Do you think the super complex function in a watch really useful?

Oct 19, 2010,05:28 AM
 

Stopwatch,minuter-repeater,perpetual calendar.....Do you think the super complex function in a watch really useful?

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Functions like chrono, equation of time are nice to have but seldom used.

 
 By: patrickmaniac : October 19th, 2010-05:43
 I think functions like alarm, perpetual calender would be more useful in real life. But to each his own. What did you have in mind when you asked this question? cheers PAt

Hi PAt

 
 By: dolphin__ : October 19th, 2010-20:54
Thank you PAt,I think the super complications in one watch,play the roll to satisfy the spirit need more than the functions themselves. For minute repeater,Perpetual calendar and equation,etc,the owner might never use them,but they are pride to own them.t... 

Hi Jeff thanks for the clarification, nw I understand where you're coming from.

 
 By: patrickmaniac : October 19th, 2010-22:08
My take on a super 3 in 1 is that the owner would not use ithe functions on daily basis (use it as if it was a function that they need)  esp the chrono. Minute repeater, maybe yes (perhaps once a day to listen to the lovely chime. )  I am still ... 

With all the

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : October 19th, 2010-05:57
mobile phones and computer and radio clocks and wall clocks and shopping mall and street and bus clocks watches are not useful any more but I couldn't live without them so bring it on :0)

sometimes ....

 
 By: jfsuperior : October 19th, 2010-06:19
Is it different than having an A/C in your car during the harsh cold winter? There may be good use of some of the functions sometimes but not all the time. Regards, Jack Freedman

Useful, or charmful?

 
 By: amanico : October 19th, 2010-06:44
I would even go farer than you did... Is a mechanical watch useful since Quartz are more accurate and much cheaper? Another question: What would be life without this kind of futility? I couldn't liwth without, personally. Best, Nicolas

even more!

 
 By: radone : October 19th, 2010-07:33
Why do we use wristwatches when we all have watches in our mobile phones, computers, cars, TV sets, etc. One can love timepieces without appreciating the complex ones while, in the same time, nobody buys complex mechanical watches for their utility. Besid... 

I love this response...

 
 By: ocwatching : October 19th, 2010-07:39
like all luxuries in life...we love the futility...and these little "machines" strapped to our wrists... alarms and calendars are probably the most CHARMFUL ones...

an excerpt well said ......

 
 By: jfsuperior : October 19th, 2010-08:01
Here is a riddle for you – What do people use to cook their egg in the morning? What is an integral part of their run after work? What is necessary for determining the winner of many sporting events? The humble chronograph. Chronographs are one of t... 

lets See

 
 By: aldossari_faisal : October 19th, 2010-08:20
Obviously those watches with certain complications are not for a functional matter its for the companies it is from a marketing point of view for US purists it’s a poetic mechanical beauty for a watch maker it’s a matter of technical and emoti... 

I'm a nut for all things mechanical

 
 By: mrsnak : October 19th, 2010-08:42
Useful or not.

Sure, I can find some use

 
 By: jschen888 : October 19th, 2010-09:26
Most practical? No mechanical watch is practical in a world full of electronics telling you the time. Useful? Absolutely! I tell time on my watch more often than on my cell phone or computer screen. After all, that is its designed purpose, and it's how I'... 

Yes

 
 By: Hororgasm : October 19th, 2010-11:33
Pert calendar, chronos, alarm, gmt.....all useful. Why not? U can use mobile for everything, but hey...robots are also more useful then humans in many things.

I find perpetual calendars a very usefuly complication

 
 By: donizetti : October 19th, 2010-12:10
provided it is on a winder when not worn! Other than that, not so much. In any case, usefulness is not the reason why I like watches. Best Andreas

Most are, and most fly my mind away

 
 By: PoyFR : October 19th, 2010-12:12
Of course most complications are useful and serve good purpose to most of those that wear them. Some complications are or became to me useless, because I do not make use of them, nonetheless, I admire the mechanical achievements and most of all, I learn t... 

I think we're misinterpreting xinghui's question. My sense . . .

 
 By: Dr No : October 19th, 2010-12:26
. . . is that the question revolves around the utility of a grand complication, which incorporates all three functions - chronograph, striking mechanism, and perpetual calendar. Am I correct, xinghui? Cordially, Art

Thank you! Dr No

 
 By: dolphin__ : October 19th, 2010-21:16
I have added SUPER in the question. Before i rise this question,there is an idea in my mind,that is,someone chose watches with complications,not just because the function themselves,but the interest within the horology. Someone may think my opinion is,all... 

I think we are more interested in the technical feat than in the complication by itself.

 
 By: foversta : October 19th, 2010-13:05
It is obvious: we don't live in the same world and in the same times when these complications were created. Who needs a minute repeater when you only need to turn on the light ? But that's the piece of magic: we are still fascinated by these mouvements wh... 

Useful, yes

 
 By: relativist : October 19th, 2010-13:17
in the same way that art is useful, in the same way that music is useful, in the same way that supercars are useful - simply for the joy they provide.

I second this!

 
 By: Tim Jackson : October 19th, 2010-16:43
Humans for hundreds of years have found a need for "art" all it's various forms, it is what sets us apart from the remainder of the animal kingdom, and is something the human spirit appreciates, at times unknowingly, but which provides enormous happiness.... 

Well, if so, then the 2 I like are...

 
 By: watchme : October 19th, 2010-13:22
(1) The Zenith Chronomaster XT - because I like a full calendar + moonphase, a chronograph (which I DO USE daily), a guilloche dial, and a Manufacture movement, and (2) The JLC Reverso Triptyche - because I live the clean front dial, enjoy the sunrise &am... 

Having never

 
 By: halkcb : October 19th, 2010-19:04
Having never owned a watch with all the above complications,i can only say that the chronograph function is a definite useful complication---i have used it to time all sorts of daily events at work or exercise and even on road trips.My latest use of the c... 

I prefer simple....

 
 By: David Elliott : October 19th, 2010-19:06
to complicated. That said, I admire the artistry that goes into the more complicated watches, particularly the minute repeater. Dave

There is this old saying

 
 By: Jester : October 19th, 2010-20:51
Who buys mechanical watch to tell time? Having said that, I do think perpetual calendar and two/three timezone are among the more useful complications for the watches, at least for me. As for super complication that combines different complications into o... 

Most complications are entirely superfluous for most end users

 
 By: Craig LA : October 19th, 2010-21:09
IMHO, many popular complications (perhaps even the vast majority) are unnecessary, superfluous and never used by most owners. I believe that most watch owners do not purchase complications for their practical or intended purpose, but rather, for aesthetic... 

Nowadays, a watch is useless. It's a jewelry.

 
 By: cen@jkt : October 19th, 2010-21:46
Ok, now everybody can mock me for writing something like that . cen@jkt

They can be if you make them.

 
 By: pingtsai : October 19th, 2010-22:35
I have a Panerai GMT and set the second time zone to EST since I have family in NY (and I'm on the west coast). It's useful when I travel to see them. I agree that many functions are superfluous but I also believe that functions are useful if you give the... 

Beautiful is the key ...

 
 By: small-luxury-world : October 20th, 2010-01:53
at least to me Who cares about useful, if we talk about Haute Horlogerie?

THE RECORD BREAKING TIMEPIECE BY FRANCK MULLER

 
 By: jfsuperior : October 20th, 2010-07:19
Here's one you MUST have - forget the cost! best regards, Jack Freedman...  

Useful......

 
 By: MiniCooper : October 20th, 2010-11:09
Probably not, but... It is about the love of horology.... Cheers

NO ! Prove is attached ! Regards Moritz

 
 By: COUNT DE MONET : October 20th, 2010-13:01
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