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The allure of an automatic watch
- Thread starter hwyhobo
- Start date
Yet another possibility. Or how about this one - those who prefer quartz watches prefer manual transmissions because they are more precise? Well? Those who stated they much prefer automatic watches for all the intangible reasons in the world, what do you drive?
I'll admit I've driven (with minor exceptions) stick for the past 25 years, and I wear quartz.
Is there any correlation at all?
I'll admit I've driven (with minor exceptions) stick for the past 25 years, and I wear quartz.
Is there any correlation at all?
Personally I prefer an automatic transmission, though I had a VW beetle for over 20 years and gave about three turns on the Km counter.
I like manual wind up watches, automatics are nice but it seems to me that they were designed for someone who owns only one watch, I keep a wind-up Poljot on my night table and wind it up every night, whether I wear it or not its a mechanical that's always running.
Some automatics can be wound-up, that's a good idea IMHO. I've seen a commercial of a car that can change from automatic to manual transmission.
Luis
I like manual wind up watches, automatics are nice but it seems to me that they were designed for someone who owns only one watch, I keep a wind-up Poljot on my night table and wind it up every night, whether I wear it or not its a mechanical that's always running.
Some automatics can be wound-up, that's a good idea IMHO. I've seen a commercial of a car that can change from automatic to manual transmission.
Luis
I like mechanical watches, for no particular reason - maybe I'm just a marketing victim. But, I rarely drive any car at all, preferring walking or the bicycle. Muscle-powered locomotion and muscle-powered watches, I think that goes well together. 
Kristofer
Kristofer
I'm an auto watch guy and recently bought my first auto transmission in fifteen years or so.
I'm not sure about the metaphor and I'd have to disagree with hh on the precision thing. Although (on road) I do prefer them, manual transmissions have little intrinsic precision, where a mechanical watch clearly does.
Standard transmission function is almost entirely a question of operator input. Poorly employed, they can easily be in the "wrong" gear, sustain damage, stall the engine, etc. Generally speaking, little fine engineering goes into them; many maintain straight cut gears, still require double-clutching, and so on. The business ends of both manual and automatic transmissions are essentially identical. It's how the gears are brought into action that's different.
Mechanical and quartz watches however are completely different species. A mechanical calibre, viewed removed from its case and dial, remains clearly recognizable as a chronometer. A quartz module in the same state might seem a remote control, a smoke alarm, a video game...
I understand the notion that mechanical watch fans might choose manual transmissions, but I'd suggest that while the gestalt might be similar, the devices are not.
I'm not sure about the metaphor and I'd have to disagree with hh on the precision thing. Although (on road) I do prefer them, manual transmissions have little intrinsic precision, where a mechanical watch clearly does.
Standard transmission function is almost entirely a question of operator input. Poorly employed, they can easily be in the "wrong" gear, sustain damage, stall the engine, etc. Generally speaking, little fine engineering goes into them; many maintain straight cut gears, still require double-clutching, and so on. The business ends of both manual and automatic transmissions are essentially identical. It's how the gears are brought into action that's different.
Mechanical and quartz watches however are completely different species. A mechanical calibre, viewed removed from its case and dial, remains clearly recognizable as a chronometer. A quartz module in the same state might seem a remote control, a smoke alarm, a video game...
I understand the notion that mechanical watch fans might choose manual transmissions, but I'd suggest that while the gestalt might be similar, the devices are not.
Hi All-
Even with ubiquitous traffic, I've never thought to myself, "Gee, I sure wish I had an automatic transmission now." while seated behind the wheel. The same goes for automatic watches...if I'm going to be using a firearm, jackhammer, or something else potentially harmful to an automatic I just slip it in my pocket until I'm done.
My armored solar G-Shock is a great piece of athletic equipment, but it gives me nowhere near the satisfaction of my automatic watches.
~ Blue Jays ~
Even with ubiquitous traffic, I've never thought to myself, "Gee, I sure wish I had an automatic transmission now." while seated behind the wheel. The same goes for automatic watches...if I'm going to be using a firearm, jackhammer, or something else potentially harmful to an automatic I just slip it in my pocket until I'm done.
My armored solar G-Shock is a great piece of athletic equipment, but it gives me nowhere near the satisfaction of my automatic watches.
~ Blue Jays ~
I've been reading through this thread and feel I outta chime in. I've been a Quartz watch person for a long time, and like the original poster, couldn't understand the allure of an Automatic Watch.
I took the plunge and picked up an Automatic Tissot recently, spend around $500.00 on one.
I think part of the allure, is what has allready been posted, the allure of wearing something that is handcrafted, and has quite a bit of work into it. Another part of the allure, is just owning an expensive watch. I know this sounds like a stupid thing to say, but remember back when you first heard about someone owning a $100.00 knife, and you couldn't imagine how that was any better than your $30.00 Smith and Wesson SWAT knife you got at an overpriced retail store that didn't even focus on knife sales. Once you've "tasted" the quality that a good watch, or a Sebenza or SNG, its hard to go back to what you had before without feeling different about the subject.
I took the plunge and picked up an Automatic Tissot recently, spend around $500.00 on one.
I think part of the allure, is what has allready been posted, the allure of wearing something that is handcrafted, and has quite a bit of work into it. Another part of the allure, is just owning an expensive watch. I know this sounds like a stupid thing to say, but remember back when you first heard about someone owning a $100.00 knife, and you couldn't imagine how that was any better than your $30.00 Smith and Wesson SWAT knife you got at an overpriced retail store that didn't even focus on knife sales. Once you've "tasted" the quality that a good watch, or a Sebenza or SNG, its hard to go back to what you had before without feeling different about the subject.
I never said it was the only thing, and neither did the previous poster who clearly named the automatic Tissot worth about $500, so I have no clue where that $20 digital watch crawled out of and jumped on you. Perhaps reading posts before replying might help to avoid such surprise attacks in the future.Grouch said:
Firstly, I've read all the prior posts. I was not trying to imply the earlier members rationale was in error; everyone selects their own possessions based upon their own ethos emotions. I was merely pointing out that many lovers of auto do not choose them due to their costs. I've seen diamond adorned quartz Rolexes and Concords that sell for more than many cars and I've seen used reliable autos for <$200. I just chose to use the $20 digital with a 2 carat diamond to illustrate that it takes more than "bling" to make an auto lover swoon.hwyhobo said:
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2002
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How does that line from sheakspeare go?
Me thinks she protests too much - or something like that.
It's patently obvious that hwyhobo is a closet mechanical movement lover trying to hide behind a gruff macho quartz-esque exterior.
Dude - you've just been outed
Me thinks she protests too much - or something like that.
It's patently obvious that hwyhobo is a closet mechanical movement lover trying to hide behind a gruff macho quartz-esque exterior.
Dude - you've just been outed
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2005
- Messages
- 2,110
GarageBoy said:
Thank you and the others for making this point. For my son's 16 birthday, I gave him a Doxa Pilot's watch. It has an ETA swiss, automatic movement. The kids in his class asked him about it and he could not make them understand that the watch winds automatically through normal bodily movement. They kept saying it was solar powered, kinetic or quarts. Duh.
I own automatic watches and mechanical (hand wound) from Sinn (not sold in U.S.), Omega, Breitling and Marathon. I would love to have a vintage Rolex 5513 (no date Submariner) but I just can't get past the whole Rolex thing.
One advantage a Mechanical watch has over a Quarts is that it won't just stop working when the battery dies. Mechanical watches typically give you signs that they need service, but you should have them cleaned an inspected every few years. Yes, changing the battery every year on a quartz will also do this, but that's a pain. I have no problem with quarts, I just prefer mechanical.
Well, there you have it, then.Ming65 said:It's patently obvious that hwyhobo is a closet mechanical movement lover trying to hide behind a gruff macho quartz-esque exterior.
Dude - you've just been outed
Actually, I never said I didn't like them, I just find certain attributes of quartz watches more appealing. It's quite possible, though, that if I ever retire, I will get an automatic watch. Different lifestyle, different accessories.
For you Pilot. http://www.timezone.com/library/archives/archives0099
) free watches (payment deferred on the honor system until after the war) during WW II.
Don't let the status-seekers who cling to the label shape your perception. They're onto the Pam fad now anyway. For those who crave conspicuous consumption, Rolex will certainly be happy to take their money any time.
But that doesn't change the fact that if you want reliability, durability and accuracy in an automatic watch, Rolex is among the best. :thumbup:
http://www.timezone.com/library/archives/archives0099
To the list I'd add that Rolex was the company that sent allied POWs (aviators mostly ) free watches (payment deferred on the honor system until after the war) during WW II. Don't let the status-seekers who cling to the label shape your perception. They're onto the Pam fad now anyway. For those who crave conspicuous consumption, Rolex will certainly be happy to take their money any time.
But that doesn't change the fact that if you want reliability, durability and accuracy in an automatic watch, Rolex is among the best. :thumbup:
Please explain it for the initiated. When I was a kid, Omega was considered (among people I listened to) the watch to depend on, but then I started hearing more and more about Rolex, until it seemed the whole world considered Rolex to be the epitome of a watch (or was it all marketing?). I never found them visually appealing (or any of their clones), but then the new Omega models I do not find too appealing either.Pilot1 said:
Now, come on, you find changing a battery a pain (it takes 10 minutes at any watch vendor), but you have no problem with your watch being cleaned and serviced every few years?
Thanks, tortoise, that answers much of my first question in an earlier post (although I would still love to hear some of the posters' perception here). Fascinating stuff. I had no idea there could be so much emotion around a watch.tortoise said:For you Pilot.