Independents

ThomasM
[PuristS]
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Possible solution

Hi, Mark,

Your comments both warm my heart, and worry me a little.  I sincerely hope you and Mr. Dufour do not misunderstand or have misread my comments, either in this thread or in my earlier "timing reports."

The timing reports were simply statements of fact, nothing more, and I took special care to explicitly note that NO conclusions should be drawn from them, as well as the background of each piece.

I repeated that context again in the exchange above, with Spiro.

Your comments warm my heart, as I know who you are and what you represent (something I respect very, very much)

I feel very strongly about this - I know how finicky and sometimes unpredictable watches can be, EVEN WITH PERFECT ATTENTION TO THEIR CREATION AND TO THEIR CARE AND USE.

Yet how many others who read the magazines, who read the internet sites, can take all of this under the proper context?  How many would be ready to burn the school house down, if they, in their naivety, their innocent belief in the perpetuated myth of perfection, should experience what I have experienced, in isolation, without the benefit of balancing experience or calming points of view?

There is no question it needs a good service, and I certainly do plan to contact Mr. Dufour very soon to discuss.

Very few people have gotten to the point where they need to face the question, what do I do when it comes time to service a Simplicity (or Duality?)  Mr. Dufour has been quoted many times, by many publications and various other interviews, as saying that the design of the Simplicity is such that ANY competent watchmaker can service it properly.

Yet it is a Dufour; who else, while the man is alive and well to do the actual servicing, would I possibly think of to do the servicing?

Then the practical reality sets in; if NEW deliveries are being pushed back, to 2008 and later, so that the last few pieces are being quoted with postponed and delayed deliveries,

a) how long can I expect to wait for mine to be serviced?

b) and would I feel guilty wishing it to be finished sooner, knowing that any servicing I receive would likely push back even further the delivery of heavily anticipated new deliveries?

c) should I, then, knowing that a basic principle of the design was that it be serviceable by ANY competent watchmaker, and as someone who sincerely cares about other people than just myself

(the inevitable problem I face is, of course, WHICH other people? the consumer? the brands? the independents?

the others who hate me and would like to see me burn in hell?

those who like me and support my efforts to raise the awareness and appreciation and love of high watchmaking and the history and glory of watchmaking, but without the marketing bullshit and the self serving double talk, and be able to love high end watches DESPITE its imperfections?

I already see the pitchforks being pulled out and sharpened,and conspiracy theorists smiling, rubbing their hands in glee; I know I will have many headaches for simply engaging in this exchange (and posting the previous data)  but if I were so smart, I wouldn't be where I am today.

Just to be clear (I hope it was, to you and Mr. Dufour, so this is mostly for other readers)

My original posting of timing data was explicitly and carefully qualified; I stand behind the facts as observed, and the clearly stated point that I drew no conclusions.

The comment about "assistants" and "wives" was raised by Spiro, not me. Knowing Mr. Dufour and his workshop, I was concerned that Spiro's comment was a sly attack on Mr. Dufour, and I wanted to draw out any implications into the open before responding to it.  I know full well Mr. Dufour very often answers his own phone, which is one of the reasons I don't just pick up the phone and just chat and catch up (he is a very busy man, and far be it for me to be the one to distract him with idle chit chat)  So again, I sincerely hope no readers got the above exchange confused and attribute comments or conclusions to me that do not belong to me.

There is no question in my mind the watches need a good service.

There is no question in my mind I would love to send them to "their home and poppa" for servicing (Mr. Dufour is well aware of this; we've had candid discussions before, on this very subject.)

I know exactly when they were delivered and when they last got a good service, and these will be discussed with Mr. Dufour the next time I talk to him.

My previous posting of rate keeping were simple observations of fact, and publically sharing them and opening it up for discussion was intended to be a GOOD thing - can you imagine if someone less experienced with watches were to experience what I did, heaven forbid!?!  And quite candidly, the "galloping" watch #1 was quite a surprise, as it was one of my best timekeepers, bar none, for some time. So I didn't expect the results, and they did catch me by surprise, in the specific, even if not in general (I accept temperamental behaviour from high grade timepieces, just like I expected, but no less was frustrated, by my damned Lamborghini constantly not starting, but when it did, oh glorious road experience!)

So again, in conclusion, I hope other readers don't misread or misunderstand my comments, in this, or my previous, thread.  And certainly I am confident you and Mr. Dufour don't, as you both know me so well.

Talk to you soon, my friend.

TM