Modern Holy Trinity Watches Discussion

Key Points from the Discussion

• The concept of a 'Holy Trinity' is akin to the 'Ivy League' for colleges, signifying historical prestige and rivalry rather than a definitive ranking of the 'best' in the world. Determining the 'best' is subjective, especially when considering ultra-low production brands.
• Many traditional 'Holy Trinity' brands are perceived to be producing largely overpriced and ordinary watches, with a significant disconnect between intrinsic value and retail price.
• Despite the rise of independents, interest in established brands like Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, and Vacheron Constantin remains strong among younger collectors. Smaller brands often appeal due to personal connections and access to the creators, rather than inherent product superiority or faster product development.
• Establishing objective and measurable criteria for a 'Holy Trinity' is challenging, requiring considerations such as uninterrupted existence, annual production volume, finishing standards (e.g., Geneva Seal eligibility), in-house movement development (including complications like chronographs and perpetual calendars), and service turnaround times.
• Several collectors propose alternative 'tier one' lists of independent watchmakers, often including brands like Voutilainen, Ferdinand Berthoud, Jean Daniel Nicolas, Roger Smith, Romain Gauthier, and Greubel Forsey, highlighting the diversity of opinion on what constitutes the absolute pinnacle of craftsmanship.
• The past decade has seen a significant surge in quality and artistic creation from independent watchmakers, with many producing horological masterpieces that surpass the 'Old School marketing' of the traditional Holy Trinity.