The Watch Appreciation Thread - Page 1207

Quote:

Originally Posted by in stitches 

kirbya - i quite like both of those watches. dont know much about AP pricing, but i would have guessed that 11k for a gold model like that is not all that bad. looks like i would have been wrong. otoh, with pre-owned, its worth whatever you can get for it really.

 

 I think the pricing on that 90s AP would be low because it wasn't a hugely popular model (the RO version was more in demand) and the crown and lugs being on the small side date the watch a bit.  Other than that, if one likes the design its probably a great value as the modern versions of that are close to $30K.

Quote:

Originally Posted by in stitches 

^^ i liek ^^
yes, this is what i was trying to say. thanks dino, lol.

 Just an example of great minds thinking alike

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belligero 


For the 39 mm with the newer movement? If so, that's not bad at all, but I've never seen them for that price.

The Dual Time is one of the best steel watches I've seen in person; there was one at a work get-together recently and I had a good chat with its owner. It's just a gorgeous watch with a lovely JLC movement, and I have a weakness for GMT-type complications. Unfortunately, that nice brushed finish would likely start looking a bit mangled in short order on my wrist; it's not a motorcycling watch.

Warning: Spoiler! (Click to show)

 

Not sure if your post was of the belief that I was speaking of the RO Dual Time for 8-9K?  I was not, but in any event you won't find a 39mm RO Dual Time for that price.  I was speaking of the 90s version of the dual time gold dress watches, which the OP inquired about a few posts earlier.  The old watch is top quality, its simply a matter of whether the design appeals to someone.  The current Jules Audemars Dual Times would sell for a heck of a lot more than 8-9K.

The new Dual Time RO is a beatiful and very functional watch.  It was a strong contender when I was shopping for a RO.  The RO Dual Time originally came out I believe in the early 90s, but I think the 39mm version is much nicer than the original!  Its a great travel watch for a CEO that travels, and will be wearing everything from suits to casual wear.  I don't really think of it as a motorcycling watch...I cringe at the thought of what it might look like if it were ever in some of the accidents my clients have been in with their motorcycles!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belligero 


Do you have a link to the interview? That's really unfortunate if someone who's not a watch person is at the helm of AP. Richemont's celebrities,-fashion-and-branding streak has managed to destroy IWC in my eyes; it would be a shame for another old house to suffer the same fate — though the endless ROO clown editions are a sign that it's already been happening.

He's been with AP for more than 15 years so I'm not sure I'd say he is NOT a watch person at this point.  To be honest, some companies have done quite well have being helmed by people from the outside.  I don't think Nicolas Hayek's formal background was not in the watch industry.  Some of his skills may have been transferable, but again not originally a watch guy.  As for the Limited Editions...don't get me started I can' stand most RO Offshores Ltd eds, IWC Ltd eds, Omega Ltd eds,...but as long as their are people who will pay a premium to get a watch with slightly different stitching on a strap, or a different colored second hand, the watch companies will continue to make them. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by johanm 


Looks like AP is gearing up for a Richemont style strategy of severing ties with ADs and shifting focus to boutique sales. I read an interview with their current CEO, Bennahmias, where he seemed intensely fixated on brand management - enhancement from celebrity endorsements and customer service, and damage from grey market and AD discounting. I'm interested to see if his strategy will work. I understand he has basically no knowledge about watches, and came to AP from a background of fashion marketing.

 Many companies such as Rolex or those under Richemont have cancelled contracts with a number of ADs world wide...both in an effort to get rid of those offering deep discounts, and to eliminate some of the middlemen and open boutiques in major cities.  All companies have some level of brand management, if they have a brand image worth protecting or marketing.  I do not like the celebrity endorsements as I think it cheapens brands and is never an inflence on my decision of what to purchase.  However, many companies are affiliated with some celebrities with little harm to the brand.   

As for how he came to AP, my understanding was that Georges Meylan, former CEO of AP, was vacationing and was familiar with Bennahmias's wife who worked for Breitling. He bumped into the Bennahmiases on that vacation.  Bennahmias was unemployed at the time and after talking with him, Meylan offered him a job at AP.  The rest is history, as for a background in fashion marketing...that might just be prior on the job training.  IIRC, he didn't have a college degree...when I read that back in the 1990s when he first came to AP North America...I thought wow thats lucky to get a job like that!  Still, if I were a betting man, I'd put my money on Bennahmias being very successful with the brand.  He is largely responsible for helping to increase brand awareness and to help turn their sales from roughly a few million dollars per year to several hundred million dollars per year. 

 

 

 

Yea, I figured you presumed we were talking about ROs.  True, the 36mm is a handsome watch.  However, I find the 39mm more appealing in terms of both dial and size. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belligero 


Oops, all I saw was Dual Time and I thought RO. But since we're on the subject, I'll just mention that the 36 mm Royal Oak Dual Time is no slouch in the looks department, either, and can be had for much less than the newer version.

Quote:

Originally Posted by johanm 


Are you sure you're not confusing Bennahmias for another AP executive, possibly the outgoing one who Bennahamias only recently replaced on an interim basis? In the recent speech linked below he talks about his fiancee, as well as some similar topics to what I mentioned in my earlier post. In the other interview, which I'll continue to try to find, I think he was emphasizing his experience with fashion (I think he worked for Jean Paul Gaultier and some other French house) and how it gives him a different perspective on watch marketing as compared to other watch industry executives.

 

No, I haven't confused Francois Bennahmias with Merk (the previous CEO) or someone else at AP.  Bennahmias began working for AP back in 1996.  He is 48 years old now.  The fact that he is speaking of getting married doesn't mean its will be his first wife.  I have seen something about him having worked in with fashion (not a surprise as he is French), but I don't know what his involvement was.  I remember reading the article in print regarding how George Henri Meylan then CEO of AP offered him a job, trust me I was in grad school and sure wished I had gotten that offer with no real training or higher learning degrees (but he may have since gotten some degrees to move up in the company).  In any event, my point was you made it sound as though he is a newbie and clueless about the industry, as you stated, "I understand he has basically no knowledge about watches."  However, he has been with AP since at least 1996, working in France, Singapore, and introducing the brand to Australia, and then having been CEO of AP North America since 1999...so hopefully since 1996 and becoming their CEO he's well beyond newbie status and knows about watches and the industry.  So far everything he has done at AP has increased brand awareness, sales, and profit so I think their is a strong likelihood he is leading AP in the right direction ...even if I find brand ambassadors detract from a brands (not just AP but from all of them). 

Quote:

Originally Posted by johanm 


Are you sure you're not confusing Bennahmias for another AP executive, possibly the outgoing one who Bennahamias only recently replaced on an interim basis? In the recent speech linked below he talks about his fiancee, as well as some similar topics to what I mentioned in my earlier post. In the other interview, which I'll continue to try to find, I think he was emphasizing his experience with fashion (I think he worked for Jean Paul Gaultier and some other French house) and how it gives him a different perspective on watch marketing as compared to other watch industry executives.

The French and Italians are good in Fashion clothing, but watchmaking/cars or anything else watch related I am not 2sure about that