as can show my reply to the Tag Heuer recent Smartwatch announcement post, about what I think of the overmarketing strategies and M. Biver's legacy (a great manager but someone who brung too much of these technics in watchmaking, now copied by everyone to make a luxury good from nearly nothing).
It is certain that comparing 2 watches at the same budget, their are many decisions which are obvious to make if you're aiming for quality, finishing, craftmanship at its best etc...
I'll never be opposed to that. And there are not many brands which can compete with the best indies on that matter.
When you said "too expensive" I took the overall reason why any people can buy a watch.
On the only field of what is best in terms of crafting, it is of course a different conclusion.
Otherwise, I'm of course on your side about the rest of what you said (I'm cursing every week about this), except the Nautilus/RO thing.
First, your RO is not any RO but a QP made of an opened dial movement: there is not such thing in the Nautilus line.
But when I bought my 5712 I of course tried the 15202 as well. I don't want to enter a RO vs Nautilus debate as everyone has his feeling and both are great watches but to sum-up, I'll say:
- I love the artwork of the RO better (it could stand on my desk, without the dial and movement, as a sculpture.
- Tapisserie vs strip=> subjective so it is equal to me.
- But the coating material of the dial is to me superior on the Nautilus (mainly how it plays with light).
- And the bigger part is the 324 or 240 movements of the Nautilus are much more interesting and better finished and shaped (how bridges are cut and sized), to me, than the more basic (again my feeling, how I see it) 2120 or 3120 calibers.
But you're not the only to say that so I imagine this is also subjective, even on the caliber!
I'll stop as it is not the place but would be a great subject of discussion
Have a nice week Mo.
Cheers, Mark