Destined For Greatness???

[E8ArmyDiver]

Quite a while back, when Micro Brands were really starting to make noise in the industry,there was a thread poo pooing most of them & flatly stateing none of them would ever achieve CLASSIC status...The general consensus at the time here at WUS was that while there were some nice watches coming out none would ever be worthy of that position in WISdom...So now it's been a year or two & we have watches like the Bronze & SS Helson Shark Diver, the Bronze Benarus Moray,the Bronze Olivier,the Bronze & SS Armida's,Zixen's ,Deep Blue's Master 2000III series,Halios, & on & on....TRUELY the time we are living right now will go down in history as the Golden Age of the wrist watch...BUT what about 30-40 years from now?Will any of these watches be revered in the manner of the Seamasters,Doxa's & Rollex's of the 60's & 70's???Me?I believe the Bronze watches coming out right now WILL achieve True Classic status & in 20 or 30 years will bring collectors prices in the Multi Thousands of $$$ to bear out that fact...Unfortunetly I haven't seen the same future for anything in SS that Micro Makers have given us yet except for POSSIBLY the Armida A1 High Dome or Helson's Gauge Diver & what else?So what do you say WUS?What specific watch or watches are headed for greatness,if any???

[clouser]

Some of the micros might still be around, but none of their watches will achieve the classic status of a Seamaster or Submariner. Not because of design or quality, the micros simply can't get enough watches into the mainstream, and they can't advertise like Omega and Rolex can. Other than WIS's, nobody will have ever heard of these companies.

[lexvil]

Only time will tell but I don't think bronze will be anything but a blip on the watch scene. In time people will grow tired of the weight and the discoloration on their skin but that is just my opinion. There will always be some collector who loves the odd stuff but none of these will ever be mainstream.

[cojis]

Quite a while back, when Micro Brands were really starting to make noise in the industry,there was a thread poo pooing most of them & flatly stateing none of them would ever achieve CLASSIC status...The general consensus at the time here at WUS was that while there were some nice watches coming out none would ever be worthy of that position in WISdom...So now it's been a year or two & we have watches like the Bronze & SS Helson Shark Diver, the Bronze Benarus Moray,the Bronze Olivier,the Bronze & SS Armida's,Zixen's ,Deep Blue's Master 2000III series,Halios, & on & on....TRUELY the time we are living right now will go down in history as the Golden Age of the wrist watch...BUT what about 30-40 years from now?Will any of these watches be revered in the manner of the Seamasters,Doxa's & Rollex's of the 60's & 70's???Me?I believe the Bronze watches coming out right now WILL achieve True Classic status & in 20 or 30 years will bring collectors prices in the Multi Thousands of $$$ to bear out that fact...Unfortunetly I haven't seen the same future for anything in SS that Micro Makers have given us yet except for POSSIBLY the Armida A1 High Dome or Helson's Gauge Diver & what else?So what do you say WUS?What specific watch or watches are headed for greatness,if any???

None that you mentioned, unless there is hyper-inflation in a few decades and your multi-thousands are the same as a thousand now. There is only one classic, so-called, micro-brand diver and that's the PRS-2 Dreadnought, the grandfather of all modern micro-brand divers - one that is often copied, mimicked and will not be matched. I dare you you to trump it.


Perhaps the Marathon SAR was the first forum formed dive watch but it was done through a manufacturer/watch seller wishing to get a watch to market. But the DN is the original small maker, small forum input, quality hard-core dive watch to beat them all.
Everything else is a wannabe.

Here are specs and info from timefactors.com
A heavy bead blasted stainless steel case fitted with an equally heavy stainless steel bracelet give this watch a total weight of 265 grammes. The full specification is:

• Case and bracelet manufactured from 316L stainless steel.
• Diameter = 44 mm, 15.6 mm thick and 54 mm lug tip to lug tip. Lug spacing is 22 mm.
• Weight: Watch & bracelet = 265 grammes, the watch head is approximately 140 grammes.
• Domed sapphire crystal with anti-reflective coating on the underside.
• Super Luminova on hands and dial.
• Movement: ETA2824-2T (Top) with decoration and chronometer rated to DIN standard.
• Anti-magnetic movement dust cover & movement ring.
• 500 metres water resistant.
• Twin "O" ring seals in the case back.
• Patented decoupling screw down crown (tested to 2000 metres).
• Anti-magnetic to 30,000 A/m.
• Screwed bar lugs.
• Solid link stainless steel bracelet with solid end pieces, diver's extension and screwed removable links.
• Numbered limited edition of just 200 pieces.

Supplied in hardwood box with 3 screwdrivers (2 for the lugs and 1 for the bracelet), spare screwed bars, chronometer certificate specific to each watch, watch leaflet, copy of the original technical drawings and guarantee card. A Rhino strap is also included.

Assembly and proofing has been carried out by prominent Master Watchmaker Dirk Dornblüth with corresponding timing certificate provided.

Movement: ETA 25 jewel automatic, calibre 2824-2T (Top version, with basic decoration and "assortments chronometer") chronometer certified to DIN 8319-1 running at 28,800 bph with hacking seconds.

[romeo-1]

Yep...I've always thought that the PRS-2 would endure. Try to find one for sale and then try to get it for less than $2000...which I personally would gladly clunk down in a heart beat!

None that you mentioned, unless there is hyper-inflation in a few decades and your multi-thousands are the same as a thousand now. There is only one classic, so-called, micro-brand diver and that's the PRS-2 Dreadnought, the grandfather of all modern micro-brand divers - one that is often copied, mimicked and will not be matched. I dare you you to trump it.


Perhaps the Marathon SAR was the first forum formed dive watch but it was done through a manufacturer/watch seller wishing to get a watch to market. But the DN is the original small maker, small forum input, quality hard-core dive watch to beat them all.
Everything else is a wannabe.

[clouser]

Only time will tell but I don't think bronze will be anything but a blip on the watch scene. In time people will grow tired of the weight and the discoloration on their skin but that is just my opinion. There will always be some collector who loves the odd stuff but none of these will ever be mainstream.

I agree. Although I like the look of bronze, I think it's just a fad...flavor of the month.

[vokotin]

I see no future for those micro brands unless they will be advertised very well outside the internet and could be not enough.
They exist because of WIS's, period.
It's all about quality, craftsmanship tradition and reputation.
Of course only time will tell.. but right now i see only fuss about nothing.

[putnam dan]

Some of the micros might still be around, but none of their watches will achieve the classic status of a Seamaster or Submariner. Not because of design or quality, the micros simply can't get enough watches into the mainstream, and they can't advertise like Omega and Rolex can. Other than WIS's, nobody will have ever heard of these companies.

Panerai was a very small company on the verge of bankruptcy and now ..... :)

I'd guess one or two of these micros will end up being gobbled up by a company that can afford to advertise them.

[cold_beer839]

Depends on your definition of greatness. The PRS-2 Dreadnought definitely achieved greatness with the WIS world, but the general public would never know about it, they still think anything purely swiss made is the best ever. While WIS people know that great movements and watches can come from anywhere in the world, and from either micro or macro companies. I don't think micros being restricted to an internet-only existence is a limiting factor either, that is the future of all marketing and it is what give most of them their start anyway, IMHO.

[Renisin]

I am afraid you are right,outside of this small watch community,they are unheard of. The only watches that have real recognition are the Rolexes, Omegas,and Tags(there are a few others)! Some of which can be bought at Sams Club! I know as you all know that there are many fine watches to be found here,but unless you are really into watches you don't even know this site exists. Therefore it is clear that these micro brands exist only because of us here on this forum! Value in the future maybe, maybe not,if it has a future,it will only come from here!