Howling at the Moon
It only seem appropriate to bring this rant out in a month with two full moons. There are many things that are beyond my ability to comprehend. I will not mentions politics or religion as my mother said I never should in mixed company. The topic of this exposition is the moon. More specifically, the watch industries obsession with it. Most watches are shaped like the moon. Perhaps, I am being presumptuous accusing the watch industry of taking its design cues from the moon? But there is clearly an oversized emphasis on the moon within the industry.
I can not quite understand how the moon is selling point for watches. Sure the moon phase complication is a curiosity. Like others here have noted, the need for a moon phase complication is limited at most. To me it seems like an exercise of, "Look at what we can do," never mind the nightmare you have to endure to get it set correctly. And then there is the marketing.
Why am I supposed to buy a watch brand that once went to the moon five decades (or more) ago? Its not like the watch had any role in getting there or back. Apollo 13 stories aside, the watch was pointless to the endeavor. As I recall, Alan Shepard used a golf club on the moon but one does not see any marketing for that. With all of the serious technology it took to get there and back so many times the only thing I can recall being marketed was Tang and Omega, and where is Tang now? Bulova often reminds us, that they went too.
I am eager to learn from Crunchers their theories on why the moon is such a powerful influence on the watch industry.
Hoosier based world traveler. Watch nerd.
1) The moon is an obvious visual marker for the passage of time.
2) The moon is important for tides, and navigation at sea. Chronometers were developed to assist in maritime navigation.
3) The moon is cool.
4) The round shape of watches has nothing to do with the moon as far as I'm aware. I suspect it's the natural shape of a dial based on the fact that the hands rotate around a central point.
I had forgotten about TANG, that was pretty nasty stuff, I still like Jello reminds me of being sick in a hospital but healing. Moonphases are just COOL( I hate using that word because Miles Davis, his music and his Navitimer was cool, watches are HOT). Each collector picks his own poison, I’m old timer prefer complications beyond simple 3 hander when I can afford a decent one but will not comment on my buddies who over pay for Pams using a pocket watch movement because that shape is so pure to the brand.
I think it’s a bit more than just this watch has been to the moon it’s more the sense of adventure and knowing your watch can handle anything.
It’s the same with divers this watch can dive too 1000ft. Even though the deepest it’s going to go is the deep end of the pool.
it’s all marketed to us men mainly and let’s be honest. We all never grow up there’s still a little kid inside us that wants to be a astronaut or a deep sea diver or a fighter pilot or whatever it is but.
We are not we are construction workers, office workers or whatever else but. We can buy a watch that has the ties and connection to what our inner child wants us to be as they say boys and there toys.
Lunacy?
Moon watches sell. So they’ll keep churning them out. Even Swatch got in with Mission to … series. Which features more than the moon, but also other planets.
For some reason, Space and Time just go together. Space is often a “nerd” thing. Movies and Tv regularly use a fascination with space to denote a nerd. I’d bet that a lot of watch enthusiasts, myself included, have a bit of a nerd tendency.
So whether it’s a moon phase, a star map, a space reference or a distant relative to Apollo.. it will most likely sell
The moon has always been a big part of human culture, for every culture.
Count how many times have humans successfully landed on the moon.
Add both together, marketing gold! 😆
Why is Coca Cola such a powerful influence on the fizzy drink industry?
Why is Coca Cola such a powerful influence on the fizzy drink industry?
Every body knows the round shape of a watch was inspired by race steering wheels! It’s why there’s so many watches in F1! 😉
I hate moon phase complications, but I’d never even thought about those cultures where the moon plays an important part as mentioned by the other chap.
So you're not impressed by mankind's greatest achievement? Or Omega's pretty big part in it? Don't understand that our measurement of time stemmed from our observations of the moon?
You're probably in the wrong hobby!! 🤣🤣🤣