It is an undeniable fact that the watch hobby mostly focuses on mechanical models. In fact, most enthusiasts talk about the soul of mechanical watches and the happiness they bring to their wearers. So how realistic is that? Let's find out.
I am sure you are all aware of the developmental stages of watchmaking. It is a situation that arouses admiration and astonishment that the curiosity of human beings, which developed many years ago to understand the environment, time, world, universe, astronomy, and order, has turned into micro and mini-scale artifacts today, adorning our wrists. The desire to measure and observe time is made possible by machines, with the technology of the years when it was invented, by "mechanical" methods. Again, as you know, with the developing technology, the 70s witnessed a great revolution in watchmaking and battery-operated watches took the lead. The crisis experienced in the meantime caused the bankruptcy of hundreds of mechanical watch manufacturers, and the industry was almost reshaped.
After a long introduction, let's return to our main topic. Swiss watchmakers must not have been able to digest the Far East's victory because they are looking for a new way out. No, I'm not talking about the revolutionary Swatch, I'm talking about Audemars Piguet Royal Oak and Patek Philippe Nautilus, the creators of the luxury sports watch concept, where stainless steel is a luxury material. Oh Genta, what a great man you are! Of course, these two watches could not save the glory of mechanical watches with a magic wand. After many years of war, the mechanical front, which has suffered many losses, could survive despite its shrinking lands. It would not be unfair to call Gerald Genta the commander-in-chief in this bloody war.
A great divergence begins. The perception that "watches with batteries are soulless, mechanical watches are creations that appeal to the heart" is engraved in the minds of watch lovers with great precision and an operation that lasts for many years. I'm just thinking logically. If we think about a watch with a battery, it is extremely cheap to manufacture the caliber inside, the complications you can add are endless, it requires almost no maintenance, it is almost not affected by impacts and shocks, the timekeeping performance is at the highest level possible, and if you want a flowing seconds hand, this is also possible. In short, if you do not see the movement through the case back or the skeleton dial, the quartz caliber is unrivaled, even invincible - within the framework of logic. On the other hand, despite all the efforts to increase the precision and durability of mechanical calibers, their performance is still far behind a battery-powered caliber.
Unfortunately, logic is not among the first criteria in luxury consumption. Is it because the fragile, naive, imperfect, demanding structure of mechanical watches is human-like, so we can describe mechanical calibers as having a soul? I wonder if we can associate every swing of the balance with the beating of our heart, the filling of the mainspring, with our eating and sleeping? Or, if something happens to a cheap (battery-powered) watch, we don't hesitate to say goodbye to it, while we go to watchmakers to keep our mechanical watches alive, try to renew and restore them?
Less is valuable, I admit. Currently, there is a tremendous imbalance in the supply vs demand in the world of watches. While many brands are selling only enough to manage themselves and not releasing new models, a few brands are trying to increase the brand value that has already peaked by keeping the supply constant or even reducing the supply in the face of heavy demand. I don't know how this will end, but I have an extraordinary plan in mind. It's not untested, but it's a little different.
Imagine that you have a watch produced with the highest quality of materials and craftsmanship, with its case, dial, bracelet/strap, and every part that you see briefly and touches your skin. The only difference from today's samples is that it is battery-powered. The price you are asked for in return is much lower than the mechanical version. To make a difference, this watch does not show the time in the traditional hour and minute hands. In short, we're talking about a super exotic-looking, affordable, high-quality, battery-powered watch. What would your reaction be to such a thought?
