patrick_y
[PuristSPro Moderator]
33705
I agree. It is always good to get activity and publicity.
But the idea here is auction-related. Auction houses need "winners" to generate interest so these pieces will increase in value. Brands need value increases since a real driver of watch sales is value retention related. And a rising tide lifts all boats, so if one specific obscure Vacheron Constantin model starts seeing record prices, then that tide lifts all of the VC boats. Even though there's technically "multiple losers" per category, people only focus on the category winner.
It's a manufactured way to get interest.
Almost like how the music industry identifies a hole in the market (there's no new USA/Canadian Boy Band) and goes and makes a group together, hires the best song writers, and put a script in front of the singers. It's "manufactured" demand.
Which brand has impressed you the most recently
For me its Vacheron. Their 270th anniversary line, their exceptional timepieces like the solaria ultra grande complication la première and their upcoming Concours d'Élégance Horlogère. Seems like they listen and engage more than the other brands, This pro...
The Concours d'Elegance is simply a marketing exercise.
We had a similar plan on WatchProSite - and that's our WristScan. We chose not to call it that as it a "Concours d'Elegance" (French for Competition of Elegance) as we wanted it to be more collaborative and not "competitive" per se. Back to Vacheron Const...
True, I believe it is a marketing exercise, but it still encourages participation from connoisseurs. I haven't seen any of such from Patek despite being an owner.
I look very much forward to the 275th anniversary as well!
If you asked my lonely opinion...
Patek wouldn't have a "competition of elegance" as such a competition could be seen as inelegant. Encourages participation? What participation? It's not like you restored the watch yourself... It's just you own it. A competition of elegance in the watch w...
Think about what this competition implies...
Imagine if you were Chanel; and you had such a competition. Would the Chanel Maison want to admit that Lagerfeld's designs are better than the current designer Matthieu Blazy's? In the car world, it makes more sense. As it's still a competition of eleganc...
You’ve clearly given this more thought than I have or will :-). I just think it’s a nice way to showcase and fuel interest in vintage VC.
There are lots of great designs that get completely overlooked because of the collector and auction buyer hive mind.
I agree. It is always good to get activity and publicity.
But the idea here is auction-related. Auction houses need "winners" to generate interest so these pieces will increase in value. Brands need value increases since a real driver of watch sales is value retention related. And a rising tide lifts all boats, ...
I agree that calling it a “competition of elegance” is the wrong framing — for watches in general, and especially for a single brand.
Competition implies winners and losers, which feels inelegant and philosophically messy. A showcase or celebration of historical pieces fits far better. Where I disagree is on participation. Participation in watches isn’t about restoring a movement yourse...
The 270th anniversary releases didn’t do it for me,
and I think VC suffers from being part of Richemont, with a lack of true personal vision at its head. By comparison, I find what Karl-Friedrich Scheufele is doing for both Chopard and Ferdinand Berthoud much more interesting. I don’t like all the decision...
Parmigiani for consistently adding to their offering in a controlled way
Establishing the PF format and working within that on dial updates etc., really enjoying what they are doing, VC of course, every year they come with exceptional novelties whereas I feel PP have a more glacial approach... I like Moser also, for similar re...
Congratulations on your first. I hope it’s “one of many” and yet these are “one of not many”
I agree with their excellent customer experience. Here’s mine saying hi. ...