Omega (quartz or automatic?)
Louis Bencze
I very much enjoyed this discussion about quartz vs. mechanical watches
because it touches issues that are deeper than simply the pros and cons of
watch mechanisms. The discussion has delved into art.
It is difficult to express these issues more clearly than Mr. Sibbe has
already done. I agree with his statement that spending more than $100 on a
watch is a purely aesthetic decision. As he makes clear, $100 will buy the
most accurate, most rugged, most practical watch in the world. A 16th
century navigator would have killed for one of these abuse resistant,
waterproof Casios. King Phillip of Armada fame would have paid a ton of
gold for one. Quartz watches of this type have taken the watchmaker零 art
as far as it can go in terms of every day practicality. If a person is
ultraconcerned about reliability and possible catastrophic failure, let him
buy two or three of these watches. He is still hundreds of dollars below
the cost of the least expensive high grade mechanical watch.
However, if it is more than practicality that concerns the buyer𤷫f he
wishes to enjoy a small representation of the finest that 19th century
craftsmanship has to offer𤷫f he wishes to wear on his wrist an object of
outmoded but intensely beautiful technology, a technology which reveals its
workings as no micro miniature circuit board can and in so doing provides
him with the peculiar satisfactions of owning the epitome of mechanical
evolution, then let him buy a high grade mechanical watch. There零 no point
in scoffing at this desire. One may as well mock people who buy fine
paintings when commercially printed posters would cost so much less.
Aesthetic needs are strong in all humans as the decorated weaponry of cave
men shows. It零 not only function we desire; it零 beauty, too. In horology,
much of this beauty is integral to the mechanism that measures time. The
regular movement of wheels and cogs and gears brought into fine balance and
delicate interaction carries an integral beauty to us who may so easily
dispense with this expensive technology in favor of its vibrating
successors.
So today the pizza delivery guy may wear a quartz watch worth a king零
ransom to long dead kings. But the CEO to whom the pizza is being delivered
bears on his wrist a device an order of magnitude less accurate, but orders
of magnitude more interesting.
Louis Bencze -- <lou...@SpiritOne.com>
E. Romers
>
> I very much enjoyed this discussion about quartz vs. mechanical watches
> because it touches issues that are deeper than simply the pros and cons of
> watch mechanisms. The discussion has delved into art.
>
> It is difficult to express these issues more clearly than Mr. Sibbe has
> already done. I agree with his statement that spending more than $100 on a
> watch is a purely aesthetic decision. As he makes clear, $100 will buy the
> most accurate, most rugged, most practical watch in the world. A 16th
> century navigator would have killed for one of these abuse resistant,
> waterproof Casios. King Phillip of Armada fame would have paid a ton of
> as far as it can go in terms of every day practicality. If a person is
> ultraconcerned about reliability and possible catastrophic failure, let him
> buy two or three of these watches. He is still hundreds of dollars below
> the cost of the least expensive high grade mechanical watch.
>
> wishes to enjoy a small representation of the finest that 19th century
> outmoded but intensely beautiful technology, a technology which reveals its
> workings as no micro miniature circuit board can and in so doing provides
> him with the peculiar satisfactions of owning the epitome of mechanical
> in scoffing at this desire. One may as well mock people who buy fine
> paintings when commercially printed posters would cost so much less.
>
> Aesthetic needs are strong in all humans as the decorated weaponry of cave
> much of this beauty is integral to the mechanism that measures time. The
> regular movement of wheels and cogs and gears brought into fine balance and
> delicate interaction carries an integral beauty to us who may so easily
> dispense with this expensive technology in favor of its vibrating
> successors.
>
> ransom to long dead kings. But the CEO to whom the pizza is being delivered
> bears on his wrist a device an order of magnitude less accurate, but orders
> of magnitude more interesting.
>
> Louis Bencze -- <lou...@SpiritOne.com>
Great writing, Louis! I enjoyed reading it (and would love to have it
posted in the WZ Forum). What's your particular interest in watches?
Best regards,
Ernie Romers
----------
WatchZone http://www.watchzone.net
|----> your interactive wristwatch homepages
WatchUseek http://www.watchuseek.com
----------
E. Romers
E. Romers
--
Christian Sibbern Petersen
Louis Bencze <see....@signature.below> schrieb in im Newsbeitrag:
see.name-ya0240800...@news.spiritone.com...
>
> I very much enjoyed this discussion about quartz vs. mechanical watches
> because it touches issues that are deeper than simply the pros and cons of
> watch mechanisms. The discussion has delved into art.
I enjoyed reading your point of view very much.
There is nothing I could add to your description
of mechanical movements and why one can be
so fascinated by them.
Bye,
Chris
Brad McCormick, Ed.D.
>
> I very much enjoyed this discussion about quartz vs. mechanical watches
> because it touches issues that are deeper than simply the pros and cons of
> watch mechanisms. The discussion has delved into art.
> However, if it is more than practicality that concerns the buyer‹if he
> wishes to enjoy a small representation of the finest that 19th century
> craftsmanship has to offer‹if he wishes to wear on his wrist an object of
> outmoded but intensely beautiful technology, a technology which reveals its
> workings as no micro miniature circuit board can and in so doing provides
> him with the peculiar satisfactions of owning the epitome of mechanical
> evolution, then let him buy a high grade mechanical watch. Thereąs no point
> in scoffing at this desire. One may as well mock people who buy fine
> paintings when commercially printed posters would cost so much less.
>
> Aesthetic needs are strong in all humans as the decorated weaponry of cave
> men shows. Itąs not only function we desire; itąs beauty, too.
Mr./Dr./... Bencze's remarks do indeed address some deep subjects.
I would urge anyone who is interested to read Adolf Loos's essay
"Ornament and Crime" (which is now available in a paperback: _Ornament
and Crime: Selected essays", Adolf Loos, Ariadne Press, 1998.).
Probably also Walter Benjamin's essay "Art in the Age of Mechanical
Reproduction" (but I haven't read that myself).
If a contemporary fine mechanical watch really is similar to the cave
man's decorated weaponry (or, worse, to: tattooing) then it is decadent,
and fine watches from the past should only be found in art and/or
historical collections, not on persons' wrists.
I certainly think that watches with diamond decoration, etc. and
quartz watches that try to look like mechanical watches are
inappropriate.
The analogy between commercially printed posters and fine paintings
is interesting. Some commercially printed posters are really
fine works of art in their own right, just in a different "medium" than,
e.g., an oil painting. This discussion leads, of course, into
big issues of social inequality. But, at a minimum, I hope that
well made and well designed posters and watches are available at
prices "Everyman" (woman, child...) can afford, and that those who
have the money to buy fine paintings, etc. also cultivate
both connoisseurship and social conscience. (From those who
have much, much should be expected....)
Best wishes to all!
+\brad mccormick
--
Let your light so shine before men,
that they may see your good works.... (Matt 5:16)
Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. (1 Thes 5:21)
Brad McCormick, Ed.D. / bra...@cloud9.net
914.238.0788 / 27 Poillon Rd, Chappaqua NY 10514-3403 USA
-------------------------------------------------------
<![%THINK;[XML]]> Visit my website: http://www.cloud9.net/~bradmcc/
Bob Good
I have a compulsion for accurate time setting and have numerous radio
controlled (setting) clocks and watches, Arcron ZEIT, Oregon
Scientific, Radio Shack and Junghans and LaCrosse Technology. I use
those clocks to set the watches I really enjoy wearing: My Zentith
Elite GMT and my Maurice Lacroix all stainless.
Regards, Bob
Huh?
man's decorated weaponry (or, worse, to: tattooing) then it is decadent,
and fine watches from the past should only be found in art and/or
Unless one takes the altruistic position that the craft would die-out and modern
techiques which are based on that work which came before would heretofore
continue without the foundations. And the continuum is only possible with the
production, and sales, of the mechanical models [and btw even for quartz models
that have analog functions, the quartz function ends as a power source if you
will, and the old standbye mechanical functions carry-on the remainder of the
operation of the timepiece].
"I certainly think that watches with diamond decoration, etc. and
quartz watches that try to look like mechanical watches are
inappropriate.[END of Quoted text].
Then that is a condemnation of jewelry and personal adornment _prima facie which
I'm not sure is the position that you want to take. Because someone who pays
$50k for a studded model which base version could be had for $1k, is certainly
fulfilling their wishes for "jewelry" and not "timepiece".
Brad McCormick, Ed.D.
>
> "If a contemporary fine mechanical watch really is similar to the cave
> man's decorated weaponry (or, worse, to: tattooing) then it is decadent,
> and fine watches from the past should only be found in art and/or
> historical collections, not on persons' wrists.[END Quoted text]
>
> Unless one takes the altruistic position that the craft would die-out and modern
> techiques which are based on that work which came before would heretofore
> continue without the foundations. And the continuum is only possible with the
> production, and sales, of the mechanical models
Thank you for this response to my posting.
You have raised another extremely important issue for our
increasingly "virtual" (i.e., unreal) society: Civilization
as we know it would quickly collapse into a darkness that would
probably make the "Dark Ages" look pretty enlightened if ever
the last persons who "speak" such languages as tool-and-die
making die-off without leaving behind young journeymen to preserve
their understanding of materials and how we can productively
interact with them.
I don't know if it is necessary for persons to continue to
make mechanical watches in order for our civilization to
survive. But I am in complete agreement with you that if
persons with the skills to make mechanical watches all
die off, our civilization will be "running on empty" in
an even more consequential sense than running out of gasoline.
In this contest, the story of Giovanni de Dondi's
astronomical clock, ca. 1350, which he took 13 years to build,
and had to design the machines he needed to make the clock...
should be more widely known:
http://www.geocities.com/CapeCanaveral/Hall/3551/copiainglpresastr.htm
(also, of course, John Harrison's now widely publicized
work in building the first successful marine chronometer).
Among the aristocracies of this world, I propose
among the highest are the tool-and-die makers!