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Mechanical Watch Primer

1/2/2016

 
There seems to be a small yet persistent impression amongst both young and older, that mechanical watches are kaput, no longer being made, etc. Here's the straight dope:
  • Mechanical watches are a multi-billion dollar industry and it is expanding
  • Mechanical watches are reliable in hot and humid climates (India) whereas quartz watches are not
  • Mechanical watches can and do last for 100+ years, quartz watches maybe 20-35 years for the best
  • Mechanical watches do not keep quartz accuracy, COSC spec is within 4.5 sec/day
  • Some quartz watches in the lower end don't meet COSC spec
  • Mechanical watches are green technology, no batteries required ever and their footprint of manufacture is spread out over a long period of time
  • Mechanical watches are in some cases more robust than quartz, they are not rendered dead by magnetic fields whereas a good jolt will kill a quartz watch. Mechanical watches are more susceptible to shock
  • No charging, no cells to buy, no capacitors to replace, no re-programming, the movement is made of metal, not plastic
  • See where I'm going here?

$49 bought you a quality watch in 1950, and that translates into $800 today. You can get an excellent Swiss mechanical watch for around $400-$500, so the prices are actually lower now.
Don't want to spend that much? Look into a quality used Swiss mechanical, serviced and guaranteed by your friendly neighbourhood watchmaker.

Cheers to a new year

​R

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    Rob Phillips is the Grandson of a Master Watchmaker, and graduate of École Nationale d'Horlogerie, member of the British Watch and Clockmaker's Guild

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