Stylophile
266
The fabulous world of independent watchmaking and my impressions!
Dear all;
I have been a proud owner of couple of Journe pieces in the past and lately have been looking to acquire another piece to add to my collection.
To me the world of independent watchmaking has always been an enigma where brands have come and gone like fashion fads, but on the other hand the world of horology has been bestowed with some of the finest in high horology, the likes of which can hardly be found in "mainstream" watchmaking. A few names that come to mind belonging to the latter category, IMHO, include but not limited to FP Journe, Kari Voutilainen, Philippe Dufour, Laurent Ferrier, Speake Marin and others.
While I truly admire these horological masterpieces, I am always concerned about what the future holds for these brands. These establishments are essentially a "one man show"; AND what will happen to the brand when these masters hang up their loupes or leave for the great beyond with no heir apparent!! would the brand just vanish away OR one of the large corporate entities swallow these up; what would happen to the "value" of the pieces already owned and coveted by the current owners; and lastly the ability, or lack there of, of service provisions.
After that rambling, what I am trying to get to is the fact that I am itching to add one of these pieces to my collection! the options include another Journe; and having owned an Octa calendrier Platinum for the last 12 years, I have been thinking of a piece from the souverain collection OR perhaps a time only LF or KV as they do offer some bespoke options.
Would truly appreciate input and opinions from my knowledgeable brethren here who apparently share with me the same insanity!!
Best regards.
More posts:
The fabulous world of independent watchmaking and my impressions!
Dear all; I have been a proud owner of couple of Journe pieces in the past and lately have been looking to acquire another piece to add to my collection. To me the world of independent watchmaking has always been an enigma where brands have come and gone ...
I had the same concerns...
and as much as I wanted to add an independent brand to my collection I was worried about continuity and servicing etc At SIHH this year I spent most of my day there in the Independents section. I asked a lot of questions and was warmly received by all. On...
I would go for a KV. But another option is...
Surprisingly... Montblanc, their Minerva watches. When you look at what they are doing, you have the feeling you are in front of an Independant watch. Look, for example, at their Metamorphosis. Or have a look at their much more affordable Chronos. The lev...
As I read your post it appears you are considering three independents:
Journe, Voutilainen and Ferrier. Which of these three appeals to you the most? This should be the only question you ask yourself. These watchmakers will be highly respected long after they have gone. Any piece that they made will have value. And there are...
Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta
if you look at what happens to them after Bvlgari acquired the names, sadly, you may see what could happen... Daniel Roth watches often go unnoticed on auction sites and the new pieces are not close to the level of innovation the brands had before.
You have a difficult choice between those 3!
But as a happy owner of my KV and from knowing the gentleman, I can only reassure you that it will be one of the best purchases you ever made. The amount of care and attention that Kari and his team bring to their watches is second to none, Kari is such a...
As Keynes said...
...in the long run we are all dead. If you think the watch will bring you pleasure, I wouldn't waste too much time worrying about the future, since we can't really control it. It's not clear if you're more concerned about the piece maintaining value or be...
really depends what you are looking for
If you are looking for a watch with the "blood, sweat and tears" of the maker in it, a watch which will bring a smile on your face each day, a watch that will make your hear beat faster and a watch you know was made in small quantities, with a price tag t...
I own all three Indies mentioned, and I say....skip them all!!!!
If you worry about servicing, or resale value, or Indies going belly up, dont even contemplate!!! Head straight to Lange or Patek or even Choprad forums here!!!! You will get acceptable to great levels of finishing(at least way better then Journe), worry ...
I have mostly turned to Independents.
I have no concerns about future service needs or value, it is all about having a very special piece of art on your wrist. Something very special about their creations and sometimes the opportunity to be involved in the choices of components is amazing. I ...
I have read through the various postings in this thread and I must say many of my thoughts
have been said repeatedly. I have gone deep into the Independents and have totally enjoyed the experience. Thanks to the inter webs the Independents have gotten much more notoriety and I think that they will have more interest as time goes by and with it ...
Hi Stylphile... Why concern about the future value of timepieces ?
1) The value In whole life, I always afford thing that I've not the mens to acquire... But that not bad, because I can die tomorrow, as everyone here. So what, you want a keeper or a chef d'oeuvre ? If you want a keeper, buy solid gold (not ATF), not a wa...
