New Collab - 1019 ALYX 9SM

[SylvainDXB]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

A statement piece? for ugliness? It looks horrible and they have butchered the RO and they keep butchering it.

The RO was one of my favorite watches and designs but ever since the hype a couple of years ago it became TOO much, overdone, too many silly editions. Such a shame.

What I meant to convey was that the collection was "loud" and most watches falling into the "conversation piece" category...

Again, being on this forum, I think we need to slightly cast confirmation bias to the side for a minute. Like (I'm assuming) everybody when I first saw the collection, I immediately pictured the target market, and while this carve-out of collectors does not resonate with me (nor do I identify with them), I wanted to take a step back to digest the collection. I was actually very surprised when a lot of people in my entourage did find one or several pieces appealing. Surprisingly, most of the people who voiced a favorable opinion were very very far removed from the target customer that I had formed in my mind...

At the end of the day beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder, and for every negative argument one could make on any of the 4 watches, somebody could articulate an equally impactful counter argument to justify why they like the watch, and that's the beauty of it all!!!

So again, it is for me, apart from the 37mm that I don't find offensive at all, the answer is no. Is it a divisive collab? For sure it is! Will it sell? You bet! Should I judge people for liking this collaboration? Absolutely not.

The only tidbits I feel strongly about are the following:
- on 2 occasions very similar watches were produced in the past (Arjandas and MAD Paris), so it feels like a rehash, but then again, there isn't a thousand ways to convey your brand identity and design language using the same canvas, it is what it is.
- use of form over function should have been vetoed. I honestly can't wrap my head around the chrono without sub-dials or markers, to me it's the biggest faux pas when you are part of the "holly trinity".

It's gonna be very interesting to see with whom these watches land!

[Cru Jones]

Other than the ridiculous “1017 ALYX 9SM” text, I kinda like the clean and minimalist design.

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by SylvainDXB

So again, it is for me, apart from the 37mm that I don't find offensive at all, the answer is no. Is it a divisive collab? For sure it is! Will it sell? You bet! Should I judge people for liking this collaboration? Absolutely not.

If the 37mm was a straight AP release, without the co-branding, it would be much less divisive. If it then also was bigger, I'd definitely inquire.

The only tidbits I feel strongly about are the following:
- on 2 occasions very similar watches were produced in the past (Arjandas and MAD Paris), so it feels like a rehash, but then again, there isn't a thousand ways to convey your brand identity and design language using the same canvas, it is what it is.

That makes it a bit confusing - very close to the ALYX/MAD edition, which I didn't think was "official" AP. Not really breaking new ground.

- use of form over function should have been vetoed. I honestly can't wrap my head around the chrono without sub-dials or markers, to me it's the biggest faux pas when you are part of the "holly trinity".

If one wants to get philosophical, that's much more honest than e.g. the Rolex "tool watch" professional model shtick. Anything beyond a Casio, Seiko or Apple watch is better judged as jewelry, not as an overpriced and underperforming tool for diving, timing or timezone hopping etc.

[SylvainDXB]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

If one wants to get philosophical, that's much more honest than e.g. the Rolex "tool watch" professional model shtick. Anything beyond a Casio, Seiko or Apple watch is better judged as jewelry, not as an overpriced and underperforming tool for diving, timing or timezone hopping etc.

Agree that the “professional” aspect is highly debatable, however their dive watches have timing bezels, their GMT a second 24h time zone and their chronos a readable time scale, professional or not, it does the job announced.
I get it, having a non usable chrono for the sake of design might (and will be) enjoyed by a few, I just don’t think that AP was the right canvas for this, that’s all

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[vliberman]

Originally Posted by SylvainDXB

Agree that the “professional” aspect is highly debatable, however their dive watches have timing bezels, their GMT a second 24h time zone and their chronos a readable time scale, professional or not, it does the job announced.
I get it, having a non usable chrono for the sake of design might (and will be) enjoyed by a few, I just don’t think that AP was the right canvas for this, that’s all

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Rolex unlike most brands can still be enjoyed as a sports/ tool watch that will be robust and accurate. Anecdotally, my submariner outperformed G-schock which flew away while wing foiling whereas Rolex just kept on performing admirably. This is the appeal of that brand imho.

As one goes up the food chain horologically perception often is that sports models from AP or other haute horology group are just as good which they are not.

[SoylentGreenChi]

These models are not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate them and can easily see many folks enjoying them.

AP remains my favorite brand, but that is based on their historic catalog and the fact that my local AP boutique has been very kind to me. But being honest, in terms of current market position and design, AP today is Hublot with a legacy “holy trinity” reputation. Maybe that means we should hold Hublot in higher esteem than we do, rather than take the Hublot comparison as a critique of AP. But other than a few Royal Oaks, there’s nothing in the lineup that I would consider adding to my collection. In fact, I’m paying less and less attention to AP and am beginning to consider selling my Royal Oak, which at one time I would have thought unthinkable.

[l_chissle]

Anyone know how much the piece unique auction ended up at?

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by l_chissle

anyone know how much the piece unique auction ended up at?

$1000000.

[SMD]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

For someone who felt compelled to announce they were "Exiting the brand" you seem really emotionally invested here

https://festival.sundance.org/progra...dd3db3688056f0

[SMD]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

These models are not my cup of tea, but I can appreciate them and can easily see many folks enjoying them.

AP remains my favorite brand, but that is based on their historic catalog and the fact that my local AP boutique has been very kind to me. But being honest, in terms of current market position and design, AP today is Hublot with a legacy “holy trinity” reputation. Maybe that means we should hold Hublot in higher esteem than we do, rather than take the Hublot comparison as a critique of AP. But other than a few Royal Oaks, there’s nothing in the lineup that I would consider adding to my collection. In fact, I’m paying less and less attention to AP and am beginning to consider selling my Royal Oak, which at one time I would have thought unthinkable.

Please list a single horological accomplishment from Hublot.

Quote from CEO of Hublot: "Hublots are for people, well, that maybe they don't have an incredible education in watches,"

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

But being honest, in terms of current market position and design, AP today is Hublot with a legacy “holy trinity” reputation.

If one claims that AP has become a fashion brand, shouldn't one at least attempt an argument on why the RD#4 Code Universelle, the Code Grande Sonnerie, the RD#2/ultra-thin QP, the RD#3 ultra-thin tourbillon and the Concept split second chrono/GMT should be discounted? That seems to easily match or exceed the "haute horlogerie" innovation of any major brand in the last years. Ignoring that for the sake of snark seems so Reddit...

[John Doyle]

Half swiss, half american, full on TRASH fashion watch.

[Vipes]

Originally Posted by EdwardC

I think I'm getting old.

I like what AP offered in the past. Maybe I'm not a hippy or just not educated enough to appreciate their recent offerings.

Me too.

[Palex]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

If one claims that AP has become a fashion brand, shouldn't one at least attempt an argument on why the RD#4 Code Universelle, the Code Grande Sonnerie, the RD#2/ultra-thin QP, the RD#3 ultra-thin tourbillon and the Concept split second chrono/GMT should be discounted? That seems to easily match or exceed the "haute horlogerie" innovation of any major brand in the last years. Ignoring that for the sake of snark seems so Reddit...

Exactly this!

[GW44]

Originally Posted by SMD

Please list a single horological accomplishment from Hublot.

Quote from CEO of Hublot: "Hublots are for people, well, that maybe they don't have an incredible education in watches,"

That pretty much encapsulates Hublot in one

[l_chissle]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

$1000000.

Is that a joke?

[VogelPhoenix]

Originally Posted by l_chissle

Is that a joke?

https://robbreport.co.uk/style/watch...ty-1234703778/

[huncho]

surprised this is getting so much hate considering it's just a minimalistic release. not like they're putting comic book characters in the dial here

[John Doyle]

Originally Posted by huncho

surprised this is getting so much hate considering it's just a minimalistic release. not like they're putting comic book characters in the dial here

Yeah these ones you mention are really on a different league in terms of objective ugliness.

[gretch6364]

Originally Posted by VogelPhoenix

https://robbreport.co.uk/style/watch...ty-1234703778/

Interesting how they appear to have chosen old movements for the other collab chrono's and the inhouse movement for the charity piece.