My take on the (highly likely) Swatch x Blancpain collab
Swatch needed Omega and the MoonSwatch was born. After that huge success, Swatch is now in mainstream consciousness (again). Now, Blancpain needs Swatch ahead of the new Fifty Fathoms and the BathySwatch will be born. All along, Swatch Group was using Omega to boost Blancpain via its lowest common denominator - Swatch.
The mainstream doesn't need to know the name Blancpain for any of this to work. Blancpain will become a household name overnight thanks to a genius marketing campaign over the last 18 months. So genius, in fact, that Swatch Group got the masses to not only fight each other for the right to become passionate, unpaid marketers for the company, but also to pay the company hundreds of dollars for the privilege.
Swatch literally boosted the nation of Switzerland a few decades ago. Hayek is yawning and counting paper while doing Blancpain the same favor. It's perfection.
I've loved timepieces since the first time I saw one as a toddler in the 1970s. I had a number of mostly digital, inexpensive watches as a child. Most fondly, I recall my Conso Space Shuttle game watc...
Muggles bought the MoonSwatch because it says Omega on the dial and they think they can pass this plastic junk for a luxury item to the eyes of even less interested muggles. It's an "official fake" Speedie for most people who never owned a watch before.
Having Blancpain on the dial isn't going to impress any muggle because they haven't heard of the name before. My prediction is that the hype culture isn't going to bite on this one and it will flop. The smart move would have been to make a SeaWatchMaster because muggles love James Bond.
Plus, it's a stupid name for french speakers. You wouldn't want a watch named "white bread" either, let's be real.
Muggles bought the MoonSwatch because it says Omega on the dial and they think they can pass this plastic junk for a luxury item to the eyes of even less interested muggles. It's an "official fake" Speedie for most people who never owned a watch before.
Having Blancpain on the dial isn't going to impress any muggle because they haven't heard of the name before. My prediction is that the hype culture isn't going to bite on this one and it will flop. The smart move would have been to make a SeaWatchMaster because muggles love James Bond.
Plus, it's a stupid name for french speakers. You wouldn't want a watch named "white bread" either, let's be real.
Since we're being real - snobbery, elitism and exclusivity is something you are capable of growing out of. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
I'm really not ok with the Omega or Blancpain name being put on Swatches. It really is ridiculous, just call it the Moonswatch or the 50 Fathoms Swatch.
Muggles bought the MoonSwatch because it says Omega on the dial and they think they can pass this plastic junk for a luxury item to the eyes of even less interested muggles. It's an "official fake" Speedie for most people who never owned a watch before.
Having Blancpain on the dial isn't going to impress any muggle because they haven't heard of the name before. My prediction is that the hype culture isn't going to bite on this one and it will flop. The smart move would have been to make a SeaWatchMaster because muggles love James Bond.
Plus, it's a stupid name for french speakers. You wouldn't want a watch named "white bread" either, let's be real.
I think you missed the point of MoonSwatch. It was never meant to be "passed on as a luxury item". It was a piece of marketing aimed at selling Swatches and increasing awareness of the Speedy. Interest in the Speedy went up 50% and they sold a lot of Swatches. They'll hope to do the same with the BP.
And you have it wrong with how the "French speakers" will view the name Blancpain, just because it translates as white bread that doesn't have the same connotations as it does for English Speakers.
I think you missed the point of MoonSwatch. It was never meant to be "passed on as a luxury item". It was a piece of marketing aimed at selling Swatches and increasing awareness of the Speedy. Interest in the Speedy went up 50% and they sold a lot of Swatches. They'll hope to do the same with the BP.
And you have it wrong with how the "French speakers" will view the name Blancpain, just because it translates as white bread that doesn't have the same connotations as it does for English Speakers.
What it was "meant to be" for the Swatch Group and what reasons people have for buying it may be completely different things. I am certain most sales are a product of the Omega name on the dial and "official" Speedie homage look. The item itself is of poor quality and even worse value considering the great steel automatic watches you could get for that $250 instead.
Blancpain is an iconic watch manufacturer for enthusiasts only. Muggles most likely never heard of it, just like they never heard of all the niche brands we love outside of Rolex, Omega, and maybe Seiko and Tissot. Hence, that Blancpain name on the dial is not going to have nearly the same pull as Omega.
I love that you are trying to lecture me on my own language. We hear "white bread". It's a ridiculous name, iconic or not. And it's not the only one, a lot of horology brands sound goofy to us because they sound like common words, not fancy surnames from another country.
Blancpain
Hublot
Rado
Bulgari
Parmigiani
Some luxury brand names don't ring so well when they're also a common word in your native language. It's unfortunate.
It isn't going to work. If I could bet against that strategy I would.
A Blancpain dive watch, at 2x the price of Rolex, good as it may be cannot get easily into mainstream. Even if the brand was well known.
Speaking of the brand, it isn't well known, not at all, and part of the appeal with MoonSwatches was that it said Omega on there. You say that it needs not be well known for this to work. If by that you mean create a frenzy like with the MoonSwatch then I very strongly disagree.
But let's say somehow Swatch convinced people to want these. 300$ for a plastic toy ain't cheap and interest rates are higher, people are getting more conscious about the spending. Which brings us to the knockout blow...
Part of the reason why the MoonSwatches were selling like crazy is because people had gotten it into their heads that you can buy a product and sell it 2h later for a profit on eBay. Many watches were selling "over retail" but that phenomenon is quickly disappearing. People are getting "the call" from Rolex, AP is experiencing a car accident in slow motion and MoonSwatches are readily available. Without that secret sauce such a collaboration is dead on arrival and for the life of me I can't see people spending 500$ on eBay for a plastic Blancpain.
Fifty Shades of Blancpain…who’s with me?
Excellent take @heirspring. I was thinking the same. For all intent and purposes, Blancpain is a brand that no one knows about, never mind care about, with the exclusion of enthusiasts. We all like them, but NONE of us buy Blancpain. I do not think a Swatch collab will help that cause. The Moonwatch has a story many want to be part of. Fifty Fathoms? Meh.
Muggles bought the MoonSwatch because it says Omega on the dial and they think they can pass this plastic junk for a luxury item to the eyes of even less interested muggles. It's an "official fake" Speedie for most people who never owned a watch before.
Having Blancpain on the dial isn't going to impress any muggle because they haven't heard of the name before. My prediction is that the hype culture isn't going to bite on this one and it will flop. The smart move would have been to make a SeaWatchMaster because muggles love James Bond.
Plus, it's a stupid name for french speakers. You wouldn't want a watch named "white bread" either, let's be real.
People pay thousands of dollars to buy a white bread watch.
I would buy a Fifty Fathoms in a heartbeat if I wasn't brainwashed with a Submariner. I mean lets face it as much as we don't like how Rolex controls the market, we know that we can always pawn it off when needed 😄
I would buy a Fifty Fathoms in a heartbeat if I wasn't brainwashed with a Submariner. I mean lets face it as much as we don't like how Rolex controls the market, we know that we can always pawn it off when needed 😄
The Sub is a great watch - I enjoyed my 14060 back in the day.
Since we're being real - snobbery, elitism and exclusivity is something you are capable of growing out of. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you!
I can't speak for the French part, but what made this work was the name recognition on both sides. Yes, people bought it because it had Omega on it. But it also has Swatch. People thought they were getting a great watch due to both names. Who knew Swatch would cheap out on the important part of the watch and spend on "bio-plastic". Also making it exclusive to only their stores helped the hype.
Normal everyday people know about Omega due to James Bond and the moon landing. They may not know much, but the names recognition is there. Swatch has been recognized since the 80's. Known for their funky designs. Now, look at Blancpain. If anyone knows the name, it's not from watches. They'll look and wonder what does pens and watches have in common. It won't be the same. And after seeing the Moonswatch, I'm not really interested in this mash-up.
Now as far as the French goes.....I did not know Blancpain was French for white bread??? 😳 🤣
Fifty Shades of Blancpain…who’s with me?
Maybe the seven seas?
What it was "meant to be" for the Swatch Group and what reasons people have for buying it may be completely different things. I am certain most sales are a product of the Omega name on the dial and "official" Speedie homage look. The item itself is of poor quality and even worse value considering the great steel automatic watches you could get for that $250 instead.
Blancpain is an iconic watch manufacturer for enthusiasts only. Muggles most likely never heard of it, just like they never heard of all the niche brands we love outside of Rolex, Omega, and maybe Seiko and Tissot. Hence, that Blancpain name on the dial is not going to have nearly the same pull as Omega.
I love that you are trying to lecture me on my own language. We hear "white bread". It's a ridiculous name, iconic or not. And it's not the only one, a lot of horology brands sound goofy to us because they sound like common words, not fancy surnames from another country.
Blancpain
Hublot
Rado
Bulgari
Parmigiani
Some luxury brand names don't ring so well when they're also a common word in your native language. It's unfortunate.
You know how they themed the MoonSwatches with planets. Maybe this will be breads, pastries amd stuff found in a bakery.
The craziest thing is, if they actually called the line Swatch x Pain and had croissant, baguette, pain au chocolat, macaron and profiterole and such editions, I wouldn't even be surprised anymore.
Maybe the seven seas?
Man, I was close.
Not my circus 🎪 not my monkeys 🙈. I will keep my money in my pocket . Plastic watches are fine just not for me ….
🎯