[cavallino33]

Re: News and Comments from MakTime: Aleksandr Makarov`s Exclusive Interview for WUS Russia

This sounds worrisome. From an outsider perspective I thought Volmax and Maktime were fine but from the interviews the situations sound tenuous at best.

All those lost movements like molnija and the 26 calibers are quite a loss.

I was kind of curious about the pricing strategy that seems to be in effect with most Russian watch companies. Just a year or two ago they seemed to be at a nice place between the chinese and the swiss in pricing. They offered better quality than the Chinese and close or equal to the lower level swiss watches. Now though the large number of $600 plus watches seem more aligned with the low end swiss in price. Quality has improved but I wonder how many people would really choose a Volmax over say a entry level Hamilton or TAG on the international market. Granted I know nothing about the watch buisiness and I have no scientific data but it is just an observation.

Does anyone know how pricing compare in the Russian domestic market for say an Volmax vs an entry level Swiss watch?

Anyway thanks silversen for posting and translating.

 

[cavallino33]

Re: News and Comments from MakTime: Aleksandr Makarov`s Exclusive Interview for WUS Russia

Look at this:

Is that a graphic comparison?

Yeah it looks like all the swiss watches are a bit more expensive in Russia (than in the US at least) which makes prices more competitive. The answers from Volmax and Maktime both seem to indicate that the domestic market is still the largest individual market.

Thanks!

 

[cavallino33]

Re: News and Comments from MakTime: Aleksandr Makarov`s Exclusive Interview for WUS Russia

I agree I think Makarov would be a good name. It is a great sounding name. Not everyone would like the gun connection (I think it's kind of cool though), but given that it is not a house hold name it is unlikely that someone who dislikes such thinks would associate makarov pistols with makarov watches immediately.

Maktime is a really awful name though, and the logo is not very attractive either. It's not a name that inspires quality.

 

[cavallino33]

Re: News and Comments from MakTime: Aleksandr Makarov`s Exclusive Interview for WUS Russia

See here: http://www.kalashnikovwatches.com/site_e.html
Those watches have nothing of Russian though.

Yeah exactly. Kalishnikov is too well known and it's too polarizing a name even if it does sound good. Not bad looking watches though.

 

[cavallino33]

Re: News and Comments from MakTime: Aleksandr Makarov`s Exclusive Interview for WUS Russia

I think your onto something. It's clear and identifiable. Also if my googling was correct the cyrillic version would be Макаров which also looks decent and is close enough to the roman alphabet version to not confuse people.

What is the maktime logo supposed to be anyway? Not the Maktanm text part but the thing above it. Maybe it's because I don't read Russian but I have never been able to figure out what it is.

 

[cavallino33]

Re: News and Comments from MakTime: Aleksandr Makarov`s Exclusive Interview for WUS Russia

Wow... A Siberia costs $400 USD now?
Dear god, they used to be $170 watches. Has anything about the design changed?

Looks like he's referring to the new 3105 version not the old molnija powered one that was cheap. Still though a $200+ jump and I don't think the 3105 is all that much better unless you just have to have a date window. :-d