17 Discussions and CommentsMember since July 21, 2005Milano,
Hi everybody I'd like to hear your opinion about a matter that always drives me nuts.
We all love watches and we all believe, of course, that the movement is the heart of the watch, what makes a certain watch really special i.e. what makes the majority of us prefer the Portuguese automatic over the Portuguese chrono. And we are often keen to spend a significant extra-amount of money for these unique pieces of art.
I believe that in a certain way, we can compare the movement of the watch to the engine of the car: inside the piece, invisible, a kind of intangible and mysterious, but crucial. But here comes a difference between cars and watches: in fact, it is undeniable that different car engines lead to huge differences in the overall performances of the car and significantly affect the pleasure of driving. On the other hand, the watch movements lead to differences in the performances that are purely "intangible". Who can deny that the accuracy of an ETA it's not much different (sometime even better...) than the accuracy showed by most of the best in-house movements in the market?
So, let's go straight to the point. What make us spend several extra-bucks to get something that we will probably never see unless the watch gets accidentally broken and to get something that will not bring any additional measureable performance to the watch? How something so intangible could be perceived as so charming, so fascinating leaving as just insignificant details the watch itself, its dial, its case and its other handcraft visible beauties?
Here the comparison chrono vs. automatic in the Portuguese family really gives the idea of what I'm really talking about. The chrono is a real beauty, sure. So, can just the open case-back of the automatic add so much extra value? But it does, indeed. It is just so tough to say way...
With fine watches we are talking about <u>craft</u>, and pay for the value of craft. With respect, that has nothing to do with your automobile analogy nor performance criteria.
It is not, I would think, that the Portuguese automatic deserves a premium because it has an open back, nor that the movement is simply in-house. There is more craft behind the design and execution.
1,315 Discussions and CommentsMember since May 17, 2005Niederglatt,
Switzerland
That is a simplified way to look at things Matteo, but you are correct in that we are willing to pay a premium for a movement which we may never see and which does the same job as an ETA would. A lot of this has to do with the fact that certain watches are offered with in-house calibres and others not- your example of the Portuguese Chrono vs Portuguese Auto is a case in point. At the time of the release of the Port Chrono, IWC did not produce an in-house Chronograph movement; this did not stop the watch from becoming a huge success and a great seller over the years. If it weren't for the craft of watchmaking, we may all be wearing CBP (cheap black plastic) and changing batteries every year.
I'd like to hear your opinion about a matter that always drives me nuts.
We all love watches and we all believe, of course, that the movement is the heart of the watch, what makes a certain watch really special i.e. what makes the majority of us prefer the Portuguese automatic over the Portuguese chrono. And we are often keen to spend a significant extra-amount of money for these unique pieces of art.
I believe that in a certain way, we can compare the movement of the watch to the engine of the car: inside the piece, invisible, a kind of intangible and mysterious, but crucial. But here comes a difference between cars and watches: in fact, it is undeniable that different car engines lead to huge differences in the overall performances of the car and significantly affect the pleasure of driving. On the other hand, the watch movements lead to differences in the performances that are purely "intangible". Who can deny that the accuracy of an ETA it's not much different (sometime even better...) than the accuracy showed by most of the best in-house movements in the market?
So, let's go straight to the point. What make us spend several extra-bucks to get something that we will probably never see unless the watch gets accidentally broken and to get something that will not bring any additional measureable performance to the watch? How something so intangible could be perceived as so charming, so fascinating leaving as just insignificant details the watch itself, its dial, its case and its other handcraft visible beauties?
Here the comparison chrono vs. automatic in the Portuguese family really gives the idea of what I'm really talking about. The chrono is a real beauty, sure. So, can just the open case-back of the automatic add so much extra value? But it does, indeed. It is just so tough to say way...
Cheers
Matteo
Last edited: 27 March, 2013 - 06:53
It is not, I would think, that the Portuguese automatic deserves a premium because it has an open back, nor that the movement is simply in-house. There is more craft behind the design and execution.
Regards, Michael
mfriedberg@iwcforum.com
Last edited: 5 April, 2012 - 19:53
I think snobbery (of which I'm guilty) plays a large role in our choosing a watch with
an inhouse movement.
Steve
If it weren't for the craft of watchmaking, we may all be wearing CBP (cheap black plastic) and changing batteries every year.