What I like about things like this is that they’re like little cottage industries.

A number of craftsmen got paid well to make it. An equal number of people will make money auctioning it off and more will be employed to restore it. The buyer will put in a drawer until such time as it’s time to settle his estate and the process will start again.

It has always been thus.

Fascinating bit of history. Thanks for posting it.

I have a friend who has a watch collection. One of his watches is a Patek Philippe. I sent him the article with the subject line "Wanna buy a watch?"

He totally loves the watches he owns, especially if he knows anything about their history. We sold him an Omega that we had gotten from a family friend. It wasn't running and it needed a complete overhaul, and Mr wtg wasn't interested in wearing it anymore so it found a new home. I had photos of the previous owner wearing the watch, and our friend Mike was absolutely giddy about having the provenance. He rotates through his collection, wearing a watch for some days or a week at a time.

He often sends me pics of Speedy (it was an Omega Speedmaster) on days when he is wearing it.

Enjoyed seeing the watch company "houses" on Lake Geneva and the shops windows filled with $$$$ watches.
Had a skeleton watch I liked. It had a crystal on the back, making the action viewable. It was in the console of a car I owned that was broken into.
Have a watch I got by trading a diamond cocktail ring my mother left me. After ten years I realize that I have developed an attachment to it.