Velociphile - No longer in the building
1397
Counterpoint: JLC Chrono and Compressor
To date, the Compressor series of watches has been an irrefutable sales success. Reaction to these latest watches, has been very positive. Nonetheless, naturally there has also been a body of restrained posting over the last couple of years indicating a level of disquiet over their styling; an expected situation for challenging new themes. However, it seems that very negative feeling about this range is not represented in open forum but, strangely, is being unleashed in private e-mail. If I am but one of the recipients of this undercurrent of anti-Compressor e-mails, I would have to conclude there is a fair body of disappointment with these designs and the direction JLC is heading with this growing range.
For the sake of balancing the perceived view of the Compressor range (and others), getting this out in the open, out of my inbox and off my chest, here are some uncut comments from the undercurrent of (predominantly unsolicited and sometimes anonymous) e-traffic I have about these watches:
"Did you see the new JLC 'flik flak'chronograph-world time-divers-cup of tea watch....brilliant how (JLC) can screw it up."
?The crescent windows of the various compressors, the useless '3 days aperture' for the date on the Compressor classic, and all the very good points you made on the AMVOX1 are perfect examples of this, which I regret deeply.?
"A disk as an hour counter.... WHY??? The last thing I want is a Joan Miro influenced watch, especially when Gaudi has had some influence.?
?It adds nothing to the design and makes an otherwise superb watch merely very good.?
?I was going to write something awful ............ Instead I am just muttering to myself and shaking my head.?
?The "flaws" of the current AMVOX1 are minor to fix, but make the difference between a "marketing" watch, and a serious watch from a serious manufacture.?
?Janek must be under house arrest, or in hiding?
?They undertake all the R&D for an integrated chrono, only to have a Miro influenced air head design the face"
At least Alain Silberstein starts off with the understanding that the watch will not necessarily be functional, AND the colours are that much more entertaining"
"?.only to wrongfully add some useless features..."
?Therefore, I believe the '3 normal crowns diver memovox' is technically very achievable while being more aesthetic?
"Once again, JLC prove that they cannot design a sports watch for love nor money....."
"....about AMVOX1. No, I won?t be buying one in case you wondered. A p!sspoor effort that watch"
?(The parachutist) probably forgot to open the chute as he was trying to figure out how long he had been descending?
?....without using any gimmick (compressor keys) of disgraceful appearance... ?
??.fully regret that (the) new designs of JLC put form over function?
?The "Polaris" design should have been used for a dive watch?
?I had an argument over the design of (the feature) and was basically told, ?Well, no-one really uses that function anyway?..? I begged to differ. I guess that says a lot about where they?re coming from now.......?
Why I'm a recipient of the ?anti-mail? is beyond me. I just wish people would post what they honestly think on the forum or at least as comments on my blog. I posted my personal reflections on the Compressor range recently here:
http://www.network54.com/Forum/thread?forumid=234648&messageid=1105225161
As for me and the new chrono? Well, I could just about live with the basic stainless version. Very interesting to see 'half keys' on the chrono buttons (as proposed in my Polaris re-issue spec) and that the tick marks are every 1/4 second in line with the vph. However, I'm afraid I have some qualms (already posted).
More classically inclined Purists will have to wait for the movement to appear elsewhere -preferably in a Janek set of clothes. We can't wait.
Velociphile