Bulgari

Hello all!

A fellow PuristS 'Horogasm' made a interesting and thought provoking comment to the announcement made to this post: bulgari.watchprosite.com /

"GG

safer bet, simply becoz i am not sure if the DR Endurer would endure, pun intended. the sports watch segment getting increasingly crowded, and i am just not confident if DR breaking its traditional dress watch roots, under bulgari or not. at least the GG has existing fans. "


I personally like the Endurer and it's been a highly anticipated watch.  As many who have seen the piece in person, we've discovered that the Bulgari and DR text on the dial is a non issue.  Yes, there are many existing DR and GG fans, plus the brands have a strong past in the world of horology.  I'd like to hear what others think that BVLGARI would have to do to encourage confidence in gaining new fans of the recently released sports watches.  Would something like a partnership with a sports figure/extreme explorer personality work?  Maybe a different radical design element or some fancy experimental metallurgy in the products?  Maybe a slightly smaller case size for the Gefica, Octo, or Endurer?  Would really like to have everyone's input.

-MW

It will attract new customers to the Daniel Roth customer base, and these customers will be from the masses who like Offshores, Big Pilots, and Panerai's.  The Endurer has the Daniel Roth DNA but with a slight sporty twist which makes the watch amazing and capitivating in design.

A partnership with a sports celebrity could be a good fit for Bulgari and the Endurer watch.  Maybe when Bulgari decides to release a "black" version of the Endurer?

For the Bulgari Gerald Genta designs such as the Octo Ceramic, they are more clean and less "out there" but still slightly too avant garde for the masses.

Cheers,
Anthony

 

I totally agree about the Endurer!

-MW

Maybe will come a black titanium version...under study....

Anjd yes, the endurer is going to be the core item for Bulgari....

A black titanium would be a cool version of the Bulgari Endurer.  I wonder if they will do a carbon fiber or some kind of high tech dial?

-MW

 

It is interessting to see that the Octo has been chosen as the watch ofthe year by "montres passion" magazine

I am a fan of the new DR and GG Bulgari collection, but again, this prize does not mean much, it simply adds more leverage to the integration process, and might help sales arguments for retailers, etc. Other than that, if you dig a bit deeper, this announcement is important for Bulgari, but nothing as grandiose ! The watch didn't even start selling yeat (yes it hit the stores, but wait for the results)

The Endurer is an amazing watch. Next year, I am pretty sure there will be an all black version we have already seen on some pictures, but I am afraid maybe it will be to late for that edition, the black concept is already all out there... I have personally seen pictures of the Endurer with a black bezel, but would not be able to confirm whether it was black ceramic, or rubber... Anyways, doesn't really change the watch that much...

It would be amazing to have a normal chronograph version of the Endurer, which it would make sense to have a bit more affordable, no? Because the chronosprint is like a more exotic variation. (and slightly disappointing, as it does not really add up the value of the watch among afficionados) On the other hand, the Endurer has a huuuuuuge potential as a ROSE GOLD watch, imagine it with a black leather strap-rubber, wow, stunning.....

The Octo is some 20%-30% more expensive as well, and its legibilty is not that great.

The Octo is a more unique piece, but also requires a niche market.

As far as the Endurer is concerned, I would suggest the HUBLOT BIG BANG model to follow. Celebrity endorsements, dial, metal variations, straps, etc. With its retail slightly bit under 10'000 Euros, it could eventually tap into a vast market. We have seen Clive Owen on advertising pictures for the BVL MAN perfume, how about him wearing the Endurer instead the Sotirio? (and the funny thing is, there are no watch ads with him, not even with the Sotirio Collection, you can only see him wearing the watch on the perfume ad, a BIG MISS to my honest opinon.)

The advantage of the Octo is that it will without doubt attract GG customers, while the Endurer might not be able to rely on the DR customer base, as, YES, it is a different DR..... But in comparison with other DR interpretations of Basel 2010, is the most successful one !

Octo Vs Endurer, time will tell......... My vote for Endurer, sophisticated style, in a masculin, big case, at a price one can still designate as "reasonable".. GG not my cup of tea, but it might just sell because of that

Br,

 

T

Thanks for sharing your thoughts T2009,

Which do you think works better for the Endurer, a black rubber or ceramic bezel?  Do you think Clive Owen would make a impact on collectors if he was featured in the watch ads?

-MW

 

Blac rubber might be a nice option/addition..... But black ceramic bezel doesn't make such a big impract to make it a new ref in the collection. Maybe the black bezel could be used for a different MVT variation, chrono, etc.

Cool picture of Cliwe Owen with the watch, but should be used as a watch ad. The average BVL perume customer isn't ready to purchase a luxury timepiece.... I believe Bulgari as an important brand will have to change its advertising policies...

...and great read

Just wanted to share this pic of Clive Owen wearing the Endurer, looks pretty good on him I would say

Personally when it comes to Octo vs Endurer, I would definitely choose the Endurer 

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Hello fai9al_429,

Thanks for the pic.  So what would you say to someone looking for a new watch that they should consider a Bulgari DR or GG?  Do you think these ads help get the message that the brand is trying to convey as a quality timepiece to those not familiar with the collection?

-MW

But for me personally (having seen the watches in the metal) I prefer the DR Endurer

However, I have never seen a Bulgari watch advertised or endorsed by a celebrity before except this picture of Clive Owen and the Endurer, which is actually an ad for the perfume not the watch

I'm not sure why! I mean endorsements can be beneficial for the brand sometimes (i.e., AP)

Even when the Diagono Phases De Lune got a "hot" spot on the Ironaman movie, there wasn't any ads linking the watch to the movie!

Which wasn't the case with JLC who actually advertised the AMVOX featured in Ironman 2 on their homepage with snippets from the movie.

 

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Haven't seen that one yet.  It looks good on his wrist.  Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
ED-209

Thank you for sharing it.  Love Clive Owen.  They make a good pair, Julianne Moore and Clive Owen.

I would suggest a full ceremic version of endurer, as it will be totally scratch-free, which is important for a true sport watch...

I love my full ceremic hublot BB KP very very much, as there is't a single scratch on the case..

Hello PHK,

Now that is a interesting idea to have a full ceramic piece!  The problem with ceramic is that it's not possible with certain shapes and the well defined transition areas of the Endurer may be too complex for ceramic to be used. 

-MW

hi, to add a bit of colour to my comments, what i was trying to say, in context, was endurer vs the GG, set against a very competitative sports watch segment.

i still stick by my choice of GG, for now. i may change my opinion in due course. i used to think panarei is a fad, now i have got 6 in my collection. i have been in love with AP RO/ROOs since the earth cooled, and i still have a few them, but  i feel they have gone down the wrong route with too many limited editions, leading to me not buying any now, and if i do, i go for models that i overlooked in years gone by, which means no nett increase, at least from me, in sales for AP.

rolex sports watches took decades to achieve their cohesive and identifiable look, a DNA. its the AP RO, rolex sports, pams, that have their brands DNA. with each founding of a new range, even within a established brand, it is always difficult. i wont mention any notable failures, but lets just say ranges that have met few successes and/or return on investment for the brand. ask yourself, do you consider Bulgari's own diagono series a wild success? and if bulgari couldnt manage that, would another sports range be viable? remember Bernard Cheong was bulgari crazy for a period of time, i was caught up with the pics and products, and got myself one, and now its in cold storage and now untouched for 2 years?

now to second point, endorsement by sports personalities, either mainstream sports or extreme sports, and/or adventurers endorsements, its must not be a "shallow" effort. the brand must have commonality with the endorser. tiger woods/tag - is that a success? mike horn/panerai? even within one brand, we have ruben barricello/AP and fellipe massa/RM...they are so closely identified with their sports, that they are quite succesful...at least for now...but would the "fad" last? how long or short, in terms of time frame is it considered a fad? stallone-pam "built" on that brand, but if that brand has no history or romance, whats there to build? Wyler had a bunch of endorsements...where are they now?

materials - exotic, metallurgical, CF whatever...everyone i doing it. does that give you an advantage? oh...weight savings i hear you say...you want your watch to weight like a swatch? can we reduce to 10grams for a watch with exotic material? i humbly opine that the exotic material route ala Hublot is over.

even the great Hublot(forgive me, as i am also a hublot owner) is doing a AP me too in terms of getting team alighi and F1. so perhaps, Bulgari shld do a one up, and do a Hublot say in year 2015, when Biver steps down, and tie up with F1 drivers like Vettel and get naming rights to a America's cup team?

as such, i am of the opinion, rightly or wrongly, as attractive or unattractive as the Endurer is, i am not confident that it can achieve the same range/brand cachet as AP RO or PP Nautilus, and for that matter challenge them for leadership position. however, Endurer vs GG, it can go either way, as collectors, if i have money to spend on either one, and i buy one, there is really nett increment in watch sales for bulgari?

apols for the lengthy reply, and for some rather "offensive" remarks made in rather judgemental overtones. its my 5 cents worth of opinion(list price), after discount...1.5 cents.