Boron
207
It’s endemic rather than "their thing".
Feb 08, 2020,12:33 PM
Most of the manufacturers use existing calibers rather than spend the CHF 1M (for a 3-hander) it costs to design and produce a new movement.
Patek does it with the 324/330 between 37mm Calatravas and 42mm 5168 Aquanaut.
Beside Lange & Sohne and independents (at a much higher price point obviously), the industry would sooner spend the same money on providing facility tours, renting prime location boutiques, and putting on events, etc.
So, until “we” demand a return to small watches again or stop buying the likes of these models for the express reason of small movement syndrome, nothing is going to change in that regard any time soon, if ever.
Maybe the manufacturers are banking on the former happening, thereby negating the need to spend money on a larger movement that’ll effectively become obsolete. Personally I can’t see that happening, and given the market is far larger than those of us on forums, then until that demographic understands the “issue”, we will have to live with it or give our money to those brands who view the matter the same way we do.