Smart watches and the future of mechanical

[Hedgeman]

I've got a small collection of nice mid-range mechanical watches - Rolex Submariner, Explorer 2, Breitling SuperOcean and a few lesser pieces from TAG and the like. But since getting an LG G Watch R for Christmas, none of them have adorned my wrist: the smart watch has been a permanent fixture.

I like the aesthetics of the mechanical watches, and they kept time well enough that those aesthetics always beat wearing a quartz. But the sheer utility of the smart watch has completely won me over. And what we have now is clearly only the beginning technology wise.

So I'm left wondering what to do with the mechanical watches. The two Rolex in particular were bought as birth-year watches for my sons. But I can't help thinking that when they're old enough to have them (another 10-15 years) that they'll be viewed as quaint and archaic, a bit like steam engines are now.

Interested to see others thoughts on this.

Gary.

[Hedgeman]

toohuge said:

What utilities are these? I have looked at smart watches and just don't see the point, perhaps you could expand on why these are so useful?

Notifications are a big win for me - whatsapp, texts etc, and with work email configured to notify for anything urgent.

The fitness stuff is useful too - pedometer, heart-rate, time/distance spent exercising.

It's also nice having a pretty unlimited selection of faces available for different looks depending on mood.

"Ok google", navigation etc are nice to have too.

There's stuff which makes good demo-ware, but is not so useful day to day e.g. remote viewing of your phone camera with apps like "look behind me". Useful I guess if you want to keep an eye on young kids when you're out of the room, in the kitchen etc.

All in all there's more than enough of value (to me) to more than outweigh things like watching the second-hand sweep on the sub. I think this is just the beginning too. In a few years time we'll likely have larger, flexible, super-thin, wrap around screens with plenty of "real estate" on your wrist.

Gary.

[Hedgeman]

davepoth said:

As it has done since around about the point that the second watch was created, it serves to tell the people that matter that you are a gentleman of both means and taste.

There's clearly a lot of truth in that as reasoning for why people buy expensive watches, at least at the moment.

But what happens if it serves to tell people you are a dinosaur from a previous generation, which I fear is what smart watches will do over time.

Gary.

[Hedgeman]

sad61t said:

I've got a small collection of nice world exotic teas - white oolong, black Argentinian, Turkish and a few lesser blends from PG and the like. But since getting methamphetamine for Christmas, none of them have adorned my palette: the crack pipe has been a permanent fixture.

I like the flavours of the exotic teas, and they quenched thirst well enough that those aromatics always beat drinking a coffee. But the sheer high of the MDMA has completely won me over. And what we have now is clearly only the beginning chemistry wise.

So I'm left wondering what to do with the exotic teas. Two Royal Albert tea sets in particular were bought as birth-year mementos for my sons. But I can't help thinking that when they're old enough to have them (another 10-15 years) that they'll be viewed as quaint and archaic, a bit like tamagotchis are now.

Very good :-) Made me smile :-)