indignantdenial
831
Totally agree with this.
Feb 04, 2025,00:14 AM
Lack of fine finish is evident on a lot of AP pieces as you say, especially on examples of the 3120 that I've come across. JLC is another super obivous contender for this category—their bevels more closely resemble Nomos' more than anything, since they are definitely not mirrored. Looking at an 899 doesn't reveal anything much more impressive than DUW 3001, which I might add, comes in at around more than half off the price (hence the Nomos is good value). The Duomètre is a tragedy and you rightfully mention its finishing downgrade. It used to be a flagship but is no longer—their finishing of the prior generation was very good and made the Duomètre one of the best values/watches JLC has ever made for a non-ultra high complication piece.
To the other points from Patrick:
I don't think the same photographer has as much import here, at least with respect to the SJX material. Sure, there are idiosyncrasies to be found but they don't impact the results of the movement finish. If anything, my trouble would be with the sample size of watches as opposed to the photographer, since that would reveal more about the manufacture's tendencies. Given the amount of photos of milling marks/bevels/etc. across all brands mentioned here from owners and professional publications alike, it seems to me that the photographer isn't our primary concern.
Second, what are the parts you agree with and the ones you disagree with? I can't parse out further specifics from what you've written so far, except your remarks about the implementation of tools that the brands use, which I agree with.
Third, yes I totally agree with you that milling marks aren't an indication of higher or lower quality. However, that they are leftover in some places sows doubt on the picture that these movements are mostly or entirely mechanically finished, which is the claim Ketsui and I are resisting. What it does tell us is that there is a strong human element present, given inconsistencies, which seems to indicate that we have a hand-finished product instead of something that was/is claimed to be mass produced by machine, as some have said.