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Traditional watchmaking does not mean it has to be exclusive :-))
That screws and other structural parts are mass produced does not matter.
What matters is that these parts have been polished.
Silicone parts will come out with the perfect surface without any need for polishing.
In my opinion silicone parts are free of any romance.
Best
Moritz
This message has been edited by COUNT DE MONET on 2015-08-24 01:35:15 This message has been edited by COUNT DE MONET on 2015-08-24 01:36:32Dear Count,
I agree 99%.
BUT:
with silicon some benefits are achieved. I.e. longer power reserve, better accuracy, etc.
Steamships were the original modern vessels and they were the romantic option in passenger transportation. The latest generation of passenger ships have engines burning LNG and the main engines are equipped with several turbo chargers. These vessels are more efficient, faster and the polite much less than the traditional vessels.
Should we turn the clock back in the name of romance?
I appreciate the traditional watch making but when I compare i.e. my PP 5550P to my 5140P, I can well appreciate the modern technology. What is most important is that in my opinion the modern technologies have not made the movement of 5550 any less attractive than the movement of 5140.
Best, Kari
My dear Kari,
I love your vessel comparison!
It is not to turn back the time to have or sustain romance in our lives or in our watch lovers live's in particular.
Steal for instance was able to reach mystical status when it was developed thousands of years ago, as with any metal that man has created.
And I believe that is the point: man has to create it directly not a high technical plant or high tech apparatus, where silicone parts come from.
Man has ton work hard, sweat and also die for it in order to produce the material and give the material its pathos.
With silicone I can not create this pathos.
To your comparison of the 5550 and 5140: imagine the 5550 would have an entire movement made out of silicone.
Compared to a traditional movement it is less attractive in my opinion.
However, a 5550 is certainly a top collector's item that should be in the collection or in the hands of a watch fan.
Best
Moritz
It is not to turn back the time to have or sustain romance in our lives or in our watch lovers live's in particular.
Steal for instance was able to reach mystical status when it was developed thousands of years ago, as with any metal that man has created.
And I believe that is the point: man has to create it directly not a high technical plant or high tech apparatus, where silicone parts come from.
Man has ton work hard, sweat and also die for it in order to produce the material and give the material its pathos.
With silicone I can not create this pathos.
To your comparison of the 5550 and 5140: imagine the 5550 would have an entire movement made out of silicone.
Compared to a traditional movement it is less attractive in my opinion.
However, a 5550 is certainly a top collector's item that should be in the collection or in the hands of a watch fan.
Best
Moritz
My Dear Count,
This is getting interesting but I can't express myself as well as I would like to. English is still a foreign language to me...
Last time I spoke about vessels - let us speak about cars and take another perspective.
I'm expecting a Porsche Targa 4 GTS. I ordered it now because the next generation will not anymore have the free aspiring engine but a bit smaller one with bi-turbo. The new engine has the same output but a lower consumption. So it is more technically advanced but as a purist I took the last of "traditional" engines. Fine.
But in the past the engines were air-cooled. Is that system better or more puristic than a water cooled engine? Not in my opinion - it's just old-fashioned.
Same with silicon: if we get real benefits like increased accuracy, longer power reserve and less servicing - I think the technical development serves the consumer. The most important feature is that the silicon parts are basically invisible and they are made of space-age material in order to improve the performance of the movement. So in this case development does not bother me especially when the visible parts of the movement are made in the traditional way.
But i.e. bridges made of a new space-age material would be a game-changer for me and mean end of buying such watches.
I can see when comparing my 5550P to my 5140P that the new movement is actually more accurate and the power reserve is also in reality 50% longer. Looking at the two 240 movements give me exactly the same level of satisfaction.
Best, Kari
Off topic
I couldn't resist to reply to your "Porsche turbo vs atmo" remark... as I just had the same thoughts since I heard about this in the 991 2nd Phase (to come in September maybe) or, more recently, the Cayman/Boxter.
I thought this was maybe the right time to get one before those &$#!* turbo engine replace them.
I think I will finally stick to watches but was really having the same thougths.
The 991 Targa 4 in a GTS version is really great model indeed.
Cheers, Mark
I thought this was maybe the right time to get one before those &$#!* turbo engine replace them.
I think I will finally stick to watches but was really having the same thougths.
The 991 Targa 4 in a GTS version is really great model indeed.
Cheers, Mark
Thanks Mark,
Often development is good, sometimes it is serving more the producer/other interests. When it comes to cars, I have my taste. I am often driving my wife's BMW 435ix Cabriolet and my god how I hate the turbo engine!
With watches the same applies. I can tolerate improvements when those have a purpose and do not change the idea of finely manufactured movement. Carbon bridges and similar ideas are strict NO NO for me.
Best, Kari
the clue....
...as to whether I agree or not is in my name, or try "TVR Chimaera" - 5 litres of agricultural and fully mechanical V8. No electronics, no gizmos!
Instead of "finely manufactured movements" only, I would say
that you would add the "traditional" adjective.
Because, for instance, some movements with Carbon or Titanium (like Richard Mille for instance) are very finely manufactured movements too. They are even adding more shock resistance, wear and tear resistance and lightness.
That's why I would add "traditional" as the RM are not traditional at all (except they use balance wheel with swiss lever escapement).
Cheers, Mark.
PS: by the way, when atalking about BMW, I loved their Atmo 6 cylinders engines. The new M4 is fantastic, but the engine's noise is a compelte "no go" for me.
Because, for instance, some movements with Carbon or Titanium (like Richard Mille for instance) are very finely manufactured movements too. They are even adding more shock resistance, wear and tear resistance and lightness.
That's why I would add "traditional" as the RM are not traditional at all (except they use balance wheel with swiss lever escapement).
Cheers, Mark.
PS: by the way, when atalking about BMW, I loved their Atmo 6 cylinders engines. The new M4 is fantastic, but the engine's noise is a compelte "no go" for me.
Indeed,
"traditional" is a better word. Like said, English is not my mother tongue.
I have tried the six cylinder BMW M engine. I liked much more their previous V8 engine. What I like in the traditional flat six is the feel of power without any kind of turbo delay and that helped me to decide to get a 911. Furthermore, in our conditions four wheel drive is fantastic and a soft top cabriolet is not a good option. Sometimes we get 20 cm of wet and heavy snow just in hours and then it's better to have a hard roof.
But back to the watch engines: the simple reason why I do not have i.e. RM is that I appreciate too much the traditional art of watch making. However, this should not stop the development...
Best, Kari
haute couture would not "run" (pun intended) if not made in France orr Italy :-)
I also love to buy from time to time pret a porter pieces and I take it for granted that the attire is made in France or Italy and check it also.
Lower brands in fashion have to be made in a European country for me.
Anything else is not worth the money and I feel not comfortable owning something that has been made for the cost of someone else's poor living standard.
Best
Moritz
I think this is a great feature.
It shows that the movement is really new old stock like expressed by Patek.
Best, Kari