The Digital Evolution of Watchmaking

High-end watchmaking is often viewed as a practice that relies almost entirely on precision engineering and techniques that have been mastered and refined over centuries. But behind the scenes, the watchmaking industry is powered by new technology that might not be apparent from the shape of the final product.

The influence of CAD in modern watchmaking

For example, new watches might be designed, not just using pen and paper, but through Computer Aided Design software like Solidworks, which might allow a team of engineers to rapidly iterate through a series of designs, spotting problems and refining subsequent iterations along the way.

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Techniques

Watch manufacturers also have access to materials that might not have been viable until relatively recently. The use of titanium, which is incredibly hard and durable, is more prevalent. The same goes for ceramic components, which can be shaped with unerring accuracy by modern machinery.

The advent of 3D printing has also made it possible for manufacturers to craft very small, bespoke components to suit a particular purpose. This might not only be worthwhile at the prototyping stage; it might also make repairs easier.

Artificial Intelligence in Quality Control

Very expensive watches are typically checked thoroughly by a human being with special expertise before they’re sent out. After all, the reputation of the brand might be damaged by even a small number of defective products.

More recently, artificial intelligence has helped human quality-control agents to spot defects that might otherwise have gone unnoticed. AI can be used to spot when a product has deviated from the design, and when a product might require maintenance.

Blockchain for Authenticity and Ownership

A watch is a high-value asset. As such, it’s important to ensure that the watch being bought is genuine. Modern watchmakers are able to ship their devices with a certificate of authenticity that’s digitally encoded, which will help to battle forgery, and allow customers to demonstrate that they own a device. In much the same way that you can check the ownership history of a car, you might, in the future, be able to see when a watch was made, and how many times it’s traded hands.

Digital Platforms and the Pre-Owned Market

Online platforms now provide a powerful means of picking up quality pre-owned watches at discounted rates, wherever you are in the world. This has helped to push up interest in high-end watches, and demand for them.

The Future of Horology in a Digital Age

Part of the appeal of the elite-level watch manufacturers is their reliance on old methods that newer disruptors can’t replicate. Thus, it’s unlikely that the watch industry will be completely digitised in the near future. However, a number of technological aids are still helping high-end manufacturers to refine their products, and the way that they ship them to customers.