Horological Meandering

Ok, title may be misleading but this “How much?” Is what I hate most on social media when I post a watch…I mean for those who ask this stupid question, you have time to surf the web and cannot just look it up? Why would they think I’m trying to sell 🤦🏻‍♂️...  

This one. ...  

But I heard bad stories of watches not working right for the first Blue versions. I wonder if the issue has not been resolved. Is this the highest you will go or you will go to the levels of GF/PD etc?

Nothing and I mean NOTHING comes close to the Parmigiani Ionica's movement in terms of finishing and architecture for the money. I paid 7500 euros for my WG Ionica so please show me a better finished movement than this below 25k - 30k 🤷‍♂️ Photo credit go...  

And here I counted 8 inward angles which so many brands are kind of stingy to add. Even the prestigious PD didn’t have half as many! Wow, and is PF still the same company today? Just like Roger Dubius, are they still the same? If so, I need to take a clos... 

Recently they had a management change and their newer stuff is more trendy but still focuses on quality over quantity. Have a look at PF Raymond, there are gems to be had at great prices and they make some uber cool complications that most manufacturers w... 

The watch has to encompass everything for me. Good reputation ie. takes care of their customers, design, reliability, accuracy and finishing. That’s why I limited my Loupe magnification to 3x. I think we all have a bit of OCD in us. So that being said I d... 

If I progress further, it will have to be more than a time only watch, like the MB&F LM perpetual calendar type of architecture. For my grail of a PPC, PP and Lange is my grail.

One of my good friends ordered the evo. I’m contemplating it but I have the VC overseas perpetual skeleton on order. And do I really need two perps? They are such a hassle to set when they wind down.

I always thought the best price to quality ratio one can buy in high horology is the $25-50K price range....

And having a bunch of MB Minerva I cannot confirm that there are a lot of quality issues compared to other brands. E.g. when I sent in my Lange for a maintenance to Glashütte it was returned with both hands floating on the dial when the AD unpacked the wa... 

I’m sure every brand has their stories, so are the top high end brands.

Not to distract from the importance of all the various finishes that the above artisans produce, but I can live without all that. As you said a Patek/Lange/VC/ Breguet( totally random ranking) level is good enough for me... But as with all other things, s... 

I think this is where the independent brands excel as one of their strengths, which gathers a lot of attention nowadays. I always raise the questions of servicing and maintaining the whole watch should the original artist is no longer available but it sho... 

But what does good enough even mean to most? Their really are two types of finishing: decorative and functional. Only functional is really needed - the finishing of surfaces that actually contact one another. The rest is just fluff to make it pretty. Now,... 

I am doing exactly that. In my industry, there are BKMs - Best Known Methods for certain way of doing things, I’m curious if there are BKMs in watch making, assembling parts, finishing and polishing? I’m guessing not because it is all the technical knowle... 

Much like how a nutrition guide versus a Michelin star chef approach food, both are "best methods" but they are playing a very different game. This 2824-2 has all the finishing needed: It isn't exactly a heart-throb but it will work very, very well for ye...  

Or I can ask an experienced watchmaker just spend the hours to do it to match the quality? If PD can fly to Credor and teach them the Micro Art…is this something only the Master can achieve, like in the last final stroke of killer move Kung-fu the master ... 

I, personally, would never be able to do. With a cook book and practice, I can make a very good meal. With all the training in the world, however, I will never be able to conceive a menu like Grant Achatz. He is just better than me at that and world class... 

. . . it's hard to come up with an example that surpasses . . . . . . Omega's 30T2rg. Art ...  

. . . in seventy years. Here's a photo of another 30T2rg movement in my collection. Better? ...  

. . . of prime importance, my suggestion would be Longines 13ZN movements. [photo credit: Desmond1, WPS Lange forum 02/03/22] These were produced entirely by hand, without the advantages today's watchmakers enjoy. Art ...  

Is next on my dreamlist

Old school has its charm. Maybe that is why they have the Geneva seal as some kind of benchmark or BKM, as I mentioned, a guide or reference for quality.

I expect any watch over $20k to be finished to a high level, not top level but high. My Lang & Heyne is the best finished watch I have owned or handled at any price point and a true bargain at todays pricing. ...  

L&H is also one of the best in this area. Thanks for sharing your input.

Delicate questions. For me as a watch sick man it is no question about discussing prices. It is fine my Seamaster increase it’s value, i keep the watch the matter a course do. I am lucky i like affordable watches, rare watches gives me the most pleasure. ... 

However, I am healing now, slowly but healing… Good luck with your find and it is good to know what you want. I also know what I want and when is about time to reach the summit then decent.

I heavily weighted quality finishing in my collecting criteria. As I continue collecting, quality of finishing is dropping in priority, and historical significance is rising. That’s why I’m turning back to vintage watches. I still love commissioning piece... 

I understand this statement from an emotional side, but not from a rational one. "History" is all fine and good, but it isn't about the watch in your hand. For example, a very storied watch is the Speedy, but the one in your hand did not go into space. Yo... 

Owning a current Patek Philippe entry level piece does not make me feel any better than owning a better made and/or better looking watch from a different brand just because Patek has a rich history. Now if I’m buying true vintage Patek pieces and especial... 

And those rules change with time. This game is purely emotional. Even when we try to ascribe some semblance of logic to it, we are all guided by our hearts. The fact that someone will spend 200k on a watch whose bevels and interior angles are better at 10... 

No... No you aren't!

It is all about affordability and getting the ones I can get discounts, feeling I got a great deal…and those are respectable brands too. Then comes the brands and getting to be “successful” in getting some well known brands and rising to being able to own... 

Almost as much watches 😱

of my watch collecting journey, I tend to prefer watches that are mechanically "interesting", and have something "special", beyond the common complications of calendars, chronographs etc., which are offered by most brands. Examples that interest me are Ze... 

I love to see different architectures and functions and that MB&F is a perfect example, especially their perpetual calendar is mind blowing unlike anything in the watch world. I took these today and is what triggered my post. ...  

Another watch that has intrigued me was FPJ Resonance, but have read quite a few reports that it doesn't really work as advertised. 🤷‍♂️