Flame Away!

[MitchSF]

This proposal was received from a Swiss manufacturer, and was unsolicited. What do you think? Specs are as follows:

42mm
Sapphire
REAL SWISS 2893-2 GMT movement
Can be made with this dial, or the LM-1/2 dial
Swiss Made, and 50 can be delivered in January
You know the rest
$399

http://www.ocean7watchco.com/GMT.jpg

[Malyel]

Hi Mitch,
I don't think the design brings anything new to the table. The design is completely at odds with the other watches in your line. To me it looks to much like a Steinhart watch, which have never been my cup of tea.

I do believe a GMT and a chronograph should be part of the Ocean7 line. Have you considered using a SW500 instead of 7750 for the chrono?:think:

[mr2blue]

It looks like another variation of a dive watch that 20+ company's make.

I would wear it. It's not a a bad looking watch for the price, but it has been done (overdone) before.

[MitchSF]

Hi Mitch,
I don't think the design brings anything new to the table. The design is completely at odds with the other watches in your line. To me it looks to much like a Steinhart watch, which have never been my cup of tea.

I do believe a GMT and a chronograph should be part of the Ocean7 line. Have you considered using a SW500 instead of 7750 for the chrono?:think:

Hi Cannon,

I agree that it is nothing new, but in this case it's not supposed to be. I don't want to dismiss this as I did initially with the LM-3, only to find out that lots of people loved the watch with other brand names on the dial.

There will definitely be GMT and chrono ediitions of existing models coming next year, but the timing depends on sales and movement availability. Personally I'd like to see a LM-5 chrono and TT718 120 hour power reserve. I think these watches in ceramic, would be very unique.

Mitch

[MitchSF]

It looks like another variation of a dive watch that 20+ company's make.

I would wear it. It's not a a bad looking watch for the price, but it has been done (overdone) before.

Funny, that was my exact comment to the manufacturer, but he said it was a bread and butter watch that sells very well and at this price will introduce customers to the brand.

He makes it for several other companies. One thing to consider is that any 2893-2 based watch that sells for much less than this may very well use a fake 2893-2.

Mitch

[NSG1Tausend]

Mitch I like what you did to the hands.
Regards
robert
This proposal was received from a Swiss manufacturer, and was unsolicited. What do you think? Specs are as follows:

42mm
Sapphire
REAL SWISS 2893-2 GMT movement
Can be made with this dial, or the LM-1/2 dial
Swiss Made, and 50 can be delivered in January
You know the rest
$399

http://www.ocean7watchco.com/GMT.jpg

[mr2blue]

Funny, that was my exact comment to the manufacturer, but he said it was a bread and butter watch that sells very well and at this price will introduce customers to the brand.

He makes it for several other companies. One thing to consider is that any 2893-2 based watch that sells for much less than this may very well use a fake 2893-2.

Mitch

How does he certify that the ebauche is from ETA and not a Chinese fake?

[MitchSF]

Mitch I like what you did to the hands.
Regards
robert

Hi Robert,

I didn't do this, it was a proposal presented to me. Then I asked to see what it would look like with the LM-1/2 dial, and we'll have that drawing on Monday.

Mitch

[MitchSF]

How does he certify that the ebauche is from ETA and not a Chinese fake?

I doubt that he would risk the business in that way. This is a Swiss company. I have no concerns about this.

Mitch

[S.L]

You asked for it... ;-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/stampe/Forumpics/b65ca052.jpg

Seriously, dont do it Mitch. :-(
Would devalue your brand identity IMO.

/Stefan

[Brad Trent]

Ummm...if I wanted a Rolex..........

BT

[MitchSF]

Ummm...if I wanted a Rolex..........

BT

Come on, this looks nothing like a Rolex!

Mitch

[Malyel]

I don't want to dismiss this as I did initially with the LM-3, only to find out that lots of people loved the watch with other brand names on the dial.


In the the case of the LM-3, no one was/is making a sub $400 watch with that case. If you wanted a watch with that style case you had to step up to near $1,000. With the GMT clone, there are other's who use the same case at the same $400 price point. You also have others making similar GMT clones in the sub $150 that have been well received for what they cost. By throwing your hands on this model you would be just watering down your brand.

[Malyel]

Ummm...if I wanted a Rolex..........

BT

Cheap shot Brad!

It's more like, if I wanted a Steinhart......

http://www.steinhartwatches.com/store/images/gmt-ocean-1-black-orange.jpg

[MitchSF]

Cheap shot Brad!

It's more like, if I wanted a Steinhart......

http://www.steinhartwatches.com/store/images/gmt-ocean-1-black-orange.jpg

What do you know....and I thought we had a unique design!

Mitch

[NSG1Tausend]

Hum I thought the picture Mitch showed us looked a lot like the Binnacle watches but with the 07 hands, still not into it , but someone will be.
Regards
Robert

What do you know....and I thought we had a unique design!

Mitch

[salmonia]

You asked for it... ;-)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v197/stampe/Forumpics/b65ca052.jpg

Seriously, dont do it Mitch. :-(
Would devalue your brand identity IMO.

/Stefan


You are right S.L.!...bigtime devaluation!!

regs,
salmonia

[Brad Trent]

"...Come on, this looks nothing like a Rolex!"

Riiiiight! Nothing at all like a Rolex...

http://www.rolexreferencepage.com/gmt2review/gmt1.jpg

Next!!!

BT

[Tragic]

Hi Cannon,

I agree that it is nothing new, but in this case it's not supposed to be. I don't want to dismiss this as I did initially with the LM-3, only to find out that lots of people loved the watch with other brand names on the dial.

There will definitely be GMT and chrono ediitions of existing models coming next year, but the timing depends on sales and movement availability. Personally I'd like to see a LM-5 chrono and TT718 120 hour power reserve. I think these watches in ceramic, would be very unique.

Mitch

Mitch I get credit for turning you on to the technotime 120 hr. watches and hereby claim a 20$ discount!
Have your assistant in charge of making mental notes make a mental note of that please! :-)

[MitchSF]

Mitch I get credit for turning you on to the technotime 120 hr. watches and hereby claim a 20$ discount!
Have your assistant in charge of making mental notes make a mental note of that please! :-)

Personally I would have asked for more than $20, but that's fine with me! The LM-5 manufacturer has extensive experience with Technotime's quartz movements, but this will be the first time for their mechanicals. I'm not surprised because of the price, and I have to be sure the watch will sell at around $1500, more or less.

Mitch

[Tragic]

Lets call it 20$ and an option for a low s.n. then...lol.
I think a 120 hr. power reserve will be a fantastic selling point Mitch.
Now we've properly gotten this thread off topic....carry on!

[Echizen]

I agree with the others...it's just too common. True, it might attract some customers, but I don't think a model like this has a place in the Ocean7 line up, if the company were to continue down it's current path of being unique.

[MitchSF]

Here's the updated drawing from the manufacturer.
Mitch



http://www.ocean7watchco.com/GMTorange.jpg

[Molle]

Here's the updated drawing from the manufacturer.
Mitch

Did they forget the GMT hand? :-S

/Stefan

[MitchSF]

Did they forget the GMT hand? :-S

/Stefan

Hi Stefan,
Very funny. They did leave it out. I pointed it out to them.

Mitch

[MitchSF]

http://www.ocean7watchco.com/GMTo1.jpg

[mike03]

I am not a GMT guy but I have to say, this one looks great. Way better than some doing that style! :-!

[Brad Trent]

http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/rant.gif...

http://www.smilies.our-local.co.uk/index_files/yawn2.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/blink.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/dunno.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/middle.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/pout.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/scratch.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/trouble.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/thumbdown.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/yuck.gif http://members.memlane.com/opal/images/yikes.gif

I Has Spoke!

BT

[scottjal]

Hi Cannon,

I agree that it is nothing new, but in this case it's not supposed to be. I don't want to dismiss this as I did initially with the LM-3, only to find out that lots of people loved the watch with other brand names on the dial.

There will definitely be GMT and chrono ediitions of existing models coming next year, but the timing depends on sales and movement availability. Personally I'd like to see a LM-5 chrono and TT718 120 hour power reserve. I think these watches in ceramic, would be very unique.

Mitch

Could be a good marketing decision to get the name out there more. It's got to sell, it does have the classic looks that many like, your audience demographic here is definitely skewed to the arcane.


I don't think I have seen a chrono LM-5 mockup yet though, it is a shame the 7750 is so backed up. Either way (chrono and TT718) the LM-5 would be on my shopping list, maybe both!

[Malyel]

Hi Mitch,
The watch reminds me of a kit car. It's trying too hard to be something it's not. The gmt-master has such an iconic case, bezel and gmt hand that any design borrowing those elements looks awkward. I can think of a handful of watch companies that have done their versions using that watch case already. When you and LaHugh started work on the Ocean7 line, you could have taken the easy road and put your dial in a Sub case and put it out but is that really what the Ocean7 line is about? In my opinion, that's what this gmt looks like. Something slapped together from leftover parts.:-( It's not a watch that I would buy but it's existence would not keep me from buying the LM-1, LM-2, LM-3, LM-4 and LM-5.;-)

http://www.carsecrets.com/testa.jpg

Now if you want to design a new watch that borrows from a classic design, I vote for a modern version of the classic Breitling Super Ocean. :-p

http://www.heirloom2.com/images/20060319/bre_06_03192006.jpg

[MitchSF]

Could be a good marketing decision to get the name out there more. It's got to sell, it does have the classic looks that many like, your audience demographic here is definitely skewed to the arcane.


I don't think I have seen a chrono LM-5 mockup yet though, it is a shame the 7750 is so backed up. Either way (chrono and TT718) the LM-5 would be on my shopping list, maybe both!

Scottjal - The manufacturer is really pushing this hard, and he probably has good reason since he sells several thousand each year, but few in the USA.

He's offering us the latest watch in the picture with either the bezel shown or an all black bezel (customer's choice).

The LM-5 manufacturer can probably source 7750's on the 'spot' market. We are trying to figure out how to make the case so the 6498, 7750, and TT718 will fit using different movement spacers. The mold cost is very high on ceramic.

Cannon - I appreciate the analogy, but I'm not sure it really fits here. I would never buy a kit car, but I would consider this watch, and I think others will, too. I have to think beyond this forum.

If I do go ahead with this it will not be part of the LM series. It will be called the G-1. He also has a non-GMT version that looks really good too, but that's not on the table now. This is also very attractive because I can order 50 to start. That's not an economical quantity for a manufacturer to make when he has to design a new dial and hands, so he's risking something, too.

We'll see.

Mitch

[scottjal]

Scottjal - The manufacturer is really pushing this hard, and he probably has good reason since he sells several thousand each year, but few in the USA.

Oh I get it, he is trying to branch out as well, through you. Could be win-win? :think:

He's offering us the latest watch in the picture with either the bezel shown or an all black bezel (customer's choice).

The LM-5 manufacturer can probably source 7750's on the 'spot' market. We are trying to figure out how to make the case so the 6498, 7750, and TT718 will fit using different movement spacers. The mold cost is very high on ceramic.

Cool!

Cannon - I appreciate the analogy, but I'm not sure it really fits here. I would never buy a kit car, but I would consider this watch, and I think others will, too. I have to think beyond this forum.

Where do you go to reach this market segment? Magazine or internet adds? Give some out to people and have them walk around the city's? :gold

Don't be dissing the kit cars, one of these days I want to build a Factory Five Coupe. B-)

If I do go ahead with this it will not be part of the LM series. It will be called the G-1. He also has a non-GMT version that looks really good too, but that's not on the table now. This is also very attractive because I can order 50 to start. That's not an economical quantity for a manufacturer to make when he has to design a new dial and hands, so he's risking something, too.

Good call, this will be your "Tudor" line and clearly different from the LM's. I understand the dial but aren't the hands off the shelf or are you spec'ing those custom?

Mitch
.

[MitchSF]

I think it would be a good entry level product, and yes, the manufacturer would like to sell more over here.

The hands must be custom made. The molds for the LM-1, LM-2, and LM-3 are all different, and unfortunately all are too large.

Advertising next year will be Internet search engine based, and WatchTime full page ads. The advertising manager at the magazine was very helpful. I asked for information twice from hr:Watches magazine, but they never responded. Their loss.

With all that advertising, if 50 of these watches don't sell, we're in the wrong business.

Mitch