Discussion
Bruno.M1's provocative post challenges the contemporary definition of 'independent watchmaker,' sparking a crucial debate within the collector community. His insights question the authenticity of brands heavily reliant on third-party suppliers and critically examine the 'independent bubble' phenomenon. This discussion is essential for both seasoned collectors and newcomers to understand the evolving landscape of luxury horology.
... and by the way all you needed was the money, there were NO waiting lists or you didn't have to be a wealthy watch collector with already a bag full of expensive special watches.
I have less of a problem with the prices and more of a problem with the experiences. Buying independent watches was as much about the experience of buying „your“ watch and being in direct contact with the watchmakers as it was about the watches themselves to me. Nowadays it‘s the same as with other mainstream brands. Only the top 1% customers now get the treatment every customer got a few years ago. As a „normal“ customer you often even have to buy it, without being able to try it on before.
But I like brands with a big history that I can dive into and study, and that have proven their staying power over the years. Plus I don't have the budget to buy high end independents.
Great profits in horological endeavors were reaped due to 'easy currency central banking schemes' to keep their system afloat in recent years. As we all know, this has greatly benefitted the luxury goods market (in general), with too much 'cheap currency' chasing too few things of intrinsic value and services. Sadly, there's the afterMATH 'hangover' on the other side of MMT. Prices doubling-ish over the past three or so years make sense when you look at the currency creation on steroids / devalu
It’s been a crazy several years which of course has encouraged many new entrants (watchmakers, brand makers and CEOs) to the “my first indie watch will be $50-80k” market. But entry price points aside I don’t know if these new entrants are bad for collecting, the opposite in fact as we now have more choice and more ideas. I don’t include Ming in that “my first indie watch will be $50-80k” cohort as obviously they have spent several years building the brand, the operations, suppliers etc. While I
I, too, don’t see Ming and others similar to them as an Independent, more of a high end micro brand… which by the way there is nothing wrong with whatsoever and we as collectors are allowed to place our money however we wish. Fortunately there are still some really compelling true Indies out there with reasonable price points so not all is lost.
I do tend to focus more on real indies nowadays where watches are for the most part made by there creators and not by a designer although some are really beautiful watches tbh .
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