Relevant? Popular? Or Ignorance?
When I was a younger sap, these brands were very popular, but nowadays they’ve seem to lost their luster? As I grow older l, with a sense of nostalgia, I find myself yearning for them? I know some brands more popular in some countries than in orders like Ulysses in Russia and Bell and Ross in Australia … I think .. but what are your thoughts? Would you purchase them? Why have they fallen from relevance or am I completely wrong?
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Simon
Welcome to my WatchCrunch profile.
Shanghai, China
Member since
Last active: 1 hr ago
6.50” / 16.51 cm
I have no enmity towards any of these, but no real love either.
Love the forum bubble skating circa 2008, Frank muller jump hour crazy dial, always been a fan of the bell and Ross ceramic, and the FREAK!! Cmon these are beautiful watches with a lot of character I think the have their own type of client and following.
My take is that all four of these have a niche style that apparently got trendy for a while and then the world moved on whilst they just stuck with what they were previously doing. None are my cup of tea.
God corum with those little flags 🤢 the case style nop Frank Muller i love the Crazy Hours watch, ulysse Nardin Mehhh, Bell & Ross i own one I love it
I just tried on a vintage corum yesterday which was gorgeous. I think there's definitely a market for the vintage / neo-vintage pieces (e.g. vintage FM is big in Japan), just obviously not as big as your usual mass market brands.
I think of these guys as the weird fringe brands. If you want something different, they’ve got you covered.
I like some of thier more understated pieces. I’ve got a titanium admirals cup chronograph and I like it a lot.
Franck Muller lost its way when it homaged the Patek prototype and built a whole movement around the Tonneau case which Richard Mille has copied to such success...more than FM ever had.
However, my favorite FM references preceded the tonneau-shaped cases. These are some reissues of the early designs that were released as a collab with Wei Koh's Grail Watch...they are just spectacular...
...and, of course, the double-sided rattrapante chronograph...
The dual time UN is nice in the flesh, it’s a bit like the Bulgari Octo watches, in photos is a pass in the flesh and on wrist they are nice. The FM crazy hour is cool
I think of these guys as the weird fringe brands. If you want something different, they’ve got you covered.
Great summary .. yes fringe is the word
Franck Muller lost its way when it homaged the Patek prototype and built a whole movement around the Tonneau case which Richard Mille has copied to such success...more than FM ever had.
However, my favorite FM references preceded the tonneau-shaped cases. These are some reissues of the early designs that were released as a collab with Wei Koh's Grail Watch...they are just spectacular...
...and, of course, the double-sided rattrapante chronograph...
Those watches look spectacular… I would wear those anyday
The dual time UN is nice in the flesh, it’s a bit like the Bulgari Octo watches, in photos is a pass in the flesh and on wrist they are nice. The FM crazy hour is cool
I really don’t know might the crazy hour .. I think it’s a gimmick … but to each their own
When I started collecting watches seriously in the early 80s there was no timepiece more in demand than the UN Astrolabium Galileo amongst enthusiasts, sadly for me it was far beyond my genuine financial reach. Corum watches appealed to rich guys who vacationed in Florida. My retired accountant returned back to Canada one spring with a Franck Muller on his wrist purchased during his annual 70 days winter cruise, I tried on the watch will admit that it is not a 10k cad worthy watch but wears so comfortably. For a very long time I confused Bell & Ross with Bell & Howell.
I really don’t know might the crazy hour .. I think it’s a gimmick … but to each their own
Yeh i hear you. Same as the reversed dial on the new cartier. The CH jumps 5 hours each time. Great to see and play with and defo a conversational piece but living day to day i think you would be all over the place hahaha still a cool flex from the manufacturer