Independents

I am far from Nirvana, for Nirvana requires a certain nonchalant aloofness from petty human frailties.

I am still too bothered by executives who are two faced hypocritical liars, watchmakers who are inspired more by money and fame than by horological excellence (worse, who PRETEND that horological excellence is what truly inspires them); and "journalists" who didn't even like watches but due to some fortunate turn of fate, and being in the right place and time, who are then embraced and exalted as some sort of gurus, by the trade, and the gullible consumer...

No, I am still doomed to a petty, miserable human existence...

TM

I look forward to meeting you one day
*CL This message has been edited by CL on 2009-10-29 15:02:00

And as such, saddens me in many ways.
The human condition being what it is, I am hopeful it will get better and change.
That I'm maybe being naive, doesn't stop me wanting for a better field of endeavor/enjoyment.

Ah well, a man can dream...

Cheers,
Tim

hence it's interesting to look at this topic once a year to see what changes took place.
Watch appreciation is far from Zen, that I agree too but knowing deeply in our heart or making ourselves to think harder and choose ONLY one
watch to accompany our life journey can be an interesting experience too.
It may bring us to know what we really desire and probably even know ourself a bit better each time.
As always, your point of view is always cherished by many of us.
Lovesss*CL

I've heard about, and seen, some of your photographic work. Damn, man, what an eye! and the technique to pull it off...

I can only dream of learning something from you...

Whom we choose to accompany us through life is a very important decision; strangely, I sometimes seem like I expend more effort on material things, in this regard, than I do on the people around me.

For me, though, objects don't have feelings, so they are not hurt if I choose to reject them, or if I inspect them with a 20x loupe or 50x stereo microscope.

Friends and lovers, not so hurtproof...so sometimes, it's better to keep the loupe in the sheath...

;-)

But in the end, wearing a Simplicity or Petite et Grande Sonnerie or tourbillon is also a complex intellectual and emotional calculus.

I HATE tourbillons - over built, an answer to a question no one cares about or even asked in 50 years, too commercial and produced today mainly so that the producing manufacturer can justify through marketing legerdemain ridiculously absurd amounts of money for somethin that costs them 1/50th the retail price to produce.

Yet, the Haldimann H-1 central tourbillon is a pinnacle of watchmaking for me.

Petite et Grande Sonneries are useless toys for most, and in fact, most striking watches are highly dubious in their pleasure to price ratio delivered. Yet, I find no watch more enchanting than a wearable, elegant and well adjusted, melodic Sonnerie En Passant

The Simplicity is sublime, and as I noted already, your "defense" of it is dead on, couldn't put it better. You have captured its "essence."

I respect KV like no other, yet (gasp) I do not (yet) own one, and I don't like being a hypocrite and speak from dreams and empty wishes; it is important to "put one's money where one's mouth is." So I can't and won't comment on the Observatoire or other masterpieces from Mr. V.

I can "respect" a brand like A. Lange Sohne, but except for the 1815 Moonphase, I don't feel the emotional appeal.

I suppose the AP Royal Oak Jumbo (actually, jumbo - first generation, AP logo over the 6) might give the PG Sonnerie a run for its money as a "one and only" but can you believe that as long as I have loved and supported AP and their products, I only "got" the RO and Offshore in the last few years?!?

I'll have fun with Ikepods -

 

and Silbersteins -

And I still can be taken away by the sheer historical significance of pieces like these -

but in the end, I always "come home."

Until the day I don't, or can't.

So, a ding dong, and a whirly gig thingama jigger are what I hope I'll always come home to

Cheers,.

TM

 

 

 

for writing what you feel.....
it's great read and keep me thinking
You are a very inspiring person.
*CL

I have tried it once and find it hard to erase it from my head. To me , though this watch is a tourbillion.........it appears as ONE SIMPLE watch
and it sounds really really amazing. I love it dearly.
*CL

And some handy, spot on observations.

Best, Douglas, it's been awhile.

Hope all's well.

TM

No message body

Hope all's well.

We miss ya around here!

TM

Dufour: Duality (today, a different day it might be something else)

I won't pick a "mainstream" watch because I'm clearly biased.

Now you are making me itching to have one...hahhahaa
*CL

G&F: Tourbillon 24 second incline--the closest I've ever seen to a mechanical pas a deux I've ever seen.

Journe: Either of the tourbillons or Resonance (I had making a forced, single choice) because both extend into the present the respect and love of horology of far gone days with beautiful and romantic execution.

Excellent post and responses, John.

Best to all,

Douglas

Then again, I have yet seen a watch on your wrist that doesn't look elegant. Maybe it has nothing to do with the watches but the owner
*CL

When surrounded by such great knowledge.

My choice for an independant, would be for the beautiful Dufour Simplicity. I would sell (not that I have many,LOL) my entire collection to have the opportunity to own and wear one of these most stunning pieces.

A choice of a "mainstream" watch is so much more difficult, as there is a very wide range of great watches. But I would go with either a Patek Philippe 5207P, which I had the great privillege of trying on, listerning and looking at. Or the magnificent  A Lange & Sohne TURBOGRAPH Pour le Merite. 

As for the main stream, I have this strange feeling that those watches you mentioned are better meant to 'lust'. Once you get your hand on them, it may not be as magical as you would think. Just my strange point of view.
With the money, I would prefer to get a good 2499
*CL

However, as I am unlikely to have the pleasure of any of my choices (where's the violin,LOL)

I shall continue to lust. LOL