John Mayer's letter to IWC

jnelson3097 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 6:21 am

Similar to the letter Roff wrote awhile back on here to Breitling, John Mayer posted an open letter to IWC over on h o d i n k e e. I kept thinking that this letter could have easily been written to many other brands. I like his passion about the brand and the fact that he calls out the so called "friends of the brands" as people who are only after an incentive and don't appreciate the work it took to make them. I'd post a link, but I know it won't work.

Moana43 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:23 am

Interesting read -- thanks for the heads-up.

Could anyone please provide a link to Roff's letter?

jnelson3097 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:29 am

Here is the link, it was actually his 10,000th post.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18903

Roffensian · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:37 pm

jnelson3097 wrote:

Here is the link, it was actually his 10,000th post.

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=18903

I had verbal diarrhea in my 25,000th too - http://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/v ... =1&t=41709

jnelson3097 · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:40 pm

Roffensian wrote:

I had verbal diarrhea in my 25,000th too - http://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/v ... =1&t=41709

I guess I forgot about that one. You're coming close to 35,000 posts, will there be another?

Novacastrian · **Posted:** Fri Jan 16, 2015 12:42 pm

I was reminded of Roff's post too. Interesting in Mayer's letter to see so many of the same issues come up with so many brands (Zenith, AP, Panerai all mentioned).

WatchFred · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 2:22 am

jnelson3097 wrote:

Roffensian wrote:

I had verbal diarrhea in my 25,000th too - http://www.breitlingsource.com/phpBB2/v ... =1&t=41709

I guess I forgot about that one. You're coming close to 35,000 posts, will there be another?

most (well all, actually) of what Roff wrote in August 2012 is still true today - it might seem impossible, but they seem to ignore social media and AD even more than before, pour a fortune into print advertising, ignoring a changing world.

seems quite hopeless, really - and the CHF bloodbath will not help.

Roffensian · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 4:02 am

Yeah, nothing from me for 35K, maybe 50K if I get that far. I have had less time to spend here, and Breitling clearly don't care, at this point I think that my two posts have said all that I have to say. Breitling seem oblivious and as Fred points out, last week's events around the CHF are only going to make matters worse.

aksing · **Posted:** Sat Jan 17, 2015 5:54 am

Interesting, thanks for posting.

threeputt · **Posted:** Mon Jan 19, 2015 3:49 pm

And IWC have written him back, reply on same site.

jpohn · **Posted:** Tue Jan 20, 2015 6:08 pm

Seems like another good opportunity to link to George Kern's presentation on YouTube, which you might as well watch if you haven't already.

The presentation is interesting and it is easy to see how it would rub watch collectors the wrong way. But at the end of the day, the message is correct. IWC moved on from being a luxury brand for collectors "in the know" and they're more successful from a business perspective thanks to that strategy.

Ask yourself what emotion was satisfied with each of your watch purchases. At the very least, you're probably buying into the dream of fine watchmaking. Perhaps the dream of fine watchmaking at a bargain price, if you're an astute collector.

Paparazzi-phobic IWC collectors can give up the fight and turn their purchasing dollars towards other brands, like A. Lange & Sohne - one of the prestige brands selling the dream of yesteryear's celebrities: royalty and the official watchmaker of the crown. Of course, Richemont may eventually coerce ALS to change direction. The safest bet is to buy the brand of a grumpy old independent watchmaker, one who has strong disdain for celebrity culture.

mfserge · **Posted:** Wed Jan 21, 2015 12:22 pm

Roffensian wrote:

I have had less time to spend here, and Breitling clearly don't care, at this point I think that my two posts have said all that I have to say. Breitling seem oblivious and as Fred points out, last week's events around the CHF are only going to make matters worse.

It's ashame, this site used to have some passionate watch collectors/enthusiasts and now most don't even come around any longer. I have lost all interest in Breitlings with their design direction over the past few years. In fact, the entire industry has turned me off recently and I don't even consider making a watch purchase now. SIHH is here and I haven't a clue what anyone has released nor do I even care. I received an email with JLCs new atmos clock that I love, but for $7-$9k I'll spend it on other toys.

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