Baron - Mr Red
14613
Complications - do you use them?
A good friend of mine who also happens to be a big collector of watches made an interesting remark to me recently. He said...no watch complication is really that useful. His point was that technology can do pretty much anything better than the (comparably) expensive complication built into a watch. Late last year, I bought myself the top of the range Garmin for running. It can measure my heart rate, estimate my VO2 max, tell me how long my foot is in contact with the ground when running, number of strides I take per minute, the extent of my vertical oscillation on each stride, the horizontal gain during hill climbs, my maximum speed, and on and on and on. It has to be the most complicated watch in the world, right?!?! And all for under £300. I use those complications. But do I use the ones that typically come on my watches? Chronograph. Moonphase. Minute Repeater. Amagnetic resistance. GMT. Waterproofing. The list of watch complications goes on and on. Yet, how many do people really use? Can't my iPhone tell me pretty much everything that my watch complication tells me?
I have to say, in essence, I think my friend is correct. In most cases, a watch complication can be performed way more efficiently by modern technology. My iPhone can perform virtually all of the functions of my watches.
Yet, there is another side to this discussion. I can't use my iPhone so easily in the water. Its not so easy to use my iPhone when I am in an airplane either. So in this sense, there are certainly circumstances where the convenience of a watch on my wrist supplants the use of modern technology. However, I am guessing that PuristS will take yet another line of opinion.
To me, its not about what technology can do better. The modern day Porsches are far superior in terms of most performance criteria to the now classic 993 that sits in my garage. My Golf is actually now faster than my 993. Technology will do that. Yet, if one asks most Porsche aficionados, they will say that the 993 is a far more beautiful and complete car than the modern offerings. I think I take the same view on watch complications. the skill and engineering that is required to place complications inside the tiny capsule that is a watch case requires an expertise that creates an aura around the watch. To have that engineering on my wrist creates a feeling that just isn't comparable to the feeling involved when I ask my iPhone when it is a full moon. Maybe it is an old fashioned feeling. Maybe the new technology watches will change the landscape. But I don't think so. i suspect there will always be an awe around the complications that we choose to have embedded in our watches.
I am curious to hear what others think about this topic. I think it is hard to dispute that modern technology can do most of the things that our watches can do more "efficiently". But it does it without soul....and thats why i think i love the complications in watches...and will continue to use them even if my iPhone is available.
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Complications - do you use them?
A good friend of mine who also happens to be a big collector of watches made an interesting remark to me recently. He said...no watch complication is really that useful. His point was that technology can do pretty much anything better than the (comparably...
Thank you Joe; a very interesting topic
I like all the complications. But in the end of the day what counts is the capability of showing the time and perhaps date. The rest is plain decoration. That said, while waiting my Patek Philippe 5711 to arrive, I ordered as the first thing this morning ...
Age vrs Complicatiuons
Fricks opened up the idea that one's desire for complications was inversely correlated to age. It was an interesting thought. Like you, I am warming more and more to purity and simplicity...I thought you described it really well by aliening it to looking ...
It's nearly criminal
to own Calatravas like yours. I would give away several complications if I could find one. Best, Kari
"Show them all". Do you know how your kindness is called?
Modern English waterboarding! Best, Kari
My cell phone can wake me up or give me the time...
I still prefer my JLC Memovoxes or UN Sonata.... This is a question of class... And of romantism, too. Electronics cannot compete with that. Vivent les montres! Best, Nicolas
When you think about it...some complications are very funny....
....think about having the year on your watch? "OOOhhh...what year are we in? Hang on, let me look at my watch. Ahhhh...2015" I'd like to meet the guy who uses the year function on a watch.
Beside the nostalgia and the admiration of mechanics
there are a few non-features of my wristwatches the iPhone cannot keep up with: - no need to upgrade the SW - no need to sync with iTunes or iCloud - the wife cannot track me - no annoying mails or messages with bad timing - I can't catch a virus - never ...
Suggestion for the app store ;-)
I'm trying without success to find out among the countless apps available for my iPhone (I imagine the same in all other platform) the one that make me feel the silkiness of the charging of a movement with manual winding or the limited gumminess typical o...
Wrong statement to me...
Hi Joe, It is a question commonly seen around the net concerning watches. It is more a question we ask because we think watches pricing is very high (especially when including complications). We can find many areas where it works that way but then we won'...
My 2 Cents
Joe: Interesting post. Take my opinion for what its worth as I have only ever worn Sea-Dwellers. However, I do have to say that I use my date complication daily (of course!) and I do use my Sea-Dweller for its intended purpose - to be a water proof timer....
To me it is about ....
what we as a society can acheive, but not in terms of elektronics only but engeneering as a whole. We can build Space shuttle, we can build the Eiffel tower, we can build the Confederation Bridge and we can build mechanical complicated watches that one ca...
Is accuracy a complication?
Well... being a Lange & Sohne Richard Lange fan I would say so!!! What that model stands for covers all my needs regarding complication Best, Rob. This message has been edited by peregrino on 2015-02-02 10:43:35
Complications ...
Baron, Nice topic. Made me wonder. I use, with a certain frequency: 1) The chronograph complication or the dive bezel to time ... pasta. 2) The running seconds (is this a real complication?) to check the watch accuracy. 3) Moon phase is cool, just cool bu...
I have tried to explain it also earlier:
Moon phase is a "bloody" useful complication. Just adjust it according to the monthly circle of your wife and when the full moon is approaching, it is time to run! I follow my moon phase very carefully... Best, Kari
Great topic, Baron!
As you say, any smart phone may do any of the complications and more.... But...... A big part of the passion and charm would be lost if only use the phone.... If you compare with vintage watches, if a phone from the 1950's could do all - I would probably ...
It does really depends on the complications.
Watches are miniature mechanical marvels, which is why so many of us are drawn to, or dream about. Some pieces are also an art, imho. It is a traditional thing, and is something we can pass down to the next generation as a gift...try that with a cellphone...
Good comments Raymond......
......I am not saying this is true across the board at all, but I also think that excess complication can also look a little bit "try-hard". The purity and simplicity of a time only watch will always have a big place for me in my collection. Thanks for yo...
