Bites: How lazy will we let brands be?

I need that Squirtle Boldr in my life now... Damn you Kaysia! 😤

I like the beautiful ocean dial and bezel accents of the new PADI collab. This one feels more elaborate than just a new dial color. But I can't say I'm a fan of the three logos printed on the dial now... It's getting busy.

I hate to labour a point (you'll notice that won't stop me) but this is the only true WC collaboration watch...

I'm thinking of doing another custom build for charity... whaddaya say?!

after a few dozen year designing a watch maybe they became tired and lazy lol

thank you for the post mention #watchjourney2023 I've been in contact with @AboutVintage (Danni) who would like to do a collaboration with me for another travel watch, so watch (pardon the pun) this space! 😀 thank you Ben

I can't believe they only released those Boldr Pokémon watches to a limited market 😭

WHY??!

That was/is a very beautiful watch, and yes, you win top points for true collaboration 👏

Have we seen wrist shots of this yet??

The Venusaur mecha-quartz chrono would be mine in a heartbeat if available in NA, boldr is missing out on a huge market for this collab...

I judge too harshly you think? 😆

Tbf, I couldn't design a watch to save my life ... but then, it's not my job 😋

'Another' one?

You mean another Casio flying around the world??

I wonder if they just thought Pokémon interest was higher in the eastern markets??? I can't believe that though...🤷‍♀

Congrats to the winners of the Photo Club Weekly Challenge! Your shots @Fiatjeepdriver @Timely_Moments were really cool.

Thanks @Deeperblue for highlighting my post re. various bracelet and strap options for #greendials. I hope it proves helpful to many.

Finally, yet another good discussion topic. One of my favorite collab pieces was the Lorier Safari. The copper sector dial with explorer 12-3-6-9 was amazing.

no an about vintage watch this time, see my message I've sent you to the inbox 😀

This is awesome 😎😎😎😎

Thanks @UnholiestJedi!

No wrist shots. We had a little challenge in shipping, customs, etc which meant its done a grand tour of Europe.

It's up to @angelos to post the wrist shots once he has the watch.

I'm personally a fan of the Revolution Watch and Grail Watch collaborations. They are always something unique and special and limited editions in the truest sense of the phrase.

Here is an example of the famous Zenith "Cover Girl"...the reissue was limited to 250 pieces (which sold out instantly) and was nicknamed the "Airweight Cover Girl" as the case and the bracelet were highly polished high grade titanium. The vintage-style Gay Freres ladder bracelet in titanium is spectactular and that dial is amazing...

Another example is the Parmigiani Fleurier Tonda PF with its unique salmon dial limited to 25 pieces (again sold out instantly)...truly superb watch...

There was also the Nivada Grenchen Depthmaster "No Barracuda" in full DLC black case and bracelet...super tough and bad ass limited edition...

Then there was the incredible Franck Muller 3 piece box set with the reissues, including original NOS Lemania chronograph movements (just like the originals from the 1980s) for the two single sided chronographs, and a reissue of the famous double-sided chronograph (the second chroograph on reverse shown here as studio image)...

I could keep going with the Hanhart 417 in 39mm in bronze with copper dial, but you get the idea...

These are real collaborations where a lot of thought went into them.

I personally think the changing of colours and packaging that up as a “complete redesign” is a little lazy, *coughs in John Mayer X G Shock*.

For me, it needs to involve subtleties in case shape, bezel, the hands, and the bracelet/strap. Maybe even case size that works best for that collaborator or their target demographic. You know, a cumulative basket of features that show you mean it.

In the industrial design world, you need at least 7 distinct differences between your product and the competitor, so I’d like to use that as a handy rubric for what is deemed as lazy versus intentional.

I’m still on the Ohtani signature on the clasp…I’d have it scratched off by 3pm 😂

Yes, in person would be fantastic. Crosshair, sector dial, 3-6-9, minute track, lollipop seconds hand... design elements I love. And the case design... really cool. 😎

I may not care much about baseball, but I can see the appeal of a collab "with" a superstar player, even if it's mostly limited to changing things to their team's colors. But the main sign of collaboration here is that signature, and given the fate of virtually all clasps, it's gonna be nothing but a big scrape within a year of ownership. I mean, sign the caseback?!

They're sitting there in my local AD. Does anyone want them for me to buy in your behalf and ship over? I won't make any profit, happy to be a free intermediary. My son made me try them on!

Eh...just ask one of the WC members in Singapore to buy it and ship it to you. Done.

Here are my favourite collabs in my collection. Autodromo feature highly with their recent Hodinkee Group B Martini S4 and last year’s Worn and Wound 10th Anniversary. Also the Timex W&W, Seiko Think the Earth; and Nezumi Ruf Yellowbird II. All very creative, well designed, conversation starters, and a pleasure to wear.

#casio #gshock DW-5600SMB-4. Hands down. Best collab ever, but not subtle at all.

As always, a great read with some thought provoking content! I have recently been thinking about this a bit myself owing to a few recent collaboration purchases from Islander.

First, the good (at least in my opinion, and honestly, it is great to me), my Islander/Urban Gentry Rangemaster.

This is a good collaboration between TGV and Marc that gave us an homage with its own unique design flair. According to the two of them, it took two years to design and produce the Rangemaster, and it was well worth it in my opinion. This has become one of my favorite watches in my collection.

Now, the less than good, my Spinnaker/Islander Hi Beat Croft and my Phoibos/Islander Reef Master.

Don't get me wrong, I do like both of these watches. However, when compared to the Rangemaster, there is much less that is unique about these. The Croft has a slightly different bezel, a unique color combination, and the Islander logo, but is still pretty much a Croft, and the Reef Master only has the Islander name and a unique dial color; other than that, it is the same as the other new Reef Master releases. Of course, both are numbered releases like the Rangemaster, but in terms of actual collaboration, are quite lazy when compared to the aforementioned Rangemaster. I think this may be similar behavior to the bigger brands, with a fewer number of actual collaborations and more just slapping a different color combination together, or slapping a logo or name on an existing model. Just look at all the Citizen collaborations with Marvel, Disney, Star Wars, and now Avatar! Dials with pictures and logos, nothing more. Just my two cents.

Problem with colabs is they're mostly embarrassingly naff! Pokémon? Black Panther? Mario? I get it the cheaper stuff entices kids to get into the hobby, but high horology Disney/game stuff is just seriously cringe, not "fun" just embarrassing.... honestly, could you take your bank manager seriously if he was wearing a Tag Mario watch?!! 😂😂

thanks @Deeperblue !

I always spend way too long catching up on the articles you compile, and don’t get to your fun editorial until a few days later and few thousand comments have already been made

I’d push back a little - your critique was about collabs: why is it pertinent how many, or how few, of a collab is made?

For me, the number released does not relate to it being a good or bad collaboration

my alpinist x Ginza is “limited” to 3500 !! (so not at all limited, according to popular opinion) but the price has already doubled because demand exceeds supply. I think they just make the number they figure will sell.

And while I support the JM crunch watch, I don’t see it as drastically different than your examples of ‘bad collabs’ in that its basically just colorway changes. Like others in this thread, I mistakenly thought it was to be an example of a bad collab 😂

For me, a good collab has both good design AND very different features to show off. Not simple color change or stamping Stranger Things in red mid dial - that looks tacky!

My good collab: Oris Aquis Star Wars: glowing Tie fighter dive bezel pip, Imperial mark is the seconds subdial, Death Star dial face with Vader V Skywalksr circle around it, embossed stormtrooper caseback with quote from Ben Kenobi about stormtroopers in the 1977 classic movie.

they made it a limited 1300 (so not really limited?) but I think 1977 would’ve been a more meaningful number

Very pleased

Hello Dominos? Can I get a large with Bulgari, Calatrava, and extra Cellini?

No. And I can buy my sub $200 Seikos, Citizens, Tissots and Casios without him.