Shopping For Affordable Watches With Teddy Baldassarre

Teddy's learning he's the grasshopper; he's learning from the master. That's the way I look at it. [Laughter] Garbage! You know, when you're a fashionista like me, you can pick style out five yards away already. I'm kicking Teddy's ass here; this is amazing! I mean, who knew? Who knew you could go with a cheapo like Teddy and get some great pieces? You're not here with that. Let the shopping begin! Who doesn't like shopping?

[Music]

Hey, Mr. Wonderful here again with Teddy during a very exciting time. One more, and I'll tell you why. We're in the Bucharest store! This is probably the most beautiful retail outlet in the world for watches. It's an experience! It's like half museum, half retail store. But it's got tons of brands, and I mean tons! If you want a watch, this is the place to come on Earth.

However, Teddy has another challenge. You know, let's be honest, I keep kicking his ass in these things every time. You know it's true! But he wants to throw yet another gauntlet on the floor, another watch on the floor. He has a new idea; I really like it!

Let's hear it, Teddy!

"Anybody could win when you have an unlimited budget like Kevin. I'm going to bring him back down to Earth. I'm going to test you today: limited budget, twelve thousand five hundred dollars per watch!"

No, that's the total of your entire collection. I'm going to put you to the test! Last time, your collection was twelve thousand five hundred dollars.

"Yes, that's crazy; I don't think you can do it!"

I can! Look, I can do it; there's no question! But, and luckily, we're in a place where they have enough timepieces within that range. And I'll give you some respect on this thing because two years ago, when I got started on this journey with Teddy, these watches he was talking about, I was just saying, "Why do you like poo-poo garbage?" But I've come to respect it because I'm a dial guy. You know, it doesn't have to cost a lot of money for me to fall in love with a piece. It has to have a great dial; it has to be different than all the other pieces I have.

All of a sudden, you started bringing these low-end pieces with spectacular dials, and I started collecting them and buying them, and now these are some of the most exciting pieces! So when I'm walking around with something that I bought for eight hundred dollars, and someone says, "What is that?" I'm thinking to myself, "Maybe he's not nuts after all; maybe there's merit to having a barbell approach."

Yes, high-end, I love it! But why not also dabble in the low end for the dials? Because you really can get breadth to your collection when you do this.

I agree 100%! So that's going to be the theme of today. Same type of setup as last time. So you can choose what you want to do with your money. We'll alternate back and forth.

Yeah, and we can't go over that budget of twelve thousand five hundred! I want to give you a little bit more; this includes taxes because we are in New York City. We're going to exclude taxes just to give us a little bit more flexibility.

Got it! Okay!

So we look at the sticker price. Now we've got to be sticker-sensitive here because I want to come up with at least three pieces, maybe four; we'll see. But let's start shopping! First thing's first, we flip the coin. Last time I flipped; you flipped. This time, I will call it.

I'll call it!

So this is the two options here, just like an NFL kickoff, NFL Sunday! You guys playing this coin flip, so the winner has two options to choose from; they can either go at the store first, or you can then defer until the end. Then all the pieces will be lined up and you can do a swap with the other person's pieces.

And the last time we did this, I really screwed him on the swap, and that's how I won that contest hands down! I gave it to him at the beginning because I didn't have faith in him, but you know, hey, you did pretty well! I was picking up all the nice pieces, and then Kevin saw what was left over and did what he needed to do.

But none of that today! Let's do the flip! Let the contest begin! Let the shopping begin! Who doesn't like shopping? What are you calling?

I'm going to call tails.

That's tails! Yeah baby, I'll defer! I don't like how this is already set up! I went with it last time; that's why I'm doing it this way!

Alright, so I go first?

You do! Let's go shopping!

Alright, let's go!

So what I'm thinking about here is I like your strategy of trying to pick out, say, you know, three to five pieces, that's probably where I'm going to be. These are in this section of this incredible location—probably the best selection of entry-level pieces in the world! Everything is covered here. Most of the pieces here are talking about under five thousand dollars from this corner on this. This is in the basement! So if you're looking to buy a watch for the first time, you want to come here. I mean, you can't get—you know, plus, they have the inventory, which is a problem these days.

So we're alone; Jean's here, a brand that I have a lot of respect for, given that I've actually worn one of these pieces on Shark Tank this year! The Sector!

Exactly! Yeah, it was! And I met them through you, and I bought that in Miami; I remember we shot the episode!

Yeah, it was a great episode!

It was great!

Okay, so you've got to go from scanning. I do want to do a Longines, and there's actually something that I saw here, which I was at the unveiling of this watch, and now it looks like they're finally delivering them! This is the Ultra Chron! I'm going to do this.

Tell me about the piece!

So the Ultra Chron is looking back to a historic reference from the brand, but why it's special? Five Hertz movement! So most of their movements are around 3.5 Hertz, so this is high frequency, something like the Zenith El Primero as an example. So probably one of the most attainable high-beat movements you're going to find. I think this is right around 3,500. I think on the bracelet a little bit more, but I saw that, and I want to do it!

Let's talk about the style of that watch—divey kind of sporty. Yes, the bracelet's a little different; it's more of like a mesh, multi-link style bracelet, but it's a little larger for my taste. They're indicating here you can go total sport, right?

Good! Yep, you can put the NATO on it!

Yeah, okay. Something that's going to be my first pick, and price point, it's right around 3,500.37.

So you're taking a third of your budget right out of the gate!

Why not?

Very risky! Teddy, what are you going to do?

Well, listen, I'm just pointing out the weakness in your decision, but that's alright! I like the piece!

"I can never win around here! I don't like this!"

If there's always risk in every decision, I'm just pointing out the risk!

Alright, portfolio management! So that is your Longines; that's give me my pick, okay?

Okay, now probably it's only going to do one watch per brand. I'm not going to double dip!

And you don't have to do Longines!

Well, I'm not! I'm not saying I won't, however I'm getting into a new space these days. You should be aware of the smaller size dial!

Okay!

And immediately catching my eye with this whole red vibe that I have!

Alright! Is this...?

And I think probably a very attractive price right here! Legend Diver!

Legend Diver, what is that? 36?

36! Running the money! So I'm thinking Legend Diver 36, red band, already red kind of ruby-ish dial really fits into what I'm doing with my whole red thing! Red band on everything! I'd like to try it! Can we try it out?

Yeah, can we try it?

Yeah, I don't know how that's going to wear on you; it's quite small!

I know, but lately I'm supporting this smaller diameter!

I'm all for it! I'm all for it! It can be very stylish! I never used to do it, but now I've brought several pieces that way! What are we thinking?

Actually, I think it looks pretty good!

I think that works. You know, when you're a fashionista like me, you can pick style out five yards away!

Now, let's talk about price point; what are we talking about here?

Yeah, baby, come on, 2,400 out of my 12,500 budget! And I look already! I'm kicking Teddy's ass here; this is amazing!

Absolutely!

Alright! Alright! That's my choice! Very stylish! Love it!

Okay, alright! Where are we now, Boris? Tell us about the brand!

So, Oris is based in the Swiss-German parts of Switzerland, an independent brand. Really cool use of eclectic materials. They were one of the early adopters of bronze. They recently unveiled new caliber 400s, so that's getting their five-day power reserve!

They have two thousand dollars is mostly their Salida movements, and then they extend up from there! Very interesting dial work here. I mean, look at this! These blues, these pinks—these are sort of Terra kind of thematic, which is very hot these days!

Also, that looks like a 36 or 38; maybe that's a 38 for the pointer dates!

Yeah, it's a nice watch! These are very nice pieces!

What's the price point in this?

So those are all in the two thousand dollar range, except the one in the top right. That one's going to be higher because that has the Caliber 400, so that's going to be around in the threes!

Attractive! I was also looking down here at some of the bronze! It's your call, though! It's your pick!

You know what? I'm going to go with the Pointer Date! This is my favorite collection! I liked your idea of going with the red!

Yeah!

I'm going to do the same thing, but I'm going to get a bronze case out of it!

And bracelet!

Yeah, I mean, bronze is hot these days! I mean, it's just that's a very attractive watch! Very risky because remember, I have the opportunity to do a switcheroo on them at the end! He's not going to do double red!

I might! I might! You don't know! But you know, it's my option, which is what I love! Teddy's in a bad situation here, but he's made a good call on this!

Alright, I'm getting up there!

Alright, so that's half your budget blown already! A little bit less than half!

Okay! And we don't have to go in order! We don't have to go brand by brand!

No, I know! I know! I'm just...you know? I'm looking at dials! You know I'm a dial guy! These dials are very interesting! Very interesting! I'm looking for stuff that I don't have in my collection already in terms of dial!

But also, Oris is—you know, I have nothing from them in my collection because to me, it was a watch that you know wasn't collectible initially.

But now that you've got me into these entry-level watches, I'm getting such remarkable outcomes! People are asking me all about them! They do a lot of crazy limited editions over here that they've done! So this is the Okavango Editions! I have the green textured dial! Same here with this New York Harbor Edition!

And then you have that looks like a 39 or 40!

That's a 41! I think it's a larger dial!

Yeah! What about this?

That's a Diver 65!

Yeah, that is kind of where they're more traditional! 1960s, just minimalist-looking dive watch!

Yeah!

So that's interesting! I'm thinking maybe I make a move here for the first time on Oris!

Okay!

And I go limited edition, and I go green dial, 40 mil, I think!

Okay!

Yeah, that's what I'm thinking! You want to pull that out?

Let's pull that out! Let's have a look at that!

Once you can take a closer look at this dial? This is a pretty special dial too! There's a lot of texture in that dial! So this was for a—they do a lot of like altruistic causes and connections, so this is for like a doctor's organization that does a lot of like relief work in Africa!

Yeah, and this dial is made to resemble like the grassy plains as you're in a helicopter! They do a lot of this like relief, so that's the whole point of that dial! What they're trying to emulate there!

Well, you certainly know the story on this piece! It's very different, and that's what I like about it, and it will work with a red band, which is always my consideration!

Can I put the watch? Can I put the piece on television? So you know you can see that it's going to work! Christmas party right now, right?

Yeah, it's okay! It's okay!

So that's two!

Okay! Fair, fair! Let's move on!

Now, I have dived into Hamilton! Hamilton's a sweet brand!

Yeah, it's great!

And it's one of my go-to pieces when I'm traveling because it looks good! It was brass, if you recall what I bought! I don't even see it here anymore!

Yeah, the bronze is gone!

Yeah, I think this is a good opportunity to get my chronograph! I'm going to do the green dial Intramatic chrono!

Wow, I like that! What's the price on that?

That's just over two thousand dollars! I mean like 21!

I mean, he chose wisely, and I may just take it from him at the end! We'll see!

I like that pastel-looking green!

Yeah, it works with that leather band! It would also work with a red band!

So he's already setting things up!

No, no, no! You're not taking that!

Alright, so you have three, right?

I have three!

Okay, and you're still under twelve thousand!

So under twelve thousand, I think I have some room to grow too! Let's just quickly gaze over here!

Neato is a brand, and they don't have the craziest selection here!

No, but in terms of what they do for the dollar amount! I handle their pieces, and I'm like just, I'm always impressed!

They have their Ocean Star collection, which is more their dive watches. Their Multi-Forward is more just kind of everyday, and then they have things like this—that's a bar and shelly watch! All of these classic dress!

I mean, you know, that is such a classic look; what's the price point on this?

Stuff talking about a thousand bucks for that one!

Very good! It's very good!

So it's very well done! These are mechanical movements! Mechanical movements! They're owned by the Swatch Group as well! So they're kind of— I used to think that was a negative, but after I've seen what they did with Omega, I'm very impressed with Swatch being able to differentiate these brands and maintain price point!

Think about all the luxury groups. Every luxury group is specifically only catering to the luxury segment. When you think about Swatch they have everything from Swatch all the way up to Brigade!

Yeah, it's diversification!

And I agree with that philosophy too as a collector! I think everything should be represented!

So I may be only getting one more piece; so I've got to be careful!

That's interesting!

I guess, but what about Rado?

Serrano is very well known in countries like Pakistan and some other places in the Middle East. Things like the Diastar—crazy looking watch, that's what they're known for!

But also what they're known for is their use of ceramic! So they do some of the most attainable ceramic-made watches and bracelet watches that you can find out there on the market!

So not as caught on in the US!

The bezel is ceramic on this piece!

Bezel ceramic! And then they also have, you know, this is a woman's piece, but you can see that is fully ceramic case and everything!

This very much reminds me of a Tudor look, even with the dial itself!

You want to know something personal? I own that watch!

Really?

I do! Well, then what's the price point on that?

It's just over two thousand dollars; I'm taking it! That's it! That's my third piece right there!

Now he's jogging my style and everything; look at this!

No, no, please! Can we open that up?

Yeah, still checking on my wrist! This is a really interesting shopping spree! I'm getting some great—

Are you kind of surprised with how much?

I am surprised! Very classic look! Beautiful dial! I mean, look at that! You can see it from across the room! It's sporty, it's divey, but it's also elegant at an incredible price!

Two thousand dollars! And it's thin! I mean, I don't know if you feel it, but like that's pretty thin for a dive watch!

I mean, who knew? Who knew you could go with a cheapo like Teddy and get some great pieces?

You're not here with that!

Okay, so let's do some tallying of money left!

So you've spent total—let's see—two thousand, this is 2,500, so you're looking at 4,500 there, so that's 6,900; call it six thousand nine hundred! Three pieces, sixty-nine hundred dollars! And I still have money to spend! This is getting really interesting; let's keep going!

So here's the situation: Teddy has four thousand dollars left to spend from his twelve thousand five hundred, and I have fifty-six hundred left to spend on mine against the twelve thousand five hundred! Teddy can't control his spending, and he's running out of money!

I have three pieces; he's got three pieces! We are definitely getting one more watch out of this each!

Let me try to get two!

Wow!

So you're up now, right?

Alright, back at Tissot! I want to save some money! Very famous Swiss brand! The last two years, there's been no watch under a thousand dollars that has caused as much fanaticism as this watch right here: Tissot PRX!

Really? Yes! Why?

It was able to forecast the trend of the integrated sports look, and then what ended up happening? We saw with all the horology brands, everybody's getting their, you know, hat in the ring!

They were able to do it with a really well-done integrated style bracelet case and coming in a price starting with the quartz one just south of it!

That case, that band—that's a legacy look for this brand!

It is! This is from a Sea Star model from 1970s, right? It was in Switzerland, and I saw them pull this out of a tray from the 1970s, and it's basically a one-to-one!

If you look at their 35 millimeter, so everything old is new again, is the lesson on this!

Caught the wave yet a second time, decades later! Exploded on the scene!

What's the price point for the automatic, which I'm going to go for?

650! Incredible! I mean, you've got a classic look for under a thousand—six hundred dollars! That's insane!

That's Swiss-made!

Yeah, 80-hour power reserve, Swiss movement, automatic! It's got this nice—it's kind of a tap history kind of dinosaur!

That must be immensely popular at 600 bucks!

Like we work with Tissot; we sell them on our site; they just—people can't get enough!

Yeah, they can't get enough! Well, let's get it out! Let's get this piece! Put it to the collection!

That's really remarkable! Check out that bracelet!

Like also, just, you know, like running—I mean, that's where brands usually skimp out when you come to this price range is the bracelet!

Automatic piece; I mean, that is a really stunning dial as well! They don't have it here, but they also just recently unveiled a chrono version of that!

Yeah, under two thousand dollars!

But I must say, as it's just a clean classic look, an everyday fantastic go-to watch!

And I didn't select it!

So good for you, Teddy! But I may steal it from you later; we'll have to see!

600 bucks; that's all it cost me!

Amazing! Absolutely amazing!

Okay, that's good; my turn! I'm looking for now brands that I've never touched before—Nordcane! I've never looked at Nordcane!

Why don't you give us the quick?

So they're a new upstart brand the last five years, but they've been adopted pretty quickly for a lot of more traditional retailers because of what they've been doing from a manufacturing perspective!

So they actually have access to Kinesi movements—Kinesi is who makes Tudor movements, right? So they're utilizing some of their movements in their watches! So that's why.

Let's talk about this piece here with the green dot! What's the story on that?

So this is their GMT, and this is actually using one of their Kinesi movements—bronze case!

So I think your price there, I think you're looking at the fours for that! This caught my eye; it's very stunning! It's going to eat a good amount of your budget!

It doesn't matter; it's style, you know? And I'm really putting together a selection that's going to kick your rear end!

4,150; well within my price point!

And let's see here too—let me get this unscrew if I can!

Now they have it taped down, but this is a true GMT movement as well, so you have isolated function of your local hour hand into the collection!

It goes; I mean, it's stunning! And it's going to look great with a red band on it!

Very interesting! I've got such diversity in my dials on this contest—really amazing! What a selection!

And so what does that leave me left? I had 56, and I just spent what? 4,000?

Yeah, 150.

So, 1500 bucks, give or take?

Yeah, 1500 bucks!

So I could probably pull another watch out of this!

You don't know what! Are you going to do?

Can I get one final check of my price?

I have 3,300 bucks!

Terrible at math, Teddy! Terrible!

Yeah, okay, so I can't remember; I'm just—yeah, well, you're limited! Now there's not much you can do; you're down at, you know, under a thousand bucks!

Right? How much? 3300?

My mistake! You have plenty of room!

Yeah, I'm really close to this Baume & Mercier. Let me just check what the price is on this Baume & Mercier because I think this could be my last pick!

This white dial Baume & Mercier on the bracelet, I'm right on the edge!

Yeah, and right, I'm right on the edge!

So 3,000 bucks, I'm going to do it—one, two, three, four, five pieces! Diversity of dial, I have my dress watch, I have two everyday watches; one's with a bronze case!

I then also have my PRX, which is kind of my you know beater! I can do it all with it! Chronograph!

And then I have my more out there but also diving capable! So I have room for one more piece at— I think I have 1,300 bucks left!

What do I have left? Do we know?

Let's have a quick look! The first time we did this, the person I was helping us screwed up! And then I went over, and then Kevin penalized me for it, so we have to do the math. Very important!

See, I keep them honest to the rules! I mean, that's the whole thing! I'm compliant!

1,450!

1450 left! That will allow me to get one more piece!

I think, but very limited in where I can go!

You could pretty much only go to Hamilton!

Yeah, too! Yeah, I haven't done this!

What do you think? Is that the right here—the one in the front?

So that's their Patrimony; it's a great watch, and that's well within your price range!

I'm going to take that because I don't have a dial like that! I'm really going dial, so that's probably going to get me right to a point where there's nothing left!

I have a little bit of cash!

You might have a little small sliver!

I need a small sliver! I'll probably go out for dinner in New York with it! Looks like I have plans!

You say you rip these guys?

We do! We do! They do surprisingly well because I think once you get this in your hand, you'll—there're sports watches, I think even more so!

But this is a really killer piece!

Yeah, it's a dress watch—you know, it has more of a sector kind of dial! You have the Longines sector, but I think this is different! Different enough; you have the dates!

Beautiful! Just check that out—very, very stylish!

Straight, and the price again, you're just under a thousand dollars, I believe!

For that, you're right on a thousand dollars!

A thousand dollars! So I am going to just take a knee; I'm going to run out the clock; I am done!

Yeah, I think I'm done too because what can I get for 450?

Well, there's one thing!

What is it?

You're kidding! You can get this Tissot PRX right on there on the strap!

Well, why wouldn't I take that? Let's open the Kitchen!

Come on, that is amazing! Just to actually have one extra watch to you!

I'm just being nice!

Yeah, maybe you'll be nice to me!

Well, maybe! Anything can happen! Look at that! 325 bucks! Look at that! And that's the quartz!

So it is different; that's okay! But you know who said you can't get a great watch at an affordable price? That certainly is PRX at a really incredible price point!

That is just amazing!

I'm stunned! Well, you know, Teddy, I will say I've learned something here today! But again, it's cost you because I've kicked your butt one more time!

No, no, no, no! 300 of the rules here! We have to get them all lined up!

Fantastic! So we're going to do is we're going to pull them all together!

Yeah! And then we'll do our final lineup, and then you can make your final decision on what you want to do!

Exactly!

Do it!

Alright, Kevin, so we have all the watches in front of us! Let's just go through each one!

So I have a Baume & Mercier!

Just before you start today, I want to make a statement about this experience! Because remember, we started with twelve thousand five hundred dollars!

I was thinking before we did our shopping spree, maybe three pieces, but that's not what happened! There are so many remarkable timepieces in this store that you can actually build a full collection!

I consider collections started when you get three pieces of any collection! You start when you're a watch owner! When you get to three, you're a collector!

And you could start with 12,500 to become a major collector!

Because I'm at five pieces here, and then I'm extraordinarily amazed that I got to six and the 12,500!

And Teddy, you're at one, two, three, four, five! So I have one more watch in even a better collection than Teddy has before he even starts talking about it again!

This contest, I know already who won, but that's okay! Teddy's learning; he's the grasshopper; he's learning from the master! That's the way I look at it!

To go through the watches, we have the Baume & Mercier Clifton Baumatic. This has a five-day power reserve! Probably one of the most remarkable movements you're going to find!

For the money at my Tissot PRX for 650—for that money, hard to beat!

Then I have my Oris Big Crown Pointer Date in bronze!

Then I move over to my Hamilton Intramatic Chronograph! That's a hell of a piece, by the way!

Uh-oh, I don't know—I don't like how he's talking right now!

And then I have my Ultra Chron from Longines, which is Marvel in terms of its movement and what it's bringing forward!

Because you're in my advisor on these low-end entry-level watches!

Absolutely happy to do it! Keep going!

Norcane GMT! This one surprised me! In bronze with the Kinesi movement on the inside!

Then you have your Legend Diver here for mid-twos at 36 millimeters, which was an interesting choice!

This was the surprise; you had a just over 300 PRX! So you're going for the quartz version, but to add an extra watch, who wouldn't do that?

Then you have your Big Crown Akkavango Edition from Oris, Rado Captain Cook gray ceramic, and then your Mido!

Yeah, we had no money left over! We spent pretty much all of our money!

Yeah, but we got some amazing pieces for twelve thousand five hundred dollars! Which I think—all the things we've done together, Teddy, this is going to be a mind blower!

Because people do not make the assumption they can get even one watch for twelve thousand five hundred dollars!

You come to Turner, you come downstairs here, you cruise all of these displays, and you will immerse yourself in Legend watches! Incredible pieces! Again, touting this store as being probably one of the best places to shop for watches on Earth!

I've been all over the world; I've never seen anything like this! They spent a fortune building it, but it's worth it!

Alright, Teddy, what are you going to do?

I'm going to amaze you because I've looked through both collections—yours and mine! My collection, Glenn! Put it this way: this collection, if it was a kitchen, and it had a sink and it had a drain, it would flush onto this collection!

This is the elevated collection here!

This is absolutely! So I'm not going to do anything; I'm not going to do anything because clearly, I've kicked your ass here today!

And I just know that I'm going to let you vote, obviously, but there's no—I don't need to change anything! My selections are beyond perfect!

They are just the most incredible mix of dials, sport, new looks, amazing brands!

Why would I want to touch it?

I was going to go after your Hamilton, but now that I see too much green, you have too much green!

You have two green gals already, you know?

Green does work in a Christmasy like way with red, because all of these are going to end up with red bands on them!

But you know what? If I went to green and you're saying I have too much green, I have the same problem if I take over your Hamilton, which is the only one you've selected!

I really, really am interested in!

So the rest though, I mean, I did get a green vibe today, you're right!

But I'm very happy with it! What fantastic watches, and what a great session with Teddy!

We will see you next time! Leave comments down below; tell us who won in the comments! Did I finally win?

I don't know what's going on, something's in the water!

I don't know what's going on in the world; I think Kevin's winning these things!

Can you have more fun than this? If you love watches, it doesn't get any better!

We'll see you next time!