Posted on 08/04/2015 6:33:44 PM PDT by Swordmaker
Much has already been said about the new mullet watch by Nico Gerard. The watch, called the Pinnacle, costs $9,200 and is essentially a metal band with two watches attached to it. On one side you have an automatic three-handed “chronograph” with Swiss movement and, on the other side, an Apple Watch. The entire thing is so ludicrous that I suspect someone in Switzerland is trolling us all today but, on the other hand, it is completely indicative of why Switzerland is losing the battle for our wrists.
But while knee-jerk assessments are certainly fun, I’d like to make a more reasoned argument as to why this watch is everything that is horrible about everything.
Watch companies like Nico Gerard exist because rich people and fashion folks will them into being. The company has only one watch available on its website, the aforementioned frankenwatch, and this watch was invented primarily to get buzz.
The cheapest model is $9,200 – way too expensive at half that price – and the styling is bland and uninspiring. The watches themselves run a modified ETA 2824 movement – the so-called NG2824A – and each includes a steel Apple Watch unless, presumably, you spring for an Edition.
The watches are COSC-certified, a process that adds a few thousand to the price and basically means that the watch has been tested at the Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres, a non-profit certification organization. COSC used to be important; it was the only way to confirm a mechanical watch would keep accurate time. But now that materials and systems are making consistent and consistently accurate mechanical movements it is essentially a frippery.
Having a COSC certification on your watch is akin to paying a non-profit organization thousands of dollars attest that your luxury car is able to drive 250 miles without catching fire and “vrooms real good.”
So on one side we have the worst Switzerland has to offer – a generic, boring, three-handed watch that is certified by a bullshit organization – and on the other side you have a watch that most connoisseurs either loath or dread.
The ones that loath it would never buy this watch and the ones that dread it – meaning they understand that the Apple Watch is what will soon replace the Rolex on their wrist – are equally unenthused. It is a lose-lose, however you slice it.
Will Nico Gerard sell a few units? Sure. Fools and their money are separated every minute. Is this the future? Absolutely not. There is a market for mechanicals and there is a market for Apple Watches. The twain will never meet.
I’m still wearing my Apple Watch and I understand its limitations which is why I still slap on my Omegas and JLCs when I feel I need to disconnect. But when it comes to feeling the need to wear the both at once — well that’s a really hard sell and Switzerland still doesn’t get it.FrankenWatch video. . . Vimeo
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Thanks to dayglored for the heads up. . . for what ever this is. . .
I bought an Elgin pocket watch in 1965 for $35. It was Swiss made despite being an Elgin.
It still works fine and keeps time about as well as a quartz movement.
I had a Rolex GMT Master II for over 20 years. That was complex enough.
Finally sold it when the service to keep it running well got to the $500 mark.
Got a Luminox now.
To me, wristwatches are as useful as a fancy men’s dress hat. Who really wants one that needs one ...even if it’s a cheapie Casio?
I guess the really elite ones are nice to admire, but I don’t want or need one.
All of you are supposed to nod your heads at how the 1% are again oppressing the Workers of the World. If only you would all understand that we must fight these Swiss Bourgeoisie who are grinding the American Minority proletariat under the heel of Capitalism!
I ran into a watch clearance at a Wal-Mart around 3 months ago. They were between $5 to $15 and regular prices ran up to $48. All were either Casio or Timex Iron man. I thought they would make good gifts so bought around 12.
I set them all by my atomic clock and noticed that most of them gain or lose around 7-10 seconds a day. They mostly gain. However one of the Iron Man watches keeps very close to perfect time. In the 3 months I have had it, it has only gotten around 2 seconds off or less than a second a month.
I am going to keep that one. I have already given four away and they all liked them.
You have an interesting hobby.
(grin)
All I can say is...
5
4
3...
...until the “WTF” or JeanLucPicard HeadPalm post.
The only thing which is a hobby is saving money.
Now my best friend collects really old and valuable pocket watches, especially ones with gold cases.
I bought a stainless steel Rolex Oysterdate Precision for $150 aboard ship as a 19 year old sailor back in 1977.
Still wearing it today, have had it serviced a few times. My nephew turned me on to a fellow in New York who does great work, guarantees his work, and is far, FAR more inexpensive than taking it to any of the national jewelry chains.
He did an overhaul , repair balance wheel for $75 back in 2010 because I overwound the watch...:(
I have sent a lot of people to this guy, and they were all very satisfied with his work!
Mark Sirianni
https://www.watchdoctor.biz/Default.aspx
It’s probably fine if you never have to watch your time more than getting up in the morning or looking at your car’s clock on the way to work, if you even need to do that.
But most of us have to keep track of work, appointments, etc. Having a cell phone is okay, but I am always planning for the day when there is no cell network or Internet. Perhaps time will be irrelevant at that point, but probably not.
And I will still wind my watch every morning as I have for the last 13, 879 days! Heck, someone has to know what time it is, even if it is only to coordinate our attacks against Skynet in the future...:)
That would have to be one heavy watch to wear; and uncomfortable.
I hear you. Mine (hobby) is surviving in Obamaland.
Watchmaker ping!
(you won’t be repairing these pieces of....)
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