Independents
Chosenhandle initiates a thought-provoking discussion on the value of supporting independent watchmakers versus established brands, questioning where to draw the line in defining 'independent.' The post explores the desire for a personal connection with the watchmaker and its impact on the collecting experience, using F.P. Journe and Lang & Heyne as examples.
Just buy a watch you like the most and if there is a nice click with the brand cq watchmaker thats a plus imho . Like you i pref indie brands 🤗.
You use a couple of good examples at somewhat the ends of the spectrum. Are you suggesting there is some kind of metric that is a cut-off? Like annual production numbers, or turnover beyond which 'they're too big'? They're all an order of magnitude or more below the monster houses or groups, so all the indies are all in at least the one same bucket, i.e. exclusive. Let's be honest, any clueless gannet tourist off a bus trip in Bond St can buy a Patek from a piece of paper with a list of referenc
Here are the names of watches they own - we could not agree on whether AHCI or not was important; if once independent now brand was important or not. Svend Andersen Soren Andersen Hajime Asaoka Felix Baumgartner Aaron Becsei Robert Bray Vincent Calabrese Konstantin Chaykin Valerii Danevych Nicolas Delaloye Philippe Dufour Miki Eleta Paul Gerber / MIH Beat Haldimann Vianney Halter Marc Jenni François-Paul Journe * Frank Jutzi Masahiro Kikuno Christian Klings Marco Lang Bernhard Lederer Xushu Ma J
I think what I was trying to ascertain is what is the value of a relationship I would have with Lang & Heyne as compared to Journe. L&H gives you a world class product and access to the designer, Journe does not (to my knowledge anyway). Does that access have a value to you? I think it does and makes me want to prefer small makers where I can actually converse with the designer. I'm just waiting for you guys to tell me I'm all wet and I should just buy the watch that looks good.
I enjoy many different pieces for different reasons. Most of my watches carry with them a combination of technology, art and story. It is the story that the watch is involved in is what makes the piece a piece u inquest for me. That story can occur with a brand or with an independent. I values the independent watchmakers that I know and have and/or are working with. I have the honor of having met Marco and I think he is a good persona do a watchmaker of the finest order. In fact I shall soon be
Personally, when I have encountered this same question, I've looked for the soul of the watch. As obscure a concept in watches as in humans. The question I ask myself is "can I feel the hand of the watchmaker on the watch, the design, the movement, the details, the craftsmanship, the buying experience, the combination?" Not literally but spiritually, as I know many independents may not have actually assembled the piece themselves - but maybe they did. Or, the "distance" from them doing it themse
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