[Ernie Romers]

When the Royal Oak Offshore was introduced in 1993, no one would have entertained the idea of a 42 mm watch in the early Ninenties. But it proved to be a pioneer - it singlehandedly set the trend for uncompromising, oversized watches that has continued ever since.

More at Luxury Watches - Audemars Piguet Swiss Watches

 

[shnjb]

love the new 42mm with display casebacks.
too bad they didn't include any ceramic bezels.
really hope they re-release the 42mm rose gold rubberclad with ceramic.

 

[AbuKalb93]

The first ROO's that i would even consider purchasing. Now just wait until they completely trash it with LTD editions and celebrity BS...oh AP get a grip already!

 

[heuerolexomega]

tweak a couple of things, do LE's, advertise with celebrities and sell them. That's their formula, and sadly it works !

 

[tony20009]

The more I see the ROO, especially in the sub-44mm sizes, the more I think they are just among those watches that have no business being chronos. I will admit they look more appealing in person than in photos, but still...they just aren't for me. The uncomplicated ones though are quite nice.

I know, to be fair, I'm not much of a chrono guy to begin with, but most other brands or even models from AP don't hit he as such messes as do the ROO. I respect it as a fine watch, but that doesn't stop it from being a fine watch that's also ugly.

All the best.

The worst thing in your own development as a leader is not to do it wrong. It’s to do it for the wrong reasons.
- Stan Slap

 

[shnjb]

tweak a couple of things, do LE's, advertise with celebrities and sell them. That's their formula, and sadly it works !

Patek does something similar too on lower end
Just tweak the dial and case. Give it a new reference number.
Increase the price by 33%.

 

[AbuKalb93]

Patek does something similar too on lower end
Just tweak the dial and case. Give it a new reference number.
Increase the price by 33%.

elaborate please...not catching your thought, Patek dont introduce LE's nor have celebrities running around under a Patek banner

 

[tony20009]

elaborate please...not catching your thought, Patek dont introduce LE's nor have celebrities running around under a Patek banner

I didn't follow that comment either. I just figured he knows what he's talking about and that I must not have seen the ads or the LE varieties of their basic time pieces.

I really don't care if PP or anyone else introduce a version of a standard model that they will produce in limited quantities for a limited time. It may be a selling point for some folks; it may be one for me to depending what's different about it.

I suspect that were I to invest enough of my own money in it, I'm sure some brand would make a tony20009 limited edition watch of some sort too. Hell, it may have to be a Parnis, but for once it'd be something original from Parnis. I know they would only want to do that for a brief time as that's not what they typically do.

All the best.

That is the one unforgivable sin in any society. Be different and be damned!
- Margaret Mitchell, Gone With the Wind

 

[shnjb]

Is there something inherently different about using celebrity vs using clever pricing and marketing tactics based on image of prestige?

In either case, it isn't horology.

I have no problem with any of the above and don't see much difference.

Now what lange does every year is something entirely different.

 

[AbuKalb93]

Is there something inherently different about using celebrity vs using clever pricing and marketing tactics based on image of prestige?

In either case, it isn't horology.

I have no problem with any of the above and don't see much difference.

Now what lange does every year is something entirely different.

Ahaa, ok i get it now and i agree and kind of disagree. They are both the same in the sense that they both BS their way into peoples pockets. Different in the sense that celebrity pieces could end up giving you a nice watch...

Clever pricing? As much as its true i hate using Patek & Clever in the same sentence. The amount of BS that comes out of Thierry Stern's mouth is beyond incredible. To listen to someone who has no clue how to make a minute repeater, sit there and talk about what he listens for when "testing" a minute repeater is complete garbage.

Marketing absolutely, any brand that manages to successfully give the impression of being outstanding by using its history in every single advertisement then charge $$$$$$, yea marketing all the way. Whats the first thing we all learned when we got into horology? "Once you get a Patek, you have gone to the top of the pyramid and your journey is complete". Guess what? I just got something beyond a Patek...in fact i skipped Patek.

I love this forum and everything i learn through it,
AbuKalb93

 

[shnjb]

Clever was referring to their control of supply both in new and used markets.

Please don't get me wrong I like Patek's bs and AP's ROO.
I plan to own an AP as soon as I can.

Although I love my Calatrava I'm done with dress watch purchase for a very very long time as I barely wear mine as is.
Even a Datejust I find too formal.

 

[AbuKalb93]

Clever was referring to their control of supply both in new and used markets.

Please don't get me wrong I like Patek's bs and AP's ROO.
I plan to own an AP as soon as I can.

Although I love my Calatrava I'm done with dress watch purchase for a very very long time as I barely wear mine as is.
Even a Datejust I find too formal.

For me, nothing will ever beat F.P. Journe (maybe only Vianney H. and Dufour but same level). Even if its dressy ill still rock it with sweat pants and a shirt. I find myself always leaning towards dressy pieces yet i hardly ever wear a suit.

 

[tony20009]

Clever was referring to their control of supply both in new and used markets.

Please don't get me wrong I like Patek's bs and AP's ROO.
I plan to own an AP as soon as I can.

Although I love my Calatrava I'm done with dress watch purchase for a very very long time as I barely wear mine as is.
Even a Datejust I find too formal.

Blue:
I can relate to that. I buy dress watches because they are just gorgeous, and I have a dressy lifestyle, but I prefer to wear sport watches. Uncomplicated in either case.

Red:
I can't relate to the DJ being thought formal by any stretch of imagination. To me, it's dressy enough for suit, but better suited to jeans/slacks and a sport jacket. Plus, at my age, I'd just feel odd trying to dress up a sport watch. I'm quite comfortable dressing down a dressy one.

Regardless of yours and my difference of opinion, I firmly believe that one can make almost anything work if it truly is one's own "thing." Even given my own fairly strict guidelines about fashion, I know there are no absolute rights and wrongs, but there is right for this person and wrong for that one. For example, I don't think obese folks look good in certain outfits and I don't think thin folks do themselves justice in some outfits. Slightly different angles, but for either class of individual, neither is likely the best choice.

All the best.

Why change? Everyone has his own style. When you have found it, you should stick to it.
- Audrey Hepburn

 

[iim7v7im7]

You know, there might be one or two of us who find your persistent chastizement of Patek Philippe insulting to those of us who own them and think highly of them. How would you feel if we spoke badly about FPJ? I am happy that you like Francis Paul and his watches, but frankly there is no need to rant on as you seem to when PP is mentioned.

Ahaa, ok i get it now and i agree and kind of disagree. They are both the same in the sense that they both BS their way into peoples pockets. Different in the sense that celebrity pieces could end up giving you a nice watch...

Clever pricing? As much as its true i hate using Patek & Clever in the same sentence. The amount of BS that comes out of Thierry Stern's mouth is beyond incredible. To listen to someone who has no clue how to make a minute repeater, sit there and talk about what he listens for when "testing" a minute repeater is complete garbage.

Marketing absolutely, any brand that manages to successfully give the impression of being outstanding by using its history in every single advertisement then charge $$$$$$, yea marketing all the way. Whats the first thing we all learned when we got into horology? "Once you get a Patek, you have gone to the top of the pyramid and your journey is complete". Guess what? I just got something beyond a Patek...in fact i skipped Patek.

I love this forum and everything i learn through it,
AbuKalb93

 

[AbuKalb93]

You know, there might be one or two of us who find your persistent chastizement of Patek Philippe insulting to those of us who own them and think highly of them. How would you feel if we spoke badly about FPJ? I am happy that you like Francis Paul and his watches, but frankly there is no need to rant on as you seem to when PP is mentioned.

You're absolutely right...
My sincerest apologies to anyone who was offended...
I will say this, and i mean it regardless of my overall thought...Patek make really great high end pieces and although i let the general thoughts of consumers affect my own, which is not the best thing, i will high five anyone who owns a Patek Philippe or who has one as a grail. Right on and i will support you!

 

[shnjb]

Although I'm not offended per se, I will take a Patek over an FPJ for myself.

 

[AbuKalb93]

Although I'm not offended per se, I will take a Patek over an FPJ for myself.

To be quite honest, many aficionados will for different reasons. I wouldn't be offended by the choice nor will i think less of you since obviously, you do your WUS readings LOL.

The greatest thing about the world of WUS is, everyone sees everything differently. Even though the general consensus of the ROO on this forum is that its not pretty...im pretty sure there are many who think otherwise or else AP wouldn't be making so much from them.

 

[GlenRoiland]

Meh

 

[tony20009]

Although I'm not offended per se, I will take a Patek over an FPJ for myself.

I might. Depends on which watches are being considered between the two brands. I like both just fine.

Among the uncomplicated ones, I don't think FPJ makes anything that's a suitable alternative to the 5119/5120. Now that I wrote that, what's crossing my mind is that if I want any FPJ, there isn't a PP that resembles it in aesthetic character that a PP would even be the alternative. Ditto the other way round if I were considering a PP.

While its dissimilarity to other great watches makes an FPJ a hard watch to compare to other brands offerings, that singularity of look, combined with it's high quality and other intangible traits, makes it one well worth having. The thing is that I don't know that there are many PPs that look so much like other stuff that I"d feel like there is a close alternative for them either.

In my watch duel thread (one of them), I think Bob mentioned I was presenting apples to oranges comparisons. FPJ and PP seem exactly that to me. I can see how a person can get more "into" or passionate about FPJ. As a much, much smaller organization than PP, they are far more able to establish a connection with their customers. PP can do that too, but owning one, I don't feel any special connection to/passion for them as a brand (although I don't mind that and wasn't seeking it), and I doubt they have any idea who I am, aside from my name appearing in their records somewhere. Perhaps they put more of an effort forth for their customers who buy complications and grand complications....

All the best.

If we can keep our competitors focused on us while we stay focused on the customer, ultimately we'll turn out all right.
- Jeff Bezos

 

[AbuKalb93]

I might. Depends on which watches are being considered between the two brands. I like both just fine.

Among the uncomplicated ones, I don't think FPJ makes anything that's a suitable alternative to the 5119/5120. Now that I wrote that, what's crossing my mind is that if I want any FPJ, there isn't a PP that resembles it in aesthetic character that a PP would even be the alternative. Ditto the other way round if I were considering a PP.

While its dissimilarity to other great watches makes an FPJ a hard watch to compare to other brands offerings, that singularity of look, combined with it's high quality and other intangible traits, makes it one well worth having. The thing is that I don't know that there are many PPs that look so much like other stuff that I"d feel like there is a close alternative for them either.

In my watch duel thread (one of them), I think Bob mentioned I was presenting apples to oranges comparisons. FPJ and PP seem exactly that to me. I can see how a person can get more "into" or passionate about FPJ. As a much, much smaller organization than PP, they are far more able to establish a connection with their customers. PP can do that too, but owning one, I don't feel any special connection to/passion for them as a brand (although I don't mind that and wasn't seeking it), and I doubt they have any idea who I am, aside from my name appearing in their records somewhere. Perhaps they put more of an effort forth for their customers who buy complications and grand complications.... I wonder how small this department is in comparison to the other lines they offer. Do they make money off this? I would focus more on the GC as the C are more so readily available.

All the best.

If we can keep our competitors focused on us while we stay focused on the customer, ultimately we'll turn out all right.
- Jeff Bezos

+1