Here are some Questions & Answers on Louis Bolle Watches (as of 8/10/08)

* None of these answers below are substantiated as I do not work for the company that produces these watches. This is simply information I've gathered and assumed from talking with the company on several occasions and doing extensive searches on the web. Due to this, there may be some false information.  If possible, I will attempt to update this Q&A with any new or corrected information I get.

Q; WHERE ARE THESE WATCHES MADE, AND BY WHO?

A; It's a bit confusing, but try to follow me... Originally, back in 2003 through early 2007,  Louis Bolle watches were primarily designed and assembled in China by a company called OrientWay Watch & Jewelry. I'm not sure of OrientWay's physical address, but it's believed to be in or near Beijing.  Web searches have found no information listed on OrientWay to this point.

No matter when a Louis Bolle watch was manufactured, its movement (the engine) has always come from a company called Sea-Gull. Sea-Gull is an Asian movement maker (http://www.tjseagull.com/) who makes a wide variety of multi-complication watch movements. These movements are typically made on Swiss watchmaking machinery at Sea-Gull. Sea-Gull sells many of their calibers to many different watch companies, like Timex. These companies fit them into their case designs. *NOTE- A watch manufacturer buying another company's watch movements, whether fully made or partially made, to fit into their watch case is common practice among watch companies. It has been done like this for centuries.

ARE YA WITH ME SO FAR?

Since early 2007 to present, all watch design and control of the manufacturing outsourcing were taken over by a new Swiss firm called Le Bonheur Group (http://lebonheurgroup.com/LeBonheur/index.aspx).  Le Bonheur now gets ALL the components (ie. cases, crystals, bracelets, hands, and dials) for their watches from several Chinese companies that specialize in specific parts of the watch, just like the way they get their completed movements from Sea-Gull. This allows them to produce a higher quality watch than before. I am not sure who is assembling all the watch components into the finished product, but it could possibly be Le Bohner.


Q; WHO IS THE IMPORTER?

A; From their inception in 2003, Always At Market (known in the trade as A@M or AAM) located in Carrollton, TX, has been the sole firm that imports them. Besides the Louis Bolle line, A@M also imports several other brands of popular Chinese made watches which are mostly available at on-line auctions and mass media sellers, like shopathometv.com. Since Le Bonheur took over the manufacturing end, I believe A@M still remains the sole importer and owner of the lines, but I'm not 100% sure of this.  A@M calls itself "An Auction Services Company Of Branded Consumer Products". Their web address is; http://www.alwaysatmarket.com/





Q; WHAT OTHER WATCH BRANDS DOES ALWAYS AT MARKET IMPORT?

A; Besides the Louis Bolle brand, AAM brings us Romily, Deporte, Jeanneret, Picard & Cie, SUG, Balmer, DuBoule, Rousseau, Wohler, Tavan, J. Springs, Omikron (gee, I hope I didn't forget any!)   Each line has different aspects and traits. Some have quartz movements and some include ladies models. Some are said to use Swiss ETA movements, and others use Japanese Miyota movements. Louis Bolle and Duboule (Doo-bow-lay) have been the two most successful lines.



Q; ARE LOUIS BOLLES AVAILABLE IN STORES?

A; As far as I know, no. Like most watch brands A@M imports, they are only available on-line or through mass sellers like ShopAtHomeTV.com. They have never been available through brick and mortar stores.      THIS JUST IN...  I have heard several rumors lately that Louis Bolles are available in some stores in Europe. So far, I have seen no definitive proof of this. I do not believe this would be done with AAM's blessing, but I'm not sure.



Q; IS THERE A QUALITY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE OLD LOUIS BOLLES (2004-2007) AND THE NEW ONES (2007-2009)?

A; The importer claims that their newer manufacturing method, (using multiple Chinese component manufacturers instead of just one), enables the quality level to reach "Swiss quality standards". This means, for instance, the bracelets and clasp can withstand a pull pressure which equals any certified Swiss-made watch. Also, the movements are now held in their case with metal frames, instead of plastic. Some believe that the early OrientWay designs were more elegant and sophisticated, whereas the newer Le Bonheur designs are more masculine with a lower percentage of defects. This has not been substantiated.



Q; WHO HANDLES THE WARRANTY REPAIRS?

A; Always At Market in Carrollton TX has continued to be the sole warranty station for these watches, even after the Le Bonheur Group's involvement of the line. 

AN OBSERVATION FROM THE WRITER; it is important to understand that these watches are VERY complex and have sophisticated movements which require great skill to design, assemble, AND to repair. Further more, skilled and experienced watchmakers are in HUGE demand around the world as the resurgence of the complex automatic watch has risen ten-fold in just a few years. There is simply not enough trained watchmakers to go around. Due to this, A@M has had a great deal of trouble finding good watchmakers to do repairs. This has caused a long turn-around time for repairs to get back to the customer. Remember, A@M is simply a creative marketing company that brings you these watches, not a watch manufacturer. They know nothing about "repair".



Q; HOW DOES THE WARRANTY WORK?

A; At the point of sale when an authorized reseller purchases a watch from A@M, a 1 year warranty begins for that watch. If later resold, the remaining portion of the 1 year warranty gets transferred to the new owner as long as they have a valid proof of purchase (unaltered or modified) from the authorized reseller they bought it from. 

If a valid proof of purchase cannot be obtained from a reseller, the new owner can purchase an extended warranty of 1 year on the LB site for $50.

RECOMMENDATION; If you buy a LB watch, make sure the seller is an authorized reseller, and you get a newly purchased watch, with a valid proof of purchase. You'd be wise to ask when the watch was originally purchased before you bid on it or buy it.





Q; THESE LB WATCHES ARE CALLED "AUTOMATIC".  WHAT THE HECK DOES THAT MEAN?

A; Instead of winding up an old-style mechanical watch by turning the crown, the automatic watch has a free-spinning counter-weighted winder (called a rotor - see pic below) in the back of the watch which spins as you move your arm. It winds the main spring automatically by way of your arm movements, hence the term “automatic”. This design was originally made for pocket watches, but since the pocket watch didn't move much in you pocket, it was ineffective.  It was later redeveloped for wrist watches in the 1930s by Rolex, and has since been used by many major watch manufacturers. This winding method met it's match with the introduction of the LED quartz watch in the early 70's. Beginning in the late 1990’s, there has been a resurgence of the automatic watch due to its interesting complexity and environmentally safe battery-less operation. Of course, you do have to wear the watch or keep it on a motorized watch winder to avoid letting it become unwound and having to reset it.  Most automatics can still be wound by turning the crown as well. FYI. The Seiko Kinetic has a rotor also, but as it spins with your arm movement, it electrically charges a capacitor which acts as a battery to power the watch. If this capacitor runs dead, unlike an automatic watch, you'll need to bring it to a watchmaker for restarting.



Q; I HAVE READ BLOGS AND REVIEWS THAT SAY BEWARE OF THESE WATCHES. ARE THEY ANY GOOD?

A; Well, that depends on who you talk to. It’s important to be said here that the quality of these watches is getting better all the time. The manufacturing processes have been improved greatly in just a few short years. However, since China is producing them at lightning speed, sometimes the quality control gets overlooked in a particular area, typically in their final inspection where the mechanisms get oiled, regulated, and the hands are installed, as well as checking all the functions to make sure they work.   Of the defective ones I’ve seen or heard about, most had either something minor that needed attention, like a hand was loose, or it needed to be adjusted (regulated). Occasionally,  I've seen a movement that is 100% DOA, and never worked at all.   In truth, 99.9% of these watches work perfectly, but we typically only hear about the few that are bad from an upset customer that's trying to warn everyone.  It's totally understandable. And of course, there is a faction of purists which dislike any watch that's not Swiss made. I hear from them often.

 

Q; ARE THESE WATCHES FAKES?

A; No, they're honest to goodness real watches. But if you mean "are they a cheap copy of an expensive Swiss watches", the answer is...  ABSOLUTELY NOT! Virtually all these watches are uniquely designed and many of their models are exceptionally interesting.  Some watch purists may point out certain LB attributes that resemble other famous watches and call them copies, but this comes with all new designs. All designs feed off other designs, even radical ideas.

Some purists get upset that the pushers (the side buttons), that typically trigger different functions on Swiss and Japanese watches, only allow you to do "setting" functions on these watches. Even so, IMHO this just makes it easier to set the watch if you happen to let it run down.



Q; HOW DO I KNOW IF A SELLER IS AUTHORIZED TO SELL THESE WATCHES?

A; Typically, the type of auction page a seller has or the type of feedback a seller gets shows whether or not they are trustworthy. You do have to use your instincts. If you are still unsure, I would email Always At Market or go to the Louis Bolle User Group on Yahoo. Hopestone and ssnkherr are two authorized resellers that I know of. They both back up what they sell with a proper warranty. This is not to say there aren't others who do as well.

 


Q; WHY IS THERE SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THE LISTED MSRP VERSES WHAT THEY ACTUALLY SELL FOR?

A; When I asked the folks at A@M this question, their reply was simply that their MSRPs (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) are reflective of what other watch company's MSPRs are whose watches have the same features (complications).  Who can argue with that? (There are no laws in the USA which state how a company must derive its MSRPs)

A COMMENT ON MSRPs.... MSRPs typically have nothing to do with the actual price you'll pay for an item,  and since it's merely a manufacturer's “SUGGESTED” price, some marketeers in certain industries can use it to give their products more perceived or leveraged value, like cars and diamonds. In other industries, MSRPs are simply a fixed starting price which is expected to be negotiated down from, or used to show how much you're "saving". In A@M's case, they simply use their MSRPs very creatively as a very effective marketing tool... It creates hubbub about their product! In other words, there is NO RULE what MSRPs are supposed to be used for, and luckily most people do not waste their time getting in a tizzy over fictional prices.  Until we pass laws, and enforce those laws, MSRPs seem to be for whatever purpose a business wants to use them for.  SOME ADVICE; Don't get upset about MSRPs, especially because you think others will fall for it and pay top dollar. LET THE BUYER BEWARE!!! This is how it works whether you think it's right, wrong, good or bad.



Q; DOES MY LB REQUIRE MAINTENANCE?

A; You betcha! You should have it serviced by a GOOD Watchmaker every 3-5 years for a cleaning and oiling. If you drop or submerge the watch, and it starts acting erratic, stops, or has condensation under the crystal, the sooner you can get it to a repair station, the better.  Ideally, one would bring their brand spankin' new A@M watch to a good watchmaker for a much more precise oiling and regulation than the factory did. This would be good insurance for an excellent running watch for years to come. Of course, since they're so inexpensive most people would not consider doing this unless they love the watch or it has sentimental value. It's also difficult to know who is a good watchmaker. Make sure they have lots of experience in disassembling watches with several complications! Talk to the Watchmaker directly! Swiss-trained watchmakers are excellent, but they're expensive. Avoid repairmen that are biased against your watch because of its origin.



Q; WHAT IS ALWAYS AT MARKET'S WEB ADDRESS, PHYSICAL ADDRESS AND PHONE NUMBER?

A; Their web address is;  http://www.alwaysatmarket.com/  Their physical address is; 1545 Capital Dr., Suite 100, Carrollton TX, 75006, Customer Service Phone; 972 242-4045 X301. The Louis Bolle web site can be found at; www.louisbolle.com




Q; WHY DOES THE LB WEB SITE LEAD PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THESE WATCHES ARE SWISS?

A; They do not say these watches are Swiss anywhere on their site. Look again. They simply pay homage to the Watchmaker, Louis Bolle, and talk about where he came from. And FYI… Louis Bolle WAS a real Watch Maker back in the 1700’s. This type of marketing is accepted in lots of industries, not just the watch industry.



Q; DO LB WATCHES HAVE THE WORD "SWISS" WRITTEN ON THEM?

A; No. The older ones do say China inside. I’m not sure what the newer Le Bonheur designed models say, but it cannot legally have the words “Swiss Made” on them, as they are produced in China.




Q; IS MY LB WATERPROOF?

A; Absolutely NOT. In fact, it’s illegal for any watch to say "Water Proof" these days. A water resistance anywhere from 10 to 30 meters simply means you can get it wet, but you should definitely not swim with it. 50 Meters means you can safely swim with it, but I’d keep an eye on it.  We all know what a good 200 Meter dive watch costs these days.


Q; ARE THESE WATCHES BETTER THAN KNOCK-OFFS?

A; First, you should know that LB's are NOT knock offs!!! Besides being illegal here in the USA, knock-offs, (like fake Rolexes), infringe on international laws, hurt businesses, and are said to indirectly (or directly) contribute to terrorism and other nasty things. While I've never heard if the terrorism relationship has been substantiated, I can say that knock-off quality answers to no one. There is simply no reputable company who stands behind them, no one to bring it back to if it's defective, and no way for a Watchmaker to get parts, so it usually can't be fixed.  Louis Bolles, however, are 100% all-original legitimate designs with a company that supports them (as best they can). Even with all the on-line criticism, A@M seems to actually have made a very successful business out of these watches, and is making advancements in quality, design, and business practices all the time. Hopefully, they have cut deeply into the knock-off market.


Q: MY LB RUNS GREAT. HOW DO I KEEP FROM DESTROYING IT?

A: Simple, first... respect it! Don't be a donkey and treat your LB like a sports watch, even if it looks like one. It's a dress watch! Many LB's LOOK like big, masculine, sports watches, especially ones with many "complications", but they're not. FYI... complications are the mechanical features like day/date/stop watch/power reserve indicator/moon phase/ and any retrograde indicator of any kind. These complication can easily be broken against the rigor of hard use on ANY WATCH that has them, not just LB's.

Second, if you really don't want to mess your LB up internally, DO NOT make a time or date adjustment while the date is kicking over naturally (between 10pm and 3am). Doing this could give you the terror of actually hearing something break or snap inside the watch.

Third, DO NOT bang the crystal against rocks and other hard things or drop the watch on the hard ground.

Fourth, definitely DO NOT submerge it in water and shake (especially in salt water). Remember a 30 meter water resistance rating means light sprinkles of water only, like rain, is all it's designed to be resistant to. Wipe it down after it gets wet. Even wiping sweat off it would be a good idea.

Fifth, You should decide if the watch is worth getting its routine service every 3-5 years, and whether it's worth getting fixed if damage occurs. While just buying a new LB or other fancy watch may be easier, each owner has to determine if their watch is worth the cost of care and feeding of a complex movement.


Q; WHERE CAN I TALK TO OTHERS WHO OWN THESE WATCHES?

A; The Louis Bolle User Group on Yahoo has over 500 members. This group is Louis Bolle Central! Some members own 25 A@M watches.  Just goto;
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/LOUISBOLLE/



Q; WHERE CAN I IDENTIFY AND OLDER LOUIS BOLLE WATCH?

A: The User Group site can help identify older LBs.  Just look in the Photos section under LB SHOWROOM 1 & 2. There is also a chart to download in the Files section with a lot of specs and details on the older LBs.



THINGS TO UNDERSTAND;
Most companies that import and distribute products such as watches and jewelry, are usually just that- import companies and/or distributors. These companies typically have buyers that search high and low for whatever items they normally specialize in and what their clients want. Importers usually work hand in hand with distributors who usually have warehouses to stock items in. Most of the time, importer/distributors handle a diverse variety of products and brands. Lately, you see more importer/distributors doing creative things (like SMC and Shop At Home TV, for instance) selling directly to end users or people with home-based businesses. They even drop-ship the products right at the final end-user's door, so the business owner doesn't even handle products or deal with shipping.

The interesting thing about A@M is they call themselves "An Auction Services Company Of Branded Consumer Products". I believe that makes them a marketing company that simply sells products (unlike the norm- a company that sells products that HAS a marketing department). They do this by selling the watches they have on their personal auction site, and also on some of their affiliates on-line auction sites. This gets the watches flowing into the on-line marketplace. Once injected like this, the watches sell themselves at whatever on-line venue the person that purchased it wants to sell it at, usually eBay.

A@M is truly amazing at what they do;  By choosing a very inexpensive watch to manufacture, which also has great appeal, and by using the on-line auction method to introduce them into the cyber marketplace, and also by developing careful marketing blurbs and MSRPs, A@M has completely dominated the on-line watch market in just a few years.  It is VERY creative. 

So, to sum it up, the interesting thing about A@M, is that they are a MARKETING company that sells products. This is probably why their service department is sort of sporadic.

I hope this helps clear up any confusion about these watches.

Dean F.

Questions or comments to; guitartec@gmail.com