Omega x Swatch Collaboration
Discussion
Not sure I agree that young people aren’t into watches, but I’d definitely not agree that young people aren’t into moon swatches.
That was one of the big take aways from the moonswatch launch, wasn’t it? That Swatch managed to tap into a market no one else had managed to do with a watch launch ever before. It was an international phenomenon.
That was one of the big take aways from the moonswatch launch, wasn’t it? That Swatch managed to tap into a market no one else had managed to do with a watch launch ever before. It was an international phenomenon.
If you look at my comment I’ve said young people aren’t ‘particularly’ into watches. The declining number of young people wearing a watch supports this. Even plenty of older people don’t bother now they carry their phone.
While the watch industry as a whole is growing, that’s largely due to the luxury market selling so well. Apple now sells as many watches as the whole Swiss market and that’s all the young people I come into contact with are interested in. Is an AW a ‘watch’? I’d say yes, but I’m not sure time keeping is the main driver for most people wearing one.
I’ve worn Rolex, JLC, Omegas and Tags and not once have I been asked about them. Stick on my steel AW on a steel bracelet and it’s like catnip to under 25s!
Anyway, I think we all agree the Moonswatch has been a massive success and very clever marketing. Fingers crossed it does encourage more people to take an interest in watches.
It would also be good if they became more available so anyone who wants one can get one. Limiting supply in the luxury market drives prices up and the market doesn’t then tend to get flooded so prices stay high(ish). That’s not going to be the case with the Moonswatch. As the hype dies down and people can buy them nobody is going to be paying over odds for one. I suspect plenty of people suddenly won’t then be interested in them.
Still, I certainly don’t blame Swatch for continuing to milk their current cash cow.
While the watch industry as a whole is growing, that’s largely due to the luxury market selling so well. Apple now sells as many watches as the whole Swiss market and that’s all the young people I come into contact with are interested in. Is an AW a ‘watch’? I’d say yes, but I’m not sure time keeping is the main driver for most people wearing one.
I’ve worn Rolex, JLC, Omegas and Tags and not once have I been asked about them. Stick on my steel AW on a steel bracelet and it’s like catnip to under 25s!
Anyway, I think we all agree the Moonswatch has been a massive success and very clever marketing. Fingers crossed it does encourage more people to take an interest in watches.
It would also be good if they became more available so anyone who wants one can get one. Limiting supply in the luxury market drives prices up and the market doesn’t then tend to get flooded so prices stay high(ish). That’s not going to be the case with the Moonswatch. As the hype dies down and people can buy them nobody is going to be paying over odds for one. I suspect plenty of people suddenly won’t then be interested in them.
Still, I certainly don’t blame Swatch for continuing to milk their current cash cow.
Dolf Stoppard said:
If you look at my comment I’ve said young people aren’t ‘particularly’ into watches. The declining number of young people wearing a watch supports this. Even plenty of older people don’t bother now they carry their phone.
While the watch industry as a whole is growing, that’s largely due to the luxury market selling so well. Apple now sells as many watches as the whole Swiss market and that’s all the young people I come into contact with are interested in. Is an AW a ‘watch’? I’d say yes, but I’m not sure time keeping is the main driver for most people wearing one.
I’ve worn Rolex, JLC, Omegas and Tags and not once have I been asked about them. Stick on my steel AW on a steel bracelet and it’s like catnip to under 25s!
Anyway, I think we all agree the Moonswatch has been a massive success and very clever marketing. Fingers crossed it does encourage more people to take an interest in watches.
It would also be good if they became more available so anyone who wants one can get one. Limiting supply in the luxury market drives prices up and the market doesn’t then tend to get flooded so prices stay high(ish). That’s not going to be the case with the Moonswatch. As the hype dies down and people can buy them nobody is going to be paying over odds for one. I suspect plenty of people suddenly won’t then be interested in them.
Still, I certainly don’t blame Swatch for continuing to milk their current cash cow.
Small sample but here is my experience from the young people I knowWhile the watch industry as a whole is growing, that’s largely due to the luxury market selling so well. Apple now sells as many watches as the whole Swiss market and that’s all the young people I come into contact with are interested in. Is an AW a ‘watch’? I’d say yes, but I’m not sure time keeping is the main driver for most people wearing one.
I’ve worn Rolex, JLC, Omegas and Tags and not once have I been asked about them. Stick on my steel AW on a steel bracelet and it’s like catnip to under 25s!
Anyway, I think we all agree the Moonswatch has been a massive success and very clever marketing. Fingers crossed it does encourage more people to take an interest in watches.
It would also be good if they became more available so anyone who wants one can get one. Limiting supply in the luxury market drives prices up and the market doesn’t then tend to get flooded so prices stay high(ish). That’s not going to be the case with the Moonswatch. As the hype dies down and people can buy them nobody is going to be paying over odds for one. I suspect plenty of people suddenly won’t then be interested in them.
Still, I certainly don’t blame Swatch for continuing to milk their current cash cow.
Land Manager - 26 years old. has a collection including Rolex Sub, Rolex Datejust, Tudor BlackBay, IWC something or other
Land Buyer - 22 years old. Tudor Black Bay and Rolex Sub
Specialist metal finisher and engineer who appreciated mechanical things - 26 years old - zero interest in watches
Neighbours son 13 years old - likes my Omega and has made his dad promise him a Rolex for his 18th
I think though that the issue is cost. Premium/interesting watches have gone up in relative price a lot. The two land guys I reference above are on £80k and £50k respectively plus bonus taking them to circa £110k and £75k. The metal finisher is on £30k. There is definitely an affordability factor.
What a stupid discussion this has turned into .... 
Yes, there are many young people interested in watches. All different kind of watches. New high end stuff, vintage Casio watches, heavily patinaed vintage no name watches, classic Swatches, modern custom Seiko, etc.
But those people queuing in the pictures posted on here are almost certainly not any of the above. Yes, this statement comes purely from my personal prejudice. This is not a racist comment, but my personal opinion based on personal experience and observation.
Seeing how many of those watches are on ebay, even before the first watch has been sold, suggests that people probably have made an ad while waiting in line. This backs up my theory. Do I condemn them? No, its a free country. If they decide to stand in line all day to sell them on ebay and there is someone willing to pay what they are asking for, good for them. Sure, in an ideal world it would be mainly watch enthusiasts who camp outside to get one.
I have seen pictures and videos from Zürich and Tokyo where the majority of people seem to be enthusiasts. How do I know you ask? They have stated so in interviews, they are shown wearing real Speedmasters, MoonSwatches, or other interesting watches etc.
Yes, there are many young people interested in watches. All different kind of watches. New high end stuff, vintage Casio watches, heavily patinaed vintage no name watches, classic Swatches, modern custom Seiko, etc.
But those people queuing in the pictures posted on here are almost certainly not any of the above. Yes, this statement comes purely from my personal prejudice. This is not a racist comment, but my personal opinion based on personal experience and observation.
Seeing how many of those watches are on ebay, even before the first watch has been sold, suggests that people probably have made an ad while waiting in line. This backs up my theory. Do I condemn them? No, its a free country. If they decide to stand in line all day to sell them on ebay and there is someone willing to pay what they are asking for, good for them. Sure, in an ideal world it would be mainly watch enthusiasts who camp outside to get one.
I have seen pictures and videos from Zürich and Tokyo where the majority of people seem to be enthusiasts. How do I know you ask? They have stated so in interviews, they are shown wearing real Speedmasters, MoonSwatches, or other interesting watches etc.
This is what the queue looked like in Zürich. The comments about individual people come from interviews they gave to the news outlets, so are directly from the respective peoples mouth:
First person in Zürich to get one. He was there at 4:30am. He is a watch enthusiast and made clear that he didn't stand in line all day to not wear it.
Vladislav (24) watch enthusiast and student originally from Moscow, came from Bayreuth (Germany) to Zürich.
Julia (25) stands in line to get the watch for her boyfriend.
Ibrahim (35) apparently stands in line to get the watch for an arab VIP.
The one who brought a chair is a students with no interest in watches and intends to sell it on on ebay. He brought his laptop to watch the courses that get streamed.
Furkan came from Frankfurt (Germany) to Zürich to get the watch.
The queue shortly before the launch:
Yes, there are flippers in Zürich too, but to me this looks like a much more enthusiastic queue.
First person in Zürich to get one. He was there at 4:30am. He is a watch enthusiast and made clear that he didn't stand in line all day to not wear it.
Vladislav (24) watch enthusiast and student originally from Moscow, came from Bayreuth (Germany) to Zürich.
Julia (25) stands in line to get the watch for her boyfriend.
Ibrahim (35) apparently stands in line to get the watch for an arab VIP.
The one who brought a chair is a students with no interest in watches and intends to sell it on on ebay. He brought his laptop to watch the courses that get streamed.
Furkan came from Frankfurt (Germany) to Zürich to get the watch.
The queue shortly before the launch:
Yes, there are flippers in Zürich too, but to me this looks like a much more enthusiastic queue.
Well this thread took an interesting turn. Anyway...
Swatch arranged a collection of my broken Mission to Mercury and it was taken this morning by an independent courier. It seems positive so far however there is still a chance they could inspect it and claim that it was caused by misuse and won't be covered. Swatch say that I should receive a new watch in one to two weeks.
I had been considering trying to get hold of a Mission to Uranus but I have been put off somewhat by how soon/easily this one sustained damage
Swatch arranged a collection of my broken Mission to Mercury and it was taken this morning by an independent courier. It seems positive so far however there is still a chance they could inspect it and claim that it was caused by misuse and won't be covered. Swatch say that I should receive a new watch in one to two weeks.
I had been considering trying to get hold of a Mission to Uranus but I have been put off somewhat by how soon/easily this one sustained damage
Dolf Stoppard said:
If you look at my comment I’ve said young people aren’t ‘particularly’ into watches. The declining number of young people wearing a watch supports this. Even plenty of older people don’t bother now they carry their phone.
What evidence you have there that there is a declining number of young people wearing watches? I would imagine since the smart watch the number of young people (people in general) wearing watches has gone up significantly. gregs656 said:
Dolf Stoppard said:
If you look at my comment I’ve said young people aren’t ‘particularly’ into watches. The declining number of young people wearing a watch supports this. Even plenty of older people don’t bother now they carry their phone.
What evidence you have there that there is a declining number of young people wearing watches? I would imagine since the smart watch the number of young people (people in general) wearing watches has gone up significantly. I haven’t followed this thread much, but did fancy a Moonswatch. Wasn’t going to queue for one though!
Yesterday, was coming home from Disneyland Paris through CDG (with the family), Terminal 2B and there was a Swatch shop so had a nose. They had 1 Mission to Earth left, and a few Mission to Venus, Saturn and Uranus.
I picked up the Earth for myself and my wife decided she liked the Venus so I got that for her as well.
I might have got a Moon or Mercury over the Earth had they had some, and the lady did indicate the other Swatch shop in Terminal 2F (I think) will have different ones (didn’t have time to go), but the Earth is nicely different to my other watches so am pretty pleased.
Yesterday, was coming home from Disneyland Paris through CDG (with the family), Terminal 2B and there was a Swatch shop so had a nose. They had 1 Mission to Earth left, and a few Mission to Venus, Saturn and Uranus.
I picked up the Earth for myself and my wife decided she liked the Venus so I got that for her as well.
I might have got a Moon or Mercury over the Earth had they had some, and the lady did indicate the other Swatch shop in Terminal 2F (I think) will have different ones (didn’t have time to go), but the Earth is nicely different to my other watches so am pretty pleased.
G Shocks are very popular among 18-30s, as are fashion watches for a couple of hundred quid. That’s who Swatch are aiming for, though they aren’t going to mind if there’s what we see as an excessive amount of hype and demand.
Money is a huge limiting factor for anyone of that age who might want a real Swiss mechanical watch so it’s no surprise they aren’t traditional high end customers.
Money is a huge limiting factor for anyone of that age who might want a real Swiss mechanical watch so it’s no surprise they aren’t traditional high end customers.
Alex Z said:
Money is a huge limiting factor for anyone of that age who might want a real Swiss mechanical watch so it’s no surprise they aren’t traditional high end customers.
That's not really true at all though as that age group have a massive disposable income as they're living at home with parents/house sharing longer than ever before in history.All the people in their 20s who I work alongside all have jobs paying them £50k+ (without bonuses) and almost all live with their parents.
Alex Z said:
G Shocks are very popular among 18-30s, as are fashion watches for a couple of hundred quid. That’s who Swatch are aiming for, though they aren’t going to mind if there’s what we see as an excessive amount of hype and demand.
Money is a huge limiting factor for anyone of that age who might want a real Swiss mechanical watch so it’s no surprise they aren’t traditional high end customers.
Your last paragraph, granted the 18-30s won't be traditional high end customers as drink, drugs, holidays and stone Island are deemed more important but disagree with Swiss watches. £300~ will get you a very well made automatic Steinhart. Difference is it doesn't have Omega printed on it which is the real (only) selling point of the Collab. Money is a huge limiting factor for anyone of that age who might want a real Swiss mechanical watch so it’s no surprise they aren’t traditional high end customers.
Just been in Omega store Venice. All Moonswatch in stock except Mission to the Moon variant. No queue just walk in and ask for one. They’re not in the window but on display in the store.
Couldn’t be tempted for any of them, they look and feel cheap - which I suppose is what they are. No interest in buying to flip, looking at reseller prices on eBay when you knock off fees etc you’re back where you started at €260 even if you bother to try an reclaim the VAT export.
Couldn’t be tempted for any of them, they look and feel cheap - which I suppose is what they are. No interest in buying to flip, looking at reseller prices on eBay when you knock off fees etc you’re back where you started at €260 even if you bother to try an reclaim the VAT export.
Edited by Armitage.Shanks on Saturday 18th March 19:22
Raccaccoonie said:
redrabbit said:
Are people still pursuing these overhyped blobs of licorice? I thought the action had moved on to Prime drinks.
Imagine the person.Raffle trainers, prime drinks, Swatch omega watches, whatever other trend crap, and they say religion is dead, what took over?
CharlesdeGaulle said:
Raccaccoonie said:
redrabbit said:
Are people still pursuing these overhyped blobs of licorice? I thought the action had moved on to Prime drinks.
Imagine the person.Raffle trainers, prime drinks, Swatch omega watches, whatever other trend crap, and they say religion is dead, what took over?
Edited by redrabbit on Sunday 19th March 16:18
Mrs Rex was in London the other day and popped in to the Covent Garden store. There were a couple of Mission to Sun watches available. She bought one as a surprise for me.
I really like it as a fun watch. My son liked it and has bought himself one as a summer watch.
Will put a Perpetual rubber strap on it and enjoy it for what it is, a bit of fun and another one to a growing bunch of watches.
I really like it as a fun watch. My son liked it and has bought himself one as a summer watch.
Will put a Perpetual rubber strap on it and enjoy it for what it is, a bit of fun and another one to a growing bunch of watches.
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