I collect, and repair watches. I usually like stories about watches, and the people who cherish them, but not today. I'm just in a weird mood? This popped out, and made me cringe:
"Mechanical watches are far less accurate than quartz watches, but often far more expensive, because their bearings are more intricate. All contemporary Rolex watches, for example, are mechanical."
1. They are not more expensive because of the synthetic rubies that are called jewels. They are more expensive because of the name, and marketing.
2. I've noticed a lot of guys under 35 just arn't into mechanical watches. I do get it. And women--just arn't into watches at all. I don't know why, but sometimes I think it's because we die so early.
3. As it stands now, a guy could go out and spend 10 grand on a watch. The second it goes out of warranty, and needs a service, or a part; it has to go back to the factory, and is repaired at factory prices. Prices like $800 for a mainspring, and service.
4. See the watch comapnies decided to not sell parts to Watch Repair people(like myself), or even a customer.
5. It's like buying a vechicle, and when it breaks down; you need to take it to the dealership.
6. They claim it's for quality assurance, but it's a money grab. In my American eyes it violates The Sherman Anti-trust Act. Yes--a federal lawyer/Investigator agreed, but didn't feel it wasn't worth doing much about. She said someting like, 'It's a wealthy person's problem, and not on my todo list." All the while, those politicians are wearing Rolexes?
7. The bigger watch houses have consolidated. Swatch owns many of the high end watches you see out there. Rolex is separate. I believe Rolex even own the company that provides the oil to those fancy watches. It's called Moebius oil. And they want it used on all their watches.
8. If you get into watches that's fine. It can be addicting. Would I ever buy a new watch I could not work on, nor buy parts for--hell no!
9. If the Watch Industry reads this, your customer base has changed. Lower your prices, and enough to with the games. Customers are tired of the maximum 20% discount you require your boutiques to stick to. They are tired of being told a grey market watch bought at Costco is not really a Rolex, and you won't even honor the warranty. They are not the uninformed Dongle heads of the past. Don't insult their intelligence--they are all carring around a smart phone that tells the time.
10. My parting words are this. I still love my old watches. I hope more young people get into the industry and Shake things up. There something very gratifying about resurrecting an old watch found on eBay. I went from collecting to repairing, and there's definetly a shift of attitude when you know what's under the hood. My everyday watch is a watch I found in a thrift store. Years ago, the lady behind the counrt said the old Timex is $2.00. I took it home and it set on my desk for 5 years. One night I noticed a little fish on the crown. I thought, why would Times brand the crown? I opened it up, and it was a IWC 853. All the markings on the dial were gone. I served it, and wear it proudly. People think it's a cheap watch, and I don't care. I can wear it to the worst parts of the city, and never worry about theft. I look at that chalky dial, and it just makes me feel good. Knowing how to repair it feels better. Sorry about the lenght of this post--depressed, or something?