[Chady]

I don't see any irony in it. Its just harder to persuade people into buying the basic plastic model quarts calibre now since a cell does the same and much more.

They just have to continue with their current path of making the watch a piece of jewellery, an accessory that helps convey a statement about yourself.

As for "no foreign manufacturer has produced finer watches than the American Railroad Grade Pocketwatch" I'm positive I can find a few people who thinks otherwise. It certainly depends on what you view as finest. Some would lean towards level of complication. Where I believe Patek P. holds the record with the one from their 150'th anniversary. And I'm not even a watch collector I just like mechanical watches.

But its true that a lot of watch makers in the western world were outdone, both in Europe and North America , by the efficient movements from the Swiss.

I'm a fan of ETA movements and I Love the valjoux 7750 and variants for bringing mechanical chronographs to "the people".

Edit: the Patek P one I was speaking of is the calibre 89

@ Joke1176: I really like look of the work in the watch. The case is probably a bit too intricate for my taste. I persuaded one of my friends to have his old granddads watch fixed and he was pleasantly surprised by what he found out. Only downside imo would be that non original pieces might take place in the watch, if the watchmaker can even come up with matching bits.

Ps: the fob on your chain, is it a locket for a picture?