Do you need to understand how a watch works to appreciate it?
Do you think it's possible to truly appreciate a complex object like a mechanical watch without fully understanding how it works?
This question came up in a discussion I had last night with some friends, partly prompted by @deeperblue's musings on improving taste. (Bonus question for the comments: If someone suddenly placed a napkin in front of you and asked you to sketch a mechanical watch movement and explain how it works, could you do it?)
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Yes I could. Not the subtitles or any great detail, but the basics.
I think folks that are drawn to mechanical watches are naturally inquisitive and after a short while down the rabbit hole organically learn how they work.
I think a deeper appreciation comes with the understanding of how it works.
The fuller the better, but full full? Nope. I could make the argument that the race car driver doesn't need to know anything about mechanics as long as he can describe symptoms properly. IMHO, as with cars, some mystery is lost once you get the gist of what's going on, but there is plenty of complexity to last several lifetimes.
Honestly, quartz mystifies me though. I do appreciate it though.
You can definitely still appreciate it as a work of art, but for me, having a fairly good understanding of all that's going on in that little metal box on my wrist adds to the experience
The fuller the better, but full full? Nope. I could make the argument that the race car driver doesn't need to know anything about mechanics as long as he can describe symptoms properly. IMHO, as with cars, some mystery is lost once you get the gist of what's going on, but there is plenty of complexity to last several lifetimes.
Honestly, quartz mystifies me though. I do appreciate it though.
Yeah I thought about the quartz watch analogy... or smartphones, to take it a step further. Intuitively, an in-depth technical understanding is irrelevant, because you could still appreciate those objects as functional tools or design objects (thanks Jony Ive!). And then it seems pretty arbitrary to say: Understanding the technicalities matters when gears and pinions are involved, but doesn't matter when it's about semiconductors.
The best thing about watches in my opinion is all rhe different reasons we can love them.
Sentimental reasons, the movement, the aesthetics, the finishing, the history, the value, the ‘flex’,…
This is one of the main things I have learned interacting with a lot of ‘watch people’. We all like them for different things. Some prioritise the mechanical aspect over looks and some have no fking clue how a watch works.
I dont think there is any right or wrong way to love/appriciate a watch. In the end asking someone the question why they love a piece always leads to an interesting conversation and that is most important.
I spent my whole working life repairing and replacing parts on natural gas appliances,but watches are a mystery,I Purley appreciate them for pieces of art and function
I can definitely appreciate it w/o the intricate knowledge. However, I am that sort of person who really wants to know. So I am learning about it. But, not as a means to appreciation, pure curiosity.
The best thing about watches in my opinion is all rhe different reasons we can love them.
Sentimental reasons, the movement, the aesthetics, the finishing, the history, the value, the ‘flex’,…
This is one of the main things I have learned interacting with a lot of ‘watch people’. We all like them for different things. Some prioritise the mechanical aspect over looks and some have no fking clue how a watch works.
I dont think there is any right or wrong way to love/appriciate a watch. In the end asking someone the question why they love a piece always leads to an interesting conversation and that is most important.
Well said!
I dunno whether you "need" to understand how it works to appreciate it, but one of the things I find so nice about mechanical watches (and quartz to a lesser extent) is that I CAN understand how it works. A high school level understanding of physics is all that's needed, probably not even that. I CAN sit down with someone and walk through the parts and what they do, and actually explain how it works. My sketch would suck cus I'm no artist, but the basics would be there. I find this comforting in a world where so much of what we interact with is beyond most people's ability to really understand. Do you really know how your phone works? Or the touch screen in your car? The GPS on your dog's collar? I don't.
When I buy a watch it’s 100% based on aesthetic. It has to speak to me. I do however want to know that the movement is and how to use the complications. I want to learn more solely for my understanding.
I'm an architect personality type and a process person so you can figure out my answer.
I don't quite understand your question. There are many different ways to 'appreciate' something. Every person appreciates different aspects of a watch. I, for example. don't particularly care for what's inside the watch. I like dials with unique & interesting materials, processes, and textures. However, I do prefer mechanical over quartz. Why, you ask? Because I have a deep understanding of the complex machinery within? No, I like mechanical watches because I like the sweeping second hand. A disappointing reason for some, perhaps, but it's all I need.
Of course you can.
you can be an enthusiast who greatly appreciates the complexity of a watch without being a skilled watch maker who understands how the engine works.
Can you love/appreciate wine without knowing the intricacies of wine production, art without having to take a course in art history or cars without understanding the mechanics of the combustion engine? Without question you can. As for me when it comes to watches, my curious nature takes me under the hood to have basic scope of what makes them function but I fully respect fellow hobbyists whom could care less. 🤙
Learned a lot about taste in & appreciation of watches, from comments here and also from the comment thread under @Deeperblue's newsletter. Thanks WatchCrunch community! I initially leaned NO on this poll; now I'm maybe leaning YES? Cue John Maynard Keynes: "When the facts change, I change my mind."
I could sketch how a mechanical movement works. I wouldn't buy a mechanical watch if I couldn't 😉
I am 100% with Max Busser from MB&F on this one who recently said in an interview with Evan from YoureTerrific that he wants less status and more knowledge in the world of watches. That doesn't necessarily mean you need to take a class on damped harmonic oscillators if you buy a Seiko 5 but some basic understanding is very helpful in my opinion. There is nothing "magical" about these things (and that's a good thing). Understanding how something works means you can take better care of it, use it appropriately and appreciate it for what it does well due to the actual work (and not some magic wand waving) that went into it.
Watches are often compared to cars. For what it is worth, here in Europe we learn how to drive stick and go to driving school. My instructor had me understand how a clutch works before I was allowed to turn on the car's engine. And that makes sense as a lot of questions one might have regarding stuff that should and shouldn't be done with that clutch pedal answer themselves instantly.
Watches are also often compared to investment things (which I don't think is appropriate but that's a different matter altogether). One wouldn't invest significant amounts of money in shares of a company that apparently makes money through magic.
In fact, the primary reason why I don't own a complicated or higher end watch (like a Patek Philippe or similar) is that I don't feel like I know enough about the intricacies of fine mechanical watches in order to justify spending over 10000 EUR on one.
I could sketch how a mechanical movement works. I wouldn't buy a mechanical watch if I couldn't 😉
I am 100% with Max Busser from MB&F on this one who recently said in an interview with Evan from YoureTerrific that he wants less status and more knowledge in the world of watches. That doesn't necessarily mean you need to take a class on damped harmonic oscillators if you buy a Seiko 5 but some basic understanding is very helpful in my opinion. There is nothing "magical" about these things (and that's a good thing). Understanding how something works means you can take better care of it, use it appropriately and appreciate it for what it does well due to the actual work (and not some magic wand waving) that went into it.
Watches are often compared to cars. For what it is worth, here in Europe we learn how to drive stick and go to driving school. My instructor had me understand how a clutch works before I was allowed to turn on the car's engine. And that makes sense as a lot of questions one might have regarding stuff that should and shouldn't be done with that clutch pedal answer themselves instantly.
Watches are also often compared to investment things (which I don't think is appropriate but that's a different matter altogether). One wouldn't invest significant amounts of money in shares of a company that apparently makes money through magic.
In fact, the primary reason why I don't own a complicated or higher end watch (like a Patek Philippe or similar) is that I don't feel like I know enough about the intricacies of fine mechanical watches in order to justify spending over 10000 EUR on one.
"less status and more knowledge in the world of watches" is such a good way of putting it! Thanks.
"less status and more knowledge in the world of watches" is such a good way of putting it! Thanks.
I agree, though I can't take credit for it. At around 9:20 is the relevant segment.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCgBM4aQvLs
Somewhere between the two. I couldn’t sketch you a mechanical movement but I could describe the basic gist of what happens in one. With that said, at least being able to understand a movement’s functional components helps to deepen one’s appreciation for the object.
Its not necessary but it certainly helps.. Im the type that disassembled and reassembled and even repaired some to fully appreciate the hobby...
Its not necessary but it certainly helps.. Im the type that disassembled and reassembled and even repaired some to fully appreciate the hobby...
That’s neat! Much more skill than I will ever have…
The fuller the better, but full full? Nope. I could make the argument that the race car driver doesn't need to know anything about mechanics as long as he can describe symptoms properly. IMHO, as with cars, some mystery is lost once you get the gist of what's going on, but there is plenty of complexity to last several lifetimes.
Honestly, quartz mystifies me though. I do appreciate it though.
Jack Brabham , he was the driver, engineer , designer & winner in Formula 1 .
I don’t think you need a deep understand of anything to appreciate it. How many thing in our lives does the layperson actually have that deep understand of? Most people, most things, extremely few. Really think about it and most thing in your life, the two in no way need to be related.
All that said, I can draw it out and have built and modded several.
I don’t think you need a deep understand of anything to appreciate it. How many thing in our lives does the layperson actually have that deep understand of? Most people, most things, extremely few. Really think about it and most thing in your life, the two in no way need to be related.
All that said, I can draw it out and have built and modded several.
How many things does the layperson appreciate deeply? 🤔