You're right. I'm a gambling man looking to start a collection. The unknown surprise element and desire to explore a variety of brands makes sense to me. I'll probably view a few more reviews of the service and make a choice. Thank you for your honesty.
If you go for it, I might recommend trying the quarterly service. Allows you to get a taste of it, but you can use the time between deliveries to shop on your own.
I hear it's been worse than it was. I enjoyed most of mine, as described in the video. But after my second one that I didn't like, it was time to go. There are just SO many affordable watches to buy outright now that unless you truly enjoy the surprise aspect of the service, you can piddle away money on your own.
Good summary of Watch Gang and pretty much how a lot of people feel. I had a membership a few years ago and cancelled it after a couple of watches arrived. Good video my man 👍
Thanks, Simon. I don’t like it when people bash them, but I also think it’s silly to believe you’re going to get a watch worth more than what you pay (except for the rarity).
I've always been very suspicious of watch gang, especially with all of the unknown brands that they shift out. But I agree that the surprise element is very exciting. It would be great if a company did this with desirable brands only! Good to hear your review on watch gang, thanks for taking the hit so we don't have too 😆
A few more have come and gone since WG, but with brand recognition comes a much higher price, too. It makes it even more of a "financially comfortable" proposition. But, yeah...the surprise element is the best! Until you get a watch you don't like...😂
I only have two watches and would like start a collection. I always feel overwhelmed when trying to buy a watch. Your honest review is great and I am thankful for it. I actually enjoy the watches you received and wouldn't have minded receiving them myself - I want to build a variety collection and I feel like this may actually be a good thing to sign up for, for me. I've read a lot of reviews and have seen the positives/negatives, but I feel like it's something I would enjoy. Thanks again for your video.
Hey Matt! Thanks for your compliment. The situation you mention seems to be a perfect fit for WG. I should also mention that pausing or even cancelling your membership is a simple click of the mouse. They don’t hold you hostage. So, if you ever decide it’s no longer right for you, it’s even easier to get out as it was to get in. That’s not very “gang” like! Ha! Would love for you to return here and comment about your first watch. Enjoy!
@Matt Jones, if you want to Start a collection, this is not the way to go about it. Research and look at different watches in your price range. Then "hunt" for your watch. Try them on and find your "sweet spot" size-wise. These watches are not worth the price and you will never be completely happy. Just my 2 cents from a watch collector.
This is not the the way to start, spend time watching loads of channels, work out what style of watch you like, then thi k about budget, do you want original design or homage watches. This way you will undertake the watch what it is what movement you have, for me this is the most important thing. Just getting some random Chinese brand and not knowing what it is seems ridiculous. Also don't forget that these guys, like any other business are here to make money and sending unknown brands out is how they do it. There is no way that that these watches will have any residual value and you will have a very hard time selling them if you don't like them. Hope this is helpful.
Thanks for sharing. Somebody's gotta do it. Not for me but there's definitely value in it. I'm too far gone and corrupted by watch addiction for this to be of any use for me, but for some one just trying to have some fun without any stress then this is perfect.
Definitely not for everyone. And sometimes those that love the service fall out of love with it. The surprise element is the best…as long as the value is there. If money came to me easy, it would be fun to do the highest tier just for the surprises!
Really? I never knew that. I wonder if that's something new, to give customers more confidence/hope? Is the replacement also a surprise? I mean, ironically, that's the exciting part...not knowing what's coming.
I can see that this is a good way for people to get into collecting watches. Being able to receive different types of watches and trying them on allows a person to be unbiased and able to try new things. After this initial phase, you'll start to look for more specific things anyhow. Overall, it's not something crazy that will break the bank. I don't like watch subscriptions personally, but it's not bad to get beginners into watches. Like you've said, do what makes you happy. Just have self control and don't gamble your savings away.
Cool! Yeah, that’s just it…it’s different for everyone. You didn’t say anything about the 4th watch I received, so it’s probably not your jam…but I love it! Perfect example. However, we could argue specs all day long. While I was celebrating a couple of automatic movements and milled clasps, notice there’s not a sapphire crystal at all. Many of the Chinese brands have us accustomed to getting that for under $100, or a touch over.
@@WatchWitt Wasn’t really feeling the last two watches. But that’s just me. I tend to place aesthetics above specs. I think the Ali Express watches have put the larger brands like Seiko to shame when it comes to specs to cost ratio.
I think you’ve had your money’s worth with just the two automatic ones. I’m still on the fence with them, as I’d have to pay more just to get the watch, then possibly pay more in import tax and postage.
Well, I wouldn’t go that far, but I’m ok with spending $100 each on those. I should have talked about that in the video-I think the value is lost with international subscribers to WG. Duties, currency conversion, etc soak up any savings you might gain. The surprise is still there, though!
I got a green faced Melbourne Lonsdale Auto for my quarterly black sub watch May, i absolutely love it... awaiting my august watch, should be here next week..
That’s a good looking watch! We both lucked out, the #watchganggreen treatment isn’t always kind! Ha! Check back in with me…I’ve got an August Black sub coming too.
Good video. Love your attitude with watch collecting, I same way.I can't get with Watch Gang. I love being surprised but don't want to risk or take chance on watches I dislike plus I'm not on Facebook for the trade up group. Keep up good work my friend 👍
I haven’t had luck with a trade yet for the one watch I wanted to trade. I may have been too picky, though. The trade opportunity/process can actually be more fun than getting the WG package!
I don’t mind quartz as long as they are quality and are a screw case back. Good Swiss or Japanese batteries and your good for a few years if not almost a decade depending on model of watch.
Me too. I just didn’t connect with this quartz diver, though. I am a little critical of the seconds hand not hitting markers when evaluating quartz for myself.
I think they may have got rid of that after I published this video. I used to have a link to the style preferences page, but that URL stopped working. Prices went up too!
I think some brands may be essentially exclusive to WG. Then high prices on the website, and/or sold out, make subscribers feel like they got a good deal. I can't confirm that, but it's a hunch.
Honestly, seems to me, you either love it or hate it. Which is weird. I like them....I am giving them another crack and have a quarterly black Coming next week, fingers crossed it’s one I like.
Oh, wow! I wonder how much your style preference plays into that? For example, if you prefer chronographs it’s unlikely you’ll get an auto at $100 black tier. And I’m not a quartz hater, but it just feels like you’ve got more bang for your sub price with an auto.
@@WatchWitt I love chronos and yeah not expecting an auto chrono but an auto diver or Field watch would be nice, come on watchgang you seein these comments!!! Lol
I like the Nautis, and unless you were buying from eBay it looks like a decent piece for $100. I wouldn't want any of the others though. Nevertheless, I'm all for anything that gets watches off the internet and back into wrists where they belong.
The Nautis is a nice piece. The hard part about Chinese origin watches in this price range is that you can get better spec’d pieces even cheaper than this is you choose/buy directly. And the irony about your internet statement is that much of the WG pieces end up for sale on eBay!
The fact they picture a ton of Rolex and Omega to win every week on every page of their site but absolutely no testimonial of said winners, idk it's so crusty, the watches people get are not worth it objectively, not an opinion it's the normal... weird conclusions
They definitely have a precise customer base they're trying to target. It's not for everyone. I wouldn't do it over again at the new prices they're charging, without evidence of better quality pieces.
@@WatchWitt I subscribed to the best tier yrs ago with a friend since we figured we could split and get along having both very different tastes (premium or platinum it was iirc) and it wasn't for me or my friend, I followed other subscribers and I was kinda flabbergasted that they were happy to say they paid less than "retail", thing is most watches WG feature are orphan models or liquidation units who can often easily be found for much cheaper with a bit of detective work. Question is, is it worth it? I meant not having to shop and discovering obscure fashion brands, well not to me since I enjoy finding and scouting for uncommon pieces. So okay it's not that bad, if you overlooked; The deceiving Glasshüte masters tentations, Rolex and Omega pictures, the spin wheel who never let you win a 1k watch they actually have etc etc. That's the part where I completely lost the plot...
Yeah, I never bought in to their PR hype. That's a good idea to split with a friend...never heard that one before. You nailed it on the head. I think the service is best for those that don't care about name brands (or lack thereof) and can afford to have watches sent to them. It's like you're buying a shopping service. And you can't overlook the "surprise" factor. I actually think that's the most fun thing about the service.
When you sign up, you choose a style profile. They show you random pictures of watches and you like or dislike them. My taste from the watches they showed me leaned towards divers. I know other members that almost exclusively got chronographs. So, it just depends on how you answer the welcome questionnaire.
Not entirely. There are design cues abound, but I wouldn’t say “rip offs.” There are only so many things you can do with a watch design without appearing to copy.
"it's your money do what you like with it" No shit Sherlock. The fact you wouldn't continue with your sub unless you had a watch channel says it all. You know in reality it's an absolute joke & the watches are beyond horrible value
Beauty/value is in the eye of the beholder. I still have 4 of the 5 watches that I acquired from my subscription, and one of them (the black PureDial in this video) is among my most worn. That's why I say "do what you like," because not everyone will like the same watches I like. And the one that I got rid of, because I didn't like it, is appealing to someone else. But even WITH a watch channel, I felt it was time to stop my subscription because of the trend of watches delivered. And unless some quality has gone up, I wouldn't subscribe at the new rate of approximately $150. So, I agree with you partially!
