FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm So other brands rehash their model lineup and that excuses CW doing the same thing? Wow, true believers indeed.

Phil, is it not as much as case of sticking with a winning formula?

Omega stick with variants of the Moonwatch, SMP; Rolex has a relatively narrow range and tweaks those designs. Outside of the watch world, the VW Golf "new" 8th generation is very similar to the 5th/6th/7th generations.

Thegreyman wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:00 pm

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm So other brands rehash their model lineup and that excuses CW doing the same thing? Wow, true believers indeed.

Phil, is it not as much as case of sticking with a winning formula?

Omega stick with variants of the Moonwatch, SMP; Rolex has a relatively narrow range and tweaks those designs. Outside of the watch world, the VW Golf "new" 8th generation is very similar to the 5th/6th/7th generations.

Really? Omega /Rolex releases mainly dive watches now do they?

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:55 pm

Kansas City Milkman wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:53 pm

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm True believers

It was a song reference

Huh?

The context of my reference to 'True believers' is song related rather CW related.

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:55 pm

Kansas City Milkman wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:53 pm

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm True believers

It was a song reference

Huh?

Oh well - don't get into hot water on this one...

I’d say the innovation has been there in the depth of the best selling lines. There isn’t the breadth of lines there used to be, which is obviously being felt by those who aren’t a big fan of what CW is currently selling.

CW made some truly great aviation and motorsport watches IMO. I’d like to see some of those come back.

What I'm saying is there's a bit of a lack of variance and imagination in the CW lineup these days - for whatever reason - whether its covid related or not. If you look a back at say the Christmas 2016 edition of Loupe, you'll see everything from a C70 Brooklands to a C9 D type, a C5 Square or a C1 Malvern or the single hand regulator.

My point is that in my mind CW was an innovative company that weren't afraid of repeating the same fomula thing with one or two models that other watch companies do... I thought they were a bit different, but they've fallen into the safe trap of releasing special editions and variants of tried tested watches...

Kind of reminds me of when in the 80's Ford used to release various 'special editions' of their cars and call them things like the Festival or Laser, or Festival, which were essentially the same cars with go faster stripes!

johnnyhomersimpson wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:09 pm

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:55 pm

Kansas City Milkman wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:53 pm

It was a song reference

Huh?

Oh well - don't get into hot water on this one...

We could legitimately weave Sandstorm in. I'll stop short of referring to Mr Pink

The lines have definitely narrowed but I think it's tough to sell the classic/dress styles these days, divers are what the masses want, hence the Sealander attempt to broaden the offering.

albionphoto wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 4:36 pm …and I wonder if we're seeing the effect of the pandemic and international current logistics problems.

I’m inclined to agree. One can only imagine the impact of the pandemic on global supply chains. We’re seeing it with new car sails, lumber, electronics, heck even the renovations to my school have been effected by global supply chains.

In this context, variations on an established line make a bit of sense.

Kansas City Milkman wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:42 pm

johnnyhomersimpson wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:09 pm

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:55 pm

Huh?

Oh well - don't get into hot water on this one...

We could legitimately weave Sandstorm in. I'll stop short of referring to Mr Pink

I'll see your Mr Pink and raise you the return of the handsome rugged man...

The slimming down of the range could be in preparation for 're-branding '. With CW leaving it would be a good time. There must have been a significant notice period before public announcements.
Then 're-branding' followed with massive release of a new line up?
Did the reductions start with JJ leaving? In looking at the current line up most movements are straight purchases from Sellita. I do miss the dress watches both the slimline and 595 were favourites of mine.
But do echo most of the comments divers probably outsold the other ranges 4:1

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:02 pm

Thegreyman wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:00 pm

FloridaPhil wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 5:51 pm So other brands rehash their model lineup and that excuses CW doing the same thing? Wow, true believers indeed.

Phil, is it not as much as case of sticking with a winning formula?

Omega stick with variants of the Moonwatch, SMP; Rolex has a relatively narrow range and tweaks those designs. Outside of the watch world, the VW Golf "new" 8th generation is very similar to the 5th/6th/7th generations.

Really? Omega /Rolex releases mainly dive watches now do they?

They don’t need to.

There are about 1,500 different size, material, bracelet, dial and indices versions of the DateJust.

Neil

Stuart1 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:57 pm The slimming down of the range could be in preparation for 're-branding '. With CW leaving it would be a good time. There must have been a significant notice period before public announcements.
Then 're-branding' followed with massive release of a new line up?
Did the reductions start with JJ leaving? In looking at the current line up most movements are straight purchases from Sellita. I do miss the dress watches both the slimline and 595 were favourites of mine.
But do echo most of the comments divers probably outsold the other ranges 4:1

Or it could be in preparation of a selling of the business... you never know these days.

johnnyhomersimpson wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 1:18 pm Where's the innovation, where's the choice?

I don't think it is same old, same old. More same new, same new. And it appears succesful.

Variations of the new models and the development of complimentary core ranges against a more consistent brand identity. Whilst at the same time discontinuing older, likely less popular lines leaving a gap in the range available.

The OP references both lack of a range and lack of innovation. There is a lack of range but not a lack of innovation in my view. Super compressor, sapphire, bronze variations, military line, C63 including elite, moonglow, world timer, the list goes on.

Some of the models that have been dropped looked dated in my view and not befitting of the brand. Perhaps there will be further development in the future of the range but it will come in areas where there is a demand. Dive and sport are the focus of most at the moment.

Like others have said, across many industries the capacity to provide components has diminished and the manufacturing time and resources that are available will be used to bring a return for the in demand products.

Also, the CW move to 12 on most of the new releases may mean that an overhaul is required for other ranges. Although it is said that the wordmark will only be at 12 where it fits better, maybe they need to design a lot of new dials to do that, or simply put the date at 3 and have a ready made reason why after all this time it has eventually moved to 12.

Stuart1 wrote: ↑Sun Aug 29, 2021 6:57 pm The slimming down of the range could be in preparation for 're-branding '. With CW leaving it would be a good time. There must have been a significant notice period before public announcements.
Then 're-branding' followed with massive release of a new line up?
Did the reductions start with JJ leaving? In looking at the current line up most movements are straight purchases from Sellita. I do miss the dress watches both the slimline and 595 were favourites of mine.
But do echo most of the comments divers probably outsold the other ranges 4:1

Why do you think CW had a significant notice period before anything was made public?

Setting aside the point that in corporate life when a senior person leaves they are generally just gone, there is also the not insignificant detail that IIRC CW was not a significant shareholder in the business.

Neil