Photoessay: IWC BOUTIQUE in SINGAPORE

[Oceanklassik]

I tried hard not to comment on this but it's really hard. For some (esp. the well-to-do), this statement gives nobility. For others (the poorer folks), life is ALL about struggling to make ends meet. Oh dear God, how I wish to be the noble..

[exxondus]

I tried hard not to comment on this but it's really hard. For some (esp. the well-to-do), this statement gives nobility. For others (the poorer folks), life is ALL about struggling to make ends meet. Oh dear God, how I wish to be the noble..

don worry, things might change for the worse with less discounts. But the grey mkt will always be there and I do not really see any diff since there will be people who travel and see that its profitable for them to bring back and sell at cheaper prices.

in such industry, the person who can wait is usually the winner. cash is still king after all

[Paneraii]

ION and other IRs shopping mega malls, they are never planned for Singaporeans Btw, the target market is set on the richie rich of our neighbouring countries.

[Vedder007]

sometimes in addition to owning a watch, the joy is in the process of buying. and this would include the experience of buying from an AD or a boutique. If i got the $$$, i will certainly buy from AD/Boutique...

[116520]

On the other hand, most of the rich ppl are damn stingy... honestly, if I have the money I will not buy from the AD/Boutique... same product why pay more??? Those boutiques are for ppl to see see look look...

sometimes in addition to owning a watch, the joy is in the process of buying. and this would include the experience of buying from an AD or a boutique. If i got the $$$, i will certainly buy from AD/Boutique...

[decksurgeon]

for any product there is a range and always a price point for everyone's expectation. that is why every manufacturer has diversity to try to capture the market at every price point.

this is correspondingly also for a varied price point of every individual product. you are not forced to buy if the price is not right.
but each price point comes with its own pros and cons.

we can choose to illustrate easily an example with a simple car.
you can buy from the AD and you can buy from the PI/grey market.
the asking prices are different, sometimes drastically but there are a multiude of reasons for the difference.

Lets say you have a AD car vs a PI car. sure both cars are "under warranty". try claiming a big ticket item for a gearbox from a PI and you will hear a very different story and loads of excuses to dissuade you from doing it - big headache. the AD will just grit its teeth and say ok, we change the 20k gearbox FOC under warranty. the big picture of owning a so called big ticket item also boils down to the total cost of ownership in the long run.

correspondingly you can buy a rolex from the Rolex boutique at near full price. but if you spot a misaligned hand on the watch or it runs slow, im sure the boutique will do all possible to rectify the flaw in QC and uphold brand image. very different from buying a rolex that looks BNIB but no papers and no box for example. the prices will be different and the aftersales drastically different. it comes down to total cost of ownership again - do you choose to pay the premium or not?? - ultimately it is the buyer's choice once again.

the money is in your pocket, all these car brands and watch brands and companies try to get the money out of your pocket into theirs rite?
and for both so called AD vs. PI/Grey examples of products - you still have buyers for each! amazing huh.

horology is not about $$$, not about how much discount you can squeeze ...not about the AD or the PI as your source of joy et cetera. certainly not about nobility.

it is simply about enjoying and learning about watches, mechanisms/movement, technology involved and taking a genuine interest in the depths of the hobby to make it interesting & entertaining for yourself.

in truth, you dont even have to own a single watch to be in this position.....and the bombshell is that some of the worldwide respected moderators of the biggest watch forums in their past spent years enjoying horology without owning a watch.

the IWC boutique and every other boutique that opened in ION this week is a sheer blessing for all of us. we now have places where we can visit in one location, browse, learn new facts and take comfort in the hospitality that each brand can offer us. ..... and no one forced any of us to buy anything once again.

[decksurgeon]

... honestly, if I have the money I will not buy from the AD/Boutique... same product why pay more???

that's where all the boutiques get you with the 'boutique only' edition!

ever tried AP boutique with the locked front door....ring buzzer then go in.

you ask for a special AP..."of course sir, we have one"......but you have to buy another AP at full price for the privilege of even being able to buy the ultra-rare edition.

IWC boutique only editions, TAG boutique only, JLC boutique only.....the list goes on. manufacturers know how to corner a market & you cant put them down for trying.

what positiveness comes out of this?
Your ownership and residual value are guranteed. cos there is a market perceived pricepoint that is very clear on whatever the item may be.

[kenkelvin]

actually true lei bro 116520, rich ppl tend to be more stingy, maybe their nature bah. but i hope rich ppl will give me a nice watch to prove me wrong hehe

[kenkelvin]

By the way i really envy u, bro decksurgeon. i always see u able to get 1st hand reports from almost every brands. me not that rich to buy, wanna go inside boutiques see see look look also paisei

[decksurgeon]

you joking ah? don't envy me cos, was no where near ION on the opening date 21 July 2009. in fact when IWC boutique was popping champagne, was at hard at work till 10pm! *sweat man*

go see for yourself, all the boutiques are pretty friendly in ION.

PS: kudos to your collection of watches :-) you have more wristwatches in a box than i could ever muster

[kenkelvin]

you joking ah? don't envy me cos, was no where near ION on the opening date 21 July 2009. in fact when IWC boutique was popping champagne, was at hard at work till 10pm! *sweat man*

go see for yourself, all the boutiques are pretty friendly in ION.

PS: kudos to your collection of watches :-) you have more wristwatches in a box than i could ever muster

huh? bro u talking to correct person? me really only a few watches lor, but i really is envy u. at least your job let u be so close to watches if u love your job it like a hobby, unlike me, a job is just a job

[decksurgeon]

your job must be a superb job! looks like u just added 2 beautiful APs in the gallery. great choice of watch

did you get them from the AP boutique as a pair cos they wont sell you the volcano alone???

[kenkelvin]

your job must be a superb job! looks like u just added 2 beautiful APs in the gallery. great choice of watch

did you get them from the AP boutique as a pair cos they wont sell you the volcano alone???

no lah, u see my response of my earlier post. i said i envy your job so u can guess my job is, haha no need says too much liao the 2 AP i trade with a guy. i just happen to have a few watches he looking for very long. i don wear them so might as well change lor. he happy i also happy. AP wont sell u just the volcano alone? this is the 1st time i have AP. y is that so? i only heard from that guy that volcano now just discon and safari alot of ppl looking for it. he said whatever i do, don collect scuba because scuba got 3 editions. hornback, bracelet and hornback plus bracelet edition, too many editions liao and therefore not as collectable as chrono, dono true or not haha? if i cannot manage to sell these AP, i will trade 1 for a scuba so i have a chrono and scuba each by the way he said the newer models that come with hornback is more ex then those with bracelets. how can that be? leather more ex then metal? anyway he call me to enjoy my new watches. i still have not told him i don bear to wear it and intend to sell or trade haha

[kenkelvin]

now i also got bitten by the iwc bug. last time i don like big pilot, now i like liao. i also like the 7 days reserve, i dono what that model called and the perpetual calender. that time got a guy want to sell very cheap but i forget who liao sian

[decksurgeon]

still dunno what you do tho? trade watches?

BTW, talking about IWC perpetuals .....
here is a pic just for you, all the portuguese :-)

enjoy