When did Seiko and Citizen watches get so expensive?!

[airborne]

I just noticed today looking at some watches that Seiko and Citizen watches are rather pricey these days, pretty much the same as Tissot pricing.
They literally have near nothing under R5k.

Seiko Watches

Peruse the latest genuine Seiko timepieces online now. Prospex, Astron, Seiko 5, Presage and King Seiko collections are all available now!

thewatchboutique.co.za

Citizen Mens

Official home of your favourite watch brands! Official online retailer. Free and fast delivery. Full international warranty provided on all brands.

thewatchboutique.co.za

 

[Smiggles]

Weren't they always around that prices? They're entry level and not inexpensive.

 

[airborne]

They used start at around R2k for their entry level mens watches, now they are pretty much 250% more expensive.
Granted I haven't looked at them for a few years but I can't ever remember them being at Tissot prices, which are swiss made and were always a fair bit more expensive.

 

[Ninja'd]

Weren't they always around that prices? They're entry level and not inexpensive.
View attachment 1795217

You know, it's kinda apt that watch enthusiasts are known as whore-ologists.

 

[airborne]

Anyone else notice this?

 

[Smiggles]

Even at the office most use smart watches nowadays so I doubt people will notice.

 

[I.am.Sam]

Even at the office most use smart watches nowadays so I doubt people will notice.

yeah they not the big larneys ..big larneys wear APs , RMs and the likes

 

[theratman]

Seiko used to be amazing value for money, but that changed a few years ago. Orient (although owned by seiko) and a few others offer better bang for buck. Also watch prices on some brands in SA are mad, almost double that of overseas.

 

[SauRoNZA]

Weren't they always around that prices? They're entry level and not inexpensive.
View attachment 1795217

Where does a Silvana fit in there?

 

[epah]

Anyone else notice this?

NO!

 

[airborne]

NO!

Oh shut up, you can't even afford a Seiko

 

[airborne]

Seiko used to be amazing value for money, but that changed a few years ago. Orient (although owned by seiko) and a few others offer better bang for buck. Also watch prices on some brands in SA are mad, almost double that of overseas.

Have Seiko prices also increased globally?
They certainly have developed a cult following for their Divers watches which would allow them to push prices up.

 

[Smiggles]

Oh shut up, you can't even afford a Seiko

Wouldn't want to anyway. Won't be able to scan my Kauai voucher.

 

[Polymathic]

Last time I had a Seiko watch was in 2003 and if I remember correctly my parents paid R500 for it. The rand was around R6.50 to USD.

Inflation calculator says R500 then is worth R1500 today, looking at the prices of the watches now, if we still had the same exchange rate that we had back then the R5000 watches would be R1500. It's just a case of the rand being shyte now.