Independents

moc
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you have some valid points here Mark,but..

I am being a bit critical for the following reasons:
1)YES,an uncontrolled bespoke department would be very difficult to manage,imagine how many Lange fans or Patek(!!!) or any other brands would love a little personalisation if it was easily available....That definitely would be a problem.
It won't be a problem for one off pieces,but those are in $million range so no danger to be overflown with requests.
I totally agree with that,it applies everywhere else..Armani suit VS a bespoke Suit,BMW cad VS a Pagani etc etc....Those brands cannot customise as they are too big..but as FX said,they are introducing some level of customisation because the clients(especially the seasoned ones) wants it,the product becomes a bit more "special".
What I don t like ,is the misleading excuse watch brands use all the time;being straightforward would gain them more respect,especially for us nerds.
So I welcome FX idea that they should introduce a little level of customisation as other industries do.
2)I understand the adversity of diversity within the collection,but it is always a decision made in consequences of costs,marketing,and the big show they need to run ,its never for the sake of the best possible product.
Again:there was a time(before the monstrous marketing animal landed on earth)that the quality of any product was enough to guarantee its sales:suits,boots,watches,cars etc etc,or better the amount of marketing that was needed was relative compared to the quality of the product.
These days its the opposite:the product needs to be good,yes,but not great,it needs to be GOOD ENOUGH to support the amount of marketing spent on that particular product,not an bit more (sometimes a lot less).
So you understand that after a great invitation on a beautiful paper,a wonderful reception with the best champagne and exquisite canapé,a powerful mnemonic introduction by a grinning sales rep who clearly can t wait for the night to finish of the watch in question,countless claims that it is going to be the next big groundbreaking thing in horologerie,tales of explorers,adventurers,anniversaries,hommages,collaborations,VIPs etc etc...then you handle the product and you have the feeling of a cheap stamped out watch that can be reproduced in thousands units ,with a cheap dial,so and so movement,cheap hands,mediocre finish and so on,you have the feeling that something is not quite right.
Thats why I am having hard time with big brands at the moment....I am not generalising of course..
The good news is that the rest of the audience in the reception room looked pretty amused and delighted....so probably its me who have a problem here...What do I know in the end....
Mo