches. After all, that's what it should be all about.
This was a phenomenal video especially for a newbie to horology. Thanks Teddy
THE best bracelet must be the one from IWC - each link can be opened by a push button, and the micro adjust again by a push button on a ratchet - proper engineered solutions! 👏👏👏
Hey Teddy- could you do a video of your personal collection? That would be really cool.
I always enjoy watching your videos. They’re very well done and extremely informative. Your attention to detail and delivery is A+ quality.
Excellent video Mr. Baldassarre you were straight dropping knowledge as always. Keep up the excellent videos
As for movements you cannot really go wrong with ETA, Sellita, Soprod etc in that still affordable price segment of let´s say 600/700 $ up to 2500 $. To me, many of the watches there are a bit boring, but like those from the different Swatch Group brands, they`re almost all really good. Above that I`d expect something more than just a customized rotor. One thing about watch straps, especially leather ones. I`ve found those supplied by the watch manufacturers to be, often if not always, too expensive and no better than those of specialized strap makers. In the end, leather straps are consumables, regularly to be replaced. Thanks for this highly informative video. Always a pleasure to watch. It is just a pity you didn´t supply any examples of bad manufacturing to compare with the well made ones. Greetings from Germany.
Hey, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Love to know more.
Well articulated and very helpful. Keep up the great content.
Fantastic information, thank you, and I loved the close ups!
This is not new for me. But good that you’re making an video for the new people in this hobby
Thanks for the great content, Teddy! You’ve been very helpful with my decision to enter the watch hobby. I recently bought a Speedy, a Date Just and a Hamilton Khaki for daily wear but I would like to get a nice auto for daily wear with a black strap. I currently have a quartz Victorinox but really want something in the 1-2k range for a black strap casual wear. Looked at Tudor, PRX, Hamilton Jazzmaster…any other suggestions? I also have always been interested in an Omega Dark Side but now concerned about the ceramic from this video…do you think this is well made? Thanks in advance!
Thanks Teddy! So far the best walkthrough I’ve seen. Very helpful and informative 👍👌
Very educational! Definitely sharing this with people I know that are getting into watches.
Full disclosure: I am not wearing a quality watch.
On the subject of movements it is definitely the single area that influences my purchase decision. An example is Aragon who put a Ronda Swiss 12 Jewel quartz into a watch at $119 and TAG H who put the same movement in an F1 model but charge circa $1,500 or more…… thats a hell of a premium just for the brand name….. and yes I honestly believe Aragon’s build quality is at least equal to many much more expensive brands. Ditto brands such as Oceanica Watch Co and their recent Manta Ray with a Miyota 9015….. a very decent movement yet the issue was only circa $300….. you don’t need to pay $1,000 to get a quality watch with a great movement. Same Same Steinhart with SW200 many circa $500.
One of the best videos ever. The images are truly amazing, very great information.
Well said as always, Teddy! Great info for anyone 👌🏼
Has Teddy been lifting? Arms looking thick, bro
No Teddy has always had bloated upper arms
They call that baby fat.
He's on birth control
@@TRUYORK718 🤣🤣🤣
@@TRUYORK718 yooo wtf haahhwahhaha
How come no one ever mention the "trimmer condenser" feature (or lack of) on quartz watches? Most people think that having accurate time is all about the quartz crystal oscillator, but that’s only part of it. You can consistently have very accurate time, regardless of the precision of the oscillator, if your quartz analog or digital watch has a "trimmer condenser". A trimmer condenser changes the frequency coming from the quartz crystal oscillator when its capacity is changed. The frequency can be fine-tuned to provide 1 Hz, or one second per second, in frequency dividers in a quartz analog watch. The same principle is used with an LCD (liquid crystal diode) digital watch. The trimmer condenser looks like a little screw that’s been wired into the circuit board. Typically, turning the screw clockwise speeds the watch up, and counterclockwise slows it down at roughly about 1 second each day per 1/6 turn of the screw. You should be able to get accuracy to within a couple of seconds per month.
Excellent video. I appreciate the thorough explanation and exploration of the subject.
Thanks Bro for such a detailed guide!!! Appreciate it. I didn't know anything about watches.
One thing that certainly making it easier for me to choose my first couple watches is to go for ones that have a Space related legacy, from the unkillable G-Shocks, to the "Other" moon watch by Bulova with their Lunar Pilot. This video will probably be a fantastic reference as I branch out from here though even if my per-watch stays near or below 200~500
You don't often talk about high accuracy quartz Teddy. As someone who only wears my "fancy" watch every couple of weeks, it's great not having to set the time every time I put it on, as I would with an automatic movement. It's accurate to within 5 seconds per year, which is nuts. Just needs a battery every 3 years or so.
Casio waveseptor sets to a radio controlled signal automaticallynor manually to always be accurate.
Yes, I honestly believe that it is a missed opportunity to cancel out quartz watches considering that there are many with great finishing and the fact that the technology is just more convenient. Just one example of quartz with great quality are Seikos. There are also other brands that make nice watches with quartz - e.g. Cartier, Tag etc. I just think it's a bit odd to just ignore it all.
@@lifetraveltech3176I have a Cartier Tank with a quartz movement. It's extremely accurate.
As always, a well thought out and well presented video ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another excellent tutorial, thank you Teddy.
Our man Teddy is not just an astute watch connoisseur but also a sartorial individual. You always seem to rejuvenate me with your charm and enlighten me with your intricate knowledge about this splendid avocation that we all cherish. Much adulation, warmth and regards from India.
**Looking At $100 vostok with inhouse movement** Yeah this is better than your Third party pesant Tudor Black bay 36 with an ETA 2824.
You can go into space with it and also go 800 meters under water and it will still work
AkShUly the BB36 uses a Sellita movement. I'll show myself out.
@@unkono also, not afraid whatsoever to use my Amphibia as a knuckle-duster.
Better than a Royal Oak with its JLC movement
Not all watch makers do everything in house, which is a shame considering the money they charge. For example, I heard Rolex only does in house work for its two tone, gemmed, and full gold models. The all steel watches are not all Rolex.
Dude, one of your best videos so far......nicely done!!!
I'm just about to buy the Sinn on Teddy's wrist...SO EXCITED!
This video not only opens my perspective in which watch should I choose. But also, it kinda opened my thoughts toward watches in a way how diary/journal/autobiography books work. Probably I hope that someday, my children can read a story of my life(maybe just a chapter) by passing down my watches to them. Too bad my dad doesn't like to wear watches, in a way I couldn't get to live on his life stories. (I'm still 26 tho)
In regards to movements, does well made ( ie. perlage, bevelling, in house etc. ) mean work better, more efficient, last longer? eg. does a Patek Philip automatic always last longer & work better than a Seiko 6R series movement? Or, are we just paying more for "hand finishing" & bragging rights?
Depends. The answer always is depends. Good finishing generally helps with durability, for example polished gears have less friction and this makes the watch work with less friction which in turn makes it more precise, have a bigger power reserve and suffer less wear. I cant answer your question because there are a lot of PP automatics.
If we really needed something that will work better and last longer, we would be living with the Casio’s, period.
AWESOME guide! Thanks for all the info! 🙂🙂🙂
I got an early quartz watch,, Jungans with a hand soldered board, a coil and a big battery. It's ridiculously antiquated but darn , the thing working properly 45 years later. It makes me happy. I like oddball watches.
It's so unfortunate that there are so many minefields in the watch world - they turn a lot of people off watches. Such a shame as watches are such engineering and artistic masterpieces and make great, inter-generational collectables - providing you don't step on a mine. Ted - thank you for using plain english and being so informative for us amateurs out there. Great vid.
Just a suggestion: I wish you can feature Pamela Adlon of Better Things. She’s a big watch person and would be interesting to see her collection and her take on watch collecting. I’m getting into watches and I foresee that more and more women will be into watches in the foreseeable future.
Very awesome video Teddy. You are one of the best out there.
Very comprehensive Teddy, well done. 👏👏👏
A good video in and of itself! I always find it a bit difficult how quartz watches are presented. Of course they are easier to produce, but there are also exceptions from Swiss brands, so in the past all the big names like Omega, Rolex, AP and Patek made watches with quartz movements, respectively today, for example, Omega and AP still make quartz watches! In my opinion, it is always portrayed that quartz watches must only be something inferior in quality and cheap, this is not true!
Omega still make quartz?!
Omega phased out their last quartz several years ago. I actually picked one up at the time, the Seamaster 300m quartz. Absolutely love it b/c you get all the panache of an exotic car with the reliability and low maintenance of a Toyota engine. Wish more higher end watch makers kept quartz watches in their line up...
It would be very interesting to see an overview of how to tell if a quartz watch is well made. There are some obvious well made quartz watches, but there is that middle ground that can be a little less than clear, where one could get bamboozled if they didn't know what they were looking for.
Best half hour info video I've seen in many years. Well done Teddy! Really good video editing and production values too. I'd like to see you do one one day on modern pocket watches. I have two Tissots and I'm sure there must be other brands.
Half hour?? Did not notice.
Absolutely amazing video Teddy....thank you 🙏👍👏
Hey what do you think about this German watch Brand tourby watches i am from Germany and I'm thinking about getting one but I'm not sure the brand isn't that present and I'm a little afraid that the quality is not that good
If i was economical able to afford a tourby, i would go for the one with ottoman arabic numerals on the dial
@@shakur4648 thanks
Tourby makes excellent watches. Underrated brand for sure.
Can you make a video dedicated to explaining the most popular testing standards. I.e. walking us through COSC, METAS, JLC 1000 hours etc.? Pretty much an expanded version of what you have in this video. That would be awesome! :)
Cosc simply implies test was performed to test for watch accuracy in various positions /face up/down, crown up/down,etc , temperature and certified with rate within -4/+6 per day. It is mostly a marketing tool as manufacturing has advanced to a point most movements will pass it. It mattered more when watches in the old days were hand made with great variability. JLC 1000 hour and Omega Meta is more rigorous testing with stricter accuracy but again its mostly a marketing tool ..I've had basic Seiko, non certified Eta movements that would pass these tests.
I love your videos! They are so helpful especially when just getting into the world of watches :) just an idea that even can help more newbie’s like me, if that is even possible to do a video with comparison to see those differences, for example the bracelet and brush marked and other parts because for someone who just starting it’s hard to see the differences for inexperienced eyes. But any way I love your videos! 😄
Thank you for sharing, I'm glad that i found this channel
been loving your content teddy. also your big arms shining through ...thicc yo. keep up the gym work. Thanks again:)
First telltale sign of quality - I can't afford it. That's all you need to know.....
Casio, Seiko you sure bout that
Hi Teddy, At 1m10, the marketing was so well done and the offer to book an appointment that I liked the video and subscribed. I''m swiss and living in my wonderful country so I will probably never book an appointment but I appreciate the hard work and the business ethics. well done
Thanks for the great video! This is so useful and well presented!