Vacheron Constantin = Very Corporate

Oct 17, 2018,06:20 AM
 

Is growth achieved at the cost of reputation sustainable? Remember that the reputation of the brand is built in watches that were made in a time where global annual production was much lower. Probably on the order of FP Journe.

When Journe released an entry level piece, he went with the Chronometre Bleu.

In the end, the Fifty Six is a corporate exercise to reach a younger clientele and achieve division growth targets. Even the nice junkets seem like a calculation to raise brand awareness with younger enthusiasts and convert a target number of these enthusiasts to product evangelists. The watches do not show very well online and the dials do not match the execution level of the cases and, not surprisingly, the evangelists are contrarians.

In the end, I recognize I am heavily influenced by the coverage. The watches were not well-received at SIHH. Absent strong positive emotions to share, the media fell back on sharing the brand’s corporate vision for the line’s positioning. There’s not much that can be done now, though Vacheron can now quietly assign a new team to revise the dials to bring them up to the execution level of the case. If that’s done, there could yet be a happy ending, regardless of the origin of the movement used in the entry level piece.

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The FiftySix event in Paris

 
 By: foversta : October 13th, 2018-15:00
The FiftySix collection is key for the future of Vacheron Constantin . Or, to be more precise, Vacheron Constantin has high expectations with this collection. Inspired by a piece which was introduced in... 1956, the collection unveiled during the last SIH...  

Same old, same old

 
 By: Joepny : October 13th, 2018-16:35
Agree with you Fx that VC should have taken a stronger daring approach on the design & execution. The 56 collection comes across as a poor’s man VC. The watches with date windows need to come with a magnifying glass as the font is ridiculously tiny. I’m s... 

I agree, Fortune favours the bold

 
 By: galaxys : October 13th, 2018-23:33
You'd expected to find a in-house movement, not a Cartier. Design is nothing special, once again these designers have just done some copy/past of an old model, an innovative choice. They'd need long term strategy, but when any CEO is focused on quaterly r... 

Just attended the one in Singapore

 
 By: traineract : October 13th, 2018-20:15
Some weeks back. Excellent job by the Vacheron team. The whole look and feel is very consistent and similar to the one you just showed. Thanks for sharing, and attaching a picture from the Singapore event. My favourite would be the complete calendar. ...  

It s okay ,but i m not on the list

 
 By: Passionata_george : October 14th, 2018-01:42
I think the date fonts are just too small to the size of the other figures on the dial.

“ is key for the future of Vacheron Constantin.” You said it right first time, but I think it is good enough...

 
 By: Miranda : October 14th, 2018-03:54
what they need is a modern day Aquanaut, affording more people entry : something in the range if £7-10k Time and date only, versatile Just my opinion!

Apropos! Does the Aquanaut even have competitors?

 
 By: datograph : October 14th, 2018-05:31
The only one that comes in mind and I would fairly consider as a competitor is the Blancpain Leman Aqua Lung. The Piaget Polo S could also be one, but not sure about that...

This brand probably won‘t survive the next crisis.

 
 By: datograph : October 14th, 2018-05:21
They are one of my favourite watchmakers but mainly because of their historical models and the Les Cabinotiers Atelier. Their whole current line-up has just three models that I’m attracted to, while their main competitors just as Patek Philippe and A. Lan... 

Reminds of the Baume & Mercier Clifton Complete Calendar...

 
 By: jporos : October 14th, 2018-11:31
I guess the big question is if the finishing of the movement is spectacular, because the dial is so-so. Otherwise, I think the Overseas series is so much more distinctive.

Other than the 56 tourbillon........

 
 By: TonyR : October 14th, 2018-14:15
Which isn't entry level, this whole line is a flop. I'll be shocked if I'm wrong. (and hopefully I am for VC's sake) Unfortunately I think VC cheapend the brand with this idea.......

Great brand but the designers need firing..,

 
 By: Cpt Scarlet : October 14th, 2018-14:41
is this the best they can do ?

Is the FiftySix Collection hot?

 
 By: MTF : October 15th, 2018-00:24
FrX, Taste is a subjective thing so I would say that every design or collection will have fans and naysayers. But you asked a personal question: Do I like it? When I started collecting watches, the plan was to get at least one of every major brand viz. AP...  

Vacheron Constantin = Very Corporate

 
 By: jmpTT : October 17th, 2018-06:20
Is growth achieved at the cost of reputation sustainable? Remember that the reputation of the brand is built in watches that were made in a time where global annual production was much lower. Probably on the order of FP Journe. When Journe released an ent...