Blancpain X Swatch

[anonymous-user]

Is it me or do they look like a child's first watch? I guess it just goes to show that in this instagram, brand obsessed age you can put a designer name on anything, control the supply and people will fight each other to get one.

[quarryman111]

You’re a global manufacturing/marketing company with products in your portfolio ranging from high-end lux to day-to-day utility. You decide to dress up your utility product as a luxury product and charge a price premium and restrict supply…and it sells like hot cakes!
Now imagine if an auto manufacturer did the same…eg: VAG. Would you rush to buy a Polo dressed up as a Bentayga, or a Golf dressed up as a Urus?!

[Mont Blanc]

quarryman111 said:

You’re a global manufacturing/marketing company with products in your portfolio ranging from high-end lux to day-to-day utility. You decide to dress up your utility product as a luxury product and charge a price premium and restrict supply…and it sells like hot cakes!

Yes.

This has always been the case. I'm surprised that you are surprised.

quarryman111 said:

Now imagine if an auto manufacturer did the same…eg: VAG. Would you rush to buy a Polo dressed up as a Bentayga, or a Golf dressed up as a Urus?!

A car is a very different purchase to a watch.

I don't have to imagine if a manufacturer did the same, because it already happened. Aston Martin 'dressed up' a Toyota IQ and badged it as an Aston Martin. It was a total and utter sales disaster and was cancelled.

Also, don't forget the Abarth 695 Ferrari

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/ferrar...

I'm not saying no car manufacturer could make it work and get big sales, I think they could, but it would have to be very carefully designed and priced.

[Wills2]

quarryman111 said:

You’re a global manufacturing/marketing company with products in your portfolio ranging from high-end lux to day-to-day utility. You decide to dress up your utility product as a luxury product and charge a price premium and restrict supply…and it sells like hot cakes!
Now imagine if an auto manufacturer did the same…eg: VAG. Would you rush to buy a Polo dressed up as a Bentayga, or a Golf dressed up as a Urus?!

They do that already with the Touareg via the MLB evo platform bentayga/Urus/Q7/8 and cayenne and yes people do rush to buy them.

[Voldemort]

I wonder if (when) Swatch are going to demean any of their other brands?

[Wololo]

Mont Blanc said:

I doubt that anyone at Omega is even slightly concerned.

"Swatch Group sales rose sharply off the back of the MoonSwatch, and Swatch sold more than 1.5 Million units of the watch, resulting in Group sales being up nearly 19% and profit up by 36%"

"Swatch group CEO confirms that Speedster Professional Moonwatch sales were up more than 50% since the launch of the MoonSwatch. Sales over the whole Speedmaster range were up by double digit percentage"

https://www.watchpro.com/swatch-on-track-to-sell-1...

https://monochrome-watches.com/swatch-group-half-y...

https://timeandtidewatches.com/its-official-speedm...

Edited by Mont Blanc on Friday 8th September 09:57

Everyone straw manning hard here.

I never said anything about swatch group being happy or unhappy with the outcome.

And I also didn't say anything about the financial impact to Omega - just that many people there were probably aghast at having their name stamped on something that isn't an Omega. From experience, I know the business I work for has many immensely profitable lines that I really do find unpleasant on a personal level. But they make us a lot of money so I grit my teeth and crack on....

[Speed Badger]

I thought this was a joke or a mock up at first. Oh dear, Swatch are at once losing their minds, but also making a lot of money. With this and the Moonswatch it's something that hasn't been done before and they have sold like hotcakes, this will probably follow the same path.

It's the horological equivalent of Bentley slapping their badge on and selling what is effectively a Rover CityRover, only more badly-made.

[Mont Blanc]

The criticism, faux-disgust, moaning, and naysaying was all done to death when the MoonSwatch was first released.

Meanwhile Swatch sold 1.5 million of them, and most industry experts/commentators claim it’s been the best thing to happen to the watch world for years as it gets potentially millions more people, and younger people, interested in watches again.

Only two things really matter:

Customers have a product offered to them that they want to buy.

The company selling that product makes money.

[Regbuser]

I'll be buying one, love a bit of tat me

[number2]

They're alright.

I prefer something a bit more expensive on my wrist though, to demonstrate my value.

[InformationSuperHighway]

Voldemort said:

I wonder if (when) Swatch are going to demean any of their other brands?

I was looking at their brand list yesterday, they have a couple more higher end brand that would fit the mold here (High level brand gets a cheap swatch collab) but none of them have an iconic model that would suit this.

I feel like we'll see another Omega model before we'll see another brand collab.

[7mike]

The Chinese knock-offs will be available by next week no doubt

[Wololo]

InformationSuperHighway said:

I was looking at their brand list yesterday, they have a couple more higher end brand that would fit the mold here (High level brand gets a cheap swatch collab) but none of them have an iconic model that would suit this.

I feel like we'll see another Omega model before we'll see another brand collab.

I agree. I'm surprised we didn't have a seamaster this year...

[Nurburgsingh]

Speed Badger said:

It's the horological equivalent of Bentley slapping their badge on and selling what is effectively a Rover CityRover, only more badly-made.

It’s a shame they don’t - there is a market for these - people who want to downsize with compromising on quality and features. Lots of little old ladies that shouldn’t be in charge of 3 ton cars on the road.

[Lawrence5]

Mate at the Singapore store for opening. Ended the queue at stock levels and were turning folks away.

History repeating

[x5tuu]

I think ill have a bash at getting one when im back in the US in a few weeks time

[Tom1312]

Wololo said:

I agree. I'm surprised we didn't have a seamaster this year...

Anniversary of the FF too though isn't it?

I like them, I think it works better than the Speedy (though using iconic Speedmaster identifiers is a cool feature that many would miss).

The depth rating is a funny nod to the original, and the automatic movement is a nice touch.

I'd be more inclined to get one of these once the initial madness does down. My boys love wearing my watches and these would be a great first 'proper' watch for my 6 year old when he's a bit bigger.

[RacerMike]

Walked past Oxford Street store just now and the queue is all the way back to the Hanover Square exit of the Elizabeth Line underground station with 10mins to go before opening. I’d be amazed if they’re all getting one today!

ETA - Had a chat with one of the security guys. Two blokes started queuing two days ago. Most since 10pm yesterday. Only 150 watches and there must be 300-400 in the queue. Doesn’t seem quite as mental as the Moonswatch launch so leave it a few weeks and it hopefully won’t be too bad. Also, I notice quite a few of the ones on eBay haven’t sold or have sold for ‘only’ £600ish which is going to discourage some of the scalpers hopefully. However time will tell with those selling online from today.

Edited by RacerMike on Saturday 9th September 09:30

[Mezzanine]

I doubt it will be anywhere near the madness of the MoonSwatch.

The Speedy design and Omega brand is much more recognised/coveted outside of ‘watch nerd’ circles. The regular guy in the street doesn’t know or care about ‘BlankPain’.

Give it a few weeks, and the artificial stock restrictions to disappear, you should be able to buy these without issue.

[Mr_C]

They’re not as appealing to me as the MoonSwatch but I can’t put my finger on why.


I love the fifty fathoms but I doubt 95% of people have ever heard of one.