AHCI - "Bespoke" is and should be ...

"Bespoke" is and should be ...

different from serial production. Independents are closer to bespoke than to serial production. This can be a strength and a weakness at the same time.
With lots of skills or/and a good network in the industry you can offer lots of variations to please the customer and to fulfil his requests.
The challenge is to keep your own track/style - midterm and longterm. As we say: "Everyone´s darling is everyone´s fool"

Brands and independents need there own philosophy and rules regarding the topic. It is not easy to define them and even more difficult to stay with them - longterm.

Lots of examples can be found in the watch industry and only quite a few stay with their own approach - longterm. On top you have to be commercially successful (somehow).

Personally I never buy only a watch, I buy a full "package" - philosphy & rules are a part of that package. Sold watches because of this ... and getting more and more picky.

Kari Voutilainen is a great example to discuss that topic on a high level, but I tried to be neutral in my reply.

Oliver

💰9 Marketplace Listings for Kari Voutilainen›

Limited Editions, Limited Products, Variations

By: justindependent : February 22nd, 2011-18:21

Hi Watchers I was just re-reading some older posts and came across some interesting questions. Someone once asked if Kari's Observatoire (at the time this was his only series production I think) would be devalued with so many different versions of the sam...

"Bespoke" is and should be ...

By: small-luxury-world : February 22nd, 2011-20:39

he also made one in titanium. I think all the interest of buying

By: alex : February 22nd, 2011-20:40

from an independent is the fact that he accepts to personalise your watch, you are getting a bit of you in your watch which is great. As for brands, I think they need consistency in design and products therefore avoiding a too large variation of the same ...

But does that variation "water down" the essence?

By: DonCorson : February 22nd, 2011-23:40

Staying with the Voutilainen case: When I think of Kari's Observatories the essential parts are, for me, the dial form with the milled separations between the guilloché fields and the teardrop lugs. The watches success bases, in IMHO, on design with ...

The "Essense"

By: justindependent : February 23rd, 2011-02:43

thanks Don for your comments. I tend to agree with you. What is the essense of the watch? The lugs are super nice. Nicer than the VC old teardrops! The depth of the dial is incredible. Not many manage to have such a "flat" dial come alive without getting ...

A big range of variations with KV

By: Gary G : February 23rd, 2011-05:00

Great topic. I've actually made a catalog of all of the variations in the Observatoire that I'm aware of, and there are 38 distinct dimensions that I have found for approximately 50 watches: Case Metal RG, WG, YG, PT, SS (Ti?) Case Diameter (mm) 38mm, 40m...

my opinion is

By: aldossari_faisal : February 23rd, 2011-15:23

a limited edition or a limited production number resembles the watch in the makers aura or DNA so its sort of take it as is or leave it . i prefer calling it alterations " in the cases where a client is involved in those changes", while variations when it...

Gary, Impressive list!

By: justindependent : February 23rd, 2011-16:27

I remember that you were diligently compiling a list of all the specs that you can find. It would be very interesting to see if you can actaully have a spec of each watch rather than a list of everything as you have above. I wonder if even Kari remembers ...

Why not personalize each watch? It's always better this way IMO

By: AnthonyTsai : February 24th, 2011-15:23

Pick and choose what you like. Just like when you go to a car dealership and order a car, you pick the paint color, interior, whether or not you want the upgraded audio system, etc. Why be satisifed with a version someone else has spec'ed out? Cheers, Ant...

I found Kari's Many Dials off-putting

By: Mostel : February 25th, 2011-22:28

for some reason... it seemed like he was willing to do 'anything.' Of course he's a master, etc. But it felt unfocused, unrestrained, too willing to please 'anyone' with 'anything'... I prefer the more restrained and limited approach of someone like Dufou...

or a clever effort

By: aldossari_faisal : February 26th, 2011-02:38

to keep orders comming thus keeping the brand away from harm...? Faisal

Just disagreeing gently....

By: CL : February 26th, 2011-08:00

I think there's a different between a brand watch having too many edition and variation, and an independent watch series that's so highly limited. For Observatoire, I think it is actually a plus that it has so many variations and yet so few of them out th...

Keep Wearing It

By: justindependent : February 26th, 2011-08:07

and it will feel right for you. or just have him custom some new lugs?! hahaha Enjoy your watches. each has its own story and personality Happy Watching justindependent

the lugs were custom but...

By: CL : February 26th, 2011-14:34

it makes no difference. The problem is the bezel-less case. Journe resonance is also somewhat bezel-less but it doesn't wear as big as the Observatoire. Maybe a darker dial Observatoire may do the trick, best thing about customization ....the possibilitie...