Why mechanical watch collectors should go digital
Before we go on to discuss why I think mechanical watch fans should consider going more digital , it is first necessary to explore why one would be frustrated with mechanicals in the first place of both the luxury and affordable kind.
The problem with luxury mechanical watches
Beyond the Veblen good aspect of it being a display of wealth and status due to scarcity and difficulty in acquisition - as well as a normally mistaken investment aspect - luxury watches do have a huge appeal for reasons that are less unattractive than the status stuff.
There is normally a story behind both the watch and brand - often with a link into popular culture or a cool profession or lifestyle that resonates with us. Through our interest in, or ownership of, the watch we somehow feel like we are capturing the essence of that story both for ourselves and inevitably still in a demonstrative sense for others. The holy trinity of AP, VC and Patek have their long list of horological contributions that make us feel esteemed, although notably this seems to be a secondary pleasing background noise to the primary status aspect of their lead Royal Oak, Overseas and Nautilus steel sports models. Cartier and JLC have links with classic elegance and Rolex have the Bond and Paul Newman cool phenomenon. Omega, Rolex, Breitling, Heur and others have their moon, flight, driving, exploration and dive watch links that make us feel in a small way like we share something with astronauts, pilots, F1 drivers and explorers by association. The demand was crystal clear when the cost element was reduced with the moon swatch phenomenon.
From an aesthetic perspective there is also a perceived timeless aspect - although in reality it is very much time bound to the 50s and 60s - of certain types of watch design. This is similar to the films and music of those eras that just have a sense of authenticity and classic coke about them that feels somehow uncapturable or absent in the modern age and this appeals to us. The 70s integrated bracelet Genta and Hysek style designs have also been back in fashion for a while now with the tissot PRX’s existence, and indeed the booming homage and counterfeit market, being testament to the desire for this style amongst the masses. By owning an ancestor of, or indeed the vintage original, we can somehow feel like we have some of that authenticity and style bestowed upon us. Of course, the reality is that a lot of that has been distorted and lost due to the hordes of others craving the same thing - like that lovely beach town that was so picturesque when you went in your youth that is now a little spoiled by the mobs of tourists and the industry built around its original glow that drains some of the authenticity.
As is clear from what I’ve written , I still love luxury watches, inclusive of brands that were historically tool watches and more recently became a luxury item , even with the slight taints I referred to in passing. However, what ultimately makes me look elsewhere is:
One: I just can’t wear a luxury watch in a major city without feeling like a target for watch crime - which by all reports you are. If I’m with my family, why would I want to unnecessarily introduce that element into proceedings. Of course, the reasons why the watch has become a target and the people targeting you is also indicative of what the pieces have become.
Two: The opportunity cost is very high and I really disagree with your hobby being a cause of financial strain i.e. that oft expressed sentiment that a watch purchase should hurt. There is something to be said for the phenomenon of saving up and the additional sense of value and discipline that brings, but we are often talking 10k plus which is hard to justify in most cases and also links into the prior and next reason.
And that third reason is the association of luxury watches with materialistic culture and demonstration of wealth. For the passer by, there is no way to distinguish between someone wearing one of these things because of their passion and enthusiasm for the history behind the watch and brand or its mechanics versus someone nakedly displaying their purchasing power - in a similar way to the wine connoisseur and those ordering the most expensive bottle of champagne at a business meal. And to be honest, once you start getting above 10k it does start to become a little hard to really see the difference for me and there is a very healthy overlap in the Venn diagram.
The problem with affordable mechanical watches
Affordable brands lose the status aspect, although there is the reverse snob phenomenon referred to sometimes on here. In many instances there is still a story to be found behind the brand and watch and seeking this out is really fun and something I personally love doing. The downside is that there is a lot of emptiness out there where spec maximisation for the price and often proximity in design to a desirable luxury watch is the goal - which I personally find a little soulless. In particular, unless the pure concept of the mechnical movement in and of itself is unendingly appealing to you - the variety of movements used by those not producing them themselves is very limited to a core pool. So the mechanical aspect of the watch is actually pretty uninspiring in most cases if you are seeking a story behind the mechanics of the watch.
On the plus side side vs. the luxury watches you are less of a walking target and there is less association with the flex culture aspect. But the opportunity cost can still be high when you are spending £500+ a go and often more for watches that have a little soul and design to them that aren’t homage watches.
Why mechanical watch fans should go digital
With these points about mechanical watches in mind, here is why folks that aren’t locked into the game of status and are watch enthusiasts should consider adding a healthy dose of digital watchdom to their horological menu - if not a wholesale switch.
First, There is an enormous wealth of stories out there from both mainstream and obscure brands. Think the space expeditions of the X-33 and Seiko Rotocall, the heur chronosplit formula 1 heritage and the multiple Casio and Armitron watches of back to the future and other 80s and 90s classic films. Plug: these are all heavily featured on my YouTube channel. Mainstream Japanese brands like Casio, Citizen and Seiko are obvious starting points, with Timex in the US being the other one with the iconic Triathlon Ironman, Atlantis and curiosities like the Humvee. But there is so much more out there like the US 70s boom in LEDs (even Gillette were in on the game), Swiss quartz crisis beauties from your favourite luxury brands like the Omega Equinoxe , the other other Japanese brands like Orient, Ricoh, Sanyo and digging into the digitals of other countries likes India, France or Germany. A large portion of us are children of the 80s and 90s so the stories in popular culture from them are just as much if not more referencing digital watches rather than mechanical watches from the 50s, 60s and 70s - as cool as those eras are. You can enjoy both the research into these aspects, as well as the pleasure in owning pieces without breaking the bank. Of course, there are some crazy collectible pieces out there once you are full in the madness that go for silly money - but no-where close to the levels of your luxury watch collectors and there is more than enough to keep you entertained at relatively speaking reasonable levels of expense.
Two, whereas your affordable watches often lack intrigue from a technological standpoint with their mechanical movement, and more novel complications are normally the realm of unobtainium high horology items - the history of digital watches is a story of integration of more crazy tech than I’ve been able to get to the bottom of in 100s of hours dropped into this hobby. Whilst the engineering minded will likely still get more kicks from getting their heads around a co-axial escapement, ALL of us can easily see the coolness of a calculator in a watch, triple sensor, a TV in a watch and even a phone in a watch. 80s and 90s and 2000s electronics is to most of us in our 30s and 40s, what the bi-directional bezel, helium escape valve and lumed dial were to our parents and grandparents.
Finally, the variety that you are enabled to have in your collection is off the charts so you can change watches every day and have something totally aesthetically different and technologically curious without bankrupting your family or having a bunch of watches with the same NH35 in different flavours.
I’m not saying totally give up on mechanical watches - but do think about whether digital watchdom might be a rich vein within the hobby that you could be enjoying relatively guilt free as compared to ploughing on down the rabbit hole to that next submariner, AP Royal Oak or Patek Philippe Nautilus or indeed your 30th Seiko Dive Watch.
My name is Gordon and I run a YouTube channel focused largely on digital, electronic and vintage watch history. Link below!
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There are so many great digital options to play around with, and they generally don't cost an arm and a leg to get.
No thanks.
I'd rather just look at my phone.
Many good reasons to have or not have different types of watches. But every watch enthusiast has different preferences, tastes, and means. So we must do what we believe will make us happy.
Many good reasons to have or not have different types of watches. But every watch enthusiast has different preferences, tastes, and means. So we must do what we believe will make us happy.
Of course you are ultimately right. Simply laying out the stall of my perspective that may resonate with a subset of folks.
No thanks.
I'd rather just look at my phone.
You know what you like - fair enough.
There are so many great digital options to play around with, and they generally don't cost an arm and a leg to get.
Amen!
Totally get it. Don’t get me wrong - I’m still a sucker for most the things you’ve described , I just think there is a high level of value being missed out in the digital realm. Of course, I totally get that for some - the visualisation of time in the analog format is just so fixed that digital doesn’t work. My brain works different!
Your title telling me I should do it turns me right off of reading your opinion, so...
Your title telling me I should do it turns me right off of reading your opinion, so...
Technically I’m giving a reason why you should and not saying you should. Length criticism fair enough - just adding content to a watch discussion forum!
I suppose the point I’m getting at is that there is also value elsewhere. It’s an appeal to add digital watches to your diet - not suggesting you go full vegan (with the meat being luxury watches). If you don’t see the value based on the points I made , then likely they aren’t for you. All good!
I had a bunch of Ana/digi watches which I really liked. Unfortunately almost every single one of them broke by themselves. I took out the batteries and stored them and on all of them, the analog part broke. Then there are quartz movements. Try and find people to fix quartz movements. Not many can be found easily. I have several Swiss made quartz - somehow they all developed a problem. My T-touch developed tons of problems.
The Apple Watch is the only pure digital that never developed a problem but that's because you need to buy a new one every 5 years or so and the battery is a problem.
The real truth is that somehow most of us need to figure out how to repair watches - especially quartz movements.
I only know a few people that wear really expensive watches. But they can afford them. Most people cannot.
OK...
Then don't wear a luxury watch, wear a microbrand that's not a super close copy of a luxury watch. Taking it ALL the way to digital is a bit much.
Then don't wear a luxury watch, wear a microbrand. Taking it ALL the way to digital is a bit much.
This is reason One in a different skin, but... Then don't wear a luxury watch, wear a microbrand. Taking it ALL the way to digital is a bit much.
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Most of us are not luxury and probably should not buy luxury watches. We just aren't cut out for wearing $10K+ of value on our wrist. But, we want to buy an attainable luxury watch because it's our treat to ourselves for sacrificing for years and decades to provide for our families. We need a light at the end of the tunnel of sacrifice.
Additionally, how boring would life be if we always did the rational or reasonable thing 100% of the time? I'm dozing off just thinking about it.
Your powers of persuasion are not working, I am open minded to a point of course. I do own a few anadigi watches and I do like them but analog is what I love best.
OK...
Then don't wear a luxury watch, wear a microbrand that's not a super close copy of a luxury watch. Taking it ALL the way to digital is a bit much.
Then don't wear a luxury watch, wear a microbrand. Taking it ALL the way to digital is a bit much.
This is reason One in a different skin, but... Then don't wear a luxury watch, wear a microbrand. Taking it ALL the way to digital is a bit much.
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Most of us are not luxury and probably should not buy luxury watches. We just aren't cut out for wearing $10K+ of value on our wrist. But, we want to buy an attainable luxury watch because it's our treat to ourselves for sacrificing for years and decades to provide for our families. We need a light at the end of the tunnel of sacrifice.
Additionally, how boring would life be if we always did the rational or reasonable thing 100% of the time? I'm dozing off just thinking about it.
I don’t see a continuum going from luxury to digital. This isn’t a utilitarian point around everyone owning casio F91ws. I’m saying there is super fun and value to be had in this area if you explore. Check out the worlds most vertical watch - a seiko rotocall that both went up to the ISS and to challenger deep, or the seiko mac computer watch used to send messages between astronauts in space , or the fun of the casio cosmophase . I love a micro brand, but the reasons I give re: some frustrations with affordable watch land apply here.
Your powers of persuasion are not working, I am open minded to a point of course. I do own a few anadigi watches and I do like them but analog is what I love best.
I can but try! A Breitling Aerospace or Omega X-33 could perhaps be the gateway drug.
*I reject your reality and substitute my own."
I can't say I disagree with some of your points I just don't believe they lead to your conclusions. At the end of the day, I just dont want a hunk of plastic on my wrist and I don't find a digital readout as appealing as an analog three (or more) hand display.
Consider a stainless steel one. How about a pseudo analog display or an ana digi . There is big world of digitals out there beyond the plastic hunks! Simply promoting an augmented reality :)
Don't mind a classy quartz, but not digital -
I used G-Shocks a lot in my earlier life, & they're very good. But for me they're a proper tool, like a fridge, a spoon or a car. I just can't get enthusiastic about them, because they are "just" a time telling device, there's no story, no history, no romance, just cold efficacy. Great if your life depends on it, but my watches are about entertainment and making me feel a certain way & numbers on a screen just can't provoke those emotions.
There is so much story in so many digital watches! Check out the worlds most vertical watch https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/space-exploration/sts-41-g-and-sts-31-kathy-sullivans-twice-flown , the history behind the design of the Omega X-33 or the driving history of the Heur Chronosplit . Giugiaros designs for Seiko worn by Ayrton Senna. There is great stuff out there!
Vintage digital is a difficult sell - whilst a middling watch with a mechanical movement might not be particularly inspiring, at least it could be readily maintained for the foreseeable (movement depending). I’d would love to see you try and get a spare module from Tag for an Heuer Kentucky digital, or a donor movement for a Zenith Time Command. I have a dead 1993 Junghans Mega Solar, and Junghans are little help. I suspect modern digital in a G-Shock or Timex might be a little more future-proof than a 70s digital or electronic, but they are an acquired taste, as are many forms of watches themselves. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I feel that is something that should be at the forefront of the argument.
I think everyone should buy vintage Swiss jobbers for less than £100 with A Schild ébauches, they represent excellent value for money with decent maintenance options available, but the watches are smaller than todays basic fare, and you need to make friends with a watch repairer. This is also impractical for most.
I mean, I hear you on a number of your points.
I just need to ask though, what $200 watches do you know that are repeatedly breaking after 6 months? I dont agree with that at all. Many/most watches in that price range last for YEARS, if not decades.
There is so much story in so many digital watches! Check out the worlds most vertical watch https://www.sothebys.com/en/buy/auction/2021/space-exploration/sts-41-g-and-sts-31-kathy-sullivans-twice-flown , the history behind the design of the Omega X-33 or the driving history of the Heur Chronosplit . Giugiaros designs for Seiko worn by Ayrton Senna. There is great stuff out there!
Agree, but for me digital are true tools and most of their functions can be replicated or superseded by the smart watch - useful, but has zero appeal to me . I like the history & romance of lots of little gears working in harmony , a machine that's evolved over hundreds of years.
Digital watches have their place for men of action, and I used them hard in my younger days, but now I'm older and life is much slower I've no need for them.
To each their own 😉👍🏻
Vintage digital is a difficult sell - whilst a middling watch with a mechanical movement might not be particularly inspiring, at least it could be readily maintained for the foreseeable (movement depending). I’d would love to see you try and get a spare module from Tag for an Heuer Kentucky digital, or a donor movement for a Zenith Time Command. I have a dead 1993 Junghans Mega Solar, and Junghans are little help. I suspect modern digital in a G-Shock or Timex might be a little more future-proof than a 70s digital or electronic, but they are an acquired taste, as are many forms of watches themselves. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I feel that is something that should be at the forefront of the argument.
I think everyone should buy vintage Swiss jobbers for less than £100 with A Schild ébauches, they represent excellent value for money with decent maintenance options available, but the watches are smaller than todays basic fare, and you need to make friends with a watch repairer. This is also impractical for most.
You are of course right that maintenance is a definite Achilles heal of some of those super vintage options. By the way : LOVE the Zenith Time Command and the Heur Digitals of all flavours. Probably a weird take from me is that the research into them is probably of more overall interest than the ownership in most instances - so can enjoy them without worrying too much about the maintenance side. Fortunately there are quite a few wizards out there that have been able to help sort some of mine and have not had any tragic episodes yet (I’m sure they are in the post though!)
You are of course right that maintenance is a definite Achilles heal of some of those super vintage options. By the way : LOVE the Zenith Time Command and the Heur Digitals of all flavours. Probably a weird take from me is that the research into them is probably of more overall interest than the ownership in most instances - so can enjoy them without worrying too much about the maintenance side. Fortunately there are quite a few wizards out there that have been able to help sort some of mine and have not had any tragic episodes yet (I’m sure they are in the post though!)
It seems weird to be ok with potentially not owning one but telling people that digital is best regardless, but if you do, transparency is key. Upkeep is very important, and people just forget this. I mean stand by your point - when I recommend vintage it’s because I have hundreds of these jobbers and I can actually give people a heads up as to what the cost might be, what movements are bs, what to avoid. I actively practice what I preach. It’s the same if you were to buy a modern perpetual calendar, that things needs to be well-looked after and well-maintained, and servicing with a company who is still alive and kicking is still going to be painful.
It’s a sliding scale. There is one guy in Australia who makes a module that could work in certain vintage digital Heuers, that is not exactly a great proposition. There used to be a guy in Europe who also could fix vintage digital of certain calibres, but I believe he is winding down. There was a thread months back I posted some details to someone who was looking to fix a digital Heuer. I found the only guy in the UK to fix my Omega tuning fork 10 years ago, it was economic folly, I’m coming from experience, rare vintage and electronic/digital is not worth it.
I think it’s unfair to besmirch the £/$500 mechanical market, there is a lot having off-the-shelf ébauches that keep within 20 seconds a day unregulated, it also is a testament to the hundreds of years of watch-making development to be encapsulated into something that accurate for £30-50 in the case of the NH35/38, or £140-400 for ETAs or their (related) clones. You want atomic accuracy, use your phone or buy a Casio WaveCeptor, don’t buy mechanical. Expectation needs to match reality.
The movement is only a part of the package, there is so much more to this, and none of it is easily quantified due to subjectivity. Some of the best watches I own cost me next to nothing, and some cost me thousands, and value is subjective.
Going forward, digital is probably landfill. There is a romanticism to having a mechanical movement, I know that having an 80 year old movement that still works is pretty sweet, especially if it costs me £20. That is why I do this, but that doesn’t mean I’m right and you are wrong, it’s all subjective.
I will politely agree to disagree.
It seems weird to be ok with potentially not owning one but telling people that digital is best regardless, but if you do, transparency is key. Upkeep is very important, and people just forget this. I mean stand by your point - when I recommend vintage it’s because I have hundreds of these jobbers and I can actually give people a heads up as to what the cost might be, what movements are bs, what to avoid. I actively practice what I preach. It’s the same if you were to buy a modern perpetual calendar, that things needs to be well-looked after and well-maintained, and servicing with a company who is still alive and kicking is still going to be painful.
It’s a sliding scale. There is one guy in Australia who makes a module that could work in certain vintage digital Heuers, that is not exactly a great proposition. There used to be a guy in Europe who also could fix vintage digital of certain calibres, but I believe he is winding down. There was a thread months back I posted some details to someone who was looking to fix a digital Heuer. I found the only guy in the UK to fix my Omega tuning fork 10 years ago, it was economic folly, I’m coming from experience, rare vintage and electronic/digital is not worth it.
I think it’s unfair to besmirch the £/$500 mechanical market, there is a lot having off-the-shelf ébauches that keep within 20 seconds a day unregulated, it also is a testament to the hundreds of years of watch-making development to be encapsulated into something that accurate for £30-50 in the case of the NH35/38, or £140-400 for ETAs or their (related) clones. You want atomic accuracy, use your phone or buy a Casio WaveCeptor, don’t buy mechanical. Expectation needs to match reality.
The movement is only a part of the package, there is so much more to this, and none of it is easily quantified due to subjectivity. Some of the best watches I own cost me next to nothing, and some cost me thousands, and value is subjective.
Going forward, digital is probably landfill. There is a romanticism to having a mechanical movement, I know that having an 80 year old movement that still works is pretty sweet, especially if it costs me £20. That is why I do this, but that doesn’t mean I’m right and you are wrong, it’s all subjective.
I will politely agree to disagree.
I run a channel on watch history (inclusive of mechanical!) and it’s a great (and inexpensive) way to enjoy the hobby. I’ve actually not said digital is best - I’ve provided reasons why someone might consider incorporating more digitals into their collection and some frustrations I’ve had / limitations I’ve seen - with mechanicals of the luxury and affordable kind. Opinion of course and a genuinely held perspective (if weird!). The sorts of vintage digitals you mention do come with those caveats which are totally fair to call out. It’s a big blue ocean of choices behind those specific ones though and warrants exploration. I love an NH35 based watch (and similar), I just think that variety is the spice of life and the technologically curious can find some cool pieces in digital land if they are looking for something with an interesting story (beyond the shared one you mention).
I run a channel on watch history (inclusive of mechanical!) and it’s a great (and inexpensive) way to enjoy the hobby. I’ve actually not said digital is best - I’ve provided reasons why someone might consider incorporating more digitals into their collection and some frustrations I’ve had / limitations I’ve seen - with mechanicals of the luxury and affordable kind. Opinion of course and a genuinely held perspective (if weird!). The sorts of vintage digitals you mention do come with those caveats which are totally fair to call out. It’s a big blue ocean of choices behind those specific ones though and warrants exploration. I love an NH35 based watch (and similar), I just think that variety is the spice of life and the technologically curious can find some cool pieces in digital land if they are looking for something with an interesting story (beyond the shared one you mention).
I’m not here for an argument, but I think you should be careful with what you recommend, and some of your points do need a caveat.
I mean, the imperative is fine, but could be tempered with a word like “consider”
Except if they break, then the rarer they are the harder they are to fix. Quartz and digital = donor required, or something not standard in terms of repair. You did say this after going on about obscurer pieces, and in the essence of transparency, failing to disclose something like that is a glaring omission. I would refer you to Chronotriggered’s “Varying Degree of Bastard Theory (2007)”, because that is the sort of egotistical thing I would do, but I at least come at it from a good place (not saying you don’t btw).
Subjective, and again, highly dependent on upkeep. I paid £180 for a 1970s Oris Star ChronOris monopusher with the Oris Cal.725 about 8 years ago. It no longer functions. I cannot find a donor for less than 7x the price, nor can I find anybody to fix it for me. Great value watch in the short term, Dodo in the long term. How much enjoyment do you think I’m getting out of this watch. Do you think it is “sparking joy” every time I touch it. Will I ship it on? In good conscience I struggle, even if I make money on it; I don’t want to ruin this for anybody. Would I recommend a vintage Oris - no.
Unfair - again £30 movement +/- 20 seconds unregulated, I think that’s pretty impressive.
You pay for novelty, be it vintage or otherwise, also unfair. Then again, I’ve made this mistake, and have some future pitfalls awaiting me in the coming years. I fully admit my mistake and following my heart rather than my head. I would encourage others not to do that, but this is the danger with this hobby.
and also greater levels of obsolescence as well. I have a Junghans Mega Solar Ceramic from 1993 that is supposed to have radio-relayed updates to keep the time accurate. It has not worked in years, it is obsolete. Technology cycles are frequent and short. My 10-year old iPad Pro is a dinosaur, and has been unsupported for at least 5 years. My 1936 Vertex was serviced last year and works perfectly. Which one gives me joy?
Unfair, and not limited to digital. Again, repair and servicing of some digital will cost more than the initial price of entry. I offered my Omega f300hz as a case study in point. I also paid £425 to replace the quartz movement for my grandfathers slimline quartz Seamaster as well around the same time, it would cost up to £800 if I used (and can only use) Omega. A full service on a Swiss jobber can cost me £160-250 depending on who I use, and these are for decent movements (AS, FHF, ETA, etc…). I don’t buy vintage complications (on the whole) because I’m not really one for haemorrhaging money. Being relatively risk adverse, I am sorry, I disagree with you here, as mechanical repairs have often been cheaper and easier to source than quartz, electric, and digital.
Again, let’s just agree to disagree. I’m sorry, I do not agree with your article, and those are the reasons why, but I am not one to tell people what to do. If my experience benefits anyone, I am happy to help.
I’m not here for an argument, but I think you should be careful with what you recommend, and some of your points do need a caveat.
I mean, the imperative is fine, but could be tempered with a word like “consider”
Except if they break, then the rarer they are the harder they are to fix. Quartz and digital = donor required, or something not standard in terms of repair. You did say this after going on about obscurer pieces, and in the essence of transparency, failing to disclose something like that is a glaring omission. I would refer you to Chronotriggered’s “Varying Degree of Bastard Theory (2007)”, because that is the sort of egotistical thing I would do, but I at least come at it from a good place (not saying you don’t btw).
Subjective, and again, highly dependent on upkeep. I paid £180 for a 1970s Oris Star ChronOris monopusher with the Oris Cal.725 about 8 years ago. It no longer functions. I cannot find a donor for less than 7x the price, nor can I find anybody to fix it for me. Great value watch in the short term, Dodo in the long term. How much enjoyment do you think I’m getting out of this watch. Do you think it is “sparking joy” every time I touch it. Will I ship it on? In good conscience I struggle, even if I make money on it; I don’t want to ruin this for anybody. Would I recommend a vintage Oris - no.
Unfair - again £30 movement +/- 20 seconds unregulated, I think that’s pretty impressive.
You pay for novelty, be it vintage or otherwise, also unfair. Then again, I’ve made this mistake, and have some future pitfalls awaiting me in the coming years. I fully admit my mistake and following my heart rather than my head. I would encourage others not to do that, but this is the danger with this hobby.
and also greater levels of obsolescence as well. I have a Junghans Mega Solar Ceramic from 1993 that is supposed to have radio-relayed updates to keep the time accurate. It has not worked in years, it is obsolete. Technology cycles are frequent and short. My 10-year old iPad Pro is a dinosaur, and has been unsupported for at least 5 years. My 1936 Vertex was serviced last year and works perfectly. Which one gives me joy?
Unfair, and not limited to digital. Again, repair and servicing of some digital will cost more than the initial price of entry. I offered my Omega f300hz as a case study in point. I also paid £425 to replace the quartz movement for my grandfathers slimline quartz Seamaster as well around the same time, it would cost up to £800 if I used (and can only use) Omega. A full service on a Swiss jobber can cost me £160-250 depending on who I use, and these are for decent movements (AS, FHF, ETA, etc…). I don’t buy vintage complications (on the whole) because I’m not really one for haemorrhaging money. Being relatively risk adverse, I am sorry, I disagree with you here, as mechanical repairs have often been cheaper and easier to source than quartz, electric, and digital.
Again, let’s just agree to disagree. I’m sorry, I do not agree with your article, and those are the reasons why, but I am not one to tell people what to do. If my experience benefits anyone, I am happy to help.
Ok ok let’s leave it there! Agree to disagree indeed!
Ouch! Looks like my points didn’t land with you personally, but there is genuinely thought through perspective behind it I promise. I’m all for continuing passions - I just wanted to illuminate this particular area (digitals) that I think many would really enjoy if they dug further and might reignite some enthusiasm for some feeling similar sentiments to me on the mechanical watch space. Of course , it’s just one post but I have a whole channel on the topic (I’m guessing probably not for you though!!)
Nothing but respect. You started the conversation which is half the battle.
The Citizen Aqualand is an amazing piece of history on its own in addition to the sentimental value it has for you. That’s the perfect combo! It was the first watch with depth sensor, with the ana-digi temp being the first watch with temperature sensor. A super fun area of digital watchdom that was the start of todays quad sensors. My perspectives on citizen changed a lot after getting an appreciation for their innovation in this period. I’ve done videos on both their analog and digital catalog that are amongst my most popular. What were your thoughts on the Omega X-33? I think its coolness is pretty undeniable (similar to the aqualand) and the digital element is a large component of that.
The X-33 is quite cool honestly. I don’t think I’d buy it personally, just because I’d put the money into a mechanical omega, most likely a used speedmaster. It’s certainly a cool watch though. I like that it’s analogue as well as digital.
I’m not against digital watches at all, I just prefer mechanical timepieces. However the Aqua land will always hold a special place in my heart. And the X-33 is cool as well.
Wow, so many people are taking you seriously. I thought your essay was a Swiftian piece of satire.
Wow, so many people are taking you seriously. I thought your essay was a Swiftian piece of satire.
No. He is very serious about digital watches.
What if there is an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) from coronal mass ejection from our sun, no semiconductor devices not heavily shielded will be dead. The reign of the digital could be over for a long time. That is why I wrap my arm in foil to protect my G-Shock from such events when the sun has to much activity. Its not a matter of if, but when this will happen. Look into the Carrington event of 1859 and you will understand. It could be tomorrow.