Horological Meandering

Watch_time_it_is
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all will be served

in any good market, there are options for all needs. I believe that the resurgence of Swiss time pieces has served to strengthen the watch market and as such, ensured there will be variety if for no other reason, for the watch makers to distingush themselves from each other.

Look at the independents as a subset of the larger market. You have Nicholas Delaloye with a wonderfully understated and elegent design built on a stunning in-house movement. Then there is Roger Smith doing the same thing, but at a 2x or higher price point. Peter Speake-Marin brings a more artistic design to the case and dial, with the enamal dial "hiding" the uniqueness of this very challenging dial techique.

Stephan Sarpanova and Paul Gerber making other unique pieces also at very different price points, bringing technical (Gerber) and artistic (Sarpanova) differentiation to the market.

In the larger market, this is magnified significantly. Given the range of styles, designs, and prices that an ETA 2426 sells for, it is clear that to most buyers, the trend is set by the marketers and not the buyers. Ashame in my opinion.

My preference is 42+\- 2mm and I have had a hard time finding these at times despite the "move to large watches". Many AP, GO, VC and even PP are to small for me, which means they are "righter" for the "retuning old market".

I do agree that the very small diameter watches (sub 36mm) are few and far between, but don't expect many of these to return if for no greater reason than the aging of both the population in general, and certainly the majority of watch collectors. (except for those on the purists web site who remain ageless in some magical way.)

Once any trend become to commonplace, something new will be introduced to counter it. I never have been very good at being told what is in or out of style. I am often very off track with what the trend publications say I should be doing. Then again, when they list great watches at various price points (as fortune did awhile back) I am always amazed at how expected and traditional they are on their selection. Just my 2 cents This message has been edited by SBS-purists on 2008-10-08 22:37:29