What Really Grinds Your Gears?

[kronin323]

Ya,u need to get a C6, make up with the Wife and then sell it 2 me!

I don't think any of those three will happen...

 

[OakleyFrankFMJ]

I don't think any of those three will happen...

The C-6 part can happen.

 

[Carrera1963]

But the TB2, Gearbox Automatic, and FMJ are the sole Oakley watches where the components + style come close to justifying their MSRP. And though the TB2 and GA both have the same quality Swiss ETA movement, the FMJ's movement is much better, top-of-the-line.

Doesn't the FMJ use a 7750? Robust, widespread workhorse, yes. Top of the line? Not really. Even the best finished 7750 points ebauche would only be a tiny fraction of the cost of the FMJ and is substantially the same as the movement in plenty of watches well under $1k.

The whole 77xx line derives from Valjoux buying Venus to get access to the 188 to have a cheaper, more profitable replacement for the Vj72 and 92. Proper movements those, used in the likes of the Rolex Daytona and my favourite, the Heuer Carrera.

I'd be a bit put out if I'd paid $9k for a 7750. Sensible commercial decision by Oakley but that movement in no way justifies the price.

 

[OakleyFrankFMJ]

Doesn't the FMJ use a 7750? Robust, widespread workhorse, yes. Top of the line? Not really. Even the best finished 7750 points ebauche would only be a tiny fraction of the cost of the FMJ and is substantially the same as the movement in plenty of watches well under $1k.

The whole 77xx line derives from Valjoux buying Venus to get access to the 188 to have a cheaper, more profitable replacement for the Vj72 and 92. Proper movements those, used in the likes of the Rolex Daytona and my favourite, the Heuer Carrera.

I'd be a bit put out if I'd paid $9k for a 7750. Sensible commercial decision by Oakley but that movement in no way justifies the price.

Yeah. But you get a sick chain so it can be used as a pocket watch or weapon also and then theres the 15 pound crazy box it comes in .

 

[Oakley G]

There are various grades of the 7750. The FMJ uses the top end COSC-certified one. But yes, $9,000 for a 7750 powered timepiece is laughable nowadays. Perhaps it'd fly 15 years ago when mid to low-high luxury range brands were modifying the ebauche themselves, but not these days when there are so many cool inhouse movements out there. Admittedly however, a lot of companies are charging in that range for 7750-based watches. It partially have to do with the Swatch Group stopping the sale of ebauches to companies and selling finished movements instead. The cost for smaller brands skyrocketed, especially since many don't have the economies of scale to bring down the price

I get the feeling Oakley was tring to replicate the successes brands like U Boat and Graham had. In fact, the FMJ has the some of the same design cues that Graham watches used to have like the side release.

 

[kronin323]

Doesn't the FMJ use a 7750? Robust, widespread workhorse, yes. Top of the line? Not really. Even the best finished 7750 points ebauche would only be a tiny fraction of the cost of the FMJ and is substantially the same as the movement in plenty of watches well under $1k.

The whole 77xx line derives from Valjoux buying Venus to get access to the 188 to have a cheaper, more profitable replacement for the Vj72 and 92. Proper movements those, used in the likes of the Rolex Daytona and my favourite, the Heuer Carrera.

I'd be a bit put out if I'd paid $9k for a 7750. Sensible commercial decision by Oakley but that movement in no way justifies the price.

Well, I certainly won't disagree with that. Maybe this clarification would be agreeable?

The Valjoux 7750 comes in Elaborated, Top, and COSC-certified Chronometer grades, with the FMJ using the Chronometer grade.

And yes, top-of-the-line among all Swiss movements would not be accurate, but of the mass-produced movements, wouldn't it be considered one of the top movements? And with ETA being the biggest mass producer of Swiss movements, isn't the 7750 their most premium? Or is the 2892 supposed to be better? Certainly it's better than the 2824 used in the TB2 & GA...

 

[kronin323]

There are various grades of the 7750. The FMJ uses the top end COSC-certified one.

lol you beat me to it...

 

[kronin323]

But back to my original point, IMO it's the components + style that comes close to justifying their MSRP, not the components alone.

While the quartz Oakley watches are relying solely on style to justify an overinflated MSRP...

 

[Carrera1963]

COSC certification is just the manufacturer making a payment to COSC for the certificate. I have more respect for movements within the standards that haven't paid for the certification.

A 7750 is just a workhorse however elaborée it is - it comes in more grades than those mentioned, and you know what? They all suffer from rotor wobble just like the absolute base version.

No serious watch guy is ever going to be particularly impressed by that movement, and it doesn't really have a place in a 9 grand watch, whoever the maker.

 

[kronin323]

COSC certification is just the manufacturer making a payment to COSC for the certificate. I have more respect for movements within the standards that haven't paid for the certification.

A 7750 is just a workhorse however elaborée it is - it comes in more grades than those mentioned, and you know what? They all suffer from rotor wobble just like the absolute base version.

No serious watch guy is ever going to be particularly impressed by that movement, and it doesn't really have a place in a 9 grand watch, whoever the maker.

Well, I believe you know more about this subject than I, so I'll bow to your opinion on this...