Me and My Time Machines. Review on Buying a Watch

Time and Tide Waits for None. Who said it first?

None could give any answer. However, based on this, so-called gurus write lot about time management and earn in millions.

Time considered as one of the most valuable resources and people since ancient days are trying to measure it. Those ancient Egyptians could realize the value of time as early as 1500 BC; may be before that. Initially Egyptians used shadow of pyramids for measuring time but in due course innovated sundial. The oldest sundial believed to built before 1500 BC.

And what about watch? It said that one of the first watches produced in Italy in early 1500s. These watches typically driven by weights were naturally very heavy. One more interesting feature of this watch was – Single Arm – one could read only hour. Lucky fellows. Unlucky me have to account for each minute otherwise cheese may move. People enjoyed life to some extent until early 1600s. But as usual new Technology brought the devil – The second arm. However, technology was not that good – one had to twist the spring twice in a day. But, life changed  after introduction of a spiral balance spring. This innovation changed timekeeping forever by taking timekeeping accuracy from fractions of an hour to fractions of a minute and a watch would only have to be wound only once in a day.

In later half of 1600's, watches became small enough to go into pocket. These pocket watches were the most popular style and continued for more than 200 years.  Wristwatches became common in the late 1800's and were mostly designed for women.  During World War I, soldiers realized that wristwatches were more convenient than pocket watches.  As a result, wristwatches soon accepted as accessories for men as well.

Do you remember about those watches with 17 jewels? To ensure better accuracy over long period, bearings were made from artificial jewels sapphires or rubies. By late 1800s, America was leading the race in mass production of watches. Ultimately Europe followed in the American trend and introduced mass production of watches. In Europe, Swiss became the leader but at the same time, they continued to produce expensive designer watches. In 1900s, Japanese entered the race and changed the whole scenario once again. Brand loyalty, to some extent, shifted from Switzerland to Japan.

Electric analogue watches, which were powered by a small battery, were introduced in the 1950's. In 1969, Seiko first introduced quartz watch followed by Swiss in 1970. In 1972, Hamilton Watch Company(known as HMW) of USA began to sell the Pulsar, the first all-electronic wristwatch. The Pulsar's most striking feature was its time display by flashing red digits at the press of a button. Initially this was available in jewelry stores for$2000+(approx Rs 96, 000/-) and promoted as a'Time Computer'. This expensive Pulsar was one of the earliest consumer products of the microelectronics market. But, today, no one is going to pay even Rs 96/- for that kind of watch. Quartz watches, because of their accuracy and price made electric watches obsolete.

Initially everyone doubted commercial success of these expensive quartz watches. However, Further technological improvements and automated mass production lines made it easy on the pocket of common people. Texas Instruments was first to introduce low cost watches less than$10. But, they are no more in watch business because of low production cost in developing counties.

It is a fast changing world and latest technologies are reaching other parts of the world much faster. So is the choice of consumers. To keep pace with that, today, showcases in watch shop are full of varieties to suit every budget and affordable price made it possible to even maintain more than one. My preferences are as follows –

In Factory  

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I always go for Light Plastic Body(No corrosion), with calculator and stopwatch. Casio is the leader in this segment and I follow the leader.

I have a Timex make Indiglo. They received the patent for the Indiglo nightlight in 1988. The  bluish green light illuminates the dial evenly at the push of a button. The dial has special coating with a substance that becomes luminescent when an electrical charge is applied. This layer is sandwiched between two conductive layers which act as electrodes. When the button is pushed, the battery supplies energy across the two electrodes, which in turn lights up the dial. It is a good watch using since 2000 without any repair but I have to replace that wristband.

Casual wear

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In 80s, we used to get some very heavy Japanese watches but I never liked those heavy weights. Steel body with date and day, analogue display and must be thin and light – is my choice. I do not prefer gold plated one and I prefer a leather belt. Titan and Timex have many in this category.

Long back, I received a ‘Fast Track’ of Titan, when it was first introduced in India, as a token of appreciation. That was a nice-looking watch.

Low cost Swatch watches are also good for casual wear if you do not mind plastic molded body.

Special Occasion

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I am a fan of RADO. These are very expensive if not purchased from the footpath of Fort area(Mumbai) or SE Asia.

I have a Tempic(19) watch with a striking rectangular steel dial with leather belt. No special features but its my favorite due to its great look. Titan too produces some very good designs.

Others in the family

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Wife prefers to go for golden one and prefer metal wristband. She has many, collected since long but her favorite watch is copper(may be some other chemical) plated Fossil Make quartz with a designer’s wristband.

Kids like to go for sports one. Very funny designs attract attention of those tender souls. These are very cheap and sort of use and through type. Life of these watches is not that long. Our college going son wears a Timex(Movt. No. 903) watch that suits his well built physique.

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According to a report, mechanical watches make up only about 13% of the world watch market. According to me, this 13% of world market may be in under developed countries and those going for expensive traditional mechanical one. Getting after sale service for such watches may not be that easy. So, it is better to be in quartz world if you are not going for a collector’s item or a antique.

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