Apathy

Not bored, because I don't do big⁴ brands. Their boring and over bloated. I have a few micro brands that I would buy these days and that's it from now on.

Look around. There are a few micro brands that get it.

There are - I regularly sing the praises of a handful, but it is but a drop in the ocean. Vero offer a 10 year transferable warranty - that’s smart (plus the watches are great, future classics). Baltany might just make the best value military inspired watches on a budget. Kuoe Kyoto rock. Timor and Vertex are back on the scene.

Are you not tired by the wall-to-wall spread of similar offerings via micros?

I’m just starting on the microbrand journey so it’s all pretty fun for me so far. Ask me again in 10 years.

As far as the greatest threat, it’s cost and price of entry. I remember when I was able to get a Seiko5 SNK for $50 and now an entry level Seiko5 is running close to $200. That’s a problem.

This. Bringin Ostentatious-ness back. 50mm+

#praisetheemprah

#onlyindeathdoesdutyend

Seiko’s increase in price, blurring of the different lines, and reduction in QC are a big problem. What is a bigger problem is the hardcore Seiko fans who will not get the hint that their beloved brand is taking them for a ride.

I’m not sure this is what we need… watches are getting smaller remember… we need more wearers questioning their masculinity on 38mm.

Lol, yes, but I still can't wait for this to get here....

Same reason why I have a wolf howling at the moon tie dye hoodie, mossy oak jorts, and Put Viper sunglasses. #ridiculous on porpoise. YMMV.

Whilst I may disagree with your choice of watch I will defend to the death your right to wear it.

I can see your point. I've kind of gotten out of mainstream brands. I look for color, material used but don't care for the Swatch crap their churning out now, plastic or ceramic 3d printer watches.

I do custom straps more so now to change up the character of the watch. I just have found a small niche for my hobby now. Keeps me interested in it.

You are not wrong here. I am a big Seiko fan, but I am older Seiko over new Seiko any day. I mean don't get me wrong you got inaccuracy and QC issues 5-10 years ago, you just got it for half of what you pay now.

Yeah my last Seiko was the SSK. Then came the proliferation of the cheap GMT movement and the micros do it better for cheaper.

I find it hilarious that people who immerse the selves in a thing, then start to get tired of the thing, tend to assume everyone else is at the same place.

For every person tired of the "same boring stuff" there is at least one new person dipping their toes into the world of watches, and overjoyed that some micro is making exactly the watch they want.

Variety and choice aren't bad. The expansion of microbrands has inspired big brands to step up and improve their offerings. Timex has one of th3 most interesting catalogues they have ever had, pretty much entirely because microbrands proved there was a market for better made mechanical and quartz watches.

I agree with some of your sentiments. Watch collecting should be personal and your collection should be unique to your taste. For people that follow others on what to like and buy or what's"hot", and those that ask others to form their opinons on taste... Well they are not collecting for themselves, instead they are collecting so others can pat them on the back when they do "SOWC" and that is why you have so many regurgitated contents. It would be most interesting when people talk about unknown brands or watches from big brands that are of obscure models. These are my personal thoughts.

So… no then?

It’s me… you know how I roll. I’m not exactly going to sugarcoat my feelings am I.

Do you honestly believe that the micro market is interesting enough, and that we are not just seeing the same stuff over and over again?

What makes a micro stand out? I’m struggling to see the wood for the trees - it’s an honest opinion.

Perhaps I should post a SOTC and stfu?

Yes, innovation is rare and essentially undesirable in mechanical watches. The user base are inherently boring people. At some point the topics gets played out and things start looping. Did I miss anything?

The biggest threat is all the noise about size, movement, strap, material, engraving and on and on ………..

For Christ sake just buy a watch because you actually like it not because you wanna be in the herd

What would you recommend we all buy to not be in the herd?

🥃

Fair enough

I’m still fascinated that the open invitation to a handful of those opposed has been declined. This is your arena, are you not entertained?

I’m done… apathetic response engaged. Enjoy your content.

I agree with your choice of watch (the Invictaskull) and judging by its appearance, it looks like it can defend itself.

The biggest problem facing the watch industry is indeed apathy. But just think if all that apathy could be harnessed!

Of course, I call it the Invictaskull, but it's good to see its full name here. In fact, I wish they would put the whole name on the dial. That's a big dial. It would fit.

The watch industry needs to talk to whoever got vinyl records to come back. If those can come back, Everyman watches should be able to also.

Yes yes, but what exactly? I'm interested to know what examples or ideas you might have. For instance, I would want to see somebody (don't care who it is) make a three-hander solar Mecha-quartz watch. This would solve the two "problems" of quartz watches - battery changes and the one-tick second hand. What new innovation or thing would you like to see? Specify, specify!

In terms of cool new solar, Timex do one (Expedition Solar), Tag have a new Aquaracer Solar… you can’t get a mecha-quartz Solar watch like what you want, the closest thing is the Seiko chronographs that have a subdial for the seconds.

You are filling up this dead thread - I think everyone has moved on

" . . . everyone has moved on." I guess they're just apathetic. I'm still interested in what you wrote. But if no one is interested in this thread anymore, including yourself, calling it dead, then I won't add anything more to it. Why don't you just delete it then?

I highlighted the Corum Bubble, Bvlgari Ergon and the Vero Open Water. I talk highly of the Tudor North Flag. I don’t need to repeat the spiel from above.

If you want Solar then there are two options I’ve mentioned.

I can delete the thread if it makes you happy? I can delete all my old threads if you like, lose all that knowledge? I don’t post in old threads with no traffic, the algorithm buries it, no one reads it. We’ll start anew on the new cycle.

I don’t know what the future holds but I’m glad I don’t read this forum so much that I develop those attitudes.

The greatest threat to the watch industry is the industry itself. Chewing on it's own leg to get out of a self made trap. However they can't do anything without the hot and eager help of self proclaimed watch fans, enthusiasts, collectors and gatekeepers of all that's holy about horology. Time will tell.