Steyr
136
Well, I'd rather go for a J-B Viot for instance, than a silicone escapement set from a bigger brand.
There are some major parameters to take into account, that are more era-related or person-dependent : material, technicity, dials/hands and finishing
Material :
Silicon for instance requires specific technology. Today, it is available because it is also making components for other industries. What if the needs for other industries decline, will there be enough demand to maintain small productions of silicon components ? And we may discuss as well some watches that came on the market with nice silicon parts and that got withdraw from the market after few months. On the other hand, tubes within a HYT watch could be an issue, liquids inside as well, "pumps"...
Technicity : ultra thin movements for instance may require specific material, machining techniques, and so on. Again, technology tends to improve but this kind of movement requires, specific tools, skills...
Dials/hands and finishing : Always tricky to reproduce something identical. Same color, texture... And even when possible, some collectors may argue that the dial is not an original one. Same with finishing. For instance, environmental rules may lead to the loss of some technologies. Gold plating with mercury-guilding can become a headache. Rhodium plating turns out to be more difficult since few years with new rules and different chemistry. Alloys could be different too since regulations may change their composition (i.e. : lead in brass)
Beside that I see no reason why a skilled watchmaker (and there are many unknown from the public) couldn't reproduce a bridge, adapt a barrel for a new spring, make a new balance wheel... Of course, this comes at a price as you have to make the toolset, measure the original parts...
This year we helped a customer to service an independent watch that brand had disappeared few years ago, along with the spare parts. We had to make parts from scratch such as new escapement staff (with pinion). We also decided to improve couple of things that would have cause other issues in the future. Water resistant was part of it by adding gaskets, but then redesigning the pushers to have stronger springs, make the springs... To do so we also had to make specific screw drivers, posages... This took weeks, the bill was at the bottom of the 5 digits range but still doable. Actually margin was negative in the end but we gained experience and next one could be profitable considering what is already available (tools mainly and experience)
Some AHCI members are working on improving solutions around those concerns. My personal suggestions would be to ensure the collection of knowledge and to commit that members, collectively, could maintain each-other's watches. This happens already but a commitment would make more sense and reassure potential customers.
More posts:
Lets talk about eternity and watches, more important, the eternity of owning independents.
When I buy Patek, Chopard, Breguet or Longines, All of these with their historical background and customer ability to send to Switzerland for service, I kind of have a feeling that the watches will always live. That I will always be able to service a watc...
It weighs heavily on the mind of the rational buyer...
This is a major concern. However, the AHCI has been storing and keeping servicing instruction manuals and documents for the independents within the AHCI group to reduce this problem. This doesn't mean that your concern is unwarranted, as these documents a...
The 'dirty little secret'....
of the universe is that nothing lasts forever (yes, not even diamonds LoL)........ Cheers, Filip
Fully agreed Filip
Nothing of this world lasts forever. And nothing from this world should matter when we talk of eternity. Best Gatsby
Mon ami
You definitely should buy an independent. There’s so much fun in this category of watches. Best Gatsby
So very roughly speaking
I choose those that have the potential to stay around for longer. And I believe I will disappear first before they do! Best Gatsby
I hope
That I give you the same encouragement and influence that you’ve given me over the years. The stuff that you’ve put out here on the forum has inspired me to go on and collect some very nice watches over the years. The enjoyment is unparalleled. No other h...
You know that watches are produced by humans
So definitely can be serviced by humans (skilled of course) I take note of michael parmigiani and the restoration work he did for patek Philippe Any watch can be serviced even the most complicated
Plus there are great brands like Villeret...
Villeret really offers small independent exclusivity (almost nobody has one, only the truest watch appreciators, and a good portion are on this website) and small independent quality, at independent pricing, and with likely reasonably good serviceability ...
I am not sure if big groups are more concerned with customer's satisfaction
We've all seen big projects dropped brutally in big companies, whether in the watch industry or different. They sometimes pay more attention to the bottom line than customer's relationship. One of my friend had a watch from LVMH group with a very nice and...
Anything can happen...
When you buy something of this caliber, it's a long-term marriage. Sometimes marriages work out. Sometimes they don't. Buying a car is the same thing... You buy it from a salesperson, but really you should be more focused on the service experience.
It definitely has crossed my mind
I began acquiring independents about 5 years ago and I can only say that my acquisition has become even more aggressive over the years. Not in terms of volume, but in terms of my interest and determination to hunt after the right piece, and also the signi...
Cheap movements in my indies
I own not so complex independents. Ok, one is very complex, albeit they now belongs to the Citizens group. Some of my group watches have an in house, so that is no problem.
I am mostly interested in small independents...
And I am not really worried. If there is a market for servicing indies, there will be people able to do so. At the moment and the foreseeable future there are no problems. I even think that the last few years interest in indies have made the possibilities...
Independents and the Great Houses both serve as important checks against the other...
...I'm glad that Independents' creativity and their search for individual perfection brightens our world of watch collecting and keeps the Great Houses from getting too comfortable. On the other hand and as you mention, I'm grateful for the intergeneratio...
I have the exact same thoughts and have found a solution for myself.
I have watches by Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, Jaeger-LeCoultre and IWC in my small collection. I also like independents but have shied away from them for two reasons: the first one being that they simply may go out of fashion as evidenced by some...
I have also wondered that too
And now that question is even more relevant to me as I am soon to receive my first independent brand watch! Not a latest model but NOS of an independent brand. (I will share and review when I get it!) Well, I know some friends here would not consider it t...
Most independents aren’t working alone and have great watchmakers who works for them .
My focus on independents goes back for more then 18 years now and never had any issues whatsoever. Also most independents outsource there base movements from manufacturers so i really don’t thinks a service will be a problem when the person isn’t there an...
I love to buy independents
because not even I will survive. 😂😂😂 So lets have fun until the end, not only with production pieces. 😂😂
I’m surprised to read that so many shy away from independents for this reason. My philosophy is love it, buy it, wear it, enjoy it. Life is short.
I’m very grateful that several wonderful independents exist. They are often the innovators of complications, movement architecture, design and style. I’m happy to support and encourage their work by buying from them. That said, my tastes tend to run conse...
Well, I'd rather go for a J-B Viot for instance, than a silicone escapement set from a bigger brand.
There are some major parameters to take into account, that are more era-related or person-dependent : material, technicity, dials/hands and finishing Material : Silicon for instance requires specific technology. Today, it is available because it is also m...
No Worries At All, We're Repairing Watches Hundred+ Years Old
Mechanical items built by man can relatively easily be repaired. Hundred(s) of years old historic mechanical pieces, clocks, bird-chirping mechanicals.... are being refurbished to as-new condition today. In a sense, as time passes, the technology/ability ...
Not all independents are alike.
When HYT goes under again, no one will service those watches. Ressence will be sold, but otherwise no service. Indies that take classic movements and work with them such as Pascal Coyon and Atelier de Chronometrie will be serviceable forever by good watch...
HYT technology relies on specific tools and knowledge
Not sure they would be willing to produce a new batch of those tubes for few repair needs. Or what would be the cost ? Same with liquids, "pumps"... lot of specific parts related to specific tools and knowledge.
Fair point, but horrible reliability and bad servicing was why they went under. I think most HYTs will end up as hockey pucks.
It was a bit of an open secret. I guess in order to speak of servicing, a watch must first reliably function.
There will always be someone available to service any watch.
The question of servicing is really not relevant anymore. Any part can be fabricated, at a cost. And as 3D printing evolves in the very near future, this cost will be diminished.
I prefer indies over main stream..
Who else can give me the look and feel of an Urwerk or an MB&F? Want something like Lange without the buy this so you can have that? Look at Lang and Heyne or Moritz Grossman that are finished better BTW. I for one have a short patience for arrogance ...
I'm sure Roger Smith...
...wouldn't mind me cracking open the back and spraying a bit of WD-40. Or a piece of duct tape as needed : )
I raised this similar question many moons ago and very similar responses above……
My worry is the authenticity of the watch if service by another person or not using the brand’s parts. Then it crossed my mind…these watches are works of Art. Picasso, Van Gogh are gone but still an unknown-to-us or skilled artist can somewhat restore the...
I have the same question to ask myself
and in the end I only collect simple three-hand watches from independent watchmakers, which are easier to be serviced than complication waches.
