IWC just upped the bar. Rolex?

[EDL7]

Wish R did this..

[Rashid.bk]

I pray this never happens. People walking around with weird color abominations like GShocks, barf.

[superstarmar]

Nothing special.

[lecorsaire]

Usually I like customization but not on watches. I think they should remain exactly the way the designer created them. This is also terrible for resale value since the more configurations you have, the harder something is to sell. If getting an IWC Inge chrono to keep then it's cool.

[MARGARITATIME]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

I pray this never happens. People walking around with weird color abominations like GShocks, barf.

I own G shocks in many different colors...love em! I also own a IWC BP 5002. I know this is a Rolex forum, but having a custom watch sounds pretty cool to me. I love Rolex, but having different brands in your collection is a great thing. IWC makes some very nice time pieces. The Portuguese is a stunning watch! With all that said I plan to add another Rolex shortly....lol

[brucethemanlee]

Resale value will down the tubes....

Unless you find that perfect buyer who likes how you configured your ultimate watch you're out of luck

Of course, you can always build a watch that will appeal to a wider audience but then that defeats the purpose of customization.

These customizations are watches that you keep

.....and as much as we like to think what looks good and what doesn't, there's a reason why we are not watch designers. you'd be surprised how awful most people are at design in general

[HogwldFLTR]

No interest.

[aquatimerfla]

Originally Posted by brucethemanlee

Resale value will down the tubes....

Unless you find that perfect buyer who likes how you configured your ultimate watch you're out of luck

Of course, you can always build a watch that will appeal to a wider audience but then that defeats the purpose of customization.

These customizations are watches that you keep

Why do assume everyone wants to resell?

Maybe just maybe someone wants a custom watch unique to themselves

[GB-man]

Doesn’t offer much of anything. A choice of 8 dials and the option to engrave the caseback? Couldn’t one get a caseback engraved for cheap and buy this watch and change the strap at the market price for IWC (50% off).

[Chadridv]

Originally Posted by Etschell

nope. not a fan. bespoke is not for rolex.

Agreed. That's barely bespoke anyway.

[drmizzou]

Interesting, Lot of mixed reviews and perception for customization. Agreed as far as for Rolex but in other brands I do find this interesting. I think another good brand for this would be Panerai for instance.

[breitlings]

i could see rolex doing this for dj and dd.

[rw2008]

The bar has not been upped.

Not by IWC anyway.

[Wcdhtwn]

Originally Posted by aquatimerfla

Its a 3 month wait once you configure your watch. Opposite of want it now.

And that's faster than getting a Daytona. Or SD43. Or Sub. Explorer, SS SkyD.

[brucethemanlee]

Originally Posted by aquatimerfla

Why do assume everyone wants to resell?

Maybe just maybe someone wants a custom watch unique to themselves

i don't assume everyone wants to resell

that's why i also said "These customizations are watches that you keep"

[maylebox]

Tough crowd. Resale values will suck, IWC tanking and grasping at straws, my premium watch company would never do such a thing.

I see no downside in IWC giving people choices. "Interested in IWC? Great, here are a number of existing designs to choose from and we also offer multiple customization options for the Ingenieur Chronograph line". As a watch guy what's not to like?

Are they doing this in an effort to sell more watches? Absolutely. I wouldn't mind if Rolex decided to sell a few more watches too.

[GB-man]

If they let you pick your own color dial and sub dials from a full spectrum that would be prett damn cool. Unfortunately the design of this one doesn’t speak to me.

[eterna]

I always thgt IWC & Breitling have been going the wrong way, while other watch manufacturers are heading in the right direction.
None of IWC & Breitling time pieces appeal to me now....big n gaudy.

[Cru Jones]

I think it's a great idea and the tool is fun to use, especially the wrist-shot view.

For those wary of the idea, IWC is not proposing true customization, though. Just dial color options with pre-defined hand sets and strap/bracelet combos. It's impossible to make a horrid or weird looking option.

[asiparks]

yes, because Rolex owners would never want to swap out bezels, or change out the dials on their OP's or Daytona...

It's a great for those that want options and no one is going to kill your dog if you want off the shelf... There isn't a real downside to it.
And resale values, that's become a tedious obsession around here; Is there anything wrong with buying a watch for just the enjoyment ? Is everyone buying non depreciating cars, clothes, housewares, Tvs etc ?

I'm not sure that IWC is "tanking", I would venture that their watches are actually rather good and that the range and sophistication of their in-house movements vastly surpass anything Rolex is cranking out.....

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by thomaswentworth

Gimmicky and sure to create headaches and bad customer experiences.

hmmmmm.....weren't you the chap generating all those "super hero" Subs ?

[aquatimerfla]

Originally Posted by asiparks

yes, because Rolex owners would never want to swap out bezels, or change out the dials on their OP's or Daytona...

It's a great for those that want options and no one is going to kill your dog if you want off the shelf... There isn't a real downside to it.
And resale values, that's become a tedious obsession around here; Is there anything wrong with buying a watch for just the enjoyment ? Is everyone buying non depreciating cars, clothes, housewares, Tvs etc ?

I'm not sure that IWC is "tanking", I would venture that their watches are actually rather good and that the range and sophistication of their in-house movements vastly surpass anything Rolex is cranking out.....

Well said. Rolex is fast becoming the brand that one buys to sell.

I think many forget that IWC is extremely well regarded in the WIS world for its vast range of manufacture movements. In many cases IWC plays on a level above Rolex.

[seadweller43]

i think its kind of cheap.

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by Rashid.bk

I pray this never happens. People walking around with weird color abominations like GShocks, barf.

Yes, because there is nothing more offensive than someone using a watch for personal expression.....

[VicLeChic]

This is s step in the right direction to me, As the blog says, "Customization is something many clients desire, but few have access to. Brands like Cartier, Rolex, and Piaget have been known to accommodate clients wishes for custom pieces, but only when they fitted into the brands DNA".

So there you go, Rolex is already producing custom made pieces or so-called special orders. This mainstream customization would allow more choice for mere mortals within the limits of Rolex DNA and design language. This would be great news to me.

[1William]

I think that it is a step forward for the watch industry. When we started getting companies to sell directly on the internet we heard a lot of the same message. Will not work, cheapens the brand,etc. Ok, maybe, depending on how you look at it. If you look at the broader watch industry this has been going on for some while at a lot of levels. I don't want one but options are nice.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Cru Jones

I think it's a great idea and the tool is fun to use, especially the wrist-shot view.

For those wary of the idea, IWC is not proposing true customization, though. Just dial color options with pre-defined hand sets and strap/bracelet combos. It's impossible to make a horrid or weird looking option.

This ^^^

and Panerai already gives us options with straps

[ajas]

If this is their strategy to gain market I only hope it will work out for them

[Justindo]

I've always wondered why luxury watch companies haven't done this in the past. You can order an automobile the way you want it, so why not a watch? I'm not talking about anything crazy, but what about case material; dial style, markers, and color; hand style and color; and strap?

[dallastide]

Originally Posted by aquatimerfla

Its a 3 month wait once you configure your watch. Opposite of want it now.

That was his point