Horological Meandering

TdotBean
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My ideal scenario will be

The big brands continue their persuit into high frequency caliber and advance material but don't stop at only producing a few top end show piece. Industralize them into mass market product like what Swatch did to the co-axial escapement. Then we can all enjoy the benefit. Lower price for us, bigger profit for the manufacturer and the watch company get to stay in spotlight of being 'the most advance, high tech, innovative, accurate, ... etc'
Much better dollar spend then sponsoring other event that doesn't relate well to the company historical heritage.

As for the independent. Just keep to the basic and honed their craftsmanship of using the age old material and method to produce superb finish aesthetically pleasing watch. Go wild go crazy with the design. Since there won't be any worries of pleasing the common crowd. They won't be making a lot of watches to go around anyway.

In this way I feel both the independent and the big brand can coexist nicely.

I'm not comfortable to see big brand competing with the independent by producing a small number highly finish traditional looking model and charge a high price(isn't that missing the point of industralization) which only fuel the independent to raise their price to unjustifiable level.

Worst is the independent trying to do what the big brand do using unstable material and method that haven't stood the test of time. In end leaving the buyer with the cost, the mistake and a watch that is a servicing nightmare.

Of course there are few exception but a few doesn't make up the industry. Watchmaking is a business as much as it is art. If balance went out of place I fear it is big loss to all parties.

I like the high frequency development to stay within the big brands and the independent keep making low frequency wonders.

This of course is only my personal preference.

Just my 2 sen.

Best,
Tyler This message has been edited by T.Bean on 2011-04-12 18:22:44