Ornatus-Mundi[Zenith]
7136
A real purists watch maker...
would be either Rolex or Patek Philippe - with their take-it-or-leave-it approach...
We watch enthusiasts are a really strange crowd. We appreciate independent watchmakers because of the 'personal experience', the individual touch and the 'intimate process of creating a watch together with the maker'.
And then they do it - and we are unhappy, again. Complain about their betrayal of their own principles, their harlotry on the altar of filthy lucre, their alleged subordination under the 'money talks' principle.
May I call this 'hypocritical'?
Watchmakers are not saints and here - as a matter of principle - I cannot make a distinction between an independent watchmaker and one who joined the industry. Their respective degrees of freedom are surely different but both are in the trade to support themselves and their families.
In order to create what we all crave for compromises have to be made, particularly with the independents as there are few people who can afford those pieces, and amongst this select elite group there are God knows a great proportion who are very strict in terms of their preferences. Either their way or no way.
To say no to such requests could well be commercial suicide.
I'd rather have independents entertain certain requests for the benefit of us all. I am sure Kari et al. learn from such pieces, new partnerships might be forged and new potential customers with 'purer' ideas might be attracted.
In the end, its a matter of taste and preferences. As Pope Francis said last week 'who am I to judge this?'
Amen!
Cheers,
Magnus