No, I don't work for any watch company, but after 40 years of collecting and observation of the watch business I just observe what is happening that many Omega fans don't see or refuse to see/acknowledge, Omega's business plan (any consumer company's plan really) is to better control production, introduce new models and technologies, control discounting and realize higher prices for their product. The days of well discounted Omegas from grey market dealers is being addressed by Omega. Omega is not going to give away 321 based watches for cheap prices, it will be marketed as a premium product for discerning collectors, hence the super premium platinum version just announced and the yet to be released version in stainless steel. If the platinum version is somewhere around $60k which seems to be a pretty firm ballpark number, and applying typical markups for precious metal watches vs. steel, a steel version would be somewhere around $20k on the lower end. I'm not dreaming any of this stuff up, but just paying attention to what's going on. I collect just like everyone else, I don't want to pay anymore than I have to, but I'm realistic as to what is coming down the pike and what strategies all companies use to increase sales and capture as much of the sales on the bottom line. Omega is no different, they might be a little slow to get their act together but over the last several years a firm plan is gelling and being put into action.
I do not want to entangle myself in a second dispute. So, please excuse me! But .... in order to justify a pricing level of 60 k for a platinum chronograph on a leather strap and a SS at 20 k don’t you think you have to build up an arse for that? And don’t you think you have to be consistent in your policy? How may one amongst the management of Omega imagine that would be achievable if:
- a release of LE after LE takes place,
- 2/3 of the new releases even WIS don’t talk about,
- quite often Omega copycats its existing successful models,
- there are so many models of whatever line you take - Seamaster 300, PO, Seamster Pro, Speedmaster etc etc,
- there are so many dealers and it looks apart of how much they are supposed to buy as stock there is no other regulation over them.
So in order to justify pricing level Omega has to address these issues and have these solved. And that does not happen overnight.
So at the end you may be right and they may ask for ridiculous prices, claiming how difficult 321 is to be made (something I strongly doubt) but at the end they will just get another butt kick from the 99.9% of the market that has nothing to do with us. Ask yourself whether the average Chinese (as they combined with HK and Sing make close to 1/3 of global market) gives anything (just minding my words) to get an Omega chronograph in SS with 321 at 20 k USD while at that pricing level he/she may get a Daytona even at grey prices (and almost any other Rolex that is not PM, and in some cases even PM), IWC, JL, Cartier etc, even some entry level pieces of PP and ALS.
And just as a conclusion, Omega, because of its parent is too much obsessed with short-term profit and if a brand wants to be successful in the years to come in such a waning market as mechanical watch one, short-term profit should be forgotten and only the long-term one should be targeted at.
I do apologise if i bored you again.
