My small collection includes a very few electronic watches: a Cartier, a Casio and one unsigned, which are all approaching 30 years old and are surprisingly still working well. Will they endure for the next 70 years plus requiring many, polluting little batteries (if still available) to keep them going?
I also have several mechanical watches, which include those dating from 1890's but mostly 1935 through 1950's, 1980's to late 1990's and 2000's, all in working order, as have many Purists. To be able to pick up a mechanical watch, wind it and set the time at any while is a massive advantage to ring the personal changes and moods, not to mention the sheer beauty and admiration for the quality available from all price ranges.
Friends who have smart watches appear to be oblivious to the daily(!!) necessity of their recharging the limited life batteries. When will these watches be thrown away because the dying batteries cannot be renewed? Just look at the procession of throw-away iPhones and iPads - just to keep filling the manufacturers' pockets. That is solely about selling consumer goods.
A few years ago I gave my son, who exclusively relied on his iPhone for the time, an Omega Constellation "piepan" cal 564 as a "real" watch, which he loves and is much admired by his contemporaries. However he has just acquired the latest Garmin fitness watch, which obviously reflects his long established, semi-celebratory status as an international athlete. Where did I go wrong? How did Garmin get in on this act?
The only notable thing is that the large volume manufacturers like Rolex are still selling mechanical watches, which keeps alive the skills necessary for their continued development and repair, but will that be a diminishing market to the richer few?
What is a watch for now? A man's jewellery to be admired and to display his admirable tastes? Surely not just to tell the time, which we all can do from a host of sources anywhere?
I feel naked without a watch on my wrist, but that is because I have admired and worn one since the age of 7. Will we be the minority in 50 years time if not so already? Who will inherit and secure my small watch collection when I expire?
My two-penny worth to an important debate.
Best
Clive