Best Watch Collaboration Pieces: Discussion
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Best Watch Collaboration Pieces: Discussion

By patrick_y · Jul 5, 2024 · 38 replies
patrick_y
WPS member · Horological Meandering forum
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Patrick_y's original post sparks a vibrant debate on the efficacy and artistry of watch collaborations, a topic often met with skepticism in the horological community. He challenges the prevailing notion that these partnerships are inherently flawed, instead seeking to identify those rare instances where synergy elevates both brands. His analysis of the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando serves as a compelling case study for successful collaboration, prompting fellow collectors to share their own perspectives on what makes these joint ventures truly exceptional or unequivocally misguided.

Watch collaborations are almost always a bad idea.  How many brands has Ferrari partnered with?  GP (who's now with Aston Martin), Panerai, Hublot, and now Richard Mille?  Not only are collaborations fleeting and "in-the-moment" but they're rarely done well.  

Some collaborations are a match in one area but a total mismatch in another area.  For instance, Breitling and Bentley...  Both have a B logo with wings.  But Breitling is a solidly mid-end brand when it comes to watches, and Bentley is definitely on the expensive side when it comes to automobiles.  

And some collaborations are better.  IWC and Top Gun for instance.  I see a good fit there.  But how many Top Gun pilots actually really get an IWC from the US Navy?  I can't imagine many of them get them.  

What are your thoughts about collaborations?  And watch collaborations are not limited to automobile companies.  I think we can all generally agree that they're unnecessary.  Which collaborations do you think are exceptionally good?  Which collaborations do you find to be classically bad?  


I'll start off...  The best collaboration I've seen is the Bulgari Octo Finissimo Tadao Ando in Titanium!  Tadao Ando is a famous Japanese architect who works with minimalism, concrete, and a balance of natural light.  The Bulgari Octo Finissimo in titanium looks almost exactly like concrete - Ando's preferred medium.  And the spiral (it's a spiral, not concentric circles) has a zen like quality that is exhibited in his architecture!  Many thanks to our dear late member, Horology75, who introduced this piece to me!  












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The Discussion
AU
AuHavrePro
Jul 5, 2024

It's such a hodgepodge of stuff overall, there's few that truly make sense in my opinion. Obviously, one of my all time favorite is the AMVOX line, another good example from the same time and people is the MC Navy SEALs.... Vacheron has that exceedingly cool Everest Dual Time Overseas in collaboration with a well known mountaineer, and of course who can oversee the Mille-Nadal pieces!........ That's what comes to mind instantaneously....

PA
patrick_y
Jul 5, 2024

I'll do my little rain dance for you my friend!

AR
ArmisT
Jul 5, 2024

I suspect these are in a different category, more thought out, and ultimately better executed with each brand contributing a signature feature. As far as other collaborations, the first one that popped to mind is the Hublot-Orlinski pieces. Not at the same level as the Ando above, however.

PA
patrick_y
Jul 5, 2024

Interesting. I never really understood the VC Everest Dual Time Overseas watch - as I didn't see it as a good fit as a watch to go mountaineering in - at least their marketing didn't convince me that it was an especially good fit. Frankly, I find the Vacheron Constantin to be a luxury watch posing as a pseudo-sports watch that can go hiking but probably shouldn't. For instance, the Cadillac Escalade is not going to go off-roading quite as well as the Chevrolet Suburban supposedly. On the other h

PA
patrick_y
Jul 5, 2024

The Orlinski pieces are my favorite from Hublot! Yes! Any collaboration with a watch brand counts! Even one between watch brands.

AU
AuHavrePro
Jul 5, 2024

it genuinely is my favorite (luxury) sports watch line - collaborations or not. The only thing you state that I don't get is the 'pseudo-sports' label, I've always found the line to be authentically sporty, it unequivocally possesses both the robustness and water resistance rating to make that claim substantiated (in that sense it eclipses even the Speedmaster).... Of the non high-end complications, I do find that Everest edition particularly well executed. Both the textures/finishings, and the

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