In terms of value and quality, it's not unreasonable for some to feel that part of getting what one pays for should be getting more, for paying more.
It's a separate question as to how much less one might expect, by paying less. I've seen this debated with Invicta, endlessly, some feeling it's a brand on par with Patek, others convinced the watches have a negative value rating that ruins the entire concept of what watch value even means.
With Aragon, I continue to consider whether lower pricing (or, "intro pricing" in Aragon's case) forgives flaws, where they are found, and even what standard a brand sets, period, for quality across its range, as an affordable brand.
Pricing for quality is certainly its own game, and even a big player like Seiko raises question marks, when they can produce some of the most perfect watches on earth, at one level, and can't align a bezel, make it ceramic, or provide a decent bracelet at other price points.
While Deep Blue can also do mysterious pricing, like jacking up the Daynight Bronze to $1500 (a price I'd not pay for a bronze, trit sporting, 9015 powered watch), the brand has won me over more than many times with the general trend of high specs and "wow, I can't believe it" pricing. An abundantly lumed piece, sporting sapphire, ceramic, choice of bracelets, for $200, any day of the week, all week, all year long? Easy to get behind a brand like that.
As for Aragon releasing something with meteorite, sapphire and a ceramic bezel, at the same price point as a model with none of that, one can decide on their own which model is the better deal.
My experience has been "lesser" quality in various Aragon models, with the exact same movement, pricing aside. Stamped clasp, dismal lume, aluminum bezel, and so forth, and I guess that's my pondering, if a lower price point justifies such, especially given his mission statement to be on par with luxury brands, and also some assurances given, some time back, to "up the game" of the brand, while still the offerings include lower quality lume, no sapphire, no ceramic, depending on the model.
The logic of his pricing, well, that's his domain, and I'm just thankful to get impressive specs at around the same cost as lesser specs, at the intro point. I've never paid his listed "Our Price." And, I wouldn't, to be honest, much like I have a cap on what I'll plunk down for an Invicta.
I mean, I'd love to get a smaller case version of the Aragon 31 tube Hercules, for example, but at $450? No thanks, especially when I paid about a third of that, the first time around. It rather spoils the notion of paying more for the same product and that's a debate that always rages, in terms of discounted pricing, and how some buyers view a brand, because of it.
I, in fact, bought the 31 tube DF-45 instead, because, again, intro pricing was far more attractive and, besides, the lumed bezel on the Hercules was a big disappointment, even at the intro price I paid.
Anyway, my exploration here was more about a brand's evidenced quality for its price points, and, as I've said, there seems no immunity from getting a lemon, at any price point, but if a brand becomes a lemon tree, well, not everyone feels like starting up a lemonade stand, even if the lemons are ten for a dime.
A shame for any brand to become just a brand of not-worth-more-than $200 watches, prone to flaws, lower specs, and issues like fogging crystals. Not exactly the reputation a company wants to portray, I'd think.
And, how does that even impact "better" models, that are priced next to the more established brands? Would one shell out a tidy sum for a "nice" Aragon, if it lingers in the mind that it's a cheaper brand, prone to problems....
I don't know, I'd just be happy if Wing put attention to issues being raised by buyers, because he makes watches I really love, so I'd like to love them more, and I'm saddened to hear of customers potentially walking away, due to poor QC or low specs.
We all prefer, I'm sure, to be over-impressed, rather than underwhelmed, whatever the price point may be, and brands that can deliver that feeling, while still meeting their own needed profit targets, are a gift to the watch world.