Long time follower of this forum, thanks for all the info & conversations - congrats to all that have received the watch.
Got an update from my OB in NYC today so wanted to share here as the info others have shared has been so valuable to me.
I placed my order (with a 100% Deposit) with an OB on the day of the announcement (literally 10 mins after!), at the time the guidance was 'don't know when they'll be received, 2-3 months maybe' and that was fine, this was later updated to Q12021 which was also fine, expectations were managed.
First point - OB staff have been really good, nice knowledgable people just trying to build relationships - super responsive. I'm new in NYC and I don't have a purchase history with the boutique and have been very pleasantly surprised.
As I've seen a few pieces arrive on here, I wanted to check if Q1 was still realistic, so I reached out - they were able to confirm today that they'd received one watch so far, which went to a VIP with considerable purchase history. I don't actually have a problem with this, we're all in the relationship business.
However the bad news - and it is bad news - OB then confirmed that the wait could now be as long as
two years.
Apparently, the demand has been exponential, there's an enormous waitlist just to get on the 'maxed out' deposit list (which I'm told I'm lucky to be on!) and OB also confirmed that Omega is looking at previous purchase history to assign these watches.
I don't mind watches going to 'VIP customers' first, business is business, but I do mind that Omega has taken 100% deposits off customers - knowing they won't fulfill the orders for over two years... that has to have been known & should have been communicated. Omega's 150+ years old, they chose when to announce, they know how watch manufacturing scales and they know how to release, run & close a deposit program. So why are Omega treating customers like a first timer on Kickstarter? Do they need the cashflow boost?
I was reminded I could take a 'full refund' at any time. (again I want to point out that the OB people have been really understanding and cool about this, they're frustrated they can't help too)
With this news, I went to go speak to some watch friends this afternoon and dropped into the good people at WoS on the way and
the feeling there was that 'they're trying to be like Rolex with the Daytona' - they know it's a hot watch & they're managing supply to create some hype/exclusivity & elevate the brand.
Sorry if this comes as bad news to others in the same situation as me - but given the zero corporate comms on this watch I wanted to share.
I now have a choice to make regarding my deposit - honestly, I just wanted to enjoy the watch & I was excited to see it released, I am in no hurry to get my deposit back...(a two-year interest-free loan to omega does rattle a bit though) but a larger part of me is concerned that although Omega's actions will undoubtedly increase awareness/desirability... I will now (eventually) be receiving a 'super hard to find conversation piece' and I really don't want to attract the attention of a tonne of hypebeasts who like to 'flex'.
I'm a big believer in the idea that what you wear allows you to help others navigate who you are as a person. Originally this watch was a beautiful, well-engineered, fun watch with a story that really stirs the imagination from a respected brand that isn't flashy. My fear now is that these kinds of tactics will turn my daily-life with the watch into a constant 'oh sick bro you got a snoopy, they cost like X, what do you do?'.
Lame.
Apologies if my first ever post sounded disgruntled, but this just feels like a pretty cheap hype-tactic from an established luxury brand.
Big love to the community.
