Sales Of Fountain Pens X Mechanical Watches

[marcelo]

Sales of mechanical watches have been raising for quite a few years now.

 

I wonder about fountain pens. Is the same or the opposite happening?

 

It has been intriguing me and I look forward to reading your replies.

 

Marcelo

[Raskolnikov]

It's the opposite, unfortunately. They're substantially different markets, "ours" is sadly declining

I'd write more but (ironically enough) I'm using a tablet, not very comfortable.

[WirsPlm]

Actually, according to the BBC last year, FP sales are rising. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18071830 and http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/retailandconsumer/9283229/Fountain-pen-sales-double.html

 

Maybe they've fallen off since then, but that's still fairly recent information.

 

[marcelo]

Thank you both, especially WirsPlm for the info!

 

Let's see if 2012 data shows up.

[carlosviet]

It is rising. 2012 did not go up compared to 2011, but over the past years, the international trade of fountain pens has grown.

 

https://www.fountainpennetwork.com/forum/index.php/topic/250368-fountain-pens-international-trade/

[marcelo]

Good news. :-)

[proton007]

One issue is that a mechanical watch doesn't need any skill other than being able to read an analog clock.

 

A fountain pen also needs writing.

[MarcS]

i have no statistics on world sales of fountain pens. however, i have noticed that the pens i won at auction on 'bay in years past, at prices i found appealing, are now being won at much higher prices, and with more bidders in the fray.

[I like mango cheesecake]

I started collecting mechanical watches in 2009 and have plenty now. There are a lot of mechanical watch enthusiasts who also collect fountain pens as well. You'd be surprised.

[whitedot]

I started collecting mechanical watches in 2009 and have plenty now. There are a lot of mechanical watch enthusiasts who also collect fountain pens as well. You'd be surprised.

 

Oh yeah. After resisting the temptation, this one just crossed over to mechanical watches. Literally. Today.

[marcelo]

I started collecting mechanical watches in 2009 and have plenty now. There are a lot of mechanical watch enthusiasts who also collect fountain pens as well. You'd be surprised.

Think I wouldn't be that surprised since I am myself a mechanical watch enthusiast who eventually became interested in FPs.

[Chopper88]

 

Oh yeah. After resisting the temptation, this one just crossed over to mechanical watches. Literally. Today.

 

What'd you get?

 

Ontopic:

The sales actually seem to be rising as I read somewhere last year. The eastern and middle eastern markets would be growing and growing.

I think this also counts for mechanical watches. I frequently visit some high end watch forums, and whenever there is a topic about a huge collection of top end watches, it's 99% of the times located in one of these areas. I don't mind at all, but I do think that this goes into a free fall someday as something else becomes 'the thing to have'.

 

Now, whether that is a good thing or not...

[jar]

I often wear hand wound watches but all are about a half century old. I'm not sure I'd buy a modern mechanical watch.

 

There is a parallel between the high water mark in watches and pens where the fountain pens and mechanical watches both peaked at around WWII and very shortly thereafter. Pricing of fine examples of both from the period before 1960 or so are still relatively inexpensive compared to more recent pens or watches.

[marcelo]

What'd you get?

 

Ontopic:

The sales actually seem to be rising as I read somewhere last year. The eastern and middle eastern markets would be growing and growing.

I think this also counts for mechanical watches. I frequently visit some high end watch forums, and whenever there is a topic about a huge collection of top end watches, it's 99% of the times located in one of these areas. I don't mind at all, but I do think that this goes into a free fall someday as something else becomes 'the thing to have'.

 

Now, whether that is a good thing or not...

Right.

 

The reason I created this topic is because I'm a regular on those forums and know that the sales of mechanical watches have been booming.

 

I also know it's not the case of FPs, but wanted to know if they have been increasing, decreasing or become stagnant over the last years.

Edited September 24, 2013 by marcelo

[I like mango cheesecake]

I was into FP's long before mechanical watches, but only had them and was a total ignoramus about them. I got into mechanical watches in 2009. I picked up a vintage Omega Seamaster and haven't looked back. I now have 6 vintage Omegas, and a few other watches as well. I only recently got back into FP seriously when some members on Timezone and the Rolex Forum were talking about fountain pens did I re-ignite my interest in pens.

 

I find there are quite a bit of "cross-pollination" between the two interests.

[Sasha Royale]

In event of another zombie rising, rollerball refills and watch batteries may become scarce.

[Tom Aquinas]

Right.

 

The reason I created this topic is because I'm a regular on those forums and know that the sales of mechanical watches have been booming.

 

I also know it's not the case of FPs, but wanted to know if they have been increasing, decreasing or become stagnant over the last years.

I think you are correct. I like watches and have a modest but selective collection. A couple of weeks ago I was wearing a 405 year old Rolex and was actually approached with an offer at a shopping mall. I also like the modern battery watches, because of accuracy.

[whitedot]

 

What'd you get?

 

Ontopic:

The sales actually seem to be rising as I read somewhere last year. The eastern and middle eastern markets would be growing and growing.

I think this also counts for mechanical watches. I frequently visit some high end watch forums, and whenever there is a topic about a huge collection of top end watches, it's 99% of the times located in one of these areas. I don't mind at all, but I do think that this goes into a free fall someday as something else becomes 'the thing to have'.

 

Now, whether that is a good thing or not...

 

It's far from high-end...... But, it took me by surprise and became the gateway.

 

I suspect my interest will be in vintage.

[RobertP]

A couple of weeks ago I was wearing a 405 year old Rolex and was actually approached with an offer at a shopping mall.

 

Rolex watches made in 1608 are pretty darn rare, so I'm not surprised you were approached!

[Lloyd]

One issue is that a mechanical watch doesn't need any skill other than being able to read an analog clock.

 

A fountain pen also needs writing.

Sadly, there are plenty of people that own them as status symbols but seldom if ever use them.