"The watches you own end up owning you" - Tyler Durden in Fight Club
Luxury watches suck.
We spend so much time worrying about which watch is perfect.
And then caring for the watches, setting the time, sending them in for service, etc.
And worrying that they might get scratched or stolen.
Owning watches is fun. But it can become a burden.
And this is why quartz rules.
With a quartz watch, you own the watch. Not the other way around.
Reliability is almost never a problem. Even the old ones were known to last for decades. The modern ones will probably last even longer.
Servicing is not an issue. All you need is 10 minutes and a screwdriver.
It's unlikely to instantly break from a drop like a mechanical.
The purchase cost is almost nothing so there's little anxiety about using it or losing it.
It's often loaded with useful features like timers and alarms.
It's highly accurate and often even syncs automatically.
It's usually more lightweight and comfortable.
And it's always ready to pick up and go. No need to hire small peasant children to spin the watch all night.
And when manufacturers stick it in a high quality titanium case the experience is just sublime.
Luxurious comfort.. without the worry. 😊
It's a hobby, if I wanted practicality I'd buy a digital Timex and be done with it all.
Ah, I see you're still under the illusion we still use watches to tell time.
Do I? Yes
Is that the main purpose of my watches? Not anymore.
You're not supposed to say/know that until you've blown a bunch of money on pricey watches. Or at least a bunch of Seikos.
You're not supposed to say/know that until you've blown a bunch of money on pricey watches. Or at least a bunch of Seikos.
This is so true! I started out with a smart watch, went into the world of mechanical, up to an Omega Seamaster (A gift), and just bought my fourth casio today! (A168)
Ah, I see you're still under the illusion we still use watches to tell time.
Do I? Yes
Is that the main purpose of my watches? Not anymore.
But that's my point. If it's a hobby it should be enjoyable. Not stressful.
It's a hobby, if I wanted practicality I'd buy a digital Timex and be done with it all.
Hobbies can be practical too. 😥
I may be a bit of a sadist, I kinda like wearing an auto/mechanical while doing things that a quartz would be better suited for. It's actually quite amazing at the beating some of my watches have taken before they need repair.
Sure I'd be best served by daily wearing a solar atomic G-shock, and it would take the beating well, with a new case and strap every so often, but where is the fun in that?
Good case in point regarding just one of my quartz watches I’ve owned 30 years or more:
The idea of that Hublot owning me is giving me the shivers! 😂
Thats cool you like quartz watches that offer a lot of features and value for money - nothing wrong with that. Also nothing wrong wanting to own a luxury watch too.
All the reasons you listed as a burden of owning a luxury watch is just part of the cost which folks just come to terms with. Owning anything luxury is not about practicality - be like someone owning a classic car, when compared to a modern day Toyota, it’s completely impractical… has less features, poor gas mileage, etc… all of which is completely meaningless to the classic car owner. Just my two cents! 🍻
I pretty much agree with this. Though I do like a luxury quartz - all the fun and cache with less of the hassle..
Have zero stress wearing or owning any watches; quartz, smart, or mechanical, short of cliff diving with a dress watch. Doesn’t have to be quartz to enjoy a stress free ownership experience.
As mentioned it’s cool you like quartz, and many folks own and appreciate both. My 9F is easily one of the coolest watches I have. That said, it doesn’t mean one has to tear down one to build up another.
Good case in point regarding just one of my quartz watches I’ve owned 30 years or more:
That's cool I've never seen that model.
I may be a bit of a sadist, I kinda like wearing an auto/mechanical while doing things that a quartz would be better suited for. It's actually quite amazing at the beating some of my watches have taken before they need repair.
Sure I'd be best served by daily wearing a solar atomic G-shock, and it would take the beating well, with a new case and strap every so often, but where is the fun in that?
I don't like most g shocks but they have a few fun ones.
The idea of that Hublot owning me is giving me the shivers! 😂
Thats cool you like quartz watches that offer a lot of features and value for money - nothing wrong with that. Also nothing wrong wanting to own a luxury watch too.
All the reasons you listed as a burden of owning a luxury watch is just part of the cost which folks just come to terms with. Owning anything luxury is not about practicality - be like someone owning a classic car, when compared to a modern day Toyota, it’s completely impractical… has less features, poor gas mileage, etc… all of which is completely meaningless to the classic car owner. Just my two cents! 🍻
Yeah definitely. Actually as long as we're not hurting others there's really nothing wrong with anything. But it's a good discussion to have because I think some people buy obsessively without considering the real implications. 🙂
Have zero stress wearing or owning any watches; quartz, smart, or mechanical, short of cliff diving with a dress watch. Doesn’t have to be quartz to enjoy a stress free ownership experience.
As mentioned it’s cool you like quartz, and many folks own and appreciate both. My 9F is easily one of the coolest watches I have. That said, it doesn’t mean one has to tear down one to build up another.
Yeah that's true. I wasn't trying to tear anything.
*Any tearing in this article is purely incidental and does not reflect the opinions of 21st Century Fox
But that's my point. If it's a hobby it should be enjoyable. Not stressful.
Just because one doesn't find joy in it, doesn't mean others don't.
The biggest reason I love watches is because they are tiny machines crafted to such tolerances that two sprockets less than a mm thick, engage with each other and turn other gears & wheels for years & years. They are marvels of engineering & manufacturing that I can see working. It brings me joy to see this. And the minor inconveniences of winding, setting & servicing is a small price to pay for it. Besides, life itself is joy and without the stresses & inconveniences, we wouldn't know the joys. Owning mechanical watches mirrors life in this way.
Just because one doesn't find joy in it, doesn't mean others don't.
The biggest reason I love watches is because they are tiny machines crafted to such tolerances that two sprockets less than a mm thick, engage with each other and turn other gears & wheels for years & years. They are marvels of engineering & manufacturing that I can see working. It brings me joy to see this. And the minor inconveniences of winding, setting & servicing is a small price to pay for it. Besides, life itself is joy and without the stresses & inconveniences, we wouldn't know the joys. Owning mechanical watches mirrors life in this way.
Very well stated.
I guess I just don't have that urge to see mechanical stuff in action.
Hobbies can be practical too. 😥
I agree, but practicality is very rarely the driving factor in choosing one's hobbies.
For example, I'm into shooting because it helps me practice a required skill for work, which makes it a somewhat practical hobby. I'm into kayaking because I like boats, but it serves no real purpose beyond that, and costs me a surprising amount of money, making it impractical.
I have a few quartz watches for the times I need/want the practicality of quartz, but I also have mechanical because I enjoy the idea of a mechanical device telling me the time.
I agree, but practicality is very rarely the driving factor in choosing one's hobbies.
For example, I'm into shooting because it helps me practice a required skill for work, which makes it a somewhat practical hobby. I'm into kayaking because I like boats, but it serves no real purpose beyond that, and costs me a surprising amount of money, making it impractical.
I have a few quartz watches for the times I need/want the practicality of quartz, but I also have mechanical because I enjoy the idea of a mechanical device telling me the time.
I sort of fell into the "This or That" trap with my replies, but this accurately sums up my collecting.
I can and do appreciate both mechanical and quartz. Mechanical because of the visuals of a working machine & quartz for the convenience of it.
I own both type of watches and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. What I do mind and hate are ugly watches and there is some sort of correlation with prices because some of the ugliest watches I saw were also among the more expensive.
I own both type of watches and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. What I do mind and hate are ugly watches and there is some sort of correlation with prices because some of the ugliest watches I saw were also among the more expensive.
Yeah I think some people see all the extra crap they throw on the watch and think that it makes it more fancy.
Which is fine I guess if that's what they like.
Just because one doesn't find joy in it, doesn't mean others don't.
The biggest reason I love watches is because they are tiny machines crafted to such tolerances that two sprockets less than a mm thick, engage with each other and turn other gears & wheels for years & years. They are marvels of engineering & manufacturing that I can see working. It brings me joy to see this. And the minor inconveniences of winding, setting & servicing is a small price to pay for it. Besides, life itself is joy and without the stresses & inconveniences, we wouldn't know the joys. Owning mechanical watches mirrors life in this way.
I usually refer to it as being "tactile". You can feel it, you can touch it, you can see it work. You can take it apart, you can put it back together. It's like a miniature LEGO set on your wrist that tells the time.
That's cool I've never seen that model.
I got it in1992 when it came out. It was Casio’s first twin sensor.
Hamilton Electrics from the 50s and 60s own you the way having a cat owns you. You keep them around because they’re cool but you’ve always got to be on your guard because you know you’re going to get bit.
The only reason I have my mechanical watches is for the collection, since at one point I would have one of this kind due to the curiosity. Also, vintage watches from the 70s are inevitably mechanical, because duh, pre-Quartz domination era.
I think the only "practical" advantage of owning a mechanical watch is for those who are concerned with the environment and avoid buying too many batteries, although I am not sure how effective or impactful this really is. But all other reasons to own a mechanical is for the novelty, IMO