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Horological Meandering

Are we talking watchmaking or decoration ?

 

I understand that these days, decoration tends to be associated to a watchmaking skill, however, if there is no technical improvement on the base movement, I don't really call it watchmaking. 

Decoration and more precisely finishing is definitely an important part of a watch these days. A lot (like a LOOOOOT) of established brands forgot that long time ago and that's a shame. But still, the 649x can be widely improved at a watchmaking level. This movement is meant to be produced at a massive scale with wide tolerances, so the first step should consider tightening these margins to gain some performances. Enhancing working surfaces to ease functions, rolling pivots, changing jewels, making an inertia regulated balance wheel, polishing pinions, wheels' teeth... 
I don't deny they could be trained watchmaker but to me, changing the shape of a bridge, making huge polishing bevels is not really watchmaking. It turns out rather nicely I admit (I really like the Laine movement) but as soon as I see the basic cliquet, ETAchron, flat stamped wheels... this turns me off immediately.

Well, on the other hand, isn't a Simplicity a -very- well finished Jaeger 478 after all ? 

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