We NEED new terminology for 'Independent Watchmaker' imho. Also, we need to define HAND made versus CNC ???
When a 10,000 or more mass-production timepieces a year large company has the same term / phrase of a small team, or just a single-person.... currently ALL are called "Independent Watchmaker". Maybe back in the 1900s this phrase was good enough , but now ...
there is a company, which is called....
...."MANUFAKTUM" . This really is the core meaning.... i am afraid it might be registered or trade marked....
A mid level department store in Germany 😁
You can even get watches there. Used to do some special edition Sinns and even saw a Dornblüth there once 👍🏻
They tend to focus on larger cities…
So I have come in contact with them less the last years. But some of the stuff they had back in the day was nice 😊👍🏻
To be honest, I lost count on all those independent watchmakers.
It feels like every other week there is a new brand being launched.
same here :)......
Independent is probably only the name... the inside of the watch not.... mabye from a group and "aufgehübscht" .....
That’s an uphill struggle…
While I believe your points are valid and the intent laudable, the industry has less than 0 interest in going down that path. As the pricing largely takes the what the market will bear approach and we are talking about Veblenian goods, I can hardly see an...
We all know that there’s no hand made watches since the beginning of last century, therefore your request is dead in the water.
Every and I mean every manufacturer uses CNC or other modern machines to produce their watches, even the small operations! Dufour, Rexepi,,, This has been discussed here before, nobody cuts crystals by hand, or movement plates, let alone beveling! Even th...
Yes, tho imho we still desperately need new terminology. Surely some make more parts and bits by hand whereas others rely moreso on machines.
Ideally, each model / reference would have a HAND crafting hours log. Surely some independent watchmakers invest more hours than others. Let's add that specification for true independent watchmakers.
Well, commercially for the large interest corporations they'd have zero interest. Agreed.
Tho we enthusiasts and magazine editors, if they're honest with their readership, knows there are levels of horlogy above the typical olden days. Then again the old guys might not be ready to embrace life past the 1900s ??? I'm very much looking forward t...
A line in the sand would need to be drawn
Whatever criteria is decided upon, it will constitute an opinion of one or some. Consensus won’t be achieved because at the end of the day, it will be an opinion. Just my independent opinion
Hmmm... still, there needs to be a way to signify a higher level of watchmaking, since simply being called an "independent" has become very common term.
Suggested Term of Haute Horlogerie This two-word French phrase denotes the pinnacle of independent watchmaking and top-tier hand craftsmanship. Alternative Options Artisanal Horology Horological Artistry Bespoke Horlogerie Atelier Horlogerie Artisan Horlo...
Great point. Overall, am sure guys like Max, and R, and D, and R.S, and AHCI, and... they could give a nice agreed upon criteria.
Am very much looking forward to 10 to 15 years from now, when today's youthful talented watchmakers express their unique talent and design art. RR and FPJ have theirs, as does others.
Personally, I only care about the end product.
When I end up purchasing from an independent, it's usually to quench the thirst for something very very specific at a certain quality level. don't care how handcrafted something is, and I don't really care how many hours went into it. Having run a ton of ...