Why is JLC so cheap ?

[MILGAUSS88]

Originally Posted by FTX I

I don't think they're cheap.

I suppose they are cheap in comparison to Patek.

For example JLC Master Ultra Thin Perpetual 18k case, retail $34,000, grey $26,000. Patek 5327, perpetual calendar with moonphase, retail $90,000, grey $53,000 to $70,000.

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by MILGAUSS88

I suppose they are cheap in comparison to Patek.

For example JLC Master Ultra Thin Perpetual 18k case, retail $34,000, grey $26,000. Patek 5327, perpetual calendar with moonphase, retail $90,000, grey $53,000 to $70,000.

Sure but even then they're not cheap by any means. One can say a G-shock is a nice cheap watch you can get for something around 30 bucks, but the watch we're talking about here costs one thousand times more so it ain't cheap at all. But I guess I'm just discussing semantics here so please ignore what I'm saying.

[MILGAUSS88]

Originally Posted by FTX I

Sure but even then they're not cheap by any means. One can say a G-shock is a nice cheap watch you can get for something around 30 bucks, but the watch we're talking about here costs one thousand times more so it ain't cheap at all. But I guess I'm just discussing semantics here so please ignore what I'm saying.

Yep, it's all semantics.

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by FTX I

I don't think they're cheap.

Sorry Flavio, i really should’ve said “cheaper than other mechanical watches.”

I was afraid someone would misunderstand

[CorradoBrit]

Originally Posted by MILGAUSS88

I like to look at how many watches per employee are produced per year.
I think it really shows how much hand work goes into each watch.

Lange: 5,000 WPY / 770 employees =7 watches per employee.

FP Journe 800 WPY / 50 employees = 16 watches per employee.
Vacheron 20,000 WPY / 1200 employees = 17 watches per employee.
Patek 62,000 WPY/ 2000 employeesemployees = 31 watches per employee. (Maybe that's why I think Patek is overpriced.)

Lecoultre 60,000 WPY / 1,400 employees = 43 watches per employee.

Rolex 800,000 WPY / 6000 employees = 133 watches per employee.

Rolex uses a lot more robotic technology to create their watches. Very little time is spent in a humans hand. The haut horology brands use far more manual labor. Eg the brush work on JLC's cases is all done by hand.

[swish77]

JLC make stunning watches that are underpriced, IMHO, but they're certainly not cheap. The company just doesn't have the hype of some other brands for whatever reason, but if you're a true lover of fine timepieces, you know JLC watches are beautiful, impeccably finished, and incredibly reliable. Their in-house movements are legendary. And how about an 8-year factory warranty? Pretty impressive.

As for value, their resale on the secondary market isn't like AP, Patek and Rolex, of course, but most brands aren't. Yes, it would be more cost effective to buy used, but you can't always get the exact watch you might want.

They just revamped their Master Control lineup with new in-house calibers and subtle re-designs. How refreshing is it to actually be able to buy one virtually right away? The hype and required wait times for new Rolexes, APs and Pateks is so, so tiresome.

This newly re-designed Master Control Calendar is beautiful, classic and simple, but without being boring. I've never had a Moonphase. Might have to get one. That cool date hand now jumps from 15 to 16 so it doesn't obscure the Moonphase window. If you're into cool horology and interesting movements, doesn't get much better than that.

[djona]

Originally Posted by swish77

JLC make stunning watches that are underpriced, IMHO, but they're certainly not cheap. The company just doesn't have the hype of some other brands for whatever reason, but if you're a true lover of fine timepieces, you know JLC watches are beautiful, impeccably finished, and incredibly reliable. Their in-house movements are legendary. And how about an 8-year factory warranty? Pretty impressive.

As for value, their resale on the secondary market isn't like AP, Patek and Rolex, of course, but most brands aren't. Yes, it would be more cost effective to buy used, but you can't always get the exact watch you might want.

They just revamped their Master Control lineup with new in-house calibers and subtle re-designs. How refreshing is it to actually be able to buy one virtually right away? The hype and required wait times for new Rolexes, APs and Pateks is so, so tiresome.

This newly re-designed Master Control Calendar is beautiful, classic and simple, but without being boring. I've never had a Moonphase. Might have to get one. That cool date hand now jumps from 15 to 16 so it doesn't obscure the Moonphase window. If you're into cool horology and interesting movements, doesn't get much better than that.

That’s thoughtful design.

[mongrelnomoad]

Originally Posted by swish77

JLC make stunning watches that are underpriced, IMHO, but they're certainly not cheap. The company just doesn't have the hype of some other brands for whatever reason, but if you're a true lover of fine timepieces, you know JLC watches are beautiful, impeccably finished, and incredibly reliable. Their in-house movements are legendary. And how about an 8-year factory warranty? Pretty impressive.

As for value, their resale on the secondary market isn't like AP, Patek and Rolex, of course, but most brands aren't. Yes, it would be more cost effective to buy used, but you can't always get the exact watch you might want.

They just revamped their Master Control lineup with new in-house calibers and subtle re-designs. How refreshing is it to actually be able to buy one virtually right away? The hype and required wait times for new Rolexes, APs and Pateks is so, so tiresome.

This newly re-designed Master Control Calendar is beautiful, classic and simple, but without being boring. I've never had a Moonphase. Might have to get one. That cool date hand now jumps from 15 to 16 so it doesn't obscure the Moonphase window. If you're into cool horology and interesting movements, doesn't get much better than that.

Dammit. That's the kind of unnecessary engineering that totally tickles me...

EDIT: Just checked out the whole collection. That's some seriously impressive horological firepower, beautifully executed, for insanely reasonable prices.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by mongrelnomoad

Dammit. That's the kind of unnecessary engineering that totally tickles me...

EDIT: Just checked out the whole collection. That's some seriously impressive horological firepower, beautifully executed, for insanely reasonable prices.

Ha! Agreed. That date hand is so thin, that it wouldn't necessary interfere with the Moonphase window, but it's a cool feature to have regardless. Here's a fun little video showing it in action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYfy4i8MNTk

[DCheeta]

Holy Trinity watchmaking without the hype. That’s why they’re expensive, but not excessively expensive.

I got mine NOS and paid almost 50% less than retail. Gotta love that “bad” resale value.

[iliketime]

Unlike the other companies, they dont dump a ton of money into marketing. Off hand, I can remember JLC appearing in maybe 3 movies within the last 10-15 or so years. Dr.Strange and Batman, and there was an LE for Batman.

[mbalmz]

Originally Posted by iliketime

Unlike the other companies, they dont dump a ton of money into marketing. Off hand, I can remember JLC appearing in maybe 3 movies within the last 10-15 or so years. Dr.Strange and Batman, and there was an LE for Batman.

that’s a lot of movies to be prominently featured in in 10 years, no?

outside of rolex, AP and patek, I’m not sure nice watch brands are really noticeably featured in many movies?

[scarlet knight]

I have owned several JLCs. Still own a Reverso Duo, which I would never want to sell. I enjoy them and would recommend. Bought the Reverso new with a healthy discount.

[texasmade]

Originally Posted by mbalmz

that’s a lot of movies to be prominently featured in in 10 years, no?

outside of rolex, AP and patek, I’m not sure nice watch brands are really noticeably featured in many movies?

Well there’s the obvious Omega and James Bond.

[The Argonaut]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

Great for the money. I think it's more that brands like Patek, Rolex and AP are overpriced. Another amazing bang for buck brand is Glashutte Original. Used Lange is amazing too.

This. It's not that they are undervalued, but that their values reflect what most watches do: they depreciate. Don't take SS Rolex, SS PP, and SS AP RO watches appreciation as the norm. It's not. That's recent, and depending on how COVID plays out, might be gone for good. JLC, GS, GO, ALS, all depreciate and offer massive bang for buck. If you look at non-SS Patek, their depreciation is about the same as the brands listed above, and you can get some fantastic deals. The difference is, you're looking at a $60k watch now selling for $38k--which is still well beyond what most will pay.

[afterhours]

I have a JLC 40mm triple calendar and had it serviced and it was not too expensive and fairly quick. The watch is very nice although it doesn’t get enough wrist time because it’s rose gold and i find stainless steel easier to wear. It certainly is not an annual calendar but honestly I own another watch that’s annual and while it’s cool and all, the practical difference is that with JLC you have to push a little button once every two months, which is not too much work.

Is anyone aware of how much would cost servicing Glashutte perpetual? I really like the design and much like JLC it seems to be a lot of watch for the buck.

[jon_jon]

I have never owned a JLC, but have tried on several at ADs. They are not mass marketed like Rolex, Omega or Tag. So only people who know watches will typically seek out the brand. However they have been making watch movements for other Swiss watch manufacturers for probably over a hundred years.

If you ever watch YouTube watch videos, check out Tim Masso's videos. He is a big advocate for JLC watches.

[Alex_TA]

Their Duometre series are amazing.




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[AK797]

They are priced similarly to many other non-hot brands like IWC, BP, UN etc, but in fairness JLC, which probably has higher Haute credentials than the others, has made its prices a bit of a selling point with the much trumpeted release of their Master Perp Cal line with the SS selling for around £10K I seem to recall.

[flal]

I got a bit tired of playing the waiting game and trying to get into my AD's good graces and picked up a beautiful reverso for a very fair price. They're great watches and I wonder the same about their pricing. Definitely not complaining.

[scarlet knight]

I like my JLC Reverso.


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[Lo0o0o0n]

Originally Posted by Pongster

The master control calendar is just a triple/complete calendar, right? Not an annual calendar?

yup definitely not an annual calendar...just triple calendar