本当に「機械式」の時計は優れているのか?

Are “mechanical” watches really better?

Having been a watchmaker for many years, I often hear the phrase ``battery-powered watches are disposable and have no value.''

This is not a continuation of yesterday's blog, but

To be honest, I'm thinking, "What are you talking about?"

If I write down something too maniacal, it won't end, so I'll write it down briefly.

The fact is that depending on the watch, you can only choose a mechanical type, or only a battery type.

For example, the Rolex Daytona is only mechanical and changes from manual winding to automatic winding.

At the same time as the machinery changes, the design and features of the watch itself, such as its waterproof performance, also change.

If there is a quartz Daytona...it's probably a fake (lol)

For example, even if it is mechanical, if it is a watch with a "super complicated mechanism" such as a tourbillon or perpetual calendar,

I think it would be fine to treat it like a ``work of art'' that is beyond human comprehension.

And the price... it's like having a house on your arm.

Most of the expensive watches that you can buy, ranging from around 500,000 yen to 5 million yen, have similar contents.

For example, a self-winding 3-hand stainless steel watch made of combination materials, solid gold material, or with jewels, etc.

If you change the exterior material, the price will inevitably go up, but the inside will remain the same.

On the other hand, the first battery-powered clock is said to have been developed around the 1950s.

At that time, it was much more expensive than the mechanical type.

Elvis Presley's Ventura is said to have cost several million yen at the time.

You can see that the price is high and not common.

Later, in the 1960s, the development of battery-powered watches progressed in Japan.

In the 1980s, battery-powered watches became popular all over the world, and mechanical watches declined.

Then came the boom in mechanical watches.

The development period for battery-powered products is by no means short.

As for maintenance, it seems that mechanical types can be completely fixed by overhauling them, but

It's not just a matter of adding oil; depending on the internal condition, it may not be possible to repair or replace it.

Even battery-powered models like yesterday's Omega cannot be fixed without a circuit, so

There are some similarities between them, but

Mechanical systems are by no means ``eternal.''

Listing the advantages and disadvantages of each,

- Mechanical machines require you to operate them yourself, but that's what makes them fun.

・Battery-powered models work until the battery runs out, but they don't require much operation, so they're a little boring.

・Mechanical type has a daily difference (time difference), but battery type has almost no deviation.

After that, I just choose based on the "design" of the watch.

But this is the most important thing; if you don't like it, you won't be able to get attached to it.

Depending on whether the watch you choose at that time is mechanical or battery operated,

In the end, you will love it and use it and maintain it properly.

However, there are some "exceptions", and if it is a Cartier must tank that is very popular in our store,

You can choose between a hand-wound mechanical type and a battery-powered one.

However, depending on the design of the dial, you can choose both.

In most cases, the dial design is only for manual winding,

Since it is a battery-powered only design,

Not everything sells both.

You can choose both the most popular Ivory Roman,

Only those without index.

However, most must-have tanks with no index design are hand-wound.

The reason why Ivory Rome remained a "standard" from the birth of the must tank until the end of production is that

Perhaps it's because it's a must-have watch, as its name suggests, along with its iconic design.

Both hand-wound and battery-powered watches have their own merits, so

There is no such thing as good or bad.

However, it is the basics of vintage products,

Don't make the mistake of saying "choose based on condition".