kennygfunk
473
You make some very good points...
Whenever a new model is released, I ask myself, “Did they use a focus group?” The reason I ask myself that is because I read comments all the time, so I know what’s trending, and 9/10 times, I know what people are going to say about a model regarding various elements: size, date, font, the list goes on (I know you you shouldn’t end a sentence with a preposition). Anyway, A lot of brands can’t afford to make these mistakes. I suspect that many of these brands haven’t been profitable for the last several years. Good thing they have deep pockets! Other, more popular brands, because of popularity, can pretty much do whatever they want and get away with it. I know Patek can produce ANYTHING in limited production and sell out as long as it has “Patek Philippe” on the dial. Who do you blame? The brand? The consumers? I’m interested to see how all of this plays out. Right now, I would say the new Holy Trinity is Rolex, Patek, and AP; Vacheron has created a very Strong line up but needs to do some serious marketing; Richard Mille is it’s own beast; Panerai has failed to surprise us; Hublot is fashionable but not haute horology; and Breguet is like the talented student who never became anything special.
I have a serious question about manufacturers and market research...(starting a new post from a recent thread)...
...so I don't hijack it : ) Whether one is a fan of the new Patek 6007A or not, it seems like (and this is where I'd like to be educated) manufacturers develop these watches in a vacuum and hope for the best once they are released. Do they do market resea...
If we really trusted their statements...
we'd believe that it takes 5 or more years to develop a new watch. Neither it was a new airplane! I think they plan some novelties in relation to the market; in such an unclear and misty future, many of them won't definitely show more than necessary. Thin...
Planning to build a new watch...
...perhaps to catch the current wave (retro, SS sport, etc.) is one thing. But once they get it going in the design phase, does anybody ever do market research? It reminds me of really, really awful movies that cost tens of millions to make. Doesn't someo...
You make some very good points...
Whenever a new model is released, I ask myself, “Did they use a focus group?” The reason I ask myself that is because I read comments all the time, so I know what’s trending, and 9/10 times, I know what people are going to say about a model regarding vari...
I was disappointed when I read a Hodinkee article...
(easy to find) and realized that the head of PP Creation is married to the President of the company. "I started in the commercial area for Patek Philippe and then I met my husband, and now I'm the head of the creation division. But it took a long time [to...
Article is here (July 2017):
www.hodinkee.com And I think this sort of thing is perfectly in-bounds. It is not her private life, it is her job and her relationship with the President (her husband) which is fact not rumor. Perhaps she's moved to a new position since, but as a ...
Yes, it's not inappropriate to discuss anybody's job title, for as long as that's the context of the discussion. In fact, to her significant credit, her job title is still the same to this day.
However, I frankly don't see anything unusual with her position, given that Patek is a family company, and I would say rather objectively, an incredibly successful one at that. The president himself is the son of a former president (in fact, the fourth ge...
Pretty much similar situation in Tag Heuer
Time will tell, but the new head is the young scion of the LVMH family. But they say: ignorance sometimes breeds creativity, much like a beginners mind has endless possibilities, but an expert mind is closed
But it's AP (I think) who say something like...
...'In order the break the rules, first you must master them.' Kind of what I was taught in design school. Picasso is known for his abstract work, but he could really draw : )
We hate to admit it but watches are really part of high end fashion.
So no focus groups, companies decide how to incorporate their vision, brand / heritage and current market trends into a product that would sell without spending too much on R&D. Then you pay watch bloggers to tell people that "the watch is much better in ...
IDK the answers to your questions, mdg, but . . .
. . . I look at the U.S.car manufacturers who do in-depth focus groups and seemingly endless market research, yet launch new model duds every year. My guess is the watch manufacturers 1) do not do focus groups, 2) are interested in the viewpoints of colle...
Good to see you're moving along...
...you will now be getting some family history for the characters that will se the stage for the novels to come...
What’s so difficult using Cad drawings, search google for some themes, cut and paste and using existing movements, and voila! A new watch! [nt]
There’s no patent infringement on design or whatever so we’re fine, lol.
I don't know that established companies 'borrow' from others...
...so much as they borrow from themselves in the form of endless 'retro' 'limited' editions.
A very interesting topic, though it requires really long and delicate answers! :-) What I'll briefly say about Patek is the (general) planning of a collection is done some 10 years ahead.
And yes, obviously market research and listening to collectors or other key individuals normally plays a MAJOR role. Then decisions are made by the executives, and only a handful of people are aware of the content of all upcoming collections up until just...
Thanks you for this informed reply!...
...this is what I was getting at. 10 years seems appropriate for a new movement but seems very far out for an actual product. A lot of mistakes can be set into, if not stone, then quickly hardening concrete if trends/fashions shift over a decade. Thanks a...
I have broached this topic in comments made mostly in posts about JLC many moons ago, now long forgotten by all, I dare say...
The gist of my observations was thus: JLC has a long history, and despite it being highly respected within the watch community, it is not a "hot" brand sales-wise. Through the years, releases of model iterations by the dozens have been presented without f...
I don't know any true 'insiders' but my instinct is that...
...your take is pretty close to accurate. I think it's part of why we still get 42mm x 14mm watches with tiny movements. Love Rolex or hate them, but at least they put out watches that people seem to want. Rugged, accurate, classic-looking without being '...
I think one point raised by another person here is that the people the brands consult with are not people like us and do not have our taste.
Further, one supposes that the primary consumers, that is, the people who are most likely to actually buy watches in the largest numbers, are not us and have different tastes than the fine members of this website do. I am reminded of Breguet moving to mos...
