What is the point of a mechanical watch when there are far superior methods for timekeeping?
But for an actual practical point where mechanical watches outshine their electronic counterparts: they can be insanely robust and reliable, as in, working for literal decades, basically non-stop, with generally 21600 mechanical movements per hour. And those are not specifically high-end ones. A decent quality 80$ watch from good stock will last a long time, and with proper maintenance potentially lifetimes.
My parents bought me for my 16th birthday in 1983. I think it cost around GBP100.00 back then. These days the thing runs fast and slow sometimes by up to 20 mins over a week but I do have a rough idea what time it is (once a week I reset to actual time). For me that's fine, 99% of things in my life are not that time critical.
With the exception of a replacement face glass (circa 1986, my Dad's fault :) ) and a replacement spring pin for the wristband clasp doodah, it's all original and has never been opened.
If I do need to check the "real time", say for attending a meeting (not often), I just have a quick look at my phone or computer.
The reason I keep wearing this inferior timekeeping piece is because I like it, like the simple design and enjoy it for sentimental reasons. For all my waking hours it's been through motorbike crashes, getting lost on a mountain, it went to one of my parent's funerals, signed my marriage certificate and then signed my divorce papers :) and much much more. It's more than just a less "superior" timepiece.
I doubt a "superior" timekeeping piece by Apple or some such other technology company would last as long, acquire the patina my Seiko has and the patina of my life in terms of memories and experiences (this thing is now older than half my life now).
People like beautiful things, and some machines do have a hypnotic kind of beauty.
there is a lot of wisdom in art, and a lot that goes beyond just the aesthetical aspects of it. Mechanical timepieces are appealing to people for different reasons. Some enjoy the luxury aspect as it can be enjoyed as much as jewelery, others enjoys the engineering part of it as it can see as a wonderful machine, very precise and delicate, others like the little rituals involved, winding it up for non-automatics or looking at the inner workings by exposed complications, and others link it to memory as those timepieces pass through generations of their famillies. Time keeping is just part of it, not its whole.
Besides, no batteries to change, ever, so a mechanical watch is zombie apocalypse proof too, and more environmentally friendly.
As for accuracy, yes, there are better sources of timing than mechanical or quartz crystal clocks. If one wanted achievable timing accuracy on the go, a GPS timing radio controlled clock would be the one to use. But would it be practical? Would it look nice? How much battery would it consume? And the most important question: would you need that kind of microsecond level accuracy?
Building A Vostok Wristwatch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-JMoUoMtXo
How does a mechanical movement work?: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wYM4PpiTcEA
9S Movement Manufacturing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v0hR9jagpSM
You don't buy a mechanical watch for maximal timekeeping utility. You buy it because you appreciate it as a form of art.
I love watches, and usually wear a Vostok. It’s a very inexpensive Russian automatic (mechanical, self-winding). It was about $100, and certainly isn’t a “luxury” watch in the sense that a Patek would be - but I like wearing it, because of what it is.
It’s hard to explain. It’s a piece of extremely precise engineering that almost feels organic in some ways. If I’m in a quiet place and calm I can almost feel it tick. I can feel the pendulum move to wind itself when I reach for something. In some small way it’s almost alive.
I guess you could call that art.