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Rarity, cause or effect?

Rarity, cause or effect?

Rarity, cause or effect?

(OP)
I've noticed this add a few places, most recently in an airline mag the other day:

http://www.skymall.com/webapp/skystore?process=prodDisplay&action=&pid=69623836&catId=93917833

The catch line is:

Quote:

So rare that only a handful were made in 1923

Aren't they rare BECAUSE only a handful were made?

By the way, do any of you have one of these?  I like the appearance, but I'm not convinced that they are not some cheap made in Malaysia POS.

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

I see this watch advertised in the back of my Legionare magazines.  It looks nice in print, but I have wondered the same thing about physical quality.  It's not really my style of watch (not functional enough) though.

"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

So rare that only a handful were made in 1923. This may be due to some defect that they stopped making it, causing it becoming rare.

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

I would take the line to say they are rare because so few were made because the quality was prohibative in making more.

"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

MintJulep
Fun post...
I too have seen similar ads for quality unparalled in Short Wave Radios, Clocks, Weather Instruments and etc. New found technology makes it all this possible and that technology is the internet which allows (read that enables) these witch doctors, to sell there cheap knockoffs to the unwitting, or those who want so much to hang on to the past. The past being anything old was good and was of quality. Also if the name of the item even sounded foreign then it must also be of quality.
We are so deswayed by our emotions.  
My ex-mother in law always said if its on TV then it must be true. She disliked some actor only because he was a bad person (a character) in such and such move. She was steadfast.
I guess my point here is "Perception is Truth" and by god the advertisements are aimed at changing your perception to their way of thinking.
Be vigilant.

On this level, it is buyer beware..

Happy Happy

pennpoint



RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

OK, only a handful were made in 1923, but what about 1924...2004 ??

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

Come on guys...read

Quote-"After 80 years, the Steinhausen watch has finally been "reborn,..."

They are making a "reborn" version of an OLD Watch that, back then, was carefull handcrafted.

Standard "Bait-and-switch".

Quote-"Today, you can once again enjoy a replica of the Steinhausen masterpiece reborn in its original glory."

$249 for a replica of an old handcrafted watch...I don't think so!

I'm originally from New York...Pssst, hey buddy, do you want a used Rolex...only $150.

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

How many of these misleading advertisements are there around today?  
This certainly gives you the impression that they are something special, but it's clear it's just a modern copy - made for next to nothing, no doubt, in, as you say, Malaysia, Taiwan or China etc.
If you like it - fine, but there's no way I would pay $250 for a 2004 copy of a 1923 watch.  On the other hand, I might possibly consider it for an original 1923 watch.  Isn't that what they're hoping you think it is?
By the way, kinetic watches have been around a long time (pre-1923?).  I had one once when I was a teenager.  It was OK, but if I took it off for a day or two I had to reset it, and then wind it up by waving my arm rapidly up and down for about 5 minutes, until it had enough go to keep a reasonable degree of accuracy.  It also stopped if I sat at a desk for too long.  I had to put it on my right arm, so that it got wound up when I wrote.  I can't remember what happened to it, but remember I got a new fangled digital LED (not LCD) watch, with a battery that lasted a whole 2 months.  Now that probably would be worth something now...

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

So what would be the difference between a $250 2004-replica 1923 watch and a $250 2004-new Movado watch?  Technologies should be the same, materials could be the same, and quality might be the same.

Of course we all know that Should, Could and Might are powerful words.

"But what... is it good for?"
Engineer at the Advanced Computing Systems Division of IBM, 1968, commenting on the microchip.
Have you read FAQ731-376 to make the best use of Eng-Tips Forums?

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

Being a bit digressive. When referring to cooked meat,

slightly rare: A POINT.
when underdone or fairly rare: SAIGNANT.
if very rare: AU BLEU.

However, when the object is so rare as to be known only to experts and connoisseurs, the word is: ABSTRUSE.

All these items were winkled out from a dictionary.

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

Maybe so, and if it was clearly advertised as a modern replica of an old style watch, that has been brought up to date, and they wanted $250 for it, that would be fine.  The advert is clearly trying to mislead you into thinking it's something it is not.  If it's a modern remake - it isn't exactly rare, is it?  That is completely superfluous.  If it isn't made in Switzerland, why mention Swiss/Switzerland 5 times, and the actual place where it is manufactured not once.  I wouldn't buy it, because I wouldn't trust them.

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

(OP)
My, aren't we all skeptical today.

If your read really carefully, the original watch is "Steinhausen".  The replica is "Steinhausn".  Typo or subterfuge?

From further in the text:

"As a result, the Steinhausen never needs winding or batteries!"

"The Steinhausen movement has been fine-tuned for a rating of +5/-7 sec., making it one of the most accurate in the world."

"Steinhausen watches contain up to 35 jewels."

None of those statements say anything about the Steinhausn.

"A Swiss engineered movement comparable to the Steinhausen has never been produced at this low price."  Any possibly still hasn't.

$250 is a reasonable price for a good quality, mechanical watch.  The unknown here is, is this a good quality watch, or is it a $6 watch being sold for $250.

Rerig:  I have a perfectly good Rolex that bought in Taipei for $50.  Do you mean to tell me that it's not real?  (Keeps perfect time by the way, mechanical movement)

RE: Rarity, cause or effect?

did Baron von Munchausen write the advertising copy?

Bung
Life is non-linear...

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