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BREAKING NEWS: H. Moser & Cie presents 'Swiss Alp Watch', designed after the Apple Watch!
There is a very remarkable press release, excerpts here:
"With more than 6 million units sold in 2015, producing a turnover in excess of 6 billion dollars, the smartwatch market exploded in the past 12 months, driven by the giants of the electronics industry. With R&D budgets of more than 8 billion dollars, a figure higher than the turnover of even the largest Swiss watchmaking group, the market leaders have barely begun, and they will once again revolutionise this market and change consumer behaviour. Faced with the threat of these heavyweights, there are a number of ways a Swiss watch company could react. They could do nothing, the course most watch brands are adopting; they could take a short-term, opportunistic approach to combine tradition with technology, or, lastly, they could fight for the values underpinning the reputation of several centuries of Swiss watchmaking. This last path is the one that H. Moser & Cie. has decided to pursue, and the Swiss Alp Watch is the symbol of this fighting spirit."
"As the challenge of the smartwatch emerged, it threw Swiss watchmaking into turmoil. However, the complete lack of a response from most market players is remarkable in itself. Doing nothing and waiting for the threat to pass is certainly a dangerous course, but it is less offensive to Swiss watchmaking than the opportunists’ approach of combining traditional, high-end watchmaking with already-obsolete technology such as connected bracelets, NFC/RFID chips and other outmoded interfaces. These attempts are bound to fail, due to the lack of resources, vision and a captive market. The future of Swiss haute horlogerie will be bright, provided it continues to innovative and be creative, while focussing on its inherent values of quality and tradition."
"'... Today, H. Moser & Cie. launches the Swiss Alp Watch as a statement of this new challenge and to prove that traditional mechanical watchmaking has a future, and it is, in fact, the future. It is much more than a watch for us. The Swiss Alp Watch is symbolic. It represents our resilience, our ferocious desire to fight for our values and traditions. It embodies everything we believe in', explains Edouard Meylan."
Please read the entire press release posted up in NEWS - simply click here !
Interesting times, very interesting times indeed!
Magnus
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BREAKING NEWS: H. Moser & Cie presents 'Swiss Alp Watch', designed after the Apple Watch!
There is a very remarkable press release, excerpts here: "With more than 6 million units sold in 2015, producing a turnover in excess of 6 billion dollars, the smartwatch market exploded in the past 12 months, driven by the giants of the electronics indus...
The Apple Watch a threat? A trend, yes, a marketing opportunity certainly but a threat???
How can a lover of fine horology or mechanical watches be tempted to sell his watch to go for an Apple watch? A mechanical watch is a life style, a passion, an Apple watch is a different life style. It may be fun, it may be useful, but it is a totally dif...
Many entry-level watch manufacturers must be scared.
This is the smartwatch target and a smart guy like JC Biver has accepted this new challenge.
JCB has accepted the challenge, but I doubt it will be a great success...
when I saw the presentation of the TAG Heuer smartwatch, my concerns (that the industry by and large does not understand the smart watch) got once more substantiated. Magnus
"a jarring mix of premium build and cheap-ish feeling of Android Wear, and the sub-standard screen"
(Techradar). Also, from what I heard the so far shipped quantities are indeed sold out, with replenishment stock to arrive at retailers these days. Nothing special for a new product in a 'hot' catagory (is it really? time will tell!) that went into the st...
also an interesting legal case as this is different ..
being mechanical and not sure if apple patent for the case would apply here..in any case I would love one !
Well, I rather like this approach, actually. :)
According to Moser, only 50 pieces of this "Swiss Alp watch" will be made, so I see this model as an intriguing response to Apple watch from a vanguard of traditional mechanical watchmaking, in a serious yet humorous way. Cheers, Luis
Marketing is one thing...
And I like the idea behind building something to make it relevant, but getting too close to the design and look of something some else owns, that's not very nice.
Traditional watch case and dial is not owned by Apple or anyone
Richard, We can see similar (if not identical) watch cases with wire lugs in horology museums across Switzerland (G-P, Patek Philippe, Chopard, MIH). The dial is a true representation of traditional watchmaking rather than an electronic rendering. I guess...
That may be true
I do also like that they're selling a good idea of owning a real watch...but marketing it directly against the smartwatch and then coming out with a design to look just like the Apple watch is cutting it too close, don't you think? It still is a nice watc...
Bah, the new direction of Moser is full of pyrotechnics...discouraging....
from a brand based on the refined product to another storytelling exercise....boring at its best. How to demolish the reputation of a brand,from sapphire watches to cheap marketing.... The chance of me getting a Moser these days?"VERY RARE"........
it is a bit hedgy but...
Moser was not really enjoying a great growth under the previous ownership. It is very difficult to compete with other names in this price segment. To be what they are doing here is really fresh and innovative. At least is not yet another tourbillon for th...
General success is not directly proportional with my appreciation..
The Spice Girls sold millions of records,but becoming amongst my fav groups takes other qualities. No doubt Moser wasn't doing well,and this new" quirky" approach might serve the purpose of economical success,but isn't that sad,that economical success is ...
yes of course you might be right and there are different ways to...
interpret their campaign. I found their previous video about the "original smart watch" (perpetual funky blue) less interesting and boring so I can understand how some will find this boring too!
You got to love these guys!
I would call this typical British humor. Building a mechanical 'Apple' watch. Brilliant! Respect Moser, respect. This brand is getting higher and higher on my ladder of esteem. Just take a good look at what they are doing. They have got a very complete an...
True
Limited edition. Looks more like a \'30s vintage watch. Personally I like the other ones better.
I like their official video.
"no upgrade needed", no worries for "power supply down", "simple interface", "most essential applications", ........etc. And even an interesting sound appears at the very end of the video. Please watch till the last second. It's humorous. H. Moser & Cie S...
The Original SmartWatch
They did a video about a year ago announcing their version of the SmartWatch... Apparently, Edouard has a sense of humor...
Moser
I really had mixed feelings on this but in viewing the video and noting the very limited edition I actually think it\'s a fantastic 2 fingers up to Apple. Apple have as many knockers as they have had fans, I\'m a big apple fan and once upon a time thought...
Love It!
Love the concept and I am certainly more likely to buy this as the "Anti-Apple watch" ...And I am even a HUGE Apple fan! (Just not a fan of the Apple watch) Kudos to Moser!
A HUGE concern!
I’m enrolled in an excellent online specialization on Business Strategy offered by the University of Virginia and provided by Coursera. As I move forward with it, and being a strategy execution professional for many years, I would be VERY concerned if I w...
I am not a decision marker in the industry but..
I think it much depends on the segment you are looking at. In this forum many watches are not exactly accessible for someone in his early 20's. Most of the younger people I know usually aim to get a rolex (from what I can see most of the rolex forum here ...
I know it is difficult to generalise, Christian,
but I also and still think that this kind of interest comes from when you are younger, and if you don't have the references when you are young. And I'm not worried for the brands because of the owners, but because of the mechanical watches.
There is a major difference...
There is a major difference betweena mechanical watch and any of todays portable electronic devices. The electronic devices have product lifetimes of a couple of years, a watch is at least several decades. Even if by chance the e-device is still working a...
Don, I think that the smartwatch will be...
...substituted by another hype but the today young people will not be interested in mechanical watches, because it was not and won't be part of their lives.
such a cool idea ! I Want one and should be available from April unless...
they get legal issues first !
I think this one reason why Apple will not fire legally on them...
Its already accpeted that they were inspired by the previous designs (well, now Ikepod's designer Marc Newson is 'Apple in-house'). Best, Magnus ...
really curious about the legal case...
I am a lawyer (but not specialised in intellectual properties not a patent attorney) and i was intrigued by the claim of a swiss patent attorney on a local newspaper that Apple could have a claim for the design. Highly doubtful because the only similarity...
How can a brand...
which considers itself as luxury brand steal the design of someone else and be proud of it? If the reply of the Swiss luxury watch industry is to steal Appel's design, I think one can be worried. What would our reaction be if someone would copy-past Rolex...
well may is not really stealing....
what did they steal? I think there are similarities in the case but can a company trademark or patent a shape? Just imagine if a company had the exclusive rights to a certain case shape (round). Incidentally I think that there are many rolex inspired time...
Similarities?
I hope you are kidding. If you just see "similarities" so all watch cases look the same.
you need to think about the differences too...
you cannot really patent or trademark a universal shape (square or squarish watches) so beside the case there is nothing that close (crown, movement, functionality, dial etc.). Apple is also not new to "borrowing" designs: www.cnet.com
ah talking about similarities....
think about Royal Oak similarities with Hublot, Calatrava with many Vacheron models etc. etc. at least they didn't attempt to create a watch so similar to another mechanical one
IMHO this marketing attempt is a success
A (rhetorical) question - do you really think that this small LE was intended to turn a significant profit? Absolutely not. But The simple fact that this LE is generating discussion about the issues in the industry, and is simultaneously polarizing and at...
Well said Cholack at least there is something to discuss...
in terms of boredom we have excellent example of the top brands issuing another ultra-expensive watch for the 0.000001% of people that can afford it and let's not forget the illusory limited supply: is that really more fair play? I think for a small compa...
I agree with both of you, cholack and christianch. And I see this move by Moser positively.
For a small maufacturer with a small amount of annual production, polarizing opinions and generating discussion (which is what's happening in this thread) by issuing a LE is a smart way of marketing or raise brand awareness. It's meant to be a double-edge...
Love it!
Great marketing move by H. Moser & Cie! Now let's see if Apple tries to sue Moser for this watch... Cheers, Anthony
'immitation is the sincerest form of flattery...'
... with all the fuss this headlines made in the tech-blogs, it gave them a bit of free publicity as well. I would be very surprised if Apple would even bother to react. It a different product, a different league, different customers... Particularly, sinc...
Interesting, if not surprising...
Many thoughts that I get looking at this. In no particular order: - it is a rather nice looking watch. The fume dial, the case shape, the square-ish movement, the power reserve at the back, the kudu leather strap... I have to say I really like the product...
very interesting thoughts ! what I have seen
from the ground here in Switzerland: a) A lot of the new buyers of mechanical luxury watches are Chinese. Each boutique will have at least one (sometimes more) Chinese speaking sales assistant. Now if the financial markets are an indication of what is goi...
Growth is a cruel mistress
I find small and relatively large players to be often more secure than the medium sized ones. But to get to large or at least fair sized, you need to navigate the difficult waters in between and for that you either have ample resources, a killer product, ...
For a company if the size and (supposed) market penetration of Moser - a brilliant move...
very well devised. But Moser's recent communication, as you alude to, also reveals - willingly or not - their problems as they see them: the strong CHF must have a real impact on their sales, otherwise they would barely bother to feature this in an 'open ...
It is a combination
As you said they are both relatively \'young\' in the current iteration and likely do not have the same level of RoI as more established players. Vertical integration - initially - is one of possible reasons, the other being their relatively lower bargain...
Swiss response to the "smart" watch
I love this watch, and I hope Apple will not sue But it's true in my eyes that H. Moser, whose watches I love by the way, could maybe have avoided this kind of communication coup ...
I find it a brilliant move. Moser has found a way to communicate an haute horological message to the masses.
I hope this campaign will catch on in a viral way and explode. It\'s a good message for the Swiss watch industry, whether or not the Apple watch is a real threat. Best, CaliforniaJed