There are a lot of interesting things going on behind the scenes in watch manufacture, and the sudden rise in quality of Chinese watches reflects their sponsors who buy cases, bracelets, and have upgraded their operations to meet higher standards.
Not that either side would admit where those parts are being shipped.
As for the rest of the watch wearing public, the common denominator for a purchase is financial - the individual usually spends about a day's wages for a watch. That standard was established decades ago, it's where an individual is comfortable with his discretionary income while living within his means. There are outliers, of course, I buy - or bought - popular watches direct, such as a Seiko Orange Monster from Singapore, then added the factory bracelet purchased preowned from a watch forum member. These days, I have pretty much kept it to EcoDrives and have purchased them on A Famous Auction site pre owned - and gotten some great bargains. That was mostly pre 2022 and things have gone sky high since. I was able to resell a Citizen Dive watch used for more than i paid for it - literally out of a flea market booth. High demand watches are being pursued by money is no object buyers, altho now, inflation is slowing things even for them.
My current watch is a Citizen BU2055 using a current GI coyote nylon strap, which doesn't dig and has no extra rings or things. Simplicity. It keeps good time, so far, under a minute a year - 365 days - slow. I have other Citizens which are less than 30 seconds a year fast - Citizen doesn't regulate their quartz yet it's far better than Seiko automatics which in my experience were at best one minute a week fast.
Which makes the quarts 52x more accurate, if that is something important. Rolex created that accuracy by going to quartz timers for Olympic use, and it was the Japanese who were able to put it into mass production. I had a Seiko "file folder" digital in the day, with the first of it's kind gold on stainless plating. Great dress watch. Citizen added solar charging in the 90s and my oldest, circa 2001 or so, is still running on it's original power cell. The secret trick is to keep them in sunlight. The growing use of solar panels on RV's is finally enlightening watch users of that need, which will eventually cut into my bargain hunting. I snapped up the ones "not running - needs a battery" and simply charge them in full sun for a few days, and they turn out fine every time. Don't put solar watches in a drawer, enjoy them.
As for changing pins in bands etc, a watch fan can and should learn how. An inexpensive kit with pin tools to work on bands and bracelets can save a trip, even allow changing batteries on NON solar models easily.
I keep in mind that a watch that appears to be more than someone's daily pay is likely not just a timepiece, it's the polite way of communicating power and wealth. I've gotten over it since most of those watches, especially autos, and certainly Dive models which can submerge far deeper than their owners, are show pieces, not working time keepers. There is a difference in having a watch for utility and having a watch for it's social presence, which, I hear, is much the same for certain earth roaming RV's.
To someone who is buying a time keeper, jot down a list of what you need it to do, then selectively search for what models accomplish it. Keep Brand out of it, work thru Features only, and your selection will likely be a longer kept and more appreciated choice. It may well completely surprise you, too, but some say a man makes the watch. It certainly can reflect his integrity.
