From Clockworks to Computers on Our Wrists

[CashGap]

Not my article. He makes some interesting points.

My take?

Prior to the "Quartz Crisis", everyone wore a mechanical watch.

Afterward (decades), those who appreciate fine mechanical watches still wear them. But the "utility" buyer wears quartz.

I expect a few decades after the "Smart Crisis", the percentage of the population wearing fine mechanical watches will be unchanged, or at worst, changed by the general up/down of the economy. The mechanical watch aficionados are already outliers, and will be subject to minimal additional culling.

But if you make $150 quartz "easy fashion" watches, look out. Rather than having five of those for different moods, a young person will have a $300 smart watch and $250 worth of bands, along with a dozen free watch faces.

How Apple beat Swiss watchmakers at their own game

[Cryten]

"Beating the entire Swiss watch industry in their own game is no small feat. But that’s exactly what Apple did"

Really? I beg to differ.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by Cryten

"Beating the entire Swiss watch industry in their own game is no small feat. But that’s exactly what Apple did"

Really? I beg to differ.

They beat Rolex so bad people are fighting each other to buy the last purple OP in the case.

[greggsiam]

Well considering that Apple watch sales dropped 70% over summer, I think that says a lot about what people think.

Smart watches might be a thing in the future, but right now my phone does everything I want it to, why do I need a smart watch? I would rather read messages on my phone. I think pulse monitors are overrated as well considering how little anyone really needs to use one (.i.e. workout 3-4 times a week, 1 hour or so).

Smart watches don't have exclusivity, which Rolex and other true luxury brands do. People want quality and exclusivity and will pay for it.

[CashGap]

We may be in violent agreement... after reading, I believe premium mechanical time pieces will be unaffected. $150 quartz watchmakers should panic.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Abdullah71601

They beat Rolex so bad people are fighting each other to buy the last purple OP in the case.

ive always thought scarcity of popular models is a way to make them more relevant. I also never thought the smart watch was a threat, until i did.

I finally got my wife into mechanical watches and she has a couple high end ones. As soon as she got an apple watch she is pretty disinterested in the Rolex or JLC. Pretty typical of a non WIS, which is most people. Making that same watch something people fight over and its a different strategy that appeals to a different element of human psychology.

WIS are not budging which is expected, its everyone else that we should worry about which is why Rolex is doing the right thing especially with professional watches which also appeal to the demographic most likely to want a smart watch... younger buyers. DJ or a DD isnt aimed at a 25-30 year old and you can get one with much less hassle. Making a sub or a daytona or whatever hard to get and people want it because its hard to get.

[Carrera911]

Wearing a watch that rings, tells you that you need to stop sitting and start walking and that counts your steps...to me that sounds like electronic handcuffs. I don't want a device buzzing on my hand all the time.
My watch is jewelry. It's not supposed to be as practical as a phone and I have no interest of it being so.

[Abdullah71601]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

ive always thought scarcity of popular models is a way to make them more relevant. I also never thought the smart watch was a threat, until i did.

I finally got my wife into mechanical watches and she has a couple high end ones. As soon as she got an apple watch she is pretty disinterested in the Rolex or JLC. Pretty typical of a non WIS, which is most people. Making that same watch something people fight over and its a different strategy that appeals to a different element of human psychology.

WIS are not budging which is expected, its everyone else that we should worry about which is why Rolex is doing the right thing especially with professional watches which also appeal to the demographic most likely to want a smart watch... younger buyers. DJ or a DD isnt aimed at a 25-30 year old and you can get one with much less hassle. Making a sub or a daytona or whatever hard to get and people want it because its hard to get.

Rolex is status to most owners. It’s worn to show off. No amount of gold PVD can give a smart watch the status of a Rolex. To your point, the harder to get, the greater the status. Rolex strategy is on the money.

[pickettt]

It's rather prophetic that Tag Heuer makes a smartwatch (Connected xx) whose case has a removable digital movement. Then, they sell a mechanical movement that pops right into the case once that smartwatch's technology is obsolete.

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Originally Posted by Cryten

"Beating the entire Swiss watch industry in their own game is no small feat. But that’s exactly what Apple did"

Really? I beg to differ.

Exactly. Apple didn't do anything but shrink an iPhone and strap to the customers wrist. That's not exactly ground breaking. Plus, the masses that they cater to are already glued to their phones. So, of course you're going to have them snatching these things up by the hundreds.

I'm getting tired of people that would otherwise not mention watches to me, shoe me their new Apple watch, like I'm supposed to be impressed? It's almost like, "Hey, I didn't care or wear a watch before....so now I'm a "watch person" now right??" When I look at it, I just see a phone on their wrist. /yawn

[Valenciawatchrepair]

Am I doing it right?

[joli160]

Originally Posted by Carrera911

Wearing a watch that rings, tells you that you need to stop sitting and start walking and that counts your steps...to me that sounds like electronic handcuffs. I don't want a device buzzing on my hand all the time.
My watch is jewelry. It's not supposed to be as practical as a phone and I have no interest of it being so.

Totally agree

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

Am I doing it right?

That pretty much sums them up.

[ryanwatchcollection]

Originally Posted by Carrera911

Wearing a watch that rings, tells you that you need to stop sitting and start walking and that counts your steps...to me that sounds like electronic handcuffs. I don't want a device buzzing on my hand all the time.
My watch is jewelry. It's not supposed to be as practical as a phone and I have no interest of it being so.

My sentiments exactly. Smartwatches and mechanical watches serve two very different types of consumers.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by ryanwatchcollection

My sentiments exactly. Smartwatches and mechanical watches serve two very different types of consumers.

WIS and tech geeks are different consumers. Everyone else is the same consumer and thats where the risk is as everyone is fighting for the middle, not the extreme flanks of the market.

As i mentioned earlier my wife is not a WIS and has a YM, JLC, and Cartier (but that one is a quartz). Got an apple watch and prefers that. Its not about money and its about convenience and functionality to many, many people. I use to be in the smartwatch is not a real threat camp too, not anymore.

[bradj]

I bought the new iwatch4. I'll use it for working out to stream music, track my pace/heart rate and occasionally use it as a phone when I don't want to lug around a cell but need to stay in contact. It will probably only see 5% wrist time vs my mechanical watches. I agree with the comment above, the last thing I need all day is another distraction on my wrist buzzing with emails nonstop. It's bad enough I stare at my sub during meetings.

Apple didn't beat the swiss watch industry, for the most part, they put watches back on wrists that didn't have a watch at all.

[RW16610]

Originally Posted by Valenciawatchrepair

Am I doing it right?

When did Hublot start making these?

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by CashGap

Not my article. He makes some interesting points.

My take?

Prior to the "Quartz Crisis", everyone wore a mechanical watch.

Afterward (decades), those who appreciate fine mechanical watches still wear them. But the "utility" buyer wears quartz.

I expect a few decades after the "Smart Crisis", the percentage of the population wearing fine mechanical watches will be unchanged, or at worst, changed by the general up/down of the economy. The mechanical watch aficionados are already outliers, and will be subject to minimal additional culling.

But if you make $150 quartz "easy fashion" watches, look out. Rather than having five of those for different moods, a young person will have a $300 smart watch and $250 worth of bands, along with a dozen free watch faces.

How Apple beat Swiss watchmakers at their own game

I don’t really see Apple or other smart watches cutting into the luxury market, i.e. 5000.00+. Apple watches don’t really offer much advantage over the phone and may actually stoke interest in the younger folks wearing a watch. I for one, do not need another device to “check” or charge. I also think there will be a movement against these as people get more and more hooked on tech and checking their phones, watches incessantly. Not healthy.

[gabrielnovar]

Waiting for rolex to make a smart watch I can wear to the gym etc ( But looks decent and not like crap)

that said...my mechanical watch is beautiful...cleanses the eyes glancing at it vs a screen

[Cryten]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

As i mentioned earlier my wife is not a WIS and has a YM, JLC, and Cartier (but that one is a quartz). Got an apple watch and prefers that. Its not about money and its about convenience and functionality to many, many people. I use to be in the smartwatch is not a real threat camp too, not anymore.

I'll counter that and say it's about style for many, many others.

My wife loves her social media but wouldn't wear one of those things if you gave her one. He sister actually did, she tried it on once. Just the once. It was a freebie from her sisters work, her sister wouldn't wear it either.

A friend of mine came around wearing a Galaxy watch one day and my wife was amazed at what it could do (fire the phone camera remotely, for example. The girls loved that part form some reason). Functionally she'd love one, but it's like wearing trainers with a cocktail dress, practical yes, but for most women style trumps practicality......so they wear 5" heels and break ankles.