I wish I could post some positive news, but I just found out today that Omega refused to reinstate Gelber & Mundy's AD status. As I suspected and feared, Mr. Swift did indeed build a case against them to give to the powers that be in Switzerland. Gelber & Mundy's sales rep called them this morning to tell them that it's a "done deal" and that they will not be reinstated.
I only found out AFTER they lost their AD status that Gelber & Mundy are actually located inside a large Jewelry Exchange in New York City. In other words, they do not have a separate, detached store, but rather, they have the largest store floorspace inside the jewelry exchange. The pictures they sent me of the store look like any other jewelry store you'd go into, but it doesn't have that "luxury, upscale, what type of latte would you like with your Seamaster?" look of a Tourneau-type of store. This was one of the reasons they lost their status. The other, as I mentioned in previous posts, was the fact that they don't carry any other exclusive brands. TAG had always been their #2 selling watch (behind Omega), but TAG isn't considered upscale enough by the folks at Omega.
To be blunt, this is really the "straw that broke the camel's back" for me. I have really lost faith in Omega as a brand. What I now see is a company that keeps producing more expensive models which offer less "bang for the buck", a company that is poorly managed by idiots who don't have any sense of loyalty to a 25 year partner, and a company that is basing its "new, upscale image" on Piguet-based chronograph movements that are the LEAST reliable movements in the Omega catalog. For the first time since I became a watch enthusiast, I have absolutely no desire to buy another Omega watch.
As a friend just suggested, perhaps I will start looking at vintage Omegas, which reflect a time when Omega as a company had its head on straight. I will keep my Bond SMP only because I love the watch, but I have now sold every other Omega watch I owned. Sadly, the passion is completely gone for me.
Again, thank you to everyone who took the time to sign the petition and to show your support for Gelber & Mundy. The owners wanted me to convey their sincere thanks to everyone.
