Horological Meandering

SIHH is but just 2 months away plus away. and as usual, gossips and rumours, speculations and permutations are making their rounds. what directions and/or watches do you want watch brands to take or create? we have seen so far trends like Ultra slim movem... 

Escalating prices? Best, Kari

Of course not less for more, but lesser priced, may be like more entry levels...? Let's see what happen.

and faux vintage thème as well. best, Horo

This is the year Longines breaks loose from The Swatch Group comes out of its looong torpor and starts, again, making watches with interesting horological content in line with its glorious past. Just wishful thinking of course! But imagine if it were true... 

along with some other brands as well best, Horo

Or at least let it be the way A. Lange or Montblanc do it... Best. Z

I think this is still a very profitable exercise for these companies. I know I don't mind. But I do appreciate twists. Their growing markets in Asia will mean decent sizes and more than a little pandering. I would like to see more annual calendars. Omega'... 

mine has a semi-open dial...you can see how thrilled I am every time it chimes...:)- best, Horo ...  

100% in-house manufacture caliber everywhere! It has already started but it this will get stronger in 2013-2014. The downside for all of us if that those caliber will not benefits for the years of testing an ETA and we will have a lot more watches returni... 

and the use of exotic movement material is a further worry. but I am confident, esp if its a Richemont or LVMH group firm, that it will be well researched and developed, if not tested. it is inevitable...the customers want in house movement, and pay premi... 

but don't you think that some entry level brands deserve some love too? I really think that the watch industry is going to change a lot in a few years. No more ETA means less new entry-level priced brands (<10K USD/CHF/whatever) which can be a good thi... 

and also with time, movements development associated costs would have been amortized over a period of time, and costs should come off somewhat, applicable for the relatively "mass produced" brands/movements, e.g. Hublot Unico best, Horo

this subject is very interesting as we are close to live a new era of the watch industry. Thanks, Mark

Hi Horo, This is what I was beguinning to think about some days ago while I was looking at the "Basel/SiHH 12" tab and wondered when it was going to be modified into "13", which will be the first palpable sign of pleasures to come. I join Mark just above ... 

1) material science - new materials and applications for alloys, both in movements and cases. 2) faux vintage - either raiding the historical archive or creating the vintage look....i am writing anther thread on this. 3) like what you and Mark has raised.... 

1. material science: yes but I think they'll keep it light because it would take the place of traditional materials as gold, maillechort etc ... These older materials are a part of what makes the history of the brands and thus they should add a little mor... 

Would be good to see innovation across the board. Price rise would follow in that case. Would like to see Panerai do something new maybe a different design not based on historical watches.

and I m betting on a in house rattrapante....perhaps a mutation of the P2004 :)- best, Horo

The only thing I know is that JLC will have an ambitious 2013 collection, as it is their 180th Anniversary, next year. My guess is that they will cover all the budgets, from the " affordable " to the high end. In these uncertain times, Prudence is a major... 

another Duometre variant, and Reverso complication is what i think, or more like hope. best, Horo

And I never loose a gamble. Best, Nicolas

Those 3 companies will show something meaningful, I'm betting. Other brands? Longines? My crystal ball is melting with our balmy "spring" (36C/96F). Cheers, Nilo

its beginning to feel like a Zenith revival, and from the few hints given...seems very try exciting times for them. as for Richemont brands...I am betting on Cartier continued horological ascent and half an eye on my fav Lange. best, Horo

not that I could likely afford it but that is a strange gap in my favorite brand at the show. Best Andreas

the ZW Striking Time is a "learning" curve for them? best, Horo

if they want to skip the repeater and go to a sonnerie directly fine with me! Best Andreas

best, Horo