zOwie Omega Discussion Forum

: I have to admit that I'm baffled by the fact
: that the DeVilles went up in price more than
: any other line. To me this defies logic.
: This line is already Omega's most expensive
: line, and the general perception has been
: that these models were already a bit
: overpriced. If you look at the increases,
: many DeVilles went up in price by more than
: 10%. Not even the big-selling SMP's and
: Planet Oceans went up this much. Am I
: missing something?????

If it's the new James Bond watch, wouldn't that say something?

Somewhere on here I recall reading a thread about marketing dollars being put into the Seamaster line, and that equating to higher costs ("to pay for that").

As you know, I was in international business development and marketing for 15 years before narrowing my coaching work on divorce negotiation. So, let me say that almost all of what I am seeing in lines and prices from Omega is marketing, as opposed to technology. And, again, from my perspective, that's a compliment.

You want to drop the low end of your lines as quickly as you can grow the higher ends - sort of like those automatic rock-wall climbing machines you see at the gym. Hence, if it were me, I'd drop the current 2531.80 and replace it with a co-axial at $1,000 more. The brand equity has been built in the line, thanks to the Brosnan-era Bonds. So, if you want it, you gotta pay more. And the marketplace rationalization for the huge jump is the movement.

In terms of the DeVille, as we've also discussed here before: It would be stupid to make the Planet Ocean the next Bond watch (which is not to say they haven't) - from a marketing perspective. It's already moving under its own steam.

But leverage the new product placement via Bond? That's what I'd do. And, in the alternative, the new 2531.80 co-axial looks cheap. A win/win.

As someone who's all-but-certain to buy the next Bond watch, I don't like what I've said. As an owner of a 2531.80 that's sure to go up in price w/ the alternative co-axial and "true" Bond film watch no longer in production, I love it.

Most importantly, John, it does just what you, yourself, have advocated so much here: It grows the prestige of the brand as a high-end watch. Let's face it, 35% off of anything is always more expensive if you raise the base price it's coming off of.

Link to my Omega Seamaster 2252.50 review: For a 21st Century Goldfinger
Link to my Omega Seamaster 2254.50 review: Should'a been Bond's Omega
Link to my Omega Seamaster 2255.80 review: "The Electric Blue"
Link to my Omega Seamaster 2531.80 review: Bond's second Omega
Link to my Omega Seamaster 2541.80 review: Actually-- Bond's first Omega
Link to my Omega Seamaster 2561.80 review: Mid-sized version of 2541.80