ThomasM
21
An open message to Kari Voutilainen, Robert Greubel, and Stephen Forsey
Dear Kari, Robert, Stephen,
The more I get to the know the people behind the products in the industry, the more I find the people behind the product are as important to me as the final product.
I have long felt (and felt no hesitation publically stating!) that "high horology" is ridiculously over priced from a pure product / utilitarian standpoint. I say this as an economist, as a management academic, as a businessman/entrepreneur, and as a Purist.
Indeed, I feel this way about all "luxury" goods - goods whose prices are not tied to their production and support costs (taking into account amortized development costs.)
Then what is it about?
Emotion. How the product makes you feel - when you look at it; when you wear it; when you get into it; when you talk about it, think about it, dream about it.
If it doesn't move you, no matter how much (or how little) it cost or how much "sense" it makes, or is supposed to make, it is a "poor value." And vice versa - if it moves you, no matter how non-sensical it might seem, it is a very good value.
In the past, as a "scientific rationalist," I evaluated everything - products, people, experiences - on their "intellectual merits" and in fact went out of my to de-personalize the item or discussion, abstracting to "listen to the message irregardless of the speaker" - if the message is sound, it shouldn't matter if the speaker is a hypocrite or lousy human being; if the point was nonsense, it didn't matter how sincere or kind the speaker was.
I still feel this way intellectually, but emotionally, and especially when it comes to luxury goods where the premium is SOOOOO high for intangible, emotional elements, I have come more and more to the conclusion that no matter how good the final product is, if the maker is unkind or arrogant, I don't want it.
Alternatively, even if the final product may not match my "ideal" criteria for that type of product, the "empathy" I share with the maker, whether in philosophical values, aesthetics, even basic things like common courtesy and consideration, good manners, go a long way to my appreciating whatever embodies the soul and spirit of that maker.
I was lucky enough to spend some time with Kari Voutilainen and the team at Greubel-Forsey yesterday; I don't own examples from either yet, but I can unequivocably say, without any hesitation, that when I have the suitable opportunity to do so, I would not hesitate for one second, and would feel it is my honor to be able to own and wear a little bit of their spirit on my wrist. (this is not exactly true...Stephen and Robert's "DNA" are in the timepiece shown below...)
Kudos, RG, SF, KV - stick to your ideals, stay human, and remain PuristS. Most enjoying the accolades and respect and recognition you are receiving will succumb to the temptation to start believing the hype, and start thinking of themselves as gods, and succumb to the sweet siren song of Hubris.
I sincerely believe your characters will not allow this to happen.
So long as you remain PuristS at heart, we at ThePuristS will always support your efforts!
TM
