re: Paging Broke, the OT watch expert

quote:

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Citizen owns Alpina. Just read the hold value like Hamilton.

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Frédérique Constant (Swiss) is a subsidiary of Citizen (Japanese) and Alpina is part of the Constant group. Alpina makes solid entry tier Swiss watches.

The Startime you posted has a basic 1 jewel quartz movement (AL-240 caliber) most of the component parts are likely to have been made by Citizen in Japan with one, two or a few strategically chosen parts to meet the Swiss Made requirements (50% of the movement's value prior to 2017 60% from there on).

You should be able to find that Startimer at Joma or similar outlets for $250-300. (While out of the white currently Joma has the navy blue dial of the same watch on bracelet for $225 currently) While I like some of the Startimers that doesn't really do it for me but if you like it that is all that matters. Being a basic quartz movement it will serve you well for years.

As far as being a "handmade Swiss watch" it is in that essentially all watches are "hand made" to a degree and it meets the Swiss legal requirements to have "Swiss Made" on the dial but if the idea of a Swiss watchmaker pouring over the construction of your watch is important to you then spending 20 times as much is going to start to get you there, really more like 40 times.

This is actually a good time of the year to start looking for entry-level Swiss watches as the major retailers will start to have very deep discounts.