MTF
[PuristS]
13383
The First Revival from the Dark Age of Swiss Watchmaking
The theme this week on Wristscan is the DarK Age watches from 1978 - 2000 when Swiss watch industry was trying to survive after the quartz crisis.
Strictly speaking, the Seiko Astron started quartz wristwatches in December 1969 and a Swiss cartel followed with the Beta 21 movement in March 1970.
The 'Dark Age' was actually 1970-2000 although the darkest period maybe from 1978-1988 because quartz watch sales overtook mechanical watch sales in 1978. Between 1970 and 1988, Swiss employment in watchmaking fell from 90,000 to 28,000 people. They announced the death of mechanical watchmaking.
From the ashes, rose a line of ultra haute horlogerie as L.U.C division of Chopard.
At the time, there was disbelief at the audacity of youth when Karl-Friedrich Scheufele proposed a new Chopard Manufacture in Fleurier and a new MECHANICAL micro rotor automatic movement. He even had to convince the main shareholders of the company...Mama und Papa Scheufele!
L.U.C 1.96 ref.16/1860/1 Limited Edition of 100 pieces
Sparkling Success L.U.C 1.96
With the benefit of hindsight and the retrospectroscope, Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is now hailed as a visionary businessman and has won awards from his peers and business leaders.
Aficionados like ThePuristS presented their Purity Prize for five new mechanical movements invenit & fecit in only a decade and especially for the L.U.C Lunar One perpetual calendar watch.
The naysayers have conveniently forgotten their original murmurings of "Folly ! "
That is the wonderful mind warping effect of Time....
Another effect of time passing is that early adopters enjoyed buying into a concept when the risk was high but benefits have proven higher.
This First Edition of the Swiss Haute Horlogerie Revival is one of my treasured watches....
Regards,
MTF
The First Revival from the Dark Age of Swiss Watchmaking
The theme this week on Wristscan is the DarK Age watches from 1978 - 2000 when Swiss watch industry was trying to survive after the quartz crisis. Strictly speaking, the Seiko Astron started quartz wristwatches in December 1969 and a Swiss cartel followed...
Mr Karl-Friedrich Scheufele with one of his favourite watches
When not promoting a new watch launch, this is what Mr K-F Scheufele wears... L.U.C 1963 Chrono PuristS Edition on Karl-Friedrich Scheufele MTF ...
It is certainly one of the pieces spearheading the drive from the Dark Ages into the rennaissance of mechanical watch making
And a highly attractive one at that, both front and back Countercyclical investment is often a sound strategy and while it may well have been risky, it paid off handsomely for Chopard, it seems Great shots and thanks for the added figures on the crisis!
