How to Tell if a Watch is Well-Made

Other Educational Videos from Teddy:

As you get into watches, you begin to understand certain traits that are dead giveaways when it comes to a well-made watch, and it goes a lot deeper than simply looking at the brand. In this video, I'll share 7 ways to identify a quality watch. If you have some other great ways to identify a quality watch, be sure to share them in the comments.

0:00 - Intro and Organization
1:04 - Why Are Mechanical Watches Expensive?
4:04 - Materials
8:41 - Bracelets
11:42 - Straps
13:02 - Case & Dial Finishing
18:11 - Movements
22:12 - Testing Standards
24:46 - Movement Finishing
26:46 - Complications

Other Places to Check Out:

[MarkNokesGuitar]

Thanks, Teddy. I'm excited to start looking for my first watch. I'm going to save up for a watch to celebrate overcoming drug and alcohol abuse, poverty (both many years ago), getting out of debt, buying a home, and saving my first emergency fund. Lol, it's a lot to celebrate all at once. Wish me luck that it won't be the last watch I buy to celebrate an accomplishment!

[DrPinkDDS]

“Expectations are the key to happiness in many ways.” Wise words, Teddy.

[rbmwiv]

I have a very large watch collection, I have been collecting since I was 8 and after 40 years I have around 100 watches most automatic. I inherited a lot of watches from my grandfather who is the person responsible for getting me into watches. One of my most prized watches is a 1952 gold Omega. It’s flawless just patina on it. The crystal is perfect, I have the papers from when it was bought and I have the Omega service receipts. Me and my grandfather use to work on watches together and would take watches from the junk pile and take a few and make one.

[ipreetesh]

This video should be turned into a book.Each point could be a chapter on its own. I think it's a book that many watch nerds would buy! Thanks for the video Teddy!

[Rocky]

I’d love for you to take 3 or 4 watches at different price points and compare each detail so we can really see the differences. Maybe a Baltic Aquascaphe, an Omega Seamaster, and a Rolex Sub (or a vintage looking watch) and walk through why’s each watch is progressively better made. Including the movements. Why is an ETA better than a Miyota. And why is a Tudor in house better than ETA? I totally understand why those handmade and hand decorated Vacheron or A Lange movements are so expensive, but what makes a Rolex’s hidden movement better than an ETA. Thanks.

[RevLev]

I definitely appreciate your understanding and appreciation of engineering, machining and materials. The key is to aesthetically put this all together into a package called a watch. This video was an excellent way to understand how this process works, step by step.

[gittyupalice]

Your explanation at 3:02 is pretty much exactly what I try to explain to non-car enthusiasts who can't understand why I prefer antique vehicles over modern.

[dritzzdarkwood]

Some channels give you the price, aesthetics or market aspects.
Teddy gives us that and a boatload more information. To strike a balance between giving easily digestible information on a subject and on the other hand not making it into a 4 hour horological documentary is no small feat when a person has sage-level knowledge on a matter. He seems to pull it of effortlessly.

[JesusSavesall]

Thanks for the knowledge Teddy!! Appreciate your efforts for us new at watch collecting.

[violinmke]

I got an early quartz watch, , Jungans with a hand soldered board, a coil and a big battery. It's ridiculously antiquated but darn, the thing working properly 45 years later. It makes me happy. I like oddball watches.

[danp]

Teddy, you literally are the most informative "watch guy" on the internet. I was looking at movement watches before I found your channel. Thanks

[DoGoodHelpOthers]

Teddy I've been watching your videos for a couple of months now and you have quite literally been the inspiration for me to step into this exciting new world of horology and watch enthusiasm. A hobby which is having the unexpected but welcome domino effect of improving my wardrobe, my etiquette, and my revisiting of what it truly means to be a gentleman. Without getting too sappy let me say "well done, lad". At least for me, your videos have done far more than teach about watches.

[ayanotanabe]

Teddy been with you from the start. It’s amazing how much you’ve progressed, from visiting Essential Watches, Producer Michael, even before that from your own room. Cheers and congratulations on your business

[RichardPolhill]

"You can see by they way they bevelled the edges that they're not cutting corners."

What?

[danielampudia]

Teddy I've been watching your videos since the days of fashion advice. This video shows how much you have improved since then, congrats.

[kennedymcgovern]

This was a GREAT video, Teddy.

I have been in the hobby only since my retirement, and I am one week short of my one year anniversary of my retirement. One year is not a lot of time, and it isn't as if I started into horology 30 seconds into the first day. So...I have been involved something less than a year.

In that time, I have picked up about 85% of what you shared with us here. That means there were some things I did not know before watching, that I know now.

Very useful, and very helpful. Thank you for this!

[Deusmecumest]

You definitely nailed it. Especially on the date window comment. For me also if the background and font match the dial.

[ralphimbrogno]

I find myself returning to many of your informational videos because there’s so much important info to know and I can’t take it all in with just one viewing. Thanks 🙏 Cleveland rocks!

[drnick]

Thank you, Teddy. An outstanding practical guide for every watch enthusiast. I never buy a watch without watching your comprehensive and objective reviews.

[biharijivandana]

Teddy sir as the days are passing by you are looking much more stronger and younger.
God bless you