patrick_y[PuristSPro Moderator]
28400
We welcome you Jeff!
Jun 30, 2014,16:01 PM
Honestly, a large percentage of our members are true connoisseurs. I've had the pleasure of meeting many of them. Some of them are soft spoken but with truly some of the best philosophies, some of them are very willing to share their opinions.
Some people wouldn't appreciate me singling them out publicly, but I have to say we have a very dedicated moderator team, I've met nearly all of them, and they are consistently hand picked and true appreciators of watches with true first-hand experience and knowledge about the products and the industry. Don't ask me how I got to be considered a part of this highly esteemed group.
Moderator Amanico, aka Vlad, for instance has a true and deep understanding of watches in general, but also heavily researches vintage watches as well. His knowledge and understanding of the vintage watches really deepens his appreciation for all watches, even modern ones. For instance, Amanico knows his watches so well he can spot inaccuracies and be very critical over some modern watches that do not have the original DNA of the brand.
I think you've graduated the "novice" title. But the next step would be to go to CHF or Germany and get two factory tours to see the differences between the various manufacturers and how they approach things. Every company (including the really expensive ones) takes "shortcuts" and also have areas where they go above and beyond. It's all about noticing these subtle nuances and seeing which manufacturer's values most closely resonates with your own values. It's important to know what's "marketing" and what's "truth." At some of these factory tours, you'll probably be invited to try your hand at making a part, or screwing something together, and you'll begin to understand why some things are incredibly difficult.
At the same time, I think some people get too enamored about the technical details and forget that at the end of the way the watch has to look good. So there are some brands where the watch is made equally as well (or better) as any other watch, but the design may not be as timeless as a competitor product.
Last thing, there's a sad thing when you see some people who are crazy mad rabid fans of a single brand. I know someone who thinks every watch from this manufacture is golden, even if there was a watch made from dog droppings he'd be all over it. It's important to identify where a brand that you may really like has gone wrong. For instance, I'm a big fan of Lange watches, but I will concede that many of their latest super expensive watches are impure. The Lange 1 Perpetual Calendar tourbillon has a movement without a 3/4 plate, in fact the entire movement looks Swiss. The latest Lange Terra Luna looks funny to me and that kind of romantic complication is not something that is in line with the brand's DNA (German watches are supposed to be serious). And many people thought the 1815 Perpetual Calendar Rattrapante released at 2013 SIHH was fantastic, I immediately decreed it was too thick and that I'd prefer a Patek Philippe 5004P. But do I love Lange? Yes! I do! They make great watches!