A new smartwatch is a lithium-ion battery that loses value the moment it leaves its box and has a lifespan of three years. A mechanical watch, on the other hand, is a micro-machine that defies gravity, keeps ticking as long as you keep moving, and will be passed down to your grandchildren.
In our daily lives, overwhelmed by algorithms and data streams, the greatest luxury now is to be “unreachable.” Carrying a device that constantly vibrates on our wrist, telling us how many steps we’ve taken or who sent us an email, turns time into a unit to be consumed.
The rise of mechanical watches (horology) in the digital age is no coincidence. It is a longing for the warmth of gears and springs, as opposed to the coldness of touchscreens.
Here are strategic reasons to put your smartwatch away and get a real timepiece.
Planned Obsolescence vs. Infinite Loop
There is a reality in the world of technology called “Planned Obsolescence.” The latest high-tech watch you buy today will be “old model” next year. However, a 1960 model Omega Speedmaster or Rolex Submariner is more valuable today than it was in 1960.
A mechanical watch converts your kinetic energy (automatic) or the power in your fingertips (manual) into time. No batteries, no software updates. Just pure physics and gear mathematics.
Heart Rate: 28,800 BPM
Most modern mechanical watches operate at 28,800 beats per hour (4Hz). That rapid “tick-tock” you hear when you put your ear to the watch is like the heartbeat of a living organism.
Unlike quartz or digital watches, whose seconds “jump” once per second (dead-beat), the seconds on a mechanical watch “flow” (sweep). This flow represents the linear and uninterrupted nature of time. From this perspective, you cannot stop time; you can only witness its flow.
Focus Architecture
You’re in a meeting. Your wrist trembles. Your eyes wander. That moment is over. The “flow” state is disrupted. A mechanical watch is a “single-purpose” tool. It only tells you the time; perhaps the date, at most the phase of the moon. It doesn’t interrupt you, it doesn’t collect data from you, it doesn’t distract you. It just stands there and does its job. This is a rare loyalty in the modern world.
A Hint
When entering the world of mechanical watches, brands that use ETA or Sellita-based movements (such as Oris, Longines, Sinn) are strategically more sensible for beginners and intermediate watch enthusiasts. These “workhorse” movements are robust, can be repaired by watchmakers worldwide, and have readily available spare parts. Luxury is not just about the brand; it’s about sustainability.
Remember: you cannot control time, but how you measure it is your choice.
