Market
Bernard Cheong's candid post from 2008 offers a provocative take on the Nubeo brand, positioning it as a significant disruptor in the watch market. His initial impressions from Basel highlight Nubeo's perceived quality and market potential, drawing comparisons to established brands like Panerai and Bell & Ross. This article delves into Cheong's early assessment and the community's reaction to this then-emerging brand.
Pick up at Basel with Hummer...appropraite for a case that is bigger, thicker, more bullet proof, armoured, incredibly well CNC cut....
Anyway..in 2004/5 I visited Basel and found an obscure article for a watch called NUDEO Jellyfish..I called Mike Tay and Alan Teo to locate and isolate and secure this brand..it will be a 100%v winner...I did not see or hold the watch..just saw a picture.
Mike and Alan search Basel....in 2004/5 and found NOTHING.
Yafriro of Singapore distributes NUBEO from 2006....interesting but I was totally kept OUT of the loop....
Suddenly in 2007..Cortina takes NUBEO.
I was still out of the loop..they thought I bought only Opus, Pateks, RMs and MBFs......BUT...NUBEO is like Panerai, Ikepod, Bell&Ross to me...it's not about price..its about SIGNIFICANCE.
I arrive in Baeel 2008 and have NO TIME to meet or see NUBEO...but after a visit to Bulgari, I had about 1 hour...I RUSH...and RUSH and RUSH...to see NUBEO.
WHY?
Because in the watch arena...IMHO or IMO..if some assume my arrogance...(after my Opus 8 critique)
(1) The serious price point is at the BRO1 and Panerai point.
(2) This point brings in enthusiasts who are vocal, and opinionated, and colored..correctly by the new age of the communication networking of the WWW. It is not "stratospheric".....but expensive, yet within reach....like AP Offshores and IWCs....yet NOT common...or shall I say..much more rare.
(3) OK..so Pateks, Journes, APs are still important..you do not see me writting aboutb them..but I buy them..but there are TOO many, and enough opinions about these brands....thye do not need my humble voice.
(4) IWC and UN..do not need me..but they have done VERY important works.....and recently BOTH Breguet and Cartier.
(5) Glass Original.....I have MUCH to say and soon...and GOOD stuff....likewise...Chopard and JLC.
(6) MBF ....these are INVESTMENTS.
(7) Now...to NUBEO. Like Bell & Ross, and Panerai....I think NUBEO breaks Panerai's back. With Bell & Ross, on the long haul of 5 years...both Bell&Ross and Nubeo will break Panerai among the seasoned collectors of simple 3 handed watches or chronos. And I hope they DO...so that Panerai does not keep getting more arrogant in raising prices...and behaving as if they are above JLC and IWC....ARRRGGGHHHH. My cab drivers in Singapore have Panerais and Rolexes...its become a status symbol...good for them...I am not saying anything here,,,
No cab drivers wear B&R, or IWC or probably NUBEOS...so am I sounding like an elitist pig? Yes...I hate it...but it is true....the marketing made my cab driver patients buy a Panerai....even though he wanted a Rolex...he can't tell the difference. It's like ordering beer or wine...just order the more expensive...sigh. My delivery boy..who carries my boxes bought a Panerai after he pawned his Rolex...sigh...
This will not happen with B&R or NUBEO, or Chopard LUC...too few...not marketed that way. Or JLC ..or IWC....hmmmm...too exclusive..but yet cheaper than a Panerai?
(8) Simple ETA movts...housed in 2 seperate levels of quality...at Bell&Ross BRO..you see utilitarian apogee work....the good stuff with aesthetics....NOT casio GShock Beck and decker shit. At NUBEO you see CARTIER level or Patek level work...NO *%^#ing kidding. At about 33% more than Bell&Ross list prices...in other words..GOOD PRICE..for now...I do not see how NUBEO can keep prices at this level BEYOND Sept 2008....this is my owm estimate. So I offred to buy a NUBEO on the spot, in Basel...and I went hoe with it....and I will BUY a SOLID GOLD one asap..with a black ruber fusion..ala Hublot. It makes sense....not because I like "bling"...but the gold NUBEOs are SO *&%$ing heavy!!!!! Even IF Panerai did not raise prices...I feel that Bell and Ross, and NUBEO have created a niche that is VERY tight. BOTH B&R and NUBEO are worth, and MUST be examined if you have a budget to buy 1 credible UNIQUE non main stream watch....or if you are looking for a VERY GOOD watch. na d you don't wanna go to the MBF price....(forget Pateks...those are for those guys buying watches for the next generation...they seem to wear Casios to work!) Just kidding...err...
I apologise to Panerai for using them as a "scapegoat"..but with the recent prices, and excluding their old supporters (not me, I must admt Panerai treats me well)...I feel saddened.
Look at the case constructs!!!!!
Look carefuuly at how the NEWER Balck Jelly Fish Nubeos have individual numbers cnc cut for eah hour, and inserted into custom treated rubber rings mounted on a steel (or gold) bezel...incredible detail that costs a fortune.
NOTICE that you do not see many NUBEO adverts.....same as MBF...no..it is not about no budgets....demand is good..
Forget Panerai limited editions of 200 pieces of whatever *&%$ at some funny laughable price....NUBEO's entire annual production is less than 2 models of Panerais!
Look at the case....the lugs are 4 pieces that are part of a solid metal ring around seperate ring for the movt.....totally amoured..totally tight....BUT..honestly, they have been sincere, they have not yet the budegt to test for 1000m waterproof....but should NOT be a problem...the Artic model..which comes with a fully tailored artic jacket as a gimmick is the best they can afford....they are NOT Richemont...and are quite humble and still small.
Look at the round metal ring....I hold here a part of BOTH the lugs and the OUTER case ring....!!!!
The bezel alone has 3x more parts than a Panerai...and believe me..each part is many times..I cannot "quantify" this....more well made than a Panerai.
Lets say that in 1997/8..I bought EVERY model of the Panerai made...except 2....I did not buy any Panerai since 2006.
Bell & Ross rules....and now welcome NUBEO.
I feel that NUBEO will appeal to BOTH Panerai and B&R owners...it is the VERY refined version of BOTH.
Do not say I didn't tell you all about it!!!!
Remember..you (probably) first saw n heard about the Freak, Antiqua, Dufour, Bell&Ross here in this forum.....
JUST LOOK at the QUALITY of the case finish.....you simply cannot stomach a Panerai today....even if the prices were LESS than NUBEO.
The CUT, the BRUSH, the POLISH, the EDGES,...ther vertebrae that form ther steel inserts inside the rubber strap....the special screw heads thst you will note.
The vertebrae allow the watch to sit on the wrist..NOTE that the watch case back is CURVED to fit the way our wrists will flex...!!!!!
It cannot be seen..but the case back curves from 12 to 6 oclock...so that the wrist sits VERY well...this has not been attempted before....it ALSO curves from 3 to 9 oclock..man...crazy!!!!
If any one..has pics of both the men who make these watches...please post them up!!!!
WHATEVER....ths NUBEOS have Patek nautilus or Aquanaut finish!!!! It is that GOOD..I bough both of those watches..especailly the rubber Aquanaut when it was launched and raved that EVERYONE should buy them at $4000usd....after discounts.....I hope you did.
Remember..at the 3 handede watch..minus minute repeaters...ther challenge is to find a GREAT finish...the Chopard LUC Fleurier, Patek Aquanaut, Panerais, B&R were my last finds....now all too expensive..except for LUC and B&R.
DO NOT MISS the NUBEOs.
They have begun demonstrating how well they can work with metals and ceramics...hence the "rings"...chuckles.
This product will redefine the Panerai Bell&Ross BRO platform...
The finish is incredible..right down to the buckles, lugs, and everything....
BLOWN away....
If I look stupid....I can only defend myself that I have to sya..THIS is my one of 2 GREAT finds at the fairs...
The MBF 3 and the NUBEO.
Another inflammaotory post?
Sigh.....Please look at the NUBEOs...they are WELL WORTH your energy....and time.
The very serious alternative to the AP Offshore, the Panerai and even the Aquanauat.
Hmmm..rarer than an RM entry level 005...but what the heck...
Last year..I raved about the GEFICA and MBF1...
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I agree that based on the pictures, it appears that the execution of the case is excellent. I also agree with you about Panerai. This Brand has come to a stage that I almost call it a bull shit Brand. They control the number of pieces that come to Asia market. Until today, I still haven't seen a Ceramic Black Seal. May be the watch is too dark and I can't see it and miss it. About Patek! Hmmmmmmm, I am speechless. I am excited that you categorise NUBEO together with BR. There is only one thing t
And only gave them cursory attention. But I respect your opinion and will definitely check them out in detail. I still remember how right you were about the BR01, and how wrong I was, way back when it was launched in '03 or '04. Thanks Bernard. - SJX
... is brought to new levels of mastery; at least this is what I think looking at the pictures in your article, dear Bernard. Of course I know that every watch has to be judged in real metal only, but maybe it is your sect-like invocation of the brand's name, or simply the fact that the design IMHO (and I emphasize the "H") combines a gadzillion of style elements, without achieving a common line, that makes me very sceptical if this will be more than a me-too brand ever. On the other hand, I onl
. . . about Glashütte Original soon ;-) . . . see, I do read your posts word for word! Cordially, Art
From your pictures, the watches look like "organisms" to me :P Cheers, Anthony
It took me years to hunt down the Seaslug alarm as thAT WAS THWE ONE WATCH I missed in the Newson Seaslug and Manatee designs. The NUBEO really brings all those emotions back...the organism feeling..yes you are 100% right..I feel as if I am wearing a little squid or octopus on my wrist...but in a good way...for example...imagine a swimming or being in a watery environment,,,the watch feels like a part of the body. Sensous to a T. In fact, I think that it looks incredibly sexy on a woman wearing
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