Do you think it’s possible to create a new watch brand that could earn a reputation in keeping with omega / rolex or perhaps aim with lower sites like Tag heur? Or has that time past?
Do you think a kick starter project could lead to “omega too”?
I know even less about Rolex than other watch topics which says it all. I'm assuming that Rolex entered the market when the product standard was the mechanical watch, so their goal was to sell a Rolls Royce version of the product everyone was using. I can easily see how that could be made to work, which it obviously has.
Today the mechanical (collectable) watch is nearly dead to the general community world wide who have zero interest in watch forums, if they wear a watch at all. I admit I was focussed on someone from left field coming in and attempting to deliver a viable competitor to the Kings of the craft. My view is if there is an opening at the level we (I) am thinking, it would need to be extremely innovative. As one with limited needs, my list of practical useful stuff is met in one package by the Tissot T Touch Solar, so I can't envisage anything else I would want from a practical perspective but no emotional attachment.
However, there is always something different around the corner and like cars, you buy for the oddest of reasons.
Actually you would be surprised. Members may not post photos of these watches very frequently, but if you get to know them personally you will find that many collectors frequently dip their toes into these new brands. Just because they find them interesting and appealing. Your opinion of the membership is quite cynical and I think you may not really have a good sense of OF. There are many mature collectors here who buy what they like and follow their own path. This is not primarily a place to find people who buy flavor of the day watches simply because they want to show them off to others.
Not even close. Rolex positioned themselves as a good buy for the money and high quality. They made tool watches and watches that where dust proof and water proof.
they pivoted to a luxury brand in the mid 70’s during the quartz crises.
even today they are not the rolls Royce of watches. More Lexus or Mercedes benz.
I know even less about Rolex than other watch topics which says it all. I don't own a Rolls Royce either, it wouldn't fit the image 😀
The word assuming leads that sentence. The previous sentence makes a statement that I know less about Rolex than almost anything else. Let me tell you where to start. I am a beginner, self admitted who has no detail knowledge of watch companies or any brand other than Omega, about which my knowledge is still very scanty and then only about two models. I do however, have some life skills outside of watches and I have attempted to join discussions in the spirit of the Forum. Clearly I haven't been smart enough to recognise the posting heirachy with your experience and have trodden on some toes. I'll end my comments on this thread here and leave it up to you to end this as you wish.
Make a good dive watch that’s got a decent ETA movement in it and have parts available for it for the next 30 years and you should do well.
90% of kickstarters / new brand starters are 6 watches in and don’t have the watchmaker or parts supply to service the first watch they sold 5 years ago.
Making a brand is a long term big investment with heaps of overheads and future planning needed. The biggest problem with watch companies is parts supply to watchmakers. Do this right and you will win a lot of people here over.
Here is a company that is slowly forging ahead each year.
https://www.magrette.com/shop/moana-pacific-waterman-2?in=370040261
Where is that crook these days. Cheated a friend out of $6,000, and I had several chats with law enforcement in the jurisdiction of the “factory” that basically amounted to: he’s so nutz nobody wants to deal with trying to hold him accountable.
I remember reading something about Africa or something like that. Trying to save some species? Started making plastic watches. Definitely went off the deep end. Interestingly, it makes me want his Soarway watch.......as soon as it drops down to $1K for a nice used example. 😉
