I agree with much of the above -- quality of construction, inspiration (yes), soul (great phrase), but, to me, the reason I have become attracted to independents during the past year of horological awakening is that independents are, indeed, independent artists/craftspeople. Aside from forms of visual art -- painting, sculpture -- there is almost nothing in our world today that is not produced by corporate entities turning out thousands of the identical, or all-but identical, product from factories. It is the same impulse that has led me to decorate my home with antiques and art. To a significant degree, most of the non-independent watchmakers are corporate entities. It is not just the rarity of the independents' watches that attract but it is the reason that they are rare: they are produced in small/individual quantities as expressions of the watchmakers' art and craft -- sometimes more art, sometimes more craft and sometimes and hopefully both. And they need not be expensive -- many independents are quite well priced. We don't buy mechanical watches for their accuracy but for their craft and art; and uniqueness and rarity do matter in the realms of craft and art. To know that my watch is not one of thousands in a run, made in an assembly-line manner (or even 1 in a limited edition of 400) is a point of appreciation. Accordingly, it does give me a particular pleasure to be able to meet the watchmaker, or to email with him or her, about my piece. Whether it is has been (for me) Peter Speake-Marin, or Richard and Marie Habring or Stepan Sarpaneva , the chance to meet or email or chat with the watchmaker himself/herself is one-on-one, bespoke and unique. I couldn't do that with the non-independents. I couldn't request an individualized treatment. With any of them, I might get to meet the corporate president or owner but the designer of the watch? the craftsman? The person whose vision the watch was and who actually played a hand in its construction, testing and sending it to me? Only the independent can offer that. Admittedly, over time, many independents become mini-corporations and the individualism can disappear as rooms of watchmakers get employed. As to those entities, they are become somewhat of less interest to me. That is why, in our modern age, it is to me the uniqueness of the independent that attracts. This message has been edited by SethRL on 2011-02-01 07:57:46