Quote:
Originally Posted by krynski
Depends on the brand.
Generally speaking, a $20 watch has no swiss components and is made with a cheap Japanese movements. I have seen $20 watches sold broken.
If you, lets say, buy a Tag Heuer or a Rolex or Movado, the quality is much better. Often, there will be a screw-down crown, and a screw in back. These ensure better water resistancy. You notice the quality as well. A well-made watch creates less draw on the battery and the battery generally lasts for a longer time period. However, as the watch gets old, more energy is required to run the watch since gears wear down. dirt and grime also accumulate, causing a need for more energy.
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The use of a crystal oscillator and logic in even the cheapest Chinese quartz movement will be at least an order of magnitude more accurate in keeping time than some of the best Swiss made mechanical watches.
You don't buy a mechanical watch for perfect accuracy though, of course. You buy it for prestige, for luxury, for battery-less operation, for interest, for fun, etc.
There are knockoffs of all the best Swiss brands, many using the same movements or Japanese movements but incorporating all the same features in design and construction and they are just as good. Bear in mind, these are knockoffs that will cost you $200-$500.
Swiss doesn't mean anything in today's age of globalization and CNC technology. Some Swiss firms actually use chinese made movements which are assembled into a watch in Switzerland and sold as Swiss watches.