aaronm
2923
They will have to do more
Then release slight variations (the GG Octa) or movement reshapings (DR Carrilon) to make me interested again. In a way they remind me of GM with Saab, you have a small brand with a small, but rather loyal clientele so you assume they'll buy almost anything, as long as it's got the signature elements (DR shape, for example). The downside is that there's almost no innovation and after a few years.....
I am hoping the Bulgari does not take this path, but it is the direction they are seeming to go.
On the topic of legacy, they didn't help themselves there by slashing all the GG and DR boutiques and refusing to service the pre-Bulgari pieces. This isn't unique, and brands can survive and flourish after it (see JD), but it is a demerit they need to overcome, in my book at least
A
What do you think of Bulgari now?
Bulgari Daniel Roth Grande Sonnerie Quantieme Perpetual Just a little over two years ago Bulgari announced that Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta would be integrated into the longstanding Italian luxury brand. Not too long after we began seeing modernized, cle...
For myself not much has changed
The Purists edition is kind of cool, with the added meaning attached because it is a Purists watch. But to me, Bulgari continues to reek of me-too styling, over the top design. It still feels very 'wannabe', to me, IMHO. I'm referring solely to design.
LOL, hmm...and I thought they were trying to simplify...
...some of the designs. Perhaps some are still overstyled. For example the new Papillon Voyageur. There does seem to be a lot going on on that dial and the Octo Maserati too. But I have to say that the original DR and GG dials were even more overly styled...
Getting better.
You mean every watch with the brand BVLGARI on the dial? Sorry, but when I see a Daniel Roth or a Gerald Genta, that's what I see, a Daniel Roth and a Gerald Genta. The Bvlgari watches still looking good in its segment, and at Basel I saw they keep improv...
Yes...for us...
....it's a tough sell....but not for all of us Thanks for your comments!
I salute them
As a fan of both Gerald Genta´s Gefica Safari-line and most of Daniel Roth´s line-up, I´m pleased to see how Bvlgari has managed to stay true to the origin of the two brands after the fusion. My fav. brand "Roger Dubuis" hasn´t had the same luck after the...
Well....
We will have to notify them to keep the ads up longer and have more of them. It's nice to see we have some positive supporters here. Thanks!
Better, but the fact they bought out
Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta still makes me raise an eyebrow. I do applaude the direction though.
How come?
It happens all the time in this industry. DR and GG may not have survived otherwise or I suppose some other big company would have bought them out.
I understand it's common practice and something
that Mont Blanc, Breitling, and various others have done. I'm not sure why it's slightly bothersome to me, but after seeing their respective works, I'm not too judgmental about it. In fact my girlfriend's parents house is right across from the office of D...
Correction
Ed.W, I had to respond on a point of order. Bulgari did not 'buy out" GG / DR 2 years ago, They already owned both brands 100% back in 2001 having bought them from a watch retailer in Singapore. Messrs. Genta and Roth had sold their brands to the Singapor...
Well, I live in Baltimore
so as far as the city itself goes, you'd be lucky to even find a quartz Seiko. Thanks for the history, after reviewing GG/DR's older watches I can see how the designs have been modernized by Bulgari since their acquisition. Eddie
I see their efforts....
... and it is getting into the "community" little by little. Just wish they made the smaller watches to appeal to wider watch audience, as a watch brand (but as a luxury brand, watches must be one of the "accesories" and that made them make things big wit...
Agreed with the smaller watches...
....I would never be able to wear any of the Bulgari DR or GG models. They are nice at that size but it would be nice to have a few smaller models as well.
Dear Ping
first of all thank you for very very nice survey. I agree with your points about business/marketing/selling results side of story. What I feel is that if I was in watches for only couple of years and didn't have notion about DR & GG before I would like th...
Thanks Damjam....
...for your comments. They are very insightful. I wouldn't doubt that the watches are doing well on the world market...especially in Asia I would guess. You may be right with their public not being primarily us but I would like to believe that that can ch...
Hi Ping
I think it's quite a good time to ask, allowing the dust to settle after a few years. In the main, I actually think they are doing very well, and it's great to see that some Bulgari AD's are actually getting one or two of the watches in stock. I am certai...
Thank you Tim...
....for your much appreciated comments here. Same for me, I would absolutely consider one if I could afford it.
I remain skeptical
And I wouldn't buy one. I can't come to terms with seeing the old "lowly" Bulgari-Bulgari models side by side with the new "sophisticated" Genta-Roth lines. Moreover, design-wise what I thought was daunting for Genta looks "new-rich" when wearing the Bulg...
You are absolutely entitled to your opinion...
...and they are much appreciated here. All opinions and views are welcomed. It makes for good debate and discussion You are right, they do jewelry fabulously well. But there is nothing wrong with ambition and aspiring to be more than what you are. Whether...
Bulgari now
I believe that Bulgari is still not on the map of the watchmaking world. Daniel Roth and Gerald Genta still are, even discontinued. It would have been more impactful for serious connosseurs to preserve DR and GG on the dials, and have a Bulgari signature ...
Boy, you guys are a tough sell, lol....
Lots still stuck on the past...lol....that is okay though. But I just want to say that if everyone here bought the DR and GG pieces, the original ones when they were still making them....then maybe we wouldn't be having this post and discussion. Just mayb...
maybe it's the press pics
or they're really very nice i'm taken aback by the new collections...both case aesthetics and movement finishes appear to be great. i feel the integration of roth and gg into the bulgari brand while keeping the two names as lines of the bulgari family has...
At one point in Bulgari's history, watches had AP,JLC, Vacheron movements.
Just a reminder....perhaps they are getting back to a part of their roots.
They will have to do more
Then release slight variations (the GG Octa) or movement reshapings (DR Carrilon) to make me interested again. In a way they remind me of GM with Saab, you have a small brand with a small, but rather loyal clientele so you assume they'll buy almost anythi...
From what I've heard....
....they have not refused to service original DR and GG watches. In fact, I believe they even have a catalog that makes original parts available. I will have to disagree with you that there is no innovation. I think they have done slight variations in the...
They refused to service my DR chronograph
This was an older El Primero based chrono. Bulgari people in NYC said that they no longer have access to Zenith parts. My experience with Bulgari is limited to NYC boutique and I have to say that employees there know very little about watches. DR and GG p...
Hmm...that's unfortunate...
If they can't service then they should at least be able to direct to where they can. And yes, boutique people probably do need more briefing about the new pieces. Although I have to add that I'd be interested to know how many boutiques even got a DR Tourb...
I'm tempted
Hi, Out of this aspect: "The loss of (DR and GG’s original “DNA” and also) the staff that helped to create it. It wasn’t going to be likely that everyone from the original manufactures would be able to keep their jobs but I do beli...
I do Secret Stupid Shopper tests
Ping, I do Secret Stupid Shopper tests all the timeand ask a lot of stupid questions. At least in Asia, the knowledge-base of boutique staff has improved. Not 100% yet but better than 2 years ago. I've done a few Singapore and Malaysia boutiques; it reall...
Bvlgari scorecard: Credit, but not a Distinction
Unlike many, I have nothing against the Bvlgari brand per se. I even own and love a Bvlgari Calibro 303 chronograph (the original release with two-tone grey dial and copper sub-registers). I actually submit that styling has always been a strong point of t...
very well said!
the old 303 bezel has more character over the slimmer new update and this might be what the problem is: they should keep the aesthetic design of bulgari and gain depth for high complication from DR/GG, not the other way around as they have done so far. DR...
