Independents

Tim_M
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The Heart of the Matter

Hi,

First, thank you for undertaking this overview of the piece. The original post by Bernard was provocative and compelling, but this one added a better sense of the watch's wrist presence and functional character. Much appreciated, and well-done.

My concern about this piece centers around one question: is this a craft watch or a personal electronic device? If the latter, then comparable products are not UN Macho 950's or JLC Reverso Squadras but ipods, Blackberries, and PSPs.

The functions of a mechanical watch are beguiling and impressive because they take the constraints of traditional mechanisms like springs, gears, and levers to levels ingenuity that astound. A minute repeater made by hand and powered by springs is a work of art and a breathtaking accomplishment, but only on its own terms.

Electronic devices, on the other hand, can produce the same effect as the minute repeater with a few dollars worth of micro circuits and batteries. If the Devon had realized its time display concept through traditional clockwork, it would be an achievement on par with the best from MB&F, Vianney Halter, and other innovative independents. As it is, it seems like an interesting design effort but not a $15,000 luxury watch.

Basically, trying to emulate the function of a complicated mechanical watch using electronics is punching below the weight of the underlying technology. This is a very expensive fashion watch unless there is some kind of inherent craft in it that would make it exceptionally difficult for other to replicate using the same electronic components. You can reconfigure time display arrangements and style all day long when the regulating mechanisms, power source, and drivetrains are more afterthoughts than dominant design factors.

I do like that the watch is U.S. made, as the USA would do well to re-establish a domestic watch manufacturing base. Also, it's an original display concept, which is good from a style perspective, but there are plenty of fashion watches and electronic gizmos that compete on that front.