Is Watch-Making in Danger of Becoming a Lost Art?
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- Опубликовано: 3 май 2009
- Time Piece, 2009 - Switzerland - Is watch-making in danger of becoming a lost art? Two Swiss watch-makers make a good case for the art.
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www.journeyman.tv/?lid=59591
Two visionaries in the watch-making world show us how they create some of the most exclusive watches on earth. This romantic film explores a fragile world that is fast becoming the stuff of history.
Philippe Dufour, the Grandfather of individual watch making, is known for his simple but unique designs. Disregarding mass-produced watches, he claims "we produce watches with a soul." Meanwhile Vianney Halter is an eccentric contemporary watchmaker. Through crafting watches by hand, he believes tiny imperfections result in beauty. "Perfect is not pure...it's too mathematical".
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It's interesting that other industries don't do this. There are auto restorers, but no one makes a whole car by hand. Same with cameras, restore and/or repair, but not whole handmade camera. However, you could observe that items like shoes, handbags and luggage, and lots of furniture are made in this what to call bespoke way. Some industries are conducive to this handmade way and others not. I believe that watchmaking is the highest, most complicated, technical craft that can and in very limited way are still made. Nothing snobbish here. The craft dies without people like these two guys. Mass produced watches are fantastic, but the bespoke is the highest form. These craftsman are compensated to what the market will bear, and the market will pay dear for their products. Good for them.
Very well written. good news is that watchmaking is actually thriving. more and more people want to become watchmakers and watch companies choose only a small percentage of skilled (out of quite a few, still good enough) craftsmen. also, there is more money among people then before and more and more people are attracted to collecting and appreciating hand made, mechanical things nowadays in the digital era. Seiko, for example, thrives by making/selling mechanical watches, not quartz. you will see more watch craftsmen in the future making watches by hand from scratch (such as Roger Smith)
Dusan Veselka I agree with all you say and with respect to Seiko that is good news, but people should realize that Seiko makes most movements in their watches, but the cases are Chinese made. That might matter to some (does to me) and not to others. The only Seiko I would buy will be in the Grand Seiko line. I will check it out before I buy, but I bet one hundred percent of the Grand Seikos are Japanese made.
Thats an interesting point. There are models of Seiko that are made in China or Singapore but, whether its the whole watch or just the case, they are all made and assembled to Seiko standards irrespective of location. the place of origin is not so important today (in a global world) as long as they are made by the same company and to the company standard (which they are, of course). this might matter to collectors though. Grand Seikos (hell, id love one) are probably whole made in Japan, as they wear the 'made in japan' sign.
Dusan Veselka There are well known Swiss watch brands having parts made in China and other countries. They put "Swiss Made" on the dial because of the lax Swiss labeling laws. Check it out. These companies can source in parts very cheaply, assemble, case and time the watches because half the VALUE of the watch has originate in Switzerland. Because out-sourced parts come from countries with very low wages it is easy to claim much higher added value as all things originating in Europe in general are much higher including, or course, wages. I am not uncomfortable with this arrangement, but what shits me off is lack of transparency these companies have in doing this. Look at Bremont. They got in trouble a couple years back claiming "in-house" movements that were ETA. one had to dig to find that info. Everyone knows now. Bremont's new line claims a sourced movement that is Swiss. Transparent and true enough; however, when you dig into the Swiss company, La Joux Perret, making those movements the company and the holding company under which it operates are and have been owned by Citizen of Japan. Not so transparent. You have to really dig to find that bit of info. So Bremont slaps on "London" on the dial and it should read "London/Swiss/Japan," or something to that effect. I would never buy Bremont. Buyer beware.
This is a definitely important issue and it should be better covered by law and/or the law should be better enforced. A watch should wear Swiss made only if the WHOLE watch was made in Switzerland.
On the other hand you see this in all sectors. You buy a car 'Made in xxx', although the parts were made in a number of different countries.
I absolutely love this video. If anybody you know doesn't quite "get" mechanical watches, show them this. There are no words that can explain how amazing these tiny little machines really are. Simply gorgeous. Well done, Journeyman Pictures, well done.
This is a fantastic video!
Thank you so much making this documentary. I watched this around 4 years ago an inspired me to study watchmaking, and work on making my own watches. Still gives me the same feelings when I re-watched it today. Just awesome!
I miss your vids Dean. Hope you are doing well.
@@theodoreiaccino7762 Thank you for your kind comment. I am doing good thanks, I will be making some new videos soon. Appreciate your support!
This is such a well put together video. I’m glad I found it, thank you to whoever made this
I keep coming back to this video. Beautifully made.
talking with passion it s so nice for the hears and soul , so comforting ...
A wonderful video about Horology. Thank you for sharing.
A handmade Swiss watch is greater than the sum of it's parts. A really beautiful video, thanks for sharing it.
Very nice video. Simply love the way this video explains things.
quite the master crafters/artistes! one of the truely fine arts thati hope humanity never, ever loses to "progress", or " commecialization!" there are many, many "old world" disciplines that are lost to us already, and it grieves me when explaining to younger generations what has been already lost, needs to be rediscovered or re invented! thank you for posting this beautiful taste of lasting refinement, some of the best in human achievements!
I love swiss watches ... they are brilliant .... I hope one day i can get one hand made just for myself.... so much better than wearing a off the shelf rolex or omega .... the guy was bang on when he said it is the imperfection that he loves.. there is something magical about the mechanical watch ... when you know someone put a lot of work and love into handcrafting each bit so intricately .. love this vieo hope it was longer
Can I just say what a reduction to search out somebody who really is aware of what theyre speaking about on the internet. You positively know the way to convey a problem to light and make it important. Extra people have to learn this and perceive this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more in style because you definitely have the gift.
what a beautiful story. love this.
Great video. Thanks for uploading. True craft and skill.
If my country was famous for anything I would want it to be for the fine art of watchmaking you are very very lucky
doesnt anyone else love the swiss accent, its like french mixed with a german accent soooo cool
Progress? The mechanical watch has had many interesting innovations in the past century that 'old world' watchmakers can't even think off, synthetic teflon lubricants that never corrode, silicon hairsprings that are amagnetic and resistant to temperature changes, co-axial escapements, diamond like carbon pallet jewels/forks that require no lubrication, luminous paint, tritium lighting, better gaskets, auto winders etc. Progress is a good thing!
Is there a book in which I can learn about these progress?
Can you make any of those things you just listed?
progress can be a good thing. it depends on how it's done and what the goals are that are being pursued.
You guy's are a great inspiration to all craftsmen
Wonderful film, beautifully done.
excellent just excellent!
Beautiful film. Thanks.
beautiful video!
I love this channel! Great videos!
Wonderful film. This was fascinating.
I love the complexity of watches & clocks.
Awesome, truly.
Beautiful video!
I wish someone would post a 3 hr video on watchmaking, I could watch this all day. I doubt I would ever spend the $ on one of these but I can certainly appreciate the craftsmanship and skill of this profession. These old school craftsman are a dying breed in our mass produced Chinese plastic made world.
wow this is beautiful
this is so good that i got sad when it ended..
Lovely video !!
This is a very powerful video. Take note.
idk how i ended up here but this is one amazing video.
very nice done
amazing,,, great video
It is true that the craftsmen are retiring faster than the apprentices are being trained. But, please do not sell people short. If a new watchmaker (craftsman) makes a new way to do this and it produces equal or better quality, it is not "re invented" Just the way of the world. It was figured out before. It can be again. With all that said though, more apprentices would be a good thing.
watches are amazing!!
This video is so damn relaxing ^^
YOUR WORDS ARE GREAT - NEARLY A PRAYER...!
watch the only machine working naturally without harming the others life on earth,amazing evergreen tiny machine that every body need.
Like the poet crafting their masterpiece :)
Nice music!
this is beautiful, i love the background music too. Anyone know the song that could help me out?
Great video.Now i dislike people who say i can check the time on my cell i dont need a watch even more.
great
I would never spend that much on a watch but it would be cool to get as a gift
this is y i love watches
The Swiss are not famous for many things, but our watches are the best in the world, made with precision and passion
Great film, let's not loose the art of watchmaking.
There is hope, watchmaking is in safe hands and youngsters are joining the craft. It's good watch repairers that is becoming a dying art form.
Too much music, but great concept.
I think I'll wear my Swiss watch more often now.
great just great!!!!!!!!!!!
Exelent
No, im 27 and I want this to be preserved
quartz may have replaced watches but the clockwork went to metrology
I agree with the first part...
You didn't get it - the watches you mentioned are mass products, while these watches are unique masterpieces...!
you know, i never thought of it that way.
Wow, I had a choice of watch a 1:45 commercail or two commercails during the playing of this video. Boo for that.
No wonder. In my country theres only one school teaching this, it only accepts 12 people a year. Prior to starting, you need experience (impossible to get) and fish out $10 000 worth of gear.
I would honestly love to become a watchmaker
i love the watch at 7:15
The Swiss were inside the mountains. They built installations underground, into the stone of the mountains and could have taken cover inside whenever air attacks came. The attacks would have been useless and the Swiss would have come out in full force if a ground attack came. The Germans used their planes most effectively in supporting ground units. Dive bombers in conjunction with tanks were a fast and deadly force.
Decent automatic mechanical watches can be had under $100 US from companies like Seiko, Orient, Citizen, etc.
You just literally mentioned 3 Japanese companies ;p
sir I am40+ and interested in learning watch making but where how to do I don't know
These are some of the wisest men we have, "don't let the knowledge of the world die"
i think it would be harder to make those screws and bolts so that it can fit those watch together
The music lulled me to sleep...
Of course I get it. I probably know more about watches than you. I was just saying that a mechanical watch can be had by anyone. They contain the same basic principle of movement as those costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
What's the music from this video?
(It seems just like "Amelie Poulain" 's soundtrack)
Japanese mechanicals are not "mass product" cheapos! (Though they are cheaper and less fancy)
I would like to know what that pearl like material is that makes the inner circle on the face of the watch at 6:28 Does anyone know what that is?
Old world style handcrafts, with actual people and their hands making their art, its one of the charms of Europe. Good thing they're not all lost to time.
The mechanical watch has a soul, put in there of hundreds of crafted pieces, crafted by artists, to make a timepiece, which will show the passage of time for hundreds of years, passed down through the generations, watching this viedo, and others videos of Swiss watchmakers art, I find the prices of these watches quite reasonable, I hope there will be people who will understand the value of these watches, and will be willing to pay what these watches cost, so this craft is passed on. Cheers.
Yep.
That's creative in thinking, but the sun will still go only through the 24 hour cycle. I think it would drive people crazy! :)
I can blieve it. A conversation in RUclips that makes sense AND doesnt use racial slurs!
Not a problem, all is well.
If you look at the bottom of the comments page, you will see a link that says "view all comments". Make use of it and every comment will appear in chronological order with it's posted replies appearing directly beneath it
My original post was a reply to a question from MrBinMohamad. Then Crusafriedchiken continued the conversation & I replied to him
Now I ask you - How much time is required for meantime to catch up with Swiss time?
I would like to learn before it does die
Such beautiful music! Anybody knows the name!
May I suggest using the app Shazam?
Condensation Punk I've never seen a more polite suggestion on RUclips, there is hope people!
i want to be a watchmaker :(
what i would do to be Mr. Dufour's apprentice
wow, looked up philippe dufour, lowest priced hand made watch by him costs $42,800
it looked like highly polished surgical steel
it is the same basic movement like a car you can spend hundreds of thousands for one or buy a cheaper one the way the engine works is the same maybe some minor changes a mechanical watch can cost anything a seiko divers watch can be under £100 where as an AP can cost 10k secondhand soooo yeah
I have a feeling you do.
What watch are you talking about?
Your answer proves me that I was totally right - you really don't get it!
Compare the complexity of a watch to the complexity of the creation and all that abides within.
i do
It's only natural that something which is custom, hand made and that is functionally precise along with being a work of art also, will be expensive. But such is life on earth.
Jewelry is uncomfortable to me, even watches I own but never wear. Nevertheless, they can be something beautiful and the complexity of the mechanism is something mysteriously fascinating.
@brashearbeer thankfully, you are wrong. I work in a workshop where we do watches by hand. and the average age 30. Even after the crisis hit, some of these companies are still hiring and are still growing. Hopefully we will still have very very rich people who are willing to pay for these kinds of products. if they stop doing it, i have to find a new job :P
yes it may last for ever ... but can you ceep track of it forever
i buy a under 20 dollor watch and most of the time loose it before it breaks i did get a rolex as a present but i only wear it to say church or a wedding or something of that
yes is amazing but i won't pay big money for this because watch is too fragile for daily use, unless u only keep it in your show room
Couldve done a better job showing the watchmaking process. Or rather, the time-piece making process :P
They mobilized virtually everybody and prepared to defend against a possible Nazi invasion. They utilized both their ingenuity and the defensive advantage of their country's natural landscape. The Nazis realized that combination wasn't worth the trouble. Fighting while making an uphill climb in rugged terrain is bad enough but the additional Swiss preparedness made a sufficient deterrent. The German main strength was their mechanized units - "tanks". Useless in the Swiss Alps
The most Speak Swiss German(Diffrent Acents Züridütsch,Baseldütsch,Bärndütsch etc)2 Most Speak SwissFrench(a diffrent version),3 Most Speak Italian,and 4 Most Speak Rumatsch(a Romain language). We have 4 official languages .In Basel,Luzern,Bern,Zürich Speak all Swiss German,In Geneva,Lausane,Montreux, Neuchâtel speak all Swiss French, in Lugano speak all Italian.
Buy a Casio Pathfinder!!
I liked even more his teeth!
The ticking sound makes me think there's a bomb somewhere in my room. :/
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