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WatchProSite|Market|Digest

Harry Winston

I actually don't mind...

 


infact, I quite like the concept of the watch. It kinda reintroduce the history of watch revolution in the 70s to the younger watch collectors now.
It is not progressive in a physical way but truly it has the spirit of a progressive concept. Remaking a quartz watch using mechanical movement, quite a high concept.....very much like what some of the very best advant garde fashion designer will do.
Hi concept fashion designers like Rei Kawaikubo (Comme des Garcon), Junya Watanabe, Martin Margiela, Jun Takahashi (Undercover), Victor and Rolf....have
all used this approach before to great success. I do appreciate the idea and the execution bits..........it doesn't matter to me that some think the watch is ugly or even reminded them of an era (quartz) they hated. To me, I think the watch is really fun and quite a refreshing OPUS 8.
Honestly, I'm quite sick of Opus series after Opus 5. Opus 6 and 7 did very little to me.....it has a very similar yawn yawm effect of who's looking stranger.
Before I know, Max came out MBF1 and 2.
Am I impress???
NO.. It has the same effect of trying to achieve a 'weird, progressive, look at me ' watch.....it is like the continuation of earlier OPUS series. The watch looks somewhat progressive but I feel that it lacks something.........the progressive concept and thought. Opus 5 , URWERK 201 are more successful in this area.
But, personally, as an artist, I can sense that Max gets it and definitely heading the right direction to find his voice. I know in my guts, the next MBF or even the future MBFs will make me lust for them smile
Back to Opus 8.......I love the hi concept / low tech (of course a disguise) but I'm quite repulse by the price.
I selfishly think that a watch of such concept will be more successful when introduced in a price range reachable to most collectors, in contrast with the usual
Opus series. Very similar to what MBF 2 has done.
So, do I like the watch????
Errrrrrrrrr......I actually think it is quite LOVELY.......very similar to Opus 3, conceptually.......ok., ok...I LOVE IT but I CANNOT AFFORD IT!!!
Lovesss*CL

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35 Comments view entire thread 

Post POSITIVE Opus 8 comments

 
By: MTF : April 11th, 2008-06:43
Dear PuristS, I invite those who like the Opus 8 to post their opinions and reasons in this sub-thread. By the Law of Statisitics, there must be at least one member in this sample. This would be a rough measure or straw poll. Regards, MTF

I actually don't mind...

 
By: CL : April 11th, 2008-08:14
infact, I quite like the concept of the watch. It kinda reintroduce the history of watch revolution in the 70s to the younger watch collectors now. It is not progressive in a physical way but truly it has the spirit of a progressive concept. Remaking a qu... 

I feel a bit the odd man out. . .

 
By: Jack Forster : April 11th, 2008-08:31
. . . both here and elsewhere as for reasons which I understand intellectually but which don't resonate for me emotionally so many seem to be initially horrified at Opus 8! I'm not sure what about it has drawn so much fire. A slide operated mechano-digita... 

By any other name

 
By: MTF : April 11th, 2008-09:32
Jack my Friend, HWRT is a victim of its own successful past. If any other non-great Name had brought this out, it would probably be opinion-neutral i.e. equal % of protractors and detractors. There may even have been some polite applause for the fancy mec... 

OK, your points are all well taken. . .

 
By: Jack Forster : April 11th, 2008-11:15
. . . but (didn't you know a 'but' was coming) your critiques seem to be a criticism of PR lapses, not criticisms of the watch itself. . . and this is not to say, by the way, that at that price point (or for that matter any luxury price point- if I am spe... 

An American analogy

 
By: MTF : April 11th, 2008-13:35
It's NOT about Public Relations but more about Relationship with your buying Public and your own product.....on a personal level. At that price-point, you really, really want to be close to both. On American Idol ® , contestants get voted off, not solely ... 

I do understand your point, I'm just not sure I agree with the conclusion. . .

 
By: Jack Forster : April 11th, 2008-13:54
. . . well, more specifically, I'm not sure that I'm willing to dismiss the watch's technical and design merits to a significant extent on the basis of a perceived lack of emotional comittment on the part of its designer and on the part of HWRT- for one t... 

Not that I like the look of the watch, but is it any worse than the stillborn Opus 3?

 
By: loujo : April 11th, 2008-10:34
My understanding is that Opus 8 is still a mechanical watch mimicing digital. That's pretty crazy stuff. Look at Opus 3. It is one of the ugliest watches I have ever seen, but everyone was going gaga (is it the right spelling?) over it. I don't see why we... 

So: Is this a positive vote?

 
By: MTF : April 11th, 2008-13:39
Sir, You did not like th look and asked a double-negative question in the title. But inside the posting, you also said you would not mind a watch like this .....if you could afford it. So, is this a positive vote for the watch IF it were cheaper and not O... 

The reason why I accepted O3 is is the mechanical sophistication

 
By: bernard cheong : April 11th, 2008-16:42
and the concept of its instantaneous 7 whip type design that is more difficult than a Grande Sonnorie or similar to one in execution. Secondary to that...is that it used a 19th century numeric display from Cartier. Note that it is REALLY taking all the ki... 

Which is why, if I may, you should at least give O8 a fighting chance. . .

 
By: Jack Forster : April 11th, 2008-18:25
"There are almost 100 of these "designs" with poor mechanical movts, but no hand operated display of rubies, but rotating discs...going for $30 a pop." Hi Dr. Cheong. . . yes, but that is precisely the point, the thing is done very differently. Putting a ... 

I understand. However, in luxury and Haute Degamme...

 
By: bernard cheong : April 11th, 2008-19:56
I see the Opus 8 as a failure of HWRT's exec staff, to demonstrate an understanding of their creations and history. Having a GOOD COMPLEX movt is a part and sometimes only a small part, of the product. YES. To watch conneussers like us...a movt is a BIG t... 

only posting cause it was referenced and

 
By: raphmeister : April 13th, 2008-06:48
to me it is a gorgeous car i am very much into aesthetics and the watch has to attract me first in the looks department before I am even remotely interested in finding out about its mechanics and its philosophy and all the other frilly stuff. if it ain't ...  

Raphmeister..thank you. Now, I must show you a NUBEO.

 
By: bernard cheong : April 13th, 2008-08:47
You undertstand whetre I come from. The Toyota...that is THE car for a GOOD example ..Yes?

Having heard both sides' arguments, I now come to a conclusion that...

 
By: ling5hk : April 12th, 2008-07:10
if and only if this watch is a failure, there is only one man on earth will make it a success - Mr. Patrizzi. To me, I will buy if HW give me 90% discount on the list price. Regards Ling

So - you like this watch but at $35k price?

 
By: MTF : April 12th, 2008-09:11
Ling, Have you valued this Opus 8 at $35k? Is that how much it looks like it's worth to you? This is important because it values the design and novelty movement at 10% of the asking price. All the dealers who have to take on inventory are interested in ta... 

MTF, I don't particularly like or hate this watch.

 
By: ling5hk : April 12th, 2008-16:31
This watch is just like a newly born baby. It still has long way to go. You will never know whether it will one day become a doctor or lawyer or engineer or securities dealer or CEO of a PLC or PuristS'forum moderator or fisherman or farmer or conman or c... 

thanks for the thought provoking discussion, guys

 
By: DaMctosh : April 13th, 2008-08:38
my apologies if i' dumbing this down but it seems op8 could be the watch world's campbell soup ala warhol.

Warhol..and I own ONE of his iconic works..so i speak from a "position"

 
By: bernard cheong : April 13th, 2008-08:54
If Warhol had done his work TODAY..I won't buy one..not because he won't be the forst..but because between 1965 and 2001...several men would have thrown up work that would have created a rift similar to his..and in watch making...they HAVE ALREADY DONE IT... 

Bernard, show me, please. . .

 
By: Jack Forster : April 13th, 2008-12:45
. . . another mechanical watch that uses this type of mechanical implementation of the time display and which quotes formally vintage LCD/LED cases. Your argument simply doesn't cohere- there have been literally dozens of artists since Warhol whose strate... 

THANK YOU !! I LOVE SO MUCH TO GENERATE DEBATE

 
By: blanz161 : April 17th, 2008-00:46
Thank You very much, particulary Mr. CHEONG i love generate this debate since the coming of OPUS 8 people love and adore and some others hate and throw back ! In fact the criticism is easy for viewers, but it's more difficult for us, watchmakers, engineer...