Why iwc watches are so expensive

In either case, I can attest that the double sided anti-reflective coating on the crystal is super effective and just leads me to be perplexed at watches that skimp on AR coating. For the sake of staying on track, we are going to stick to simple three-hand options here. So, we know we are dealing with another entry level piece, albeit from a newer brand.

The Bremont Solo comes in a bigger case, measuring 43mm wide with a The hour power reserve BEAE movement is a modified ETA that Bremont does a good job at decorating, viewable through the exhibition caseback. September 23, Advertising Message. The corollary to this is that people are still willing to pay top dollar for watches. After all, companies will price their products for what the market will bear.

The second reason watches are so expensive is the overhead incurred to produce them. Overhead for a watch company, like any other industry, includes materials, production, custom machinery, prototyping, design, and research and development. A brand that outsources many of these functions, having cases made in Asia and sourcing off-the-shelf movements from third-party providers like ETA or Miyota, can avoid these costs and typically can sell watches for far less than companies that devise in-house movements , make cases and push the boundaries of what is possible in watchmaking.

It takes a team of watchmakers years to design complicated movements, create working prototypes and even build custom machinery to make specific parts before ramping up into production. An extreme example here is a company like Rolex , who for years has operated its own foundry to alloy its own gold and forge its own cases.

The Big R is an example of a vertically integrated company that covers all aspects of watchmaking from soup to nuts, or rather from bezel to hairspring. This complete control of its products is what helps Rolex maintain a sterling reputation for quality, but it also helps keep prices high.

When many people think of luxury watches, Rolex is the first name that comes to mind — though in the overall spectrum of brands, it is decidedly middle of the pack, price-wise.

The third reason watches cost so much is because watch companies are largely marketing machines. Now brands have to compete with each other to peddle lifestyle stories that make one watch more appealing than the next, regardless of its objective merits. Then again there are others who completely disagree with that and love the fact that Rolex builds very durable and accurate watches.

The same cannot be said about IWC which is a highly recognized brand but at the same time, it is recognized more within the watchmaking and watch collecting community.

Some might even call it a more refined brand of watch. It is also very important to note that Rolex produces all its new calibers in-house. IWC also produces new in-house calibers but unless they specifically say that it is an in-house movement, you can bet that someone else such as ETA i. Most watchmakers do…but a certain amount of prestige is attributed to watchmakers that can do everything in-house.

Rolex is by far the winner here. To date, no other watchmaker has as high of an average resale value compared to Rolex. Watches are very similar to other mechanical products such as vehicles in the sense that as soon as you use them once, they lost a good chunk of their value. Most watch enthusiasts, watchmakers, and serious collectors would tell you without any hesitation that Rolex is a different type of watch than IWC. It is more utilitarian; a tool watch of sorts.

Whereas IWC is a more refined watch that shows impeccable class and good taste. Rolex is, in fact, the most valuable watch brand in the world according to Interbrand, a brand valuation agency that rates the most valuable and recognized Swiss brands; many of which are watchmakers. Rolex is the 1 most recognized luxury watch brand in the world.

IWC is the 9 th most recognized Swiss watchmaker in the world which is also very impressive. Some even go as far as to say that if you want to impress your average layman, wear a Rolex but IWC is a watch to wear to impress a watchmaker or serious collector.

Rolex pushes its brand aggressively and with many impressive ads that promulgate a desirable and often attainable item to the average person.