Independents

MTF
[PuristS]
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Politically correct answer

Dear Adam,

We get questions like this all the time and there is no perfect answer.   Strictly speaking, the word "independent" has the least influence as criterium to be on this forum. The other two descriptors have more relevance.

Taking an excerpt from an old thread to help explain below:

The AHCI forum was originally founded on ThePuristS to give (then few) unknown AHCI members exposure to the watch world. It was simple then because the AHCI founders maintained quality control over which candidates could become members. Much was based on the principle of "master watchmaker" i.e. they made a master-piece.

See Calabrese explains AHCI qualifications: click here

With increased exposure and more collectors, membership of AHCI became quite attractive and many candidates appeared. Some did not qualify, were rejected or "withdrew their applications". Others did not even apply, choosing to find fame and money by just forming new brands because they could ride on the crest of the watch collecting wave without passing muster or meister status by peer review

Some non-AHCI watchmakers could be considered "high horology" even after they stopped being "independent" in the sense of the original "creator independent", and we changed the forum title to reflect this. Without explicitly printing out a LIST of rightful watchmakers, we confine discussion on this forum to AHCI members/candidates and some independent high horology that are not AHCI. One example is MB&F which acts like a commune with changing membership but no doubt about the high horology and independent part as each component and contributor is acting as an independent when working on his/her part in the project.

Some brands, although "independent", do not get discussed because the community does not really see them as independent & high horology.......yet.   PPro does not implicitly nor explicitly list brands who have made it to the expectations of the moderators and/or community.

Safe Default

In case of doubt, post on general HoMe forum and if the community deems it "high horology" the moderators may probably move it to this forum.....

The converse may be true.....should we then move things out of this forum onto the general pages?   Would that be fair to the AHCI and high horology masters to let ANY watch remain on this forum?

A previous thread asked specifically about a certain brand (Not Sarpaneva) that posted itself on these pages..... Let's say a new brand (making honest but adequate watches) appears on this forum posting directly (tacky) or indirectly posted by others (not so tacky), do we apply the general rule and see how much interest it garners from the high-traffic general discussion page (HoMe) or let it get buried in the lower-traffic AHCI page? 

What does Mr Sarpaneva say about his own watches? Have a look here; click here

He is not a member of AHCI.......yet.

I think, for now, the fledgling brand needs more exposure on general forums.

Regards,

MTF