Are there any watch ambassadors that put you off the brand completely?
There are some spectacular brand ambassadors that represent the watch brand perfectly. Their endorsement and representation of the brand brings more customers to the brand and reinforces the brand image.
I would argue that George Clooney has been a great brand ambassador for Omega. Likewise, Daniel Craig (and the fictional Bond character) has also been added to the brand image for Omega. Roger Federer has represented the sporting excellence of Rolex.
So when I saw the new Aaron Rodgers edition of the Zenith Chronomaster Sport, I was a bit shocked. I don’t personally have any like or dislike of Mr. Rodgers. But I know he is a polarizing personality. Which is why I found it curious why Zenith would choose to partner with a celebrity that has so much baggage. Surely, Mr. Rodger’s deal didn’t come cheap for Zenith, and for that money they could’ve surely found another celebrity with less controversy.
Again - I have no qualm with Mr. Rodger’s. So consider this post a study in marketing.
What are some of the best and worst brand ambassadors / endorsements that you’ve seen? List them in the comments below.
EDIT @ 21:45, 11/1/2023:
many good comments here. i agree that i (and it seems many of you fellow Crunchers) wouldn’t be influenced to like or buy a watch because a certain ambassador is tied to the brand. i think we’re here because we like watches first and foremost and the brand ambassador matters less.
in the case i highlighted with Zenith and Aaron Rodgers, i guess my specific question is would a brand’s association with a figure, that is known to be controversial and holds certain views, put you off the brand. to bring the thought experiment to an extreme: let’s say a brand were to sign Trump or Biden (take your pick depending which side of the aisle you’re on) would it make you question the brand’s sanity and values so much that you wouldn’t buy that brand? (Sorry to bring politics into this but i realize Aaron Rodgers is a minor celebrity and not everyone knows him so i figured i would bring the thought experiment to figures that everyone is more likely to know. don’t focus so much on the specific individuals of Trump or Biden so much as the thought exercise of a brand aligning themselves with a polarizing figure.)
Lifelong watch lover. Learning more every day about this hobby. See more photos on IG @morebillablehours
Oof! Not my cup of tea!
Never heard of Aaron Rodgers. So he doesn’t affect my Zenith post-purchase feelings in any way. Not really that aware of watch ambassadors for that matter (only the Bond - Omega thing actively registered with me), so no real opinion on best and worst examples :) Wait, I know Max Verstappen (Dutch F1 driver) wears Tag Heuer. But that does not affect how I feel about Tag one iota..
From the archives … I know Travolta owns planes, flies them, etc. but just not a fan of him - not even sure if he helped Breitling’s sales (prob not)😏
To me a brand ambassador doesn't sell a watch to me , sometimes a character played by an actor will do it more for me , famously James bond
Beckham and Lady Gaga kept me away from Tudor, I do not know Aron Rodger, I like Georges Clooney with Omega. It all really depends...
Oof! Not my cup of tea!
Artie Lange for A. Lange & Söhne didn't quite work as intended.
I imagine the segment of watch enthusiasts who are in the market for a Zenith AND who both know/care about Aaron Rodgers is so incredibly small I don’t think it even matters. I mean, he is an American football player who played most his illustrious career in Green Bay. I doubt his recent notoriety, nor his trade to the Jets, has elevated him to Michael Jordan status levels of famous outside the US, so again, real small segment of folks who this might matter to.
For me, brand ambassadors do very little to move the needle on my interest to buy a watch. I may be the odd one out, but it doesn’t matter how many famous people a brand pays to wear a watch, it’s likely not to change my feelings on it.
I would think that an ambassador I don't like would put me off a brand because of the investment in the ambassador. The brand could still be making a great watch, I would just be put off by the ethos of the brand. Would definitely still consider the watch because, ambassadors are ultimately just paid models and once they're off payroll they're just another person but richer.
For me, I’m not influenced one way or the other about brand ambassadors. Those are just the glossy marketing campaigns which I tend to ignore. I’m interested in the history and/or the build quality for the most part.
I don't care one bit, one way or the other, about who is an ambassador for the watches I like. If I like the watch I'll buy it regardless of whose name is associated with it.
I've really tried to not let celebrities influence anything I do/feel/think about anything that isn't them specifically.
That said, if I was in the market for a Zenith, I'd probably wait for Rodgers to no longer be associated with the brand before making a purchase.
The only brand ambassador I care about:
Most of the time i only care about watches, ambassador celebrities imo just marketing things focus on not watch nerd people
And of course, let's not forget Ayrton..
All of us great racing drivers of the 80’s and 90’s had one.
The brand ambassadors don’t sway me one bit. I just care about the watch.
I believe the real ambassadors of certain brands are those people who wear it in real life and that becomes a statement to a point where general public wants to emulate it or be part of that group - The best example is Cartier Tank - When the great Ali wore tiny tank on his massive wrist - a dress watch with t-shirt and the newspapers published that image it made Tank iconic forever - I literally purchased my Cartier Tank because that image of Ali wearing it with so much confidence and flair without pretension and a rebel with a cause in everything he did naturally has been etched in my memory - Even in paid promotions and movies when a watch is shown as part of the personality and has some meaning attached to it, it elevates the brand - the best example if JLC Reverso and how Christian Bale wears it as Bruce Wayne because like the watch he has two personas and at night he is a different person vesus daytime. And of course Hamilton got the best mileage because that was the watch daughter kept while her dad was away in Intersteller - The story sometimes surpasses just the mere personality of the brand ambassador.
From now on, I'm only buying watches from whatever brand Bobcat Goldthwait endorses.
Interesting for sure. I would think he would have been into Fliegers. Maybe he wanted something water resistant for all the time he spent fishing
What couldn’t he do…the “9” in my user is of course for Teddy Ballgame
What couldn’t he do…the “9” in my user is of course for Teddy Ballgame
Awesome!
Helluva Marine Aviator!
Awesome!
Helluva Marine Aviator!
Still kicking myself for not buying this when it was being auctioned
Still kicking myself for not buying this when it was being auctioned
That would be sick!
It's a Resco Patriot Gen One I own one and love it. The company was founded and owned by a SEAL in San Diego
Great stuff… but currently out Of my range…I will keep on honouring the fellow frogmen with my indestructible Casio DW6600, the one issued in the late 90s. Take care. Greetings from Spain
Aaron Rodgers? He just throws a football. What does he know about watches? Although that is heartwarming when zillion dollar celebrities are given a chance to make a few more bucks.
The average man or woman watch enthusiast would do much better following the 'Unofficial' ambassadors right here, for example:
ChronoGuy - Seiko
PalletFork - Invicta
casiodean - Skmei and Sekonda
TimexBadger - Timex
Etc.
yes, all of them !
Love the green dial Zenith El Primero chronograph and I respect the talent of Aaron Rodgers, but I couldn't care less about most brand ambassadors. I'm sure that there may be some subliminal preferences going on in my subconscious, but honestly brand ambassadors usually do not factor into my decision to purchase a particular watch or any other item.
Mr B. Pitt I think is an horrible watch company ambassador.. Mr G. Cloney is the best at the role honestly...
I don't know how relevant this is, but when I saw Kevin O'Leary on Teddy Baldassare 's YouTube, I lost a bit of interest in Teddy.