After the vintage craze?

[mastergod]

Hi all, many of you probably read this article on Breitling's past/present/future. I found it very interesting and would appreciate YOUR THOUGHTS on how the big brands are tackling the (somewhat urgent) issue of moving ONWARD from the safety reissuing vintage models to blazing new trails and spawning watch icons of tomorrow. Ten years from now - if a watch is neither celebrating its former self nor being something "connected", "smart" or high tech --- what will it be? For example - TV shaped dials in the 1970s. Big watches in the 2000's. Materials, colors, functions, brand personalities - WHAT'S NEXT?

Pics and anecdotes highly welcome!

Best,
MG

https://www.ablogtowatch.com/georges-ke ... ing-years/

EDIT: Make no mistake - I love vintage. Hence the curiosity:-)

[daevildog]

Big brands will play it safe, most will not take any design chances. People buy a particular look offered by a Brand... an Omega vs. A Rolex vs. a Hublot.

[macosie]

Who experiments? Ok, maybe invicta.


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[straps68]

Pretty much all watches made by the big brands today are homages, whether they call them "Vintage" or not, and this has been going on for decades and it will not change. The risk of potentially low ROI is not acceptable to the share holders. I am pretty sure that most of the high end brands' watches will look exactly the same 50 years from now, give or take a millimeter in diameter or perhaps a date magnifier.

They will probably implement new technologies on the inside, which will make a marginal difference to accuracy.

[Luminor]

Well, Rolex does not worry about any shareholders' opinion. That is probably why they have not fell for the whole reissue nonsense.

[macosie]

I don't think there is much room stylistic change. I think people aren't adventurous enough. If they want a Rolex it better look like a Rolex. The microbrands, fashion watches and affordables take design cues, if not outright copy, the big guys. My skx033 has been mistaken for a Rolex by watch guys.
Messing with case shapes only attracts a small market. Hamilton, Bulova, Rado and Omega had some success, but how many sold compared to their bread and butter designs?

Maybe we should lead the charge and design homages to watches we think Rolex and Panerai should make.


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[Emilio]

to be fair, many new watch collectors get hooked on the design of the "old " models so there would be always a market there.

[SN13]

What does "Vintage" even mean?

Smaller cases?
Classic Designs?

Rolex never needed to reissue, because the damned 16610 is 95% similar to 1680 is 95% similar to 5513. Other than models with no CG, or Milsub hands, Rolex looks like Rolex for the past 60 years.

Why do rolex watches hold their value? Because there will be no major "Upgrade" next year that will make your current rolex look like a piece of trash.

The Ceramic Bezel and Big-Lugs of the past few years in the 6digit 116610's is the next evolution. Some people love the big lugs, some do not. Rolex is apparently slimming the lugs down on the next series...

I prefer the thinner 5 digit lugs, but love the ceramic of the 6 digit.

Also, I do agree with the idea that people by BRAND.

Rolex, Rolex, Rolex. Omega. Tag. Breitling.

I don't have a study to back it up, but that's the order of popularity i see in watches in the wild on average wrists.

Yesterday alone, I was in a meeting with 30 people. 16610, 16613, 16613... Three Rolex Subs in a room of 30 people. And only probably 10 had watches. The other 7 included a Quartz Tag, some seiko/citizen types, and then misc. Quartz rubber Gshock looking abominations (i don't get the appeal... I mean I liked them when i was 12)....

You can spot a Rolex from across the room and know it's a Rolex.

That's what people buy. Recognition. Quality.

Rolex doesn't have to "Vintage" themselves. Their Vintage models fetch crazy prices because they are done and gone and won't come back.

What comes after Vintage?

Submariners will still be Submariners.