AndrewD
[HoMe Moderator]
12829
I see a few more sides to this one ...
Hi Chris,
You are right on the surface of course. Quality is what we are looking for. And I remember one independent watchmaker telling me that you are only as good as your last watch.
But there is more to watch ownership than the physical watch on your wrist. And different collectors place different weightings on different aspects. Some like the finish, others the design, some like the mechanics and others the brand, it's history, the vintage pieces that have come before, the 'backstory' of the watch. That variety is what makes this hobby and this community so much fun I believe.
History is almost a 'promise' of support, longevity, expertise. An unwritten guarantee. Obviously all that can evaporate very quickly, but the companies that have decades or centuries behind them should be offering something more than just a watch on your wrist.
Just my thoughts. Thanks for contributing to the discussion.
Regards,
Andrew
Does quality trump history?
Imagine a new brand producing very high quality watches. Imagine a re-born brand, such as ALS, producing very high quality watches. Imagine an old historied brand, such as PP, producing very high quality watches. How much of a premium do you place on th...
Excellent questions
The history is an ingredient in the decision, as with history you have the service for any piece you may ever acquire. I don't agree that history should allow premium selling prices. It is also enjoyable to see how history influences the pedigree of new d...
Fake / Borrowed History
If the watch is high quality, there's no need to fake lineage or have a borrowed history. It can stand on its own merits. Every 'old' brand was new at one time.
agree
look at De Bethune, Gruebel Forsey and a lot of independents. Some top notch brands. So history can be nice, but is not needed. Br, Dirk
Irrelevant
For me, history is irrelevant. New companies have produced amazing watches right off the bat (DeBethune, MB&F, Urwerk etc). What I cannot stand is companies that fabricate history or implying historical continuity with their marketing. Dean
Well, it does but...
it is not that simple. ploy or not, history built on quality is a very powerful combination. i'll be honest and say that i like history in a watch… rolex, jlc, omega… a history that smacks of excellence and innovation with a few hiccups here and there (wh...
I like historically great pieces....
... those with history who can generate archive papers gets my business. Phony "long history" brands are no-no. New brands are good as long as it makes good watches AND they have CONTINUITY or SUCCESSION PLAN. On that front, brands with some history wins....
Value added
I would follow along the lines of Ken. But I also think that History (and related prestige/class, associated exclusivity) are what make it for most to shell out the big bucks. But that is just one facet of every customer, there are plenty here (and myself...
Yes, unless the company is trumpeting its history.
If a company is making a big deal of its history, it is responsible for (and should be judged by) all past indiscretions. That is doubly the case if the history is contrived or questionable. I think it's great when a formerly undistinguished (or nonexiste...
Yes it does
Besides Lange & Söhne other great examples of quality over history would be Parmigiani Fleurier or FP Journe. Best wishes, Joel
The "history of the people" is most important to me
For example, say Paul Gerber, Richard Habring, Ludwig Oechslin or Kurt Klaus and that means (to me) triple-rotor, split-second chrono, astronomical, perpetual calendar , etc. In a slightly different vein I can say Alain Silberstein or Mark Newson = fun!, ...
History is VERY important to me
It is no subsitute for quality, of course, but i like to look at my watch and "feel" its roots, see it as a witness of times gone, of the enduring effort of past generations, That is an important part of my particular vision of "subjective quality". I ten...
Quality always trumps history
History is just that, his story. Probably exaggerated anyway.
I see a few more sides to this one ...
Hi Chris, You are right on the surface of course. Quality is what we are looking for. And I remember one independent watchmaker telling me that you are only as good as your last watch. But there is more to watch ownership than the physical watch on your w...
