Are expensive watches always rubbish?
Discussion
Having been gently teased for a number of years over wearing a "cheap" watch, two years ago I bought a Tag Heuer Monaco while on holiday in Austria. Only thing was, they didn't have a n original strap big enough for me so they put it on a no-brand strap and gave me the original as welll. A year rolled by and I thought I wolud get a 'proper' strap and so - after considerable wrangling about whether it would be 'kosher' to have a black strap on a blue watch - I ordered one through my local jeweller. It cost £500. Not only have the minute and hour hand on this supposed bit of precision engineering diverged - so that at, say, midday, the hour hand doesn't point north - but the strap has rotted through in two places. So I paid £10 a week for this to rent a strap... The shop I bought it from said TH would consider this 'normal wear and tear'. Do others have similar experiences?
MikeO996 said:
Presumably he's not been walking on his watch
Was that meant to assist the OP with his question? OP, if you're wearing it daily, 12 months would be about when I would expect you to require a strap change- certainly the case in my experience.
Try buying a couple of decent after market straps and alternate them. Or buy a new watch with a stainless steel strap- then another, then another, then post regularly in the watches section about how the demon of watch collecting will not leave you alone.
Firstly, the main thing seems to be the watch hands not lining up. If you've any warranty left, then I'd get this back to TAG Heuer immediately. If the warranty's finished, then I'd send it to a reputable independent like Genesis Watchmaking or Ryte Time.
Secondly, brands like TAG and many others all take the Michael when it comes to the price of leather straps. Personally, I'd instead buy one of Hirsch's water-resistant straps, because they are solid quality and will resist sweat reasonably well.
Secondly, brands like TAG and many others all take the Michael when it comes to the price of leather straps. Personally, I'd instead buy one of Hirsch's water-resistant straps, because they are solid quality and will resist sweat reasonably well.
No.
My Submariner date has been great, my PO has been great and I've alternated the strap from orange leather, to orange rubber and black rubber several times now when diving.
My first and only TAG I got for my 21st many years ago has been spot on too and has been serviced twice with no issues.
I'm a bit surprised you paid £500 for a strap if I'm honest.
My Submariner date has been great, my PO has been great and I've alternated the strap from orange leather, to orange rubber and black rubber several times now when diving.
My first and only TAG I got for my 21st many years ago has been spot on too and has been serviced twice with no issues.
I'm a bit surprised you paid £500 for a strap if I'm honest.
ecain63 said:
Those bright orange Omega straps on the PO dont last more than a few months in all honesty. As for the hands, did you buy it new or used?
I don't agree on this one.Mine have been spot on. I swapped from the leather to rubber so I could use it in the sea and they have been great.
Strange post 
Well, I bought my Omega Seamaster automatic in 2000...and it's also only had one service, back about 3 years ago which was a bit naughty on my part...
It still looks and functions as well as it did when I walked out of Ernest Jones that August day in 2000, 13 years ago.
The strap is perfect too - albeit that it's a normal stainless link strap, so I guess far more sturdy than a leather one.
It keeps time SO perfectly that I actually never have to adjust it. The only time I have to adjust it is when I end up not wearing it for a couple of days for whatever reason, it runs out of power, and so I have to wind it up and adjust the time again. Sometimes it is weeks and weeks until I do this - I can certainly say that I have worn it consistently for well over three months before now and the time hasn't slipped one bit. Amazing for a clockwork.
With regard to your strap problems - can you not re-fit the original metal link strap with some extra link added? It does seem a bit pointless to rely on a leather strap for a daily-wearer?
Well, I bought my Omega Seamaster automatic in 2000...and it's also only had one service, back about 3 years ago which was a bit naughty on my part...
It still looks and functions as well as it did when I walked out of Ernest Jones that August day in 2000, 13 years ago.
The strap is perfect too - albeit that it's a normal stainless link strap, so I guess far more sturdy than a leather one.
It keeps time SO perfectly that I actually never have to adjust it. The only time I have to adjust it is when I end up not wearing it for a couple of days for whatever reason, it runs out of power, and so I have to wind it up and adjust the time again. Sometimes it is weeks and weeks until I do this - I can certainly say that I have worn it consistently for well over three months before now and the time hasn't slipped one bit. Amazing for a clockwork.
With regard to your strap problems - can you not re-fit the original metal link strap with some extra link added? It does seem a bit pointless to rely on a leather strap for a daily-wearer?
I bought my Tag F1 on rubber strap 22years ago! My dad now wears it. (with new strap)My Breitling Colt has had 3 batteries in 19 years.
My Omega Seamaster gains a few minutes every couple of months, but scratches quite bad on the bracelet, I can live with this.
Not really any problems with my "expensive" watches!!
My Omega Seamaster gains a few minutes every couple of months, but scratches quite bad on the bracelet, I can live with this.
Not really any problems with my "expensive" watches!!
That price is truly ridiculous for a strap. Even the high end manufacturers like Lange, JLC, etc or for that matter Panerai (who are known to be overpriced for their OEM straps) don't charge that much for OEM straps - incidentally none of the manufacturers make straps in house to my knowledge
ABP & Camille Fournet are considered amongst, if not the, best strap makers in the world. Every aspect can be fully customized. They provide OEM straps for amongst others, JLC
Other than hornback and alligator, a strap from them would typically cost c. 150-200euros. Alligator more like 250-300, hornback more again
For that, you can specify everything down to stitching type, backing, edges, buckle, length and a whole heap of other options you probably never even thought about. They will happily make a strap to cater for your current buckle/clasp.
I know this doesn't answer your question but at 500, you should definitely consider going down a different route for your replacement strap.
As to quality, sounds like you have been unlucky. That's not typical for a TAG of that age, though far from unheard of
ABP & Camille Fournet are considered amongst, if not the, best strap makers in the world. Every aspect can be fully customized. They provide OEM straps for amongst others, JLC
Other than hornback and alligator, a strap from them would typically cost c. 150-200euros. Alligator more like 250-300, hornback more again
For that, you can specify everything down to stitching type, backing, edges, buckle, length and a whole heap of other options you probably never even thought about. They will happily make a strap to cater for your current buckle/clasp.
I know this doesn't answer your question but at 500, you should definitely consider going down a different route for your replacement strap.
As to quality, sounds like you have been unlucky. That's not typical for a TAG of that age, though far from unheard of
I have a JLC Reverso for the past ten years. Three straps. However, to be fair,I have never owned a watch for an extended period where I have not replaced the leather strap. Premium cows and crocodiles seem to produce the same result as ordinary cows and crocodiles.
On the other hand , the rubber strap on my daily watch is indestructible.
On the other hand , the rubber strap on my daily watch is indestructible.
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