Quote:
Originally Posted by MCMartiny
I agree, while the whole "application piece" thing might make sense for a rare only 10 pieces made grand complication, it makes little sense for a fairly run of the mill steel sports watch.
That said, Lange has obviously made the "marketing" choice to limit Odysseus steel production in order to try to ride the almost-impossible-to-buy-at-retail steel sports craze and address their usual issues of deep AD discounts and high secondary market depreciation. So in that light reserving Lange's first regular production steel piece for people with purchase history and making it a kind of "reward watch" do make sense. However, using additional non transparent criteria to deem collectors "not worthy" does seem misplaced and an ill advised approach as it both seems arrogant and will surely put otherwise big fans off the brand (potentially forever). I can only assume this approach is a not thought through unintended result of higher than expected demand and hopefully not a permanent Lange strategy.
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So, as I have mentioned before I am not a fan of the ALS "look," but am unquestionably a believer in their quality. They ooze horology. That said, their position in the secondary market is undeniably an issue for them going forward.
Had a dealer at a HUGE secondary outlet (the biggest) tell me if they did not receive huge numbers of brand new models at wholesale pricing to move them end of year, they would stop taking in used ALS altogether because they are so difficult to move at profit.
Had another dealer at a mid size place say "ALS is the finest producer of 5000 watches per year, that should only produce 2500 watches per year, in the world." I thought it was amusing.
If you are buying an ALS and never ever selling it, who cares. But if you are like the majority of the collectors I know who move in and out of watches over the years, ALS is rough. That is undeniable. I don't know if they should cut production (as that dealer suggested they should), or something else, but I am not sure trying to pump up sales of dress watches by tying them to the success of a sport watch is the best tactic.
It's an interesting issue to be sure. Viewed from the back ALS is simply sublime. I hope this sports watch works out for ALS, and their strategy pans out because I'd like to see them be super successful, but I will always have my doubts with Richemont in charge.
