The incredible Simon Brette

[enjoythemusic]

Love that they're keeping handcrafted quality very high, so of course qty of production will be low. Major congrats to Simon Brette and to all the very highly talented watchmakers.

[ChetBaker]

That’s very very beautiful. I strongly considered getting on the list for the steel release, after spending an hour chatting with Simon at GWD. In the end I decided against it, but there’s no doubt the product is at the very pinnacle of independent watchmaking and Simon is a stand-up guy whom you can only wish the very best. Amazing team and fantastic product.

[WatchEater666]

Wow

[bioyuki]

Great watch, but by far the most terrible customer service of any independent that I’ve reached out to this year. Simon Brette and his team make the Rolex AD experience look like having a private shopper at Harrod’s instead.

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

That’s very very beautiful. I strongly considered getting on the list for the steel release, after spending an hour chatting with Simon at GWD. In the end I decided against it, but there’s no doubt the product is at the very pinnacle of independent watchmaking and Simon is a stand-up guy whom you can only wish the very best. Amazing team and fantastic product.

If you don’t mind me asking, why did you pass on getting one?

[WatchEater666]

Originally Posted by bioyuki

Great watch, but by far the most terrible customer service of any independent that I’ve reached out to this year. Simon Brette and his team make the Rolex AD experience look like having a private shopper at Harrod’s instead.

What happened?

I think his process is pretty clear/fair. You simply have to visit him and walk them through your collection?

I get why he wants to do that given production limitations. Personally, I will never fly out to do something specific just for watches, but if I lived nearby I'd probably do it.

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

What happened?

I think his process is pretty clear/fair. You simply have to visit him and walk them through your collection?

I get why he wants to do that given production limitations. Personally, I will never fly out to do something specific just for watches, but if I lived nearby I'd probably do it.

I’m waiting to hear what issues bioyuki had but not everyone has the ability to fly out and plead their case in person. I’d happily talk to Simon or anyone from his team over the phone but that’s apparently not an option. Kind of sucks to have to go in person when that’s not always feasible. It doesn’t mean you’re not serious about owning one of their watches. But I get it, these are highly sought after, expensive and very limited. It’s still been very frustrating.

[enjoythemusic]

Overall i do understand their ask. I spoke with Simon before the launch of the very first timepiece, before the general public saw the first finished timepiece pic. He / VERY talented watchmakers are moving Horology forward imho, and thank goodness we have guys like Simon, Max, Edouard, etc.

Plus Switzerland is glorious with so much to eat, do, and see. Rent a car and drive around, stick shift, the mountain twisties are fun!!!

jmho

PS: Interlaken...... :)

[WatchEater666]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

I’m waiting to hear what issues bioyuki had but not everyone has the ability to fly out and plead their case in person. I’d happily talk to Simon or anyone from his team over the phone but that’s apparently not an option. Kind of sucks to have to go in person when that’s not always feasible. It doesn’t mean you’re not serious about owning one of their watches. But I get it, these are highly sought after, expensive and very limited. It’s still been very frustrating.

Yeah I get it as I'm not about to fly out either, but I think it's totally fair given he's transparent about it?

The frustrating thing with Rolex or AP for example is that it varies by AD and there is no transparency. You have no clue what could happen.

With Brette, he is very transparent.

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

Yeah I get it as I'm not about to fly out either, but I think it's totally fair given he's transparent about it?

The frustrating thing with Rolex or AP for example is that it varies by AD and there is no transparency. You have no clue what could happen.

With Brette, he is very transparent.

See that’s thing I don’t think it is very transparent. I had no way of even knowing about the real process until someone on this forum told me. I sent an injury through their website, then filled out the questionnaire they sent and waited to hear back. I got another email asking if I was interested in the Gold model, which I said yes to and then never heard back. So I sent a second inquiry a year later and did the same thing. Again nothing. So I said what the hell and sent a DM through Instagram and got a boilerplate response. Finally I got the email everyone else got about the Gold model being allocated and being on some sort of list. At some point I find out the best and probably only way to actually get one of their watches is direct in person communication. Which isn’t possible for everyone and definitely isn’t made clear by them unless you find out from someone else. So why not just say that?

[llngoc]

Originally Posted by WatchEater666

What happened?

I think his process is pretty clear/fair. You simply have to visit him and walk them through your collection?

I get why he wants to do that given production limitations. Personally, I will never fly out to do something specific just for watches, but if I lived nearby I'd probably do it.

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

I’m waiting to hear what issues bioyuki had but not everyone has the ability to fly out and plead their case in person. I’d happily talk to Simon or anyone from his team over the phone but that’s apparently not an option. Kind of sucks to have to go in person when that’s not always feasible. It doesn’t mean you’re not serious about owning one of their watches. But I get it, these are highly sought after, expensive and very limited. It’s still been very frustrating.

To be fair, this is no different than someone like FPJ which also want the potential collector to meet and get acquainted. And most other new and smaller popular independents are operating this way. I am trying to get an Xhevdet allocation and is running into the same issue.

The comparison with Rolex or Patek AD is apple-to-orange. Rolex/Patek AD all want you to buy a bunch of unwanted stuff before allocating you a Daytona/Nautilius. For these independents, you do not need to spend $$$ before you get allocation, you just need to gain their trust. This is to protect the brand and be fair to other collectors. Last thing you want is someone getting an allocation and flip it around while a true collector is missing out.

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by llngoc

To be fair, this is no different than someone like FPJ which also want the potential collector to meet and get acquainted. And most other new and smaller popular independents are operating this way. I am trying to get an Xhevdet allocation and is running into the same issue.

The comparison with Rolex or Patek AD is apple-to-orange. Rolex/Patek AD all want you to buy a bunch of unwanted stuff before allocating you a Daytona/Nautilius. For these independents, you do not need to spend $$$ before you get allocation, you just need to gain their trust. This is to protect the brand and be fair to other collectors. Last thing you want is someone getting an allocation and flip it around while a true collector is missing out.

I absolutely see where they are coming from. It makes total sense in a lot of ways and I don’t fault them for it. My issue is not making that clear from the beginning or really at any other point unless someone not from the brand tells you. Plus there should be an option to speak to people who showed interest who can’t make a trip to Switzerland. You want to vet the person making the inquiry? Totally fair. Then have the process be filling out an online questionnaire and then an option for a more thorough follow up either in person or over the phone. You want to give more weight to an in person visit? Fine. But maybe still speak to everyone else as well. I just am very curious about how much being a true collector matters when I see Kevin O’Leary being an owner.

Sorry if this is coming off a little whiny. It’s really not that big of a deal. It’s just a watch lol. I actually really like this discussion about transparency and allocations. It’s one of the more interesting/frustrating aspects of this hobby. If I get a Simon Brette I’ll be pretty stoked but if I don’t it’s not a big deal. There’s a lot of great watches out there. I’m also still very excited for all the forum members who are getting one.

[ajw45]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

I absolutely see where they are coming from. It makes total sense in a lot of ways and I don’t fault them for it. My issue is not making that clear from the beginning or really at any other point unless someone not from the brand tells you. Plus there should be an option to speak to people who showed interest who can’t make a trip to Switzerland. You want to vet the person making the inquiry? Totally fair. Then have the process be filling out an online questionnaire and then an option for a more thorough follow up either in person or over the phone. You want to give more weight to an in person visit? Fine. But maybe still speak to everyone else as well. I just am very curious about how much being a true collector matters when I see Kevin O’Leary being an owner.

Sorry if this is coming off a little whiny. It’s really not that big of a deal. It’s just a watch lol. I actually really like this discussion about transparency and allocations. It’s one of the more interesting/frustrating aspects of this hobby. If I get a Simon Brette I’ll be pretty stoked but if I don’t it’s not a big deal. There’s a lot of great watches out there. I’m also still very excited for all the forum members who are getting one.

Mr. Wonderful is a great example of the flaw in the process - does hauling your butt all the way to CH for an in person interview mean you're really passionate and a sophisticated collector or just rich with a lot of time on your hands? In contrast, I did an interview with MB&F over zoom and it was fine think they mostly just wanted to make sure I wasn't a flipper or a complete jerk. We conversed over email, found a good common time to chat over zoom given the time difference, had a good conversation within the scheduled time, and they offered me an allocation and rough timing on the spot. They respected my time as a customer and I felt their process was clear and fair with no ambiguity.

I don't think making potential customers go on a pilgrimage to kiss the ring for a chance to buy a watch feels like a respectful process. I'm not in the market for one of the watches but even if I was, there's zero chance I'm going to Switzerland just for an interview. If they offered an allocation on the condition of a visit I would consider it, but just for a chance to be judged with no commitment? No thanks.

[Ichiran]

1 of my friends who got the RG SBCA did not travel to Geneva to meet him, nor even meet him.. I know of a lady collector in my area who got an allocation of the titanium via virtual meeting with him. I visited Simon at Geneva to see his other artisans and also other independent watchmakers. That was a lovely and memorable trip which nobody forces me to go. I have a busy work schedule but I do like watches and visits to workshops.

[ChetBaker]

Originally Posted by FrugalGreubel

If you don’t mind me asking, why did you pass on getting one?

In the end it was mostly down to price. When all’s said and done, after currency conversion and VAT, this is is a EUR 100K watch and I wasn’t comfortable spending that amount of money. It would also have meant that I’d had to offload at least three other watches and given where the market is today that would have meant a haircut and a huge hassle. Either way, I really enjoyed meeting with Simon and getting to handle his personal watch. Very happy for all future owners.

[FrugalGreubel]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

In the end it was mostly down to price. When all’s said and done, after currency conversion and VAT, this is is a EUR 100K watch and I wasn’t comfortable spending that amount of money. It would also have meant that I’d had to offload at least three other watches and given where the market is today that would have meant a haircut and a huge hassle. Either way, I really enjoyed meeting with Simon and getting to handle his personal watch. Very happy for all future owners.

Thank you for sharing. Definitely makes sense and glad to hear you had a great interaction with Simon.

[SakeWatch]

Originally Posted by ChetBaker

In the end it was mostly down to price. When all’s said and done, after currency conversion and VAT, this is is a EUR 100K watch and I wasn’t comfortable spending that amount of money. It would also have meant that I’d had to offload at least three other watches and given where the market is today that would have meant a haircut and a huge hassle. Either way, I really enjoyed meeting with Simon and getting to handle his personal watch. Very happy for all future owners.

Do you think this “disqualifies” you from getting an allocation in the future at all? Or were they understanding? I am pretty interested in SB, filled out the online form, and will probably try to meet him in Geneva in the next 2 years. But like you, I’m a bit ambivalent on the price. I would only do it if offered the absolute perfect version for me in terms of color/metal/design etc.