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Is it still hard to get the 321 Ed White?

Evitzee
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G'c G'c
As an owner of 321, part of me (selfishly) would wish that the Ed White is still "hard to get". I have to face the reality though and agree with YY77 and Gael.BX's observations. I think it is much easier to get the Ed White now than say, 2 years ago. The release of the FOIS 2024 also doesn't help to cool down the 321 demand, as even though they are different watches, I can see many getting the FOIS and be content with not ever getting the 321.

In fact, when the FOIS 2024 announced I was like WTH? the FOIS 2024 also comes with the flat link WITH micro adjustments, and also the dome shaped crystal, which was supposedly unique to the 321?

It seems that the 321 is hardest to get in the US - not sure the reason why.

This all makes me wonder what is Omega's view/plan on the Ed White 321, especially given the release of FOIS 2024?
Omega will continue on with current stategy for the 321, making 1,500 to 2,000 a year. It's a halo product for them, priced accordingly. Not real easy to get but if one is determined to find one they are out there. Some on the waiting list will drop off and settle for a FOIS, but overall the 321 is a steady image product for Omega.
 
G'c
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Evitzee Evitzee
Omega will continue on with current stategy for the 321, making 1,500 to 2,000 a year. It's a halo product for them, priced accordingly. Not real easy to get but if one is determined to find one they are out there. Some on the waiting list will drop off and settle for a FOIS, but overall the 321 is a steady image product for Omega.
I believed it's a halo product of them at the original release/before the release of FOIS 2024. After all, even on Fratello's various articles on Ed White/Cernan 321, the biggest halo points for the Ed White/Cernan (and hence double a normal speedy) are:

(1) Manufacturing and Assembly of 321 movement/labour intensive process - still unique to Ed White/Cernan, in terms of steel models;
(2) Galvanized step dial - still unique to Ed White/Cernan - but not the majorly different from FOIS 2024 step;
(3) Ceramic bezel - still unique to Ed White/Cernan;
(3) Dome shaped sapphire crystal - the FOIS 2024 have this now;
(4) Gene Cernan mid-case without beveled edges - the FOIS 2024 have this now;
(5) Flat-Link bracelet - the FOIS 2024 have this now, and even with easy micro adjustment.

So basically only (1) - (3) are really the points (perhaps I'm missing others?) that are unique to the 321 model, which is actually good news to other fans of straight lug speedys. More importantly, I believe the original pricing was a combination of all the above 6, instead of just the manufacturing/assembly of 321 movement alone.

If the 321 is the halo model, I wonder why Omega would "transfer" so many of these supposedly unique features to the FOIS 2024. It's a difficult balancing exercise for Omega, but sometimes their decisions puzzle me.

Having said that I still love my 321 and hopefully for many years to come!
 
S
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A similar bracelet was on the A11 50th anni in steel. Then on the Ed White. And later on the Speedmaster 57. Now on FOIS.
The vintage logo and script on the dial we have seen in other limited models. (Ultraman)
Ceramic bezel is not only unique to the Ed White.

Note the crystal has a different shape than the one on the Ed White.
Don't forget the 321 has the small omega logo inside the sapphire crystal, like in the hesalite.
That too is now in the FOIS.

It has almost been 5 years since the release of the 321, so naturally this tech trickles down to more regular models.
 
YY77
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S Space22
It has almost been 5 years since the release of the 321, so naturally this tech trickles down to more regular models.
The Trilogy SM and RM already had the logo on the crystal.
 
Eve
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Evitzee Evitzee
Are these actually in stock so anyone can just walk in, whip out a CC and walk out with them on their wrist? Seems odd that the NL has dealers having them in stock but the rest of the world doesn't.
For a long time, here in Austria, these were Boutique only. I was checking out for 2 years at two of my local Omega ADs, and they have not received a single piece for few years. Eventually i stoped asking..
1 week ago a good friend was at one of the ADs and they had one EdWhite available to buy. when i came there two days later, the sales person said, that it has been reserved already but i can take a look at it if i wanted.

I see it like this. As long as the demand was really high, they were distributing them only through Boutiques. Now that the demand has decreased they finally started supplying ADs.

Even though the new FOIS is a different watch, i expect the demand for EdWhite decrease even further, unless they decide to discontinue it soon.
 
Laneside
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It's classic marketing. Make enough for half of the demand and price at twice as much. As a twist, saturate availability in some geographical markets and starve in others.
 
Evitzee
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Eve Eve
Even though the new FOIS is a different watch, i expect the demand for EdWhite decrease even further, unless they decide to discontinue it soon.
It would not surprise me at all if Omega cancelled the 321 project relatively soon. You know they keep an eye on the secondary market, it that starts dipping they aren't going to allow the EW to be available at bargain prices. It would be far preferable to cancel the steel Ed White (say 1500 a year) and sell three or four tmes FOIS at half that price. There are probably 5 to 7k Ed White's out there, that may be enough.
 
sgk
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Eve Eve
As long as the demand was really high, they were distributing them only through Boutiques. Now that the demand has decreased they finally started supplying ADs.

Wonder when they will hit the Costco aisles. 😜
 
Evitzee
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sgk sgk
Wonder when they will hit the Costco aisles. 😜
They will have a package deal, an Ed White and a Snoopy, all at 35% off.
 
Gael.Bx
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Evitzee Evitzee
It would not surprise me at all if Omega cancelled the 321 project relatively soon. You know they keep an eye on the secondary market, it that starts dipping they aren't going to allow the EW to be available at bargain prices. It would be far preferable to cancel the steel Ed White (say 1500 a year) and sell three or four tmes FOIS at half that price. There are probably 5 to 7k Ed White's out there, that may be enough.
you forget one thing, omega is the cash cow of the swatch group, today the market is going down the drain and the brands that were already selling less and less have structural costs that are drowning them, omega will have to continue to make a lot of money to bail out the other loss-making brands, the new time is precisely there to pull the volume because the demand for the classic is falling, and given the margin on the 321 they are not ready to stop it
 
texasmade
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Gael.Bx Gael.Bx
you forget one thing, omega is the cash cow of the swatch group, today the market is going down the drain and the brands that were already selling less and less have structural costs that are drowning them, omega will have to continue to make a lot of money to bail out the other loss-making brands, the new time is precisely there to pull the volume because the demand for the classic is falling, and given the margin on the 321 they are not ready to stop it
I think that's why you're seeing a lot of Snoopy 50's being delivered now instead of EW321's. I'm guessing S50's are easier to make since it's just a 3861 movement.
 
pdxleaf
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Gael.Bx Gael.Bx
you forget one thing, omega is the cash cow of the swatch group, today the market is going down the drain and the brands that were already selling less and less have structural costs that are drowning them, omega will have to continue to make a lot of money to bail out the other loss-making brands, the new time is precisely there to pull the volume because the demand for the classic is falling, and given the margin on the 321 they are not ready to stop it

That’s not necessarily an argument against what he's saying, that 321s stop getting produced while FOIS increase. While they may not want to stop producing 321s due to the margin, they may be forced to if the market has slowed and requires a discount on the current of the EW, or simply refuses to buy EWs.
 
sgk
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I was personally shocked to hear on another thread that the EW is now north of 17K euros. I would speculate there aren’t many takers at that price.

Glad I got mine when I did 😉
 
bsowers34
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I think, but would not swear to it, that Nashville had one when I was there on the first. Out of my reach anyway.
 
Fickle
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It seems region dependent, a friend visited the main Ginza OB and was told a 10 year wait list for Ed White. The watch game seems really strong in Japan still in general.
 
iamvr
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They are offered below retail on the secondary market in Switzerland now.
 
Evitzee
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iamvr iamvr
They are offered below retail on the secondary market in Switzerland now.
Link, please.
 
Fatcat
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I know the seller the king of Flippers but looks like they miss the information about the market is going down and nobody will pay overprice for this as they can order it and get it in a month now.
 
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