At IWC, you can create your own Ingenieur crono choosing the case material, dial, hands, strap/bracelet, and engraving. This seems to make a lot of sense. Do any other brands do this?

https://www.iwc.com/us/en/configurator.html?ref=IWIW3808AJ&engravingId=11&,&summary=hidden

 

Yes, other brands do this, for example Vacheron has offered their Atelier Cabinotiers service for a number of years now.

This type of service does not usually make it down to the mid-tier brands, but it looks like that may be changing.

Cheers, Al

 

I really love this idea. Had fun configuring a bunch yesterday. The funny thing is that I stuck to very similar options every single time. I guess personal tastes don't vary regardless of how many times you run those. Hence why not so many brands do this? People like what they like. And even if they get a few wrong, the purchase decisions are pretty uniform?

There's always a small something I'd change from the watches brands offer. In this case, I just wanted Arabic numerals on the dial. That wasn't an option.

Perhaps this type of tool helps remove those ifs for potential buyers and increase sales for the industry as a whole from people that hadn't bought a mechanical watch before?

 

I like the idea. My only concern would be the resale value. I think it makes it harder to sell if it's customized, but who knows.

 

Pretty Cool: Here's mine

 

Well, you can even design your own Rolex: https://www.blaken.com/en/individual

 

Not the same thing clearly...

"Blaken® is an independent company and is in no way connected with or licensed by Rolex S.A.. "

 

Thats correct but still you can get your custom made watch. Blaken exists for quite some time and they are probably tolerated by Rolex (they have to be sourced in a way) because they serve a different customer group in a way which Rolex would never do in its conservative approach.

 

There are plenty of companies out there that customize watches made by others. They are not done by the brand and don't come with brand warranties, and you won't be able to get them serviced by the brand. These companies have been around for a long time, but that's not really what this thread is about...

 

Please correct me if I am wrong but IMO this thread is just about what people make it to be about.

Whilst I appreciate your opinion from my perspective it is not so much of a difference for the customer whether he has the option to configure his watch on the site of a professional third party with a combined brand of the professional third party/manufacturer or at the manufacturer site itself. It is both about the joy of trying out different things in a configurator and receiving a customised piece on the end.

It is just natural that manufacturers itself start doing it if there is a market for it. There will be just some manufacturers like Rolex which will probably not do it somewhen in the future due to their conservative marketing approach.

Might be interesting to see whether the resale values are better for manufacturer custom configured or third (renowned) party configure watches. A good point for discussion I think

 

Well the OP asked what other brands do this, not what other third parties do this...

But het how about those Raptors! They are having a spectacular season, and think they really have a shot at the Championship this year, don't you agree?

 

I think it's pretty cool, and a great way to keep customers from buying gray market or second hand.

 

I was aware that here are companies that will customize your watches. That is not specific to Rolex. I was just not aware of the brands themselves having a configurator like this.

Interesting that VC does this too. I was not aware of that. It doesn’t look like they have a configurator like IWC.

Interesting thought on resale @turbo_muc. I suppose it may depend on whether the choice made is generally appealing or not. On the other hand, rarity can dictate price over time but I would think less so in this case since it is not an LE (natural or artificial).

 

I'd agree with Al, a brand customizing watches for their clients is different from a third party. On value alone if you have a certified "one of" made by the brand it can become very valuable or at least retain value. If it's third party it may be just as cool but would become a franken.

 

I am surprised they literally put Rolex models, signed 'Rolex' as templates for you to design

 

I love my modded Seiko divers mostly for the fact its a Seiko and no watches were hurt in this mod

 

A face only a mother or father can love....

 

My eyes on the other hand

 

I kinda like the color scheme. My mom would have liked it for the colors, she never did find a watch she was happy with. (Antique family watch, broke and couldn't find anyone able to repair it, and a fashion quartz that didn't last long before it wasn't keeping time properly)