The Watch Appreciation Thread - Part two (Rolex, Patek Philippe, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger LeCoultre,

[Texasmade]

Posted on Rolexforum

"Just got through to an agent on Swatch’s 1-800 number here in the states. She said these will NOT be sold online here in the USA. This is due to a specific request from Omega that they do not want these sold through the online swatch USA website. She said it’s already set in stone that is a firm NO. Just relaying what I was told.

The posts you see saying it’ll be sold online at a “later date” is for European markets. Makes sense since all those swatch accounts on Instagram posting it are the foreign entities and not the USA account."

 

[montecristo#2]

In non-Moonswatch news, I picked up some watches from service this morning and ended up buying this Wolf watch roll I’d been contemplating online. Seeing it in person tipped the scales. Seems decently well-made for the price point and the “hidden” jewelry storage is kind of a neat feature. View attachment 1771294 View attachment 1771295 View attachment 1771296
Also, the storage pouches Rolex now provides after service are an upgrade over the older version.
View attachment 1771297 View attachment 1771298

I have that same one and dig it.

 

[Ambulance Chaser]

Big proxy opportunity for Europe residents . . .

 

[Jr Mouse]

Anyone in Europe want to do an e-bro a plus?

 

[shurgen]

Posted on Rolexforum

"Just got through to an agent on Swatch’s 1-800 number here in the states. She said these will NOT be sold online here in the USA. This is due to a specific request from Omega that they do not want these sold through the online swatch USA website. She said it’s already set in stone that is a firm NO. Just relaying what I was told.

The posts you see saying it’ll be sold online at a “later date” is for European markets. Makes sense since all those swatch accounts on Instagram posting it are the foreign entities and not the USA account."

Have to assume that just means they'll get restocked in physical stores rather than online in the US.

 

[smittycl]

Making the news.

Low-Priced Omega Speedmaster Prompts Global Swatch Store Chaos

Swatch stores across the globe were mobbed Saturday as customers lined up to buy a new, low-priced version of the Omega Speedmaster watch selling for about $260.

www.bloomberg.com

 

[LA Guy]

I think Swatch knew that the release would generate hype, just not to this extent. They run the risk of customers turning on them if they can't deliver a watch to everyone who wants one. If I was Swatch and really wanted to turn the hype into overdrive, I would hide a real Moonwatch in 1 out of every 10,000 (or even larger number) MoonSwatch boxes and announce it online. That might lead to real violence, however.

Air King x StyleForum collaboration? I'm not a huge fan of The Crown, but I would be down for that.

Honestly, I would do this with some vintage 5500 ones.

 

[LA Guy]

The thing is, it didn't really take a marketing genius to figure out that if you released a $250 version of one of the most popular luxury watches on the planet in fun colors that it's going to sell like hotcakes. The Rolexs, Pateks, etc. of the world obviously have no desire to cheapen their brand image to that extent (nor are they hurting for sales) but Omega was probably the right brand to do this with. Their watches are out of reach of your average 20 year old but they have a number of iconic models and while they're popular, their watches aren't flying out of display cases like several other luxury brands right now. The Longlines and Hamiltons of the world make great watches but don't really havecould have pulled this off with (at least not to the same extent).

The prices on the secondary market suggest otherwise:https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=moonswatch&_sacat=0 You can get used Speedy professionals for not much more, and reduced models for actually less. There is something special about this.collaboration. I don't think "accessible version of an iconic watch" adequately describes what is going on here. It that's what you wanted, you would have gotten a reduced Speedmaster years ago. Is this worth it to me? No. But clearly, there is some cultural resonance in the collaboration.

 

[Crispyj]

Went to Phillips to see some APs and PPs.

 

[BLAUGRANA]

Went to Phillips to see some APs and PPs.
View attachment 1771431 View attachment 1771432 View attachment 1771459 View attachment 1771460

Look pal, nobody wants to see that junk. We only want to see MoonSwatches!

 

[Jr Mouse]

The prices on the secondary market suggest otherwise:https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=moonswatch&_sacat=0 You can get used Speedy professionals for not much more, and reduced models for actually less. There is something special about this.collaboration. I don't think "accessible version of an iconic watch" adequately describes what is going on here. It that's what you wanted, you would have gotten a reduced Speedmaster years ago. Is this worth it to me? No. But clearly, there is some cultural resonance in the collaboration.

People are undervaluing what Swatch means to a certain generation. This isn’t all about Omega branding.

 

[classicalthunde]

The prices on the secondary market suggest otherwise:https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313&_nkw=moonswatch&_sacat=0 You can get used Speedy professionals for not much more, and reduced models for actually less. There is something special about this.collaboration. I don't think "accessible version of an iconic watch" adequately describes what is going on here. It that's what you wanted, you would have gotten a reduced Speedmaster years ago. Is this worth it to me? No. But clearly, there is some cultural resonance in the collaboration.

Calling it now, bullish on speedmaster prices for the next 2-3 months

 

[BLAUGRANA]

I'll weigh in on the MoonSwatch:

• From the moment I saw them I thought they were fantastic and this is coming from someone who has four Speedys This is also coming from someone who got into watches as a kid in the 80s thanks to Swatch. Not every one of course, but these in this order (or close to it) I would say are the ones to get: Moon, Mercury, Jupiter, Uranus, Mars and Neptune. Rest I thought had something I didn't like about them.
• Swatch group can make a killing off of these. The demand seems to be there to produce probably something like 5x on many of the models. I think they need to cut it off at some point though because it might impact Speedy sales in the long run.
• I don't have a store close, but I wouldn't have stood in line overnight either. Not surprised it didn't go well in person either if the Swatch site is any sort of indication of how they do things. When they released that LE Mickey x forget the artists name a few years ago the online process was horrendous. So if you're thinking of bagging one of these online I'd be prepared for that as well.
• If the opportunity arises I might get a few at retail, but then I don't know that I'd wear them. For starters they cut into the time you'd have to wear something else, like a real Speedy, and I have enough watches such that I already need to rotate them to get wrist time. Also though, even at retail, if you got the whole set you're at close to half the price of a Speedy Pro and really close to a nice Tudor.

 

[smittycl]

People are undervaluing what Swatch means to a certain generation. This isn’t all about Omega branding.

I got several of my nieces Swatches this past Christmas. They are pre-teens and loved the things. Their parents liked the retro connection as Swatch reissued a bunch of the 1984 versions.

 

[LA Guy]

People are undervaluing what Swatch means to a certain generation. This isn’t all about Omega branding.

I have Speemaster Professionals. I think that I would rather have two Moonswatces (one to wear, one to collect) than a reduced (a few rare Japanese models excluded).

GShock and Swatch have brand value that is overlooked by a lot of people interested in mechanical watches.