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I think you misunderstand why mechanical watches are bought. It's not to tell time. Phones tell time. That clock on the wall 10 feet from you tells time. The

I think you misunderstand why mechanical watches are bought. It's not to tell time. Phones tell time. That clock on the wall 10 feet from you tells time. The computer you sit/stand at can tell you when to leave work. For the most part watches are style + status symbol; personally I don't think smart watches are a threat on either front. FWIW, I have a mid-range Omega that is partially style, partially status and partially a beautiful piece of engineering. I _like_ it and I don't like the Apple watch.

Someone1234 11y ago
> For the most part watches are style + status symbol; personally I don't think smart watches are a threat on either front. Like top hats? One day everyone had one and good ones were a status symbol, the next they're all be relegated to special occasions (and even then rare). People make these claims a lot but they have it backwards. Good watches were a status symbol because at one point "everyone" had a watch and you could stand out from the crowd by having a good one. Now nobody has one and they're now a differentiator rather than a status symbol (which means they appeal to a different demographic). I personally think if watches survive as a format at all (smart watches aren't assured to stay around, by the way), traditional watches will diminish as people buy high end smart watches for status AND functionality, rather than simply buying a traditional watch for status alone (and appearing a bit hipsterish for doing so).
- anthony_d 11y ago
  I often lament that people don't wear hats enough anymore, so you may be on to something. On the other hand 2-3 years ago watches were gone as far as I could see. I remember a college student commenting that only old people wore them and that clearly they were pointless now that everyone had a phone. Purely anecdotally that trend seems to have reversed and I'm seeing more and more watches. I still haven't seen an Apple watch in the wild and I've only seen 2 android watches.
- deleted 11y ago
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- res0nat0r 11y ago
  I don't think there has been much smartwatch uptake thus far. If anything quartz or other "normal" watches would have displaced the Swiss market more than anything. This hasn't happened and high end watches are still selling and thriving. These have always been cosmetic jewelry items and aren't going anywhere. I'm more technically inclined than most people and don't want a smartwatch, but just bought my first real Swiss IWC last month. As long as the brand keeps their quality up, there still will be lots of people buying them.

Someone1234 11y ago

> For the most part watches are style + status symbol; personally I don't think smart watches are a threat on either front. Like top hats? One day everyone had one and good ones were a status symbol, the next they're all be relegated to special occasions (and even then rare). People make these claims a lot but they have it backwards. Good watches were a status symbol because at one point "everyone" had a watch and you could stand out from the crowd by having a good one. Now nobody has one and they're now a differentiator rather than a status symbol (which means they appeal to a different demographic). I personally think if watches survive as a format at all (smart watches aren't assured to stay around, by the way), traditional watches will diminish as people buy high end smart watches for status AND functionality, rather than simply buying a traditional watch for status alone (and appearing a bit hipsterish for doing so).

anthony_d 11y ago
I often lament that people don't wear hats enough anymore, so you may be on to something. On the other hand 2-3 years ago watches were gone as far as I could see. I remember a college student commenting that only old people wore them and that clearly they were pointless now that everyone had a phone. Purely anecdotally that trend seems to have reversed and I'm seeing more and more watches. I still haven't seen an Apple watch in the wild and I've only seen 2 android watches.
deleted 11y ago
[deleted]
res0nat0r 11y ago
I don't think there has been much smartwatch uptake thus far. If anything quartz or other "normal" watches would have displaced the Swiss market more than anything. This hasn't happened and high end watches are still selling and thriving. These have always been cosmetic jewelry items and aren't going anywhere. I'm more technically inclined than most people and don't want a smartwatch, but just bought my first real Swiss IWC last month. As long as the brand keeps their quality up, there still will be lots of people buying them.