Horological Meandering

OK here is an idea I have had for last 2 years since the new santos-dumont releases with lacquer finish. Thinking of a special WPS edition, cartier comes to mind because they have made special editions for different sites/watch groups. This would be the 30k range watch.



From revolution watch.com

I think polished platinum is so beautiful, it becomes so vibrant and shiny. My only hangup is that it often gets marred or scuffed easily. So here is my idea - a polished platinum santos-dumont (like the green one as an example), but no colored lacquer, but CLEAR lacquer. This would allow the finish to remain very vibrant. It would still be a dress watch, not hardened for sport or anything, but in the casual wearing with wool sweater or starched shirts, etc it hopefully would not get marred.

1) CASE - santos-dumont specification, polished platinum with clear lacquer coating.

Now the dial, I have had many thoughts here. First is just to take the rose gold guilloche dial from the S-D xl limited edition 2021. I like the inner guilloche, the applied numerals and sword hands. Can pick a color for hands and numerals. Either plated WG or blued. Another idea is to adapt the new tank American dial released on 2024....

if we wanted to get really special, try to go with something like this stone lapis lazuli dial with applied WG numerals and hands 🤤

2) DIAL- dreaming - lapis lazuli. More realistic use the S-D XL from 2021 or the 2024 release tank americane




From monochrome-watches.com





From mrwatchley.com





From fratellowatches.com




3) I prefer applied breguet or stylized numerals, although on the tank style dial I like the Roman's 🤷‍♂️. Hands I like sword style matching the numerals. Maybe even an evacuated sword style like the pasha?

4) carbochan - generally red for platinum , may not go with dial color? If lapis dial would be ridiculous to have lapis in crown. Or diamond? Or standard red.

5) limitation - I think special case back with individual numbering. With closed case could have design or message? Maybe initials and limitation number. In a dream scenario if there were 12 editions, have each edition number with an off color Arabic on the dial to indicate the edition 👌

Now, say they can't do the polished platinum with clear lacquer. Maybe a vertical brushed platinum case and bezel santos-dumont, with the tank American style dial above. That would be sharp. Edit- I should add, for strap either maroon red or blue for lapis lazuli dial. Would be fun to have maybe alligator and a nubuck. Plt pin buckle.

That's a rather great idea!

To me a fun idea. I know no one at cartier or how these things come about. Maybe cpt (subforum moderator) has some connections. I'm happy to bother people as well 🤣

But...  There is a lot of risk here, the business side is complex.  The delivery side is complex as well, are they all delivered from one boutique at one location at a centralized event?  Who services the customer?  The local boutique or authorized dealer?  Etc.  I'd also say the pricing is a little on the high side - here on WPS, the reality is that we are a group that has a readership amongst the more high end collectors, but we want to encourage knowledge hungry and technically inclined younger collectors of lower stature to join WPS as well - and that's probably more achieved with a watch with a more technical movement at a slightly lower price point than 30,000 Dollar/Euro/CHF watch.  

As there are many other wps editions I guess it would be the same as those? I imagine any cartier AD or boutique can manage after sales service. As for price, I agree 30k is a lot, however, I was responding to a post by nico asking for examples at the 10k and 30k range. Recently editions have become fairly prominent - wps, revolution, Singapore watch club, a collected man, etc etc. So I believe there is logistical support. Additionally if we are to presell then it minimizes risk. The question would be the number needed to make it worth while. Although cartier will even do piece unique and 3 or 4 edition sets.

Presell?  WPS would have to commit to a set number by the manufacture before we have a concept shown.  And we can't pre-sell without a concept - unless you think you'd give WPS 30K of your money carte blanche!  Thus, no risk is minimized.  Sadly, things aren't as simple as you initially assumed.  Not sure what you mean by your last sentence; Cartier doing unique pieces and 3-4 edition sets for themselves is one ting, does not necessarily mean they'll do it for someone else.  I appreciate your enthusiasm though!  

Just an idea since there have been posts about potential special editions. You can consider this just a post about something that has been in my head as a cool idea- clear lacquer versus colored lacquer. I specifically mentioned cartier because they do make editions for someone else. For Singapore watch club they did 6 custom watches in 3 editions, Dubai watch club has had many dial change, plus they do have their NSO program which has made custom pieces, so they will do it for someone else. As for the logistics of selling it I mentioned I don't know this part- so I ask you, for the knowledge base of this forum- how did wps sell the previous editions? Say the recent Hentschel watch, did the members comit money ahead of time ? Was this done before a concept was shown? I have read stories here where people have gone back and forth with manufacturers for concepts only to pay in full when the commission was committed to and commenced; so not carte blanche. Did wps buy them and hope for them to sell, which would seem unlikely. I know it has been done for many editions on this site, plus other watch clubs so it is not as if I'm making up some concept that doesn't exist? For a friendly post on a enthusiast forum you seemed very negative , it's not like I'm bashing any of your treasured AD's or brands that force customers to bundle or jump through hoops.

I don't remember the details on the Hentschel watch.  But there were definitely a lot of contractual requirements.  And some risk exposure.  I don't think members committed money ahead of time, but that's besides the fact that WPS was still very obligated in other things - a place we don't want to be in.  Furthermore, Cartier would likely not be as flexible as Hentschel, and Cartier would not necessarily give a "puristic" design that WPS moderators would generally choose to such a small audience.  They'd want to give one of their top designs to a wider audience.  And at least theoretically, WPS moderators would choose a more historical homage design.  And YES!  You're right, you definitely did not say it was easy!  Sorry for putting words in your mouth there!  

Cartier has a super accessible customization program. Would recommend that! 

I figured basically a dial change by a company that has made special editions over the years is more likely than chopard making a custom 38mm or 40mm case?

the color integration on the case

And it does seem that Cartier have executed numerous small runs for collector groups the world over.  So it’s a reasonable assumption it could be possible here.  I’m not privy to any of those groups workings though, so don’t know the detail.