Comments:
deserve credit for not shying away from also asking the more difficult ones. Good job.
On the issue of your questions a.,b. and c. I don't think he really answered your question c. As I read it, you were asking a question about the "free rein" speculators and flipper seem to have on the secondary market and the impact of this "speculation" on the long term desirability of the brand. The reply you received was that there was only a strong secondary market because there was a strong primary market, not directly engaging with the central point of the question. He ended by saying " I guess it's the reward of success".
To me the reply he gave impliedly reads as the CEO of AP saying speculators and flipper are in effect a good thing and are a sign of the brand's success. I don't know if that is what he meant, but that it how it reads. I am surprised by this reply as it shows no recognition of the frustration faced by buyers or the long term implications of this. In effect you were relaying a concern that genuine collectors/ enthusiasts are unable to buy the pieces they want at RRP as they ended up in the hands of speculators, i,e, there is unfair distribution of popular pieces. Clearly not a good thing for the collectors/ enthusiasts. His reply appears to say AP are quite happy about this!
It was an enjoyable read. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing, Thomas...
It is very interesting and informative. Thanks to Mr. Merk too.
Like others, I wonder what would the 40th anniversary of the RO be like.
Goh
Thanks to Mr Merk and to TM for this excellent and revealing interview
...and thanks to all forumners for the fascinating debates generated from it.
I personally was intrigued by AP's new corporate line (well, it's new to me - I hadn't heard it before): Tradition, Excellence, Audacity. This is a great summation of AP's special position in the industry. AP is without doubt the most audacious of the "Big Three" Swiss watch companies. Just look at their breathtaking achievements in basic R&D (the modified Robin escapement and carbon forgé casework), as well as their field-leading innovation in design (I'm thinking here of visually astonishing watches such as the MC12 Chronograph, the Cabinet Piece no. 5, the ROO Grand Prix - there are many others).
The other little "gem" I noticed - which appears to have passed by without comment from other PuristS - is Mr Merk's mention of a "new 3D movement". This certainly got my attention. Of course, I'd be more amazed if there was a new 2D or 4D movement in the offing (arising from recent advances in string theory perhaps?), but I'm still all ears.
Any more hints about this "new 3D movement", TM?
Cheers
Tony P
I personally was intrigued by AP's new corporate line (well, it's new to me - I hadn't heard it before): Tradition, Excellence, Audacity. This is a great summation of AP's special position in the industry. AP is without doubt the most audacious of the "Big Three" Swiss watch companies. Just look at their breathtaking achievements in basic R&D (the modified Robin escapement and carbon forgé casework), as well as their field-leading innovation in design (I'm thinking here of visually astonishing watches such as the MC12 Chronograph, the Cabinet Piece no. 5, the ROO Grand Prix - there are many others).
The other little "gem" I noticed - which appears to have passed by without comment from other PuristS - is Mr Merk's mention of a "new 3D movement". This certainly got my attention. Of course, I'd be more amazed if there was a new 2D or 4D movement in the offing (arising from recent advances in string theory perhaps?), but I'm still all ears.
Any more hints about this "new 3D movement", TM?
Cheers
Tony P
Interesting interview. You asked some good question and...
deserve credit for not shying away from also asking the more difficult ones. Good job.
On the issue of your questions a.,b. and c. I don't think he really answered your question c. As I read it, you were asking a question about the "free rein" speculators and flipper seem to have on the secondary market and the impact of this "speculation" on the long term desirability of the brand. The reply you received was that there was only a strong secondary market because there was a strong primary market, not directly engaging with the central point of the question. He ended by saying " I guess it's the reward of success".
To me the reply he gave impliedly reads as the CEO of AP saying speculators and flipper are in effect a good thing and are a sign of the brand's success. I don't know if that is what he meant, but that it how it reads. I am surprised by this reply as it shows no recognition of the frustration faced by buyers or the long term implications of this. In effect you were relaying a concern that genuine collectors/ enthusiasts are unable to buy the pieces they want at RRP as they ended up in the hands of speculators, i,e, there is unfair distribution of popular pieces. Clearly not a good thing for the collectors/ enthusiasts. His reply appears to say AP are quite happy about this!
It was an enjoyable read. Thanks.
Well done, Thomas.
That was a very interesting interview. I'm looking forward to seeing what AP has in store for us this summer.