Square or rectangle shaped cases

Lately I have seen some rectangle shaped watches on tv, and a colleague has a brand new almost square chronograph. In the past IWC made some long rectangle shaped watches, like the Venezia and the Novecento. When shown here, quite some forum members like the pictures.

Would it be a good idea to have a new line along with the tonneau shaped Da Vinci, to try and win over a new audience? Would it be nice to have a rectangle shaped movement for these watches, being more space efficient than a round movement? What kind of watch would it have to be, when would you ever consider to buy such a watch?

I ask this because when seeing pictures of the Venezia and the Novecento I really think that such a watch is missing at the moment, and it would be a challenge to make it interesting enough.

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Pilot's watch

Rectangle makes me immediately think about

The JLC Reverso. I think that's a very fine example of a rectangular shaped watch. I do think it's quite a different brand than IWC and I am not a big fan of the Reverso.

As for being more space efficient: I wonder if this is true. There are not too many square parts in a watch movement and only small wheels would fit in the corners :-)

Kind regards,

Clemens

you might be right :)

I prefer round shaped cases. nt.

Challenge is right....

I really disagree with your suggestions here. The Venezia and Novocento both were relatively slow sellers, which is why they were discontinued. In fact, in the industry rectangular watches have been slow sellers for most of the past 50 years. Historically, in the 1930s IWC's Calibre 87s --many of which are really beautiful watches, espcially with Art Deco details-- were major sellers. But that has faded, and not just for IWC (and even for JLC --one of the last remaining major rectangular watch producers).

Second, IWC has a distinct product line philosophy --the different lines are pyramidical, and within each line the models are generally pyramidical. They further are differentiated within such matrices by pricepoint, use or image, and also by storytelling/marketing. Rectangular watches don't fit in anywhere within this approach. Surely they aren't diving watches, Portuguese, pilots' watches, etc.

And therefore do you suggest a new product line? With what criteria? How does it fit within the price structure? What is the story line and how does that compare? And assuming you can shoehorn something in, do you think it's worth a new product line for, say, 2 trial watches which traditionally haven't sold well and predictions are, well, guarded? I do not.

To my thinking, the fact that you (or I or anyone else) likes a particular look or style doesn't mean it should be produced within the marketing structure and product lines of IWC.

Regards,
Michael

As history always comes back, I strongly believe..

the early 1900's up to 1930's etc. will come back, including the Art-Deco shapes, as they already do. Maybe not all brands will do, but many will, as PP already did with an ultimate Tourbillion.
And there will be rectangular onces, pyramid shaped rather than straight rectangular, and I do not believe in square ones.

They may not be big sellers, but also IWC had nice watches which were not big sellers. Still they will have to decide to follow or not a return of the early 1990's.

That is my prediction of wristwatch future within few years, let's say, less than - and - max within 10 years. As "crisis" already takes place these days, once global recovery is assumed to be there, there will be again rectangular luxury watches.

Write my words... and sign them with "Ciao, Rob" for your rememberance of where the idea came from.

Ciao, Rob.

Mind this one, it's one of my most recent...

... acquisitions, however probably not a big seller for IWC either. Still they did it, and I am grateful, and they probably will be glad to have done it also, as these VC watches probably give IWC lots of "room" for future years and potential for continued production in a certain series, as not contemporary and not vintage at the same time.

Just timeless, due to their historical remembrance, thus production of the series can continue, one model may be produced in more or less quantity than the others, but the collection will remain.

That is just a decision made, and therefore I see no reason why not to produce rectangular watches again. However, and unfortunately, ... I am not taking the management decision.
(Whish it was different...!)

Ciao, Rob.

Very nice watch indeed

Hi Rob,

I still have some feelings for this watch, it has a funky look, it is a bit rebellious, naughty. Your pictures of it are great, and you stated earlier that you got quite some positive comments about it. Do you wear it often?

Thank you for your insights about the past. I agree in a way: the past doesn't return in fashion but it spirals in time over the shapes, so they come back in a different and surprising way in a never ending movement in time. I think this to be fascinating. Whether IWC will return to rectangle shaped watches with fitting rectangle movements I doubt, but other companies are doing so, and will continue doing it in an exciting and new way: successfully or not I don't know, but they complete the whole array of possible watches, allowing you to make a positive choice.

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Pilot's watch, a very nice travel watch

New Portofine line

Well, if 2011 is Portofino year, there could be some possibility to try something extraordinary. or you could indeed try a new line for it with a new story. After a few years of no new stories, since the Da Vinci, something new could be tried.

But whether this is feasible for IWC is not the point of my question. I just wondered what people here think about it, you sometimes have to stretch the imagination to keep the brain fresh.

Thank you for your comment Michael, you make it quite clear that there are many negative aspects to bring forward about rectangle shaped watches. I am sure there are also positive aspects to it, I wonder whether others may show them, in this case this may be a bit more challenging.

Kind regards,
Paul, wearing steel VC Pilot's watches

I like them too.....

Ivan
iwcforme

i'm not a fan of elongated dials...

but equally i don't see why watch houses feel they have to have a "story" behind their lines these days.
good design will sell regardless of whether history (manufactured or not) is there to back it up.
stephen