The Inheritance of Time.
How watches — and the stories they carry — remind us to become our own ancestors.
I love brands for their heritage and long standing message and passing the story to us. It is indeed huge work to keep up for many years and being increased into the massive brand machine. They are game players. Thats the reason people follow them for their stability. We believe in them by buying the product as we want something stable in our lives. We assured for their quality. I remember once I was at one of the high end luxury store by checking out some items. Meantime I was window shopping, the old couple came inside. The old lady approached to the Sale Associate: “My husband bought me these watches as a gift 40 years ago…”. Then she addressed the issue and asked for consultancy of some review. My mind exploded straight as I realised how long served these watches them and still remind them of those precious moments that keep them together as a warm memory. With this situation I appreciated the brand with their quality and price wise. You wonder then how more years it will serve this lady and what happens next after she passes away. Here I will quote the Patek Philippe’s motto: “You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation”. Thats a clear message to their audience for keeping the heritage and bringing the motion to your children and grandchildren.
But sometimes, we need to give a chance for the growing brands like children who do their best to make their first steps and being nearby them seeing how their small steps develop into the long running marathon. I was amazingly lucky to visit a local store in London “Time+Tide”. The boutique that specialises in microbrand watches. The sale associates welcomed me so warmly and were eager to demonstrate a wide variety of watches. The designs of theirs were so enthusiastic and aesthetic. Eventually by picking up the watches of my preference from the showcase I made a collection to view. Then I thought “these are as good as big brands”. Intuitively I broke down these watches in comparison to the well known watches on the market.
Dennison Green Malachite Stone Dial vs Piaget“Andy Warhol” Malachite Dial, White Gold.
Echo Neutra Rivanera White vs Reverso Classic Monoface Small Seconds
Baltic Hermetique Summer Orange Dial vs Patek Phillipe Calatrava 6007G-001
Baltic Hermetique vs Patek Philippe Calatrava Furlan Marri Castagna Mechaquartz Chronograph with Asthmometer scale vs Speedmaster Moonwatch Chronograph Professional
Furlan Marri Castagna vs Speedmaster Moonwatch
The total sum price of the famous brand watches is roughly £100,000.00. And the sum value of the micro brand I mentioned above is around £3,000.00. The difference is crazy. The design is not worse, it can be even better. It all comes to the subjective opinion. And only the value through the times will prove how much meaning you put into them. One day your grandchildren will bring them into the store and approach to the sale associate for some questions by saying: “My grandparents gifted these watches to me for [blank] occasion…”.
The traditions are meant to be secured and passed to the future generations from your ancestors. However, you are to be your own founder of the traditions. This is a sign for you to have a look at other brands which will eventually will serve you well too. To conclude, I will use again Patek Philippe motto: “Begin your own tradition“.