Steinhart: I’m Just Not Into You
A big to do about Steinhart over at WuS today. Steinhart sells “homages,” watches that look strikingly similar to well known brands but have enough subtle differences to stand as their own brand. I can support their efforts, but I’m kind of tired of the homages to Rolex and Panerai I see. I think there are plenty of odd, little houses out there that deserve our cash rather than some junk dealers who traffic in Chinese-made crap. Sorry. Ranting.
January 23rd, 2007 at 5:06 pm
I think you’re being harsh on Steinhart. They make a great watch for the price rivaling many that I’ve seen. I’ve owned probably 100 or more watches of all kinds ranging from Rolex to Breitling to Rado to Seiko..and I’ve been completely satisfied with the Steinhart brand especially ESPECIALLY their customer service. Never have I been taken care of so well. You’ll find over an over again a similar story. Also what would you have people do that can’t afford 5K, 10K for a Rolex (which BTW have ALWAYS been nothing but trouble for me from a service/wait/service point of view). Would you have them simply admire but never be able to own? I credit Steinhart for their pricing which is more for the “middle class” buyer with an “Upper Class” quality.
Everyone has some similarities but I want to call your attention to the Militare UT, the El Captain, the Grand Marquis, the Aircraft 8. All of which are fairly unique and up until the Aircraft 8 the only similar watch was custom made. In the end Bell and Ross ripped off a custom watch maker who sold the instrument for $700 on a nato strap.
Thanks
Robert
January 23rd, 2007 at 7:01 pm
Really, I’m suprised to hear this from you. I usually agree with your posts but you are way off on this one. Sure they make some homages, but check out their website as there are some originals also. But I’m sick of seeing Rolex homages. Rolex may be a great watch maker but to me it’s tainted because every nouveau riche schmuck has one.
January 24th, 2007 at 12:52 pm
Everyone has differing opinions on products like Steinhart. I got all kinds of grief for my review of and Alpha GMT as well. http://www.wristwatchreview.com/2006/08/09/review-alpha-gmt-diver/
I come at it like this - if I’m a new collector, I want to start out with some nice classic pieces and move into more expensive pieces. They hold their resale value and looks for years. Even the other little guys, like Scorpion, that I champion are trying something new and different. Alpha and Steinhart feel false to me, as a collector.
May 31st, 2007 at 1:46 pm
There are companys such as Steinhart & Invicta that produce excellent watches for the money. As a wildlife photographer and hiker who treats his watches pretty harshly..My criteria for a watch is : It has to be a Swiss Auto or Quartz , It must have a saphire crystal and would like a depth of at least 200m…Oh it must look good too….
July 3rd, 2007 at 1:40 pm
Hey John,
I have an Ocean 1 and can at least say its not a “cheap chinese” watch, I opened the back and sure enough a real ETA 2824-2 movement was there.
It is made and produced in Switzerland.
It looks great and feels great and because of the excellent movement for the price it runs great.
With the screwed in links even a rookie like me could easily make adjustments.
I will agree with you Alpha is a cheap watch, but Steinhart isn’t cheap just affordable.
When I ordered I got feedback three time updating the mail progress and a VP and the CEO emailed me after I got the watch and gave a brief review.
I have a Bulova Millenia Vibra Alarm which was a similar price with a quartz movement and it’s nice but just not the “timepiece” the Steinhart is.
I love your site and reviews are great, but I think you missed the mark on the Steinhart brand.
Thank you.
August 18th, 2007 at 1:34 pm
No he did not miss the mark. Steinhart is Chinese p.o.s. ripping off classic designs for cheap beggars.
October 11th, 2007 at 1:34 am
Actually Steinhart is NOT Chinese, Steinhausen is Chinese. Notice the difference in company. Steinhart makes Swiss watches, purchased by Revue Thommen. Steinhausen sells in Delta Sky Mall Magazine and they make $100 cheap crap. Please get your fact straight.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:50 pm
I adore the Steinhart watches and the family behind them is second to none!
Great product and wonderful caompany.
November 2nd, 2007 at 12:51 pm
I adore the Steinhart watches and the family behind them is second to none!
Great product and wonderful company.
December 10th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
Having spotted Steinhart’s Ocean 1 in Black - I could say that; yes it is a tad dirivative of the Rolex (!) but as a designer myself, there are diffrerences in form that do make it slightly its own. Hey we all love the initial design anyway, and it has a ‘work-horse’ movement - nothing wrong with that - AND fantastic value for money. A name has to start somewhere in this cut-throat world… I think its a little gem and they will grow. If it works, is built right, and stands the test of ‘time’ - then what is wrong with it??
December 10th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
Ps I own an Omega Seamaster - that’s my price limit - the Rolex sea dweller or submariner are too pricey, and yes I have also heard of poor service etc, I also agree with the image of the Rolex having been cheapened regarding it social position - I don’t think it means the same thing anylonger (if that’s your concern) - Steinhart has no such problem (yet) but its a ‘GOOD WATCH’.
December 12th, 2007 at 2:40 am
It just goes to show how little you know about wathes… I have over 300K in my collection and Steinhart is as fine as any of them… regardless of price.
Kg
December 14th, 2007 at 8:25 pm
well, that’s as maybe. Personally I also think the Steinhart is a great watch, which is actually what I was saying.
I may or may not know much about watches, but unlike you its seems; I know enough to be able to actually spell the word?
December 25th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
I just sold my Steinhart GMT. I must say they look good and the price was right. But, you get what you pay for. I have been a loyal Breitling owner I’m not going to stray with cheap upstarts like the Steinhart again. Looks aren’t everything. I think the Steinhart is a POS…..You can polish a turd, but it will still be a turd…..
January 24th, 2008 at 9:29 am
I own a Steinhart Ocean 1, and can tell you that it is a quality time piece that rivals the Omega, Tag’s, and Brietlings that I have owned. Don’t quite understand why there is so much hatred towards this brand. Great product, excellent customer service. This watch is SWISS MADE for all of you idiots out there who cant even do a little research before making stupid posts . . .
February 8th, 2008 at 10:25 pm
In response to Brian. I owned one, so yes I know it is swiss made (Revue Thomenn). But all swiss made watchs are not the same. You pay for what you get. I had nothing but problems with my Steinhart POS. The damn thing would just stop running. No matter what I did and yes I sent it back to them to repair. I have owned Rolex, Omega and currently own 2 Brietlings. I have never had one problem with any of the big name makers. For those who can’t afford the real deal, the Steinhart maybe the way to go. I think you can find some better swiss made watches better than the Steinhart. Yes, I’m a hater,I had one and I hated it. WHAT A POS………….
February 24th, 2008 at 11:37 am
Fake watches with a different “brand” name on the dial copying established designs. Customers having to deal with returns of watches that arrive with problems until the vendor gets it right, because there is no quality control. Lies and deceit. Shilling and made up positive feedback by the very same people that are selling these watches. Yet, flocks of wannabee’s fall for this scam and send them their hard earned money to wear a Rolex,IWC or B&R copy for less. And they still rave about “customer service”? I don’t get it. That emperor has no clothes!!!
February 27th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I would like to pick a few points from such lengthy replies, admittedly, I have not read them all and I may repeat some replies. First point – the watches are made in China with Swiss movement and assembled, most probably, in Switzerland (hence they can be called Swiss made). This way of conducting business is carried out by many brands but at least Steinhart does not rip off customers like Ball watches, for example. Grovana have supplied a number of their models to Steinhart under the Steinhart name. As one design is a copy of a Bell & Ross model, Grovana tried it first with Steinhart in USA before launching it (in case of B&R suing them). The Steinhart Mach 1 – is absolutely great value for money. Which other make can offer a Swiss movement (Dubois Dépraz 2020 - = ETA 2894 - Chronograph Tricompax = ETA 2892 base movement + ETA Tricompax chronograph module) automatic chronograph for below 625 Euros? Sapphire crystal and water resistant. Latest models on line are moving away from Grovana design (and probably Grovana very poor quality standards). I know Steinhart USA had to change name and this may reflect some new policies. I reckon Steinhart is one of the very few brands where value for money really means something.
February 27th, 2008 at 3:22 pm
Reply to Michael. You are right not all Swiss watches are the same and you only pay for what you get – but in the case of Rolex, Breitling and Omega – you are mainly paying for their marketing. In the last few years some of the policies regarding movements have changed but you will find that most of the famous brands have been using the same movements. Nothing much has changed – they just gave the movements a different name. Tag-Heuer paid Tiger Woods $20 millions to sponsor their product, guess who is paying for it? All the Rolex I had, NOT ONE , kept the right time – either too slow or too fast. Of course, one can find on the Internet ways to rest the watch at night if too slow or too fast (which I think is a joke as other makes do NOT have this sort of problem). A basic Omega is some 5 times more expensive than the Steinhart diver and I have had numerous problems with Breitling quality on crown, pushers and even the quartz Myiota movement used in early watches selling for £900. At least Steinhart does not rip off his customers.
February 28th, 2008 at 8:08 pm
I first wrote a very lengthy review. But decided to sum this up to a few points:
I OWN ROLEX/OMEGA/VC/JL- SO i know what i am basing this off of.
I hate companies which copy other brands… that being said other than Steinharts ripoffs.
There is EXTREME VALUE FOR YOUR MONEY in Steinhart.
If there is anyone out there who wants to spend less than 500(maybe 600-700USD Funny money)and get a top quality watch. I would suggest Steinhart. Not only is it an inexpensive quality watch, to get this thing serviced costs next to nothing ( i can do it myself )
And the customer service is better then any brand i have ever dealt with. not only did i get 2 different crowns i got 2 straps, and a swan neck regulator(an extra they had, i shall put it on myself and finish the movement up a little better)
more to say after i crack it open and start finishing this bad boy off abit.
March 19th, 2008 at 4:15 pm
Steinhart / Debaufre or whatever they are called now are complete design ripoffs from successful watches like Rolex, IWC, Bell & Ross etc. etc.
They try to portray themselves as a company with history (just read their site and their exaggeration’s), in my book that is dishonest to the point of suspicious as to what their agenda really is.
Their quality sucks, there is no QC. And you call that value? Buy a Seiko or Citizen for less and you’ll get real value!
And customer service? Just because they send you replacement parts and replacement watches or discounts all the time to make up for the junk they sold and shipped to you originally doesn’t make their service all that great. In my book, they should have checked to see if everything is perfect BEFORE they sent it out. What I see is that almost everyone of their customers has to deal with some issue or another. Well, you get what you pay for!
So why would you keep throwing your good money at a company like that? For the privilege of owning a knockoff at what seems to be a low price?
I wonder what that says about their customers and those that feel the need to shill this junk…
March 19th, 2008 at 8:59 pm
Totally agree with Paul. Steinhart is way overrated and overhyped. They are nothing but cheap knockoffs. Never again.
April 13th, 2008 at 7:25 pm
This guy knows less about watches than Bush knows about politics! What an idiot!
MWC
April 23rd, 2008 at 2:22 am
Steinhart / Debaufre sucks. Do not waste your money on these POS watches. ‘nuf said.
Z.
May 6th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
Debaufre offers a terrific watch for a terrific price. Their customer service is second to none. Any problem is addressed quickly and completely.
June 20th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Any money says that most of the people trashing Steinhart/Debaufre haven’t owned one or even read about them. Grow up.
My only Steinhart is an Aircraft 8, and I love it. Incredible quality, gorgeous fit and finish, excellent price. It is not a BR01 ripoff any more than the Invicta Cordubas are (of which I own three). It’s another interpretation of the square-watch phenomenon, that’s it. I have a problem with blatant knock-offs or obvious fakes, but no problem with other companies’ own interpretations of a classic style.
I frequent most of the common message boards, and have yet to run into a dissatisfied customer of Steinhart/Debaufre. Regardless of the anal-retentive analysis of “well, it’s Swiss parts, made in China, assembled in Switzerland, shipped by an Antarctic Company to an American consumer over International Waters, blah blah blah” the bottom line is that they make great watches, with great parts, for a great price. I knew precisely what I was getting when I bought it, and have never been happier.
For the record, I have about 80k invested in my collection.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:09 am
I own a Steinhart Ocean 1 and a Mach 1 as well as a Rolex, Omega, and various other high quality swiss made watches. The quality of the Steinhart brand is equal to any of the Rolex or Omega products. They are not chinese made. That is a lie. The presentation boxes that they come with are superb, unlike the cheap boxes of Rolex and Omega. I have owned both Steinharts for two years now and they keep great time. It is a shame that there is so much negative urban legend associated with this brand. If you own a Steinhart you realize they are not “Knockoffs,” but rather are distinct in their own right. We should not be degrading this brand but rather championing a company that is succeeding in bringing quality and value for reasonable money to the public. I do not know about the rest of you, but the name does not mean so much to me as the actual product. Steinhart or Debaufre, who cares? Its still a great little company with great products. Best of all they keep coming out with more uniques designs as time goes on.