Omega x Swatch

[Gyp]

Bingo. Seems to be a modern phenomenon.. people wanting to make money doing nothing other than acquiring a new / uncommon item and flip it for profit. I watch some videos on sneaker collectors and frankly it’s laughable. Nike must be laughing all the way to the bank.

Let's not be too unfair; it is fundamentally how capitalism works.

I suspect the unit cost of these will be about $30

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[Passenger]

Let's not be too unfair; it is fundamentally how capitalism works.

I suspect the unit cost of these will be about $30

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I wondered about the unit cost, figured maybe 20 quid so similar ball park.

Somebody commented these thing're not promoted or sold as luxury but the pricing vs production costs suggests at least an element of the thinking at play when folk 'justify' other luxury purchases, just an observation, otherwise how else can a 10 x markup be justified on a plastic toy watch...and they've got Omega printed on them after all...so aren't they positioned as offering a taste of affordable luxury.

[robert75]

None of this madness is about watches. It’s about money. Just like when crowds physically fight over the cheap TV in Black Friday sales. I assume there are a lot of people out there with little income, minimum wage, and will fight over the chance to make a couple of hundred quid. I think this is what Swatch underestimated.

What’s income got to do with it? People are turning a profit every day on Rolex, Patek and VC. But apparently these people are shrewd, financially savvy, in it for the love of the watch etc…..

Those people fighting over a 200 quid swatch are no different than those it’s just easier to look down on the Swatch crowd.

[M1011]

Best video of the madness I've seen so far.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbjpn6Fu2Wa/

[hughtrimble]

Bingo. Seems to be a modern phenomenon.. people wanting to make money doing nothing other than acquiring a new / uncommon item and flip it for profit. I watch some videos on sneaker collectors and frankly it’s laughable. Nike must be laughing all the way to the bank.

I'd suggest it is the same as any non-productive asset. They're banking on someone in the future wanting to pay them more than they did for the same item.

Like those holding gold or crypto. Buy now, sell for more later.


(Ignoring the active traders of course).

[Boxsash]

London Oxford street was shut by the police just after 10.00am. They are going to try an open again tomorrow but didn’t know what time.


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[Boxsash]

This is the only on wrist picture I have seen and to me it looks great.




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[mrushton]

That looks great to me. But no way would I join that lunacy. Put the watches on sale at all dealers on the same day. No queueing allowed or issue place tickets. Even better, online and in person at the same time. Well done Omega. You achieved max publicity for a cheap item. All that effort promoting 007 and special editions and all it needed was a plastic watch. Rolex et al must be furious they've missed out. Don't believe they want exclusivity. It's like BMW vs Mercedes vs Audi. They all want that consumer spend.

[tabascokid]

Yep, that looks great fun. That or the solar. Bring on the online ordering!


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[Tetlee]

This is the only on wrist picture I have seen and to me it looks great.




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It sure does, I think they did a superb job on these. Will look forward to buying a his and hers later in the year.

[VoleBoy]

I didn't hear about this until yesterday when my brother told me he was planning on coming down to London.

I told him about the ebay sales, the people queueing that I learnt from this thread and told him to not bother. He is very, very pleased he didn't.

So I have a 'reduced' which I love, and I regard the Speedmaster as the most iconic watch to be produced...so I was tempted by these. As a more useful beater I can wear daily. Neptune, Mercury, Pluto all appealed.

I have to travel through London next weekend, so if I am lucky everything will have calmed down a little and I might pop in and get one. Otherwise, online it is.

[boring_sandwich]

I’m looking forward to WF having one up on there website next week for 5k!

[J J Carter]

I'm thinking a mint, unopened set of all 11 Moonswatches could be worth as much as $500 in a few years time.

[robert75]

Best video of the madness I've seen so far.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cbjpn6Fu2Wa/

It’s like the opening scene of that film gangs of New York

[Christian]

What’s income got to do with it? People are turning a profit every day on Rolex, Patek and VC. But apparently these people are shrewd, financially savvy, in it for the love of the watch etc…..

Those people fighting over a 200 quid swatch are no different than those it’s just easier to look down on the Swatch crowd.

Nah, you can't attempt to virtue signal that I'm looking down on the mobs outside Swatch because of money. Not engaging on that one, sorry.

[apm101]

Shame. I really like them, wanted a Mercury, Moon or Pluto. Was planning to pop in on Monday. Looks like I’m waiting until June.


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[snowman]

Ffs all the enthusiasts have to do is wait till June and hit buy and go to checkout on the web store.

Mass insanity is occurring - no other reason for it. Selling for thousands on eBay or buy at retail brand new in June for £200? No brainer.

Let's hope Eddie never opens a London store! :D

M

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[snowman]

This is the only on wrist picture I have seen and to me it looks great.




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Nah, wearing it too far down his arm ;)

M

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[robert75]

Nah, you can't attempt to virtue signal that I'm looking down on the mobs outside Swatch because of money. Not engaging on that one, sorry.

Er what "Virtue signaling" By saying both are as bad as each other?

[robert75]

Let's hope Eddie never opens a London store! :D

M

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Can you imagine the riots?

"London was gripped today by a mob of brogue wearing middle aged men who leaped out of their MX5's armed to the teeth with expensive bottles of whiskey and tactical man bags"

"A police spokesperson was heard to say the rioters were quickly dispersed when news got out watchfinder down the road were selling authorized Rolex paperclips at list price"

[IanK]

I’m not a huge fan of that blue Neptune one but I can see the appeal of a few of the others.

But one thing this is clearly demonstrating is how classic and enduring and versatile the design of the original moonwatch is.

[Roth1]

I think some of these watches look nice and fun. Unfortunately it seems a reflection of our society where many are out to make easy money (how ever much) without working very hard for it.

[Joppers]

This one’s at £63,600! Hilarious!

[TROYBOY79]

This one’s at £63,600! Hilarious!

Plus £15 postage!! Ypu would think with that kind of markup you would do free shipping

[Jlynch1984]

Can you imagine the riots?

"London was gripped today by a mob of brogue wearing middle aged men who leaped out of their MX5's armed to the teeth with expensive bottles of whiskey and tactical man bags"

"A police spokesperson was heard to say the rioters were quickly dispersed when news got out watchfinder down the road were selling authorized Rolex paperclips at list price"

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[ryanb741]

Apparently gangs were threatening people in one of the London queues today with violence if they didn't give up their place.

[tango]

What’s income got to do with it? People are turning a profit every day on Rolex, Patek and VC. But apparently these people are shrewd, financially savvy, in it for the love of the watch etc…..

Those people fighting over a 200 quid swatch are no different than those it’s just easier to look down on the Swatch crowd.

Well said Robert, whilst I think the scenes are complete madness, I am not judging the individuals involved in wanting to make a profit if that is indeed what their motivation is.

The whole world revolves around this pursuit so why is it so blameworthy in this instance and why are people so outraged and surprised by it.

I say it's simply a reflection of the world we live in these modern times.

I actually quite like some of the models and will be looking to purchase them myself when they become more readily available.

[taz11]

Apparently gangs were threatening people in one of the London queues today with violence if they didn't give up their place.

This is true a friend of mine told knives were also pulled and police had come and disperse the crowd and all the stores were closed this was at 10am and he had get a taxi back to Sutton

[IanK]

This is true a friend of mine told knives were also pulled and police had come and disperse the crowd and all the stores were closed this was at 10am and he had get a taxi back to Sutton

Sutton? Out of the frying pan and into the fire..

[P9CLY]

Luckily I work at LBA and bought 10 this morning,apparently only airport in the UK to have them,so I was told.

[Jlynch1984]

Sutton? Out of the frying pan and into the fire..

Slutton


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[oldoakknives]

Luckily I work at LBA and bought 10 this morning,apparently only airport in the UK to have them,so I was told.

So pleased for you. Guess you'll make loadsamoney eh?

[Kingstepper]

A real enthusiast.

[blackal]

This is true a friend of mine told knives were also pulled and police had come and disperse the crowd and all the stores were closed this was at 10am and he had get a taxi back to Sutton

I had typed out a post earlier this morning wondering what happens to Omega's 'stroke of brilliance/new direction' - if there was a fatality in the queues outside one of their stores.........

Then thought "nah - I'll be branded with having too much imagination"

[IanK]

Big piece on queue chaos on the Mail website now so it’s officially a Sign Of The Decline Of Civilisation

[P9CLY]

So pleased for you. Guess you'll make loadsamoney eh?

"Loadsamoneeeee".

[Wallasey Runner]

Luckily I work at LBA and bought 10 this morning,apparently only airport in the UK to have them,so I was told.

Let’s see some pics then.

That will pay for the next holiday or maybe a new car if you are lucky.

[Cyclone]

All this madness. All I want is to get my clenched fist inside Uranus.

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[snowman]

You can buy a street in Bolton for a Mission To Uranus at the moment!

M

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[TROYBOY79]

This one’s at £63,600! Hilarious!

Slutton


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Used to love that place. Chicagos is being demolished to be made into a cinema, only took them ten years

[Scrubnut]

The dealer should retain the warranty card

[paw3001]

Luckily I work at LBA and bought 10 this morning,apparently only airport in the UK to have them,so I was told.

Yeah, OK. Not a listed stockist so well done!

Did you keep going back in disguise to get passed the original 2 watch limit?

Plus which one didn’t you pick?

[hughtrimble]

The dealer should retain the warranty card

In this case, that's the plastic pull tab between the battery and the contacts

[Scrubnut]

This one’s at £63,600! Hilarious!

Several of the bids are exactly the same!

[J J Carter]

[snowman]

,

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[Scrubnut]

I like the idea of having a suitcase full under the bed.
I

[number2]

Excellent days work by Swatch, global pandemonium and huge profile uplift.
I've owned a moonwatch and wasn't particularly impressed, but in a few months a colourful "homage", grab and go will maybe drop into the box at £200.
I reckon if Rolex did something similar with the Submariner it'd kill the fake market dead in no time at all.

[Itsguy]

Found these sitting quietly in the window of Omega on Old Bond Street.



In person, Mercury was definitely the most serious and ‘tactical’ looking, while the classic Moon as expected has a slightly Lego feeling, which is part of the charm, but with the dial uncannily similar to the original. The sun has a very glossy dial, quite different to the others (in a good way). Pluto looked better than I expected. The dark blue Neptune may be my favourite, it’s a toss up between that and the Moon or Mercury, while Jupiter also works. But the blue case of Neptune makes it unashamedly fun. I’d be tempted to lose the strap and try a Perlon for a little less bulk and to give it a classy twist.

The reaction seems to have caught Swatch / Omega by surprise, but they’ve clearly hit a nerve. Partly it’s the pent up demand for a taste of a luxury logo that’s usually painfully out of reach. But it’s more than that, it also subverts the luxury game by giving it an ironic twist, and makes flaunting the real thing feel like trying too hard.

I really wonder what will come of this, and where we’ll see this kind of thinking next. Brands and marketing departments the world over will certainly be paying attention, as their Watches and Wonders launches are eclipsed by a Swatch. Perhaps Grand Seiko will be the next brand to make a £200 watch that looks just like the real thing and has Seiko written on it. Oh, wait….

[rico]

I hope the straps can be changed easily? The Velcro really ‘cheapens’ it. If that’s possible.