Horological Meandering

ThomasM
[PuristS]
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Sorry, again, catching this in between a rock and a hard place...

Hi, MKVC,

Your last sentence almost seems like a desperate tautology (no offense intended, I hope we know each other well enough not to get mired in misunderstood implied nuances of words) - sure I agree that anyone doing anything just for the sake of something else, rather than for itself, are not distinguishing themselves.

Getting good grades to get into a good school, rather than getting good grades because you have mastered the material AND can present this learning well.  (this begs the question of, what if one mastered the material, but alas, could not present well?)

Producing high quality in order to sell, and not for the sake of producing high quality.

Posting here not to share, but to build up one's profile so they can get paying gigs, here or elsewhere. (these REALLY bug the shit out of me, and I know several such who hide among us, I am watching you carefully!

"Oh, I feel I don't know enough to share anything" but then find it conscionable to then turn around and offer their writing services for pay. HUH?!?  Please, stay away from here, we don't need your hypocrisy.)

Hitting on the "nice cosmetic finishing" route to upgrade themeselves so they can sell more watches, and not because of a true, internal appreciation for high finishing.

I'd rather get a "brutishly" finished movement (of course, and not be charged for high finishing...) that is consistent with the character and style of the watchmaker, than a finely finished one done so solely for the purpose of selling more and for a higher price.

"Thus, if they were willing to put in the time, they could make instruments that would win craftsmanship competitions."

I think you are shortchanging the skills, experience, and "eye" necessary to do truly spectacular, transcendent "craftsmanship."

Nick brings up an interesting area, one which in so many ways distills much of the stuff we discuss in watchmaking - knifemaking. Because it is so simple, and the raison d'etre so simple and clearly and apparently so easy to achieve - to cut, or stab, or saw - the materials and the production processes and decisions are thrown into sharp relief.

It's easy to make a sharp edge.

It's relatively easy to make a mirror polish.

It is relatively easy to make a "nice" grind line.

It is VERY difficult to do a "perfect" grind line. (this is nearing, dangerously, to the "well, if I have to explain it, you won't be able to understand it" territory, unfortunately...and of course, not directed at you specifically, MKVC, a "generic" you.)

And not everyone can do it, even if they spent the time.

Just like I couldn't draw like Picasso or Luc (a forum member in TO) even if I tried for the next 100 years...

" However, they mostly don't care to do so. My sense also is that the people winning craftsmanship competitions do not necessarily have the ability to make good-sounding instruments."

You do draw a very interesting dichotomy, and at its root, this is one of the never ending Maginot lines of Art vs Science.

And Craft vs Art.

But perhaps I've gotten too abstract already...

Cheers,

TM