BREMONT / We Debunked The Biggest Watch Myths… Did You Believe These?

Key Highlights

• BREMONT’s in-house watch technicians address six widely held myths about mechanical watches directly from the brand’s assembly room.
• Skeleton watches are confirmed to be more — not less — difficult to produce, because every finishing detail of the movement is fully visible.
• A louder tick is not an indicator of quality; the sound a movement produces has almost no bearing on its precision or craftsmanship.
• More complications do not automatically make a better watch — simplicity, when executed to the highest standard, can be the greater challenge.
• Magnetic fields from everyday objects such as laptops, speakers, and airport security scanners can affect the timekeeping of a mechanical watch.

Setting the Record Straight on Horology

Few industries carry as much accumulated mythology as watchmaking. Over decades, a set of assumptions has taken root among enthusiasts and casual wearers alike — beliefs about what makes a watch valuable, how it should be maintained, and what its complications really say about its maker. For serious collectors, particularly those in the GCC where horological culture has grown considerably, separating fact from fiction is not merely academic; it shapes purchasing decisions, collection strategy, and long-term care.

BREMONT, the British watchmaker known for its engineering rigour and aviation heritage, took a direct approach to these misconceptions by filming its own watch technicians — the people who actually assemble the watches — speaking plainly about what is true and what is not. The setting is the brand’s assembly room, lending the exercise an authority that no marketing copy could replicate. You can watch the official BREMONT video in full above.

The six myths addressed range from foundational misunderstandings about craftsmanship to practical guidance on caring for a mechanical watch in daily life. Each point is delivered concisely by practitioners whose work depends on getting these details right. What emerges is a clear-eyed portrait of what fine watchmaking actually demands — and what collectors should genuinely expect from the timepieces they own.

The Craftsmanship Myths: Skeleton Dials and Complications

One of the most persistent misconceptions in watchmaking is that skeleton watches — those with open-worked dials that reveal the movement beneath — are somehow easier or faster to produce. BREMONT’s technicians refute this directly: skeleton watches are harder to finish precisely because every element of the calibre is exposed to view. On a standard dial, minor imperfections in bridges, plates, or finishing can be concealed. On a skeletonised piece, nothing is hidden, and the standard of execution must be uniform throughout.

The relationship between complications and quality is equally misunderstood. A watch with multiple functions — perpetual calendars, moon phases, chronographs — is not automatically a superior object. As BREMONT’s team makes clear, a complex watch is not always better, and a simple watch can, in many ways, be the harder achievement. When there is less to distract the eye, every proportion, every surface, every interaction between components must be perfect. This is a perspective that experienced collectors in the region will recognise: restraint and refinement often carry more weight than accumulated function.

Why Tick Volume Tells You Nothing

The idea that a louder tick signals a higher-quality movement is another myth that BREMONT’s technicians dismiss without hesitation. The audible sound of a mechanical watch has almost nothing to do with its precision or the quality of its components. Tick volume is largely a function of case construction, dial thickness, and the acoustic properties of the materials involved — not of the movement’s grade or regulation. Collectors who have auditioned timepieces side by side will know that some of the most finely adjusted watches are also among the quietest.

The Practical Myths: Servicing and Magnetism

Perhaps the most consequential myth addressed is the belief that luxury watches do not need servicing. BREMONT’s technicians are unambiguous: neglecting a service is equivalent to ignoring scheduled maintenance on a car. A mechanical watch is a precision instrument with dozens of moving parts lubricated by oils that degrade over time. Without periodic attention, wear accumulates, tolerances shift, and timekeeping suffers — regardless of the brand on the dial or the price paid at point of purchase. For collectors who invest significantly in fine timepieces, this is guidance that protects that investment directly.

The question of where a mechanical watch can be worn also carries more nuance than many assume. The answer, according to BREMONT, is essentially anywhere — but with awareness. Strong magnetic fields, specifically those generated by laptop computers, audio speakers, and airport security scanning equipment, can interfere with a movement’s timekeeping. Magnetism affects the balance spring’s behaviour, causing a watch to run fast or slow until it is demagnetised. This is a practical consideration for frequent travellers and business professionals across the GCC, where international transit and technology-dense environments are everyday realities.

Understanding these vulnerabilities does not diminish a watch’s appeal; it deepens respect for its engineering. A BREMONT mechanical watch, like any fine calibre, rewards informed ownership. Knowing what affects it — and what does not — is part of the pleasure of collecting at this level.

Why It Matters

For GCC collectors who approach fine watchmaking with the same rigour they bring to other luxury categories, these clarifications are genuinely useful — they cut through the noise of received wisdom and focus attention on what craftsmanship, maintenance, and intelligent wearing actually require. BREMONT’s decision to let its assembly-room technicians speak directly to these questions reflects a commitment to transparency that sits well with a region of increasingly discerning enthusiasts.

Stay ahead of the latest releases. Subscribe to our newsletter for editor-curated coverage of luxury timepieces and jewellery across the GCC.