Horological Meandering

It's such a hodgepodge of stuff overall, there's few that truly make sense in my opinion. Obviously, one of my all time favorite is the AMVOX line, another good example from the same time and people is the MC Navy SEALs.... Vacheron has that exceedingly cool Everest Dual Time Overseas in collaboration with a well known mountaineer, and of course who can oversee the Mille-Nadal pieces!........ That's what comes to mind instantaneously....

Interesting. I never really understood the VC Everest Dual Time Overseas watch - as I didn't see it as a good fit as a watch to go mountaineering in - at least their marketing didn't convince me that it was an especially good fit. Frankly, I find the Vacheron Constantin to be a luxury watch posing as a pseudo-sports watch that can go hiking but probably shouldn't. For instance, the Cadillac Escalade is not going to go off-roading quite as well as the Chevrolet Suburban supposedly. On the other hand, I especially agree with you on the Richard Mille pieces - even though I don't think I'd buy most of those Richard Mille collaborations - some of them are quite appropriate and have the right spirit!

it genuinely is my favorite (luxury) sports watch line - collaborations or not. The only thing you state that I don't get is the 'pseudo-sports' label, I've always found the line to be authentically sporty, it unequivocally possesses both the robustness and water resistance rating to make that claim substantiated (in that sense it eclipses even the Speedmaster).... Of the non high-end complications, I do find that Everest edition particularly well executed. Both the textures/finishings, and the color palette are to my eyes exceptionally pretty. Cheers, Filip

There's nothing to suggest that the Overseas line is less sporty than say a Rolex Oyster model line - which is a very sporty watch.  I just don't see myself bringing a "Vacheron Constantin" to a mountain expedition.  But then again, in the old days, people brought Rolls Royce cars to the jungle, to the desert, because they were actually considered "versatile equipment" back in the day.  I guess I've just got my own prejudice that a Vacheron Constantin is too nice to go on an expedition with.  But then a Rolex Oyster is okay...  I realize I'm contradicting myself and now I should say BOTH the Rolex Oyster and the Vacheron Constantin Overseas models are suitable for mountain exploration use!  

I get what you're trying to say. It's a brand less colloquially associated with such end uses in recent times.... Also, just like you pointed out, there's no objective criteria to prevent one from speaking of that line of products in the same context as comparable lines from Rolex, Omega, JLC etc.... They recently did an ad for the Overseas in collaboration with one of my favorite modern artists - Ms. Zaria Forman, who hand paints remote/rugged landscapes on location........

I like her art!  

The water resistance of the VC Overseas is greater than the Royal Oak! Although I would actually think that the Royal Oak is also a "pseudo sports" watch and more of a luxury watch. But then again, who's to say that a Royal Oak isn't robust to go up a mountain and suffer knocks as well as a Rolex Oyster can.

It's just a game of perception, not actual, quantifiable or substantiated reasoning. Price-wise, entirely subjective. You might just as well shell out a quarter million or more for a Mille, and go find out how well it holds up in all kinds of remote terrain........

Rolex and Omega have a reputation for robust watch movements that are depended upon by explorers and professionals.  I suppose Richard Mille has that too - but it's so not "government tested" and so not "military grade."  That it feels more like a luxury product than a sporting product.  If I were stuck on a deserted island, I'd want a reliable Rolex.  Not sure I'd want that Richard Mille, even if it does cost 25x a Rolex!

Two people have mentioned Amvox so far!

I'll do my little rain dance for you my friend!  

I suspect these are in a different category, more thought out, and ultimately better executed with each brand contributing a signature feature.

The Orlinski pieces are my favorite from Hublot!
Yes! Any collaboration with a watch brand counts! Even one between watch brands.

A modern Casanova in the watch world!  And I say that in a nice way!

Something like Patek + Tiffany is attractive, but not that many like that.

Tiffany & Co New York has had a relationship with Patek for about 170 years. Back when the company was actually named Tiffany & Young! Shreve & Co. San Francisco has also been in business with Patek Philippe for a similar length of time as well. Gondolo in Brazil started becoming a dealer for Patek in 1869 and was at one point the largest dealer in the world (supposedly selling 20%+ of Patek's entire annual production for some time). Haussman & Co. in Rome started being a Lange dealer in 1884 and a Patek Philippe dealer in 1897 or so. So a lot of very interesting "dual branded dials" to be had! And those are just the ones that I can think about off the top of my head.

I almost feel it’s more important to have collaborations like the music industry; bring two popular artists together with different audiences and then creating new fans/viewers growing your addressable market.

I do think from a marketing perspective, it is a miss to pair Breitling and Bentley and maybe Tiffany Patek is better in that regard.

I think it’s best if the customers of both brands would end up obtaining the individual products of each brand; to me it is more natural.

I can already see it. Head of Strategic Partnerships and Marketing of Brand-X! Tiffany and Patek customers actually have very little overlap. For the longest time, the Patek customers did not buy a lot of Tiffany products at all - until more recently.

Anyways, I don’t think anything I said in my previous was profound but increasing addressable market is a common goal for a marketing department 😂… and if Bentley or Breitling customers do not overlap in anyway .. it’s a bad partnership.

I also have a very skewed view of matching cars with watches, since many of the watches I enjoy cost more than the cars we have.

And yes, I find the car and watch partnerships to be very fleeting.  They never seem to last very long.  Ferrari has been with multiple brands - GP, Panerai, Hublot, RM and that's just what I can think of.  Aston Martin was with JLC and now GP.  Cars are generally more disposable than watches in terms of their lifespans.  Watches generally endure.  

I do find it odd that Ferrari has been paired up with so many watch companies.

I did appreciate the JLC/AM AMVOX series with the innovative chrono design; but I would have been more inclined if I owned the car as well.

Voutilainen, Mojon, Busser, et. al. What an amazing collaboration!