Some comments before are going off topic - I haven't mentioned value?? I mentioned legacy and history and non hype - on this forum especially, the Speedmaster lends itself to all those in terms of appeal. I own two Omega watches ftr. I think many on here own the Speedmaster for these reasons and because its a good looking watch - and also because they know what they are getting in terms of quality and craftsmanship with an Omega. Brand equity also plays a vital role in buying watches - why do people post their watches on here for others to judge if they didn't care?

The definition of gimmick I think summarizes this collaboration perfectly and only Swatch Group will know their intentions. If these are going to be mass produced - full on gimmick in my opinion. Its a plastic watch that is cheap to produce and is dressed up as a Speedmaster to lure people in to buying it. You could also argue about opening it up to a new market - not a bad thing at all. Are these going to also be disposable because the movement can’t be accessed nor the crystal replaced?

People think they are getting all the face value of its predecessor without the price tag - which again isn't necessarily a bad thing to present an affordable entry point into iconic watch design.

Swatch have been doing chrono watches for years (ones a lot nicer looking than these), never seen one posted in this thread yet. Take that Omega logo off - would people be discussing these? I suppose it falls into the Seiko/Grand Seiko and Tudor/Rolex realm??

Also another interesting point to consider ; sales at the bottom of the Swiss watch market. Is this an an incentive for people to visit Swatch stores after a two-year downturn?

Swiss watch exports in 2021

“Exports of wristwatches increased by 3.5% compared with 2019, to 21.2 billion francs. The number of items, however, continued to fall, to 15.7 million. This is a decline of 4.9 million (-23.8%) compared with 2019.​
​
Watches priced at less 500 francs (export price) fell sharply, accounting for over 95% of the decline in volumes, with a 25.1% drop in their export value. The decline in value for watches priced between 500 and 3,000 francs was significantly less marked (-3.5%), while watches priced at over 3,000 francs grew by 9.7%.​
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The groups of materials that saw the highest decline in volumes were steel (-21.4%) and the Other materials category (-37.4%). Value was driven mainly by watches made from precious metals (+7.8%) and steel (+2.9%)”​

Source: FHS.swiss

Going to try and get a couple, love the sistem 51 (first all plastic automatic movement), have a few of those in the box already. The ceramic looks like another cool innovation.

Will be quite annoyed if I queue for my first drop ever and it turns into a general release though.

A swatch collab isn’t supposed to have good craftsmanship.
Rolex make good watches (I have one), but they’re not the be all and end all of watches. They’re mass produced on an assembly line.
This is a fashion forum, and Rolex are the brand, so it makes sense.

No, a few pages back I posted a new timex I bought, which is half the price of this swatch. I personally dislike the coloured cases

I honestly think a lot of this is about ‘exclusivity’. Making a cheaper speedmaster makes the brand more accessible, which to some means bad (imo it’s good).

I can remember a while back in this thread foursobine (can’t remember his name) said one of the problems with vacheron is that you can actually buy them discounted!
Imagine having that attitude towards anything else, it’s so bizarre.

For example;
If Rolex tomorrow decided to up their production from ~1 million watches a year to 10 million a year, current owners would lose their shit. But why? Their watch hasn’t changed, only their perception would. They’d be fuming that people could freely buy them, and possibly at a discount.
It would actually be a great thing, people being able to walk into a shop and buy what they want, it might even put an end to things like this

Is it just me that thinks most of these look like terrible iterations? If you want a swatch then get a swatch. This is an awful gimmick but at least Omega aren’t as stuffy as Rolex who take a Sub and increase it’s dimensions by 1mm and have fanboys raving about their genius.

I’m still in two minds about them. Don’t really care for them but painful watching people (including fukers) acting like the very people they normally take the piss out of.

Not a good look.

Definitely an investment piece now, almost like I had a crystal ball

Is that Essexboy with the short shorts?

It's a bit of both for me. Omega branding and the general speedy aesthetics of them. Look like fun watches. Not too serious about them mind. Hype train has killed the appeal somewhat. Will try and get one if they come online and if they don't then no bother.