quattro98
391
Part of the same trends in the watch industry.
May 27, 2021,17:37 PM
Brands are pulling either specific models or the entire line from long-term authorized dealers. I don't welcome the move towards boutiques, I have known my local dealers for 20+ years. I have little interest in changing how I buy watches. Thankfully, I have what I want and am willing to say that I can be satisfied with what I have and remain a bystander for this transition.
When focusing narrowly on the current state of the watch market, brands can come out ahead by controlling their distribution and sales more closely. Taking a broader look, there are plenty of other things that compete with watches for discretionary income. Soon, travel will pick up again as well. The excess demand from a worldwide lockdown and loose monetary policy may persist or it may subside. Either way, I have plenty of ways to tell the time.
I am not an ALS collector, but the line has moved between local dealers in the past few years and was pulled from my AD and is now sold at a boutique that is operated by another AD. These changes make me less interested in the brand. If I were new to watches or had a strong interest in expanding my collection, then I would either look elsewhere or learn to accept the new rules.
If Lange is able to successfully satisfy their collectors without alienating both long-time enthusiasts and those new to the brand, while curbing the gray market, it would be a positive step. It remains to be seen whether these aims are internally compatible or mutually exclusive.