Sometimes a product can become bigger than the brand that created it, and that spells stormy weather ahead. Those of you above a certain age will recall the photocopier, and the phrase Xerox it. Well Xerox as a company is so successful at selling its famous product that people used the company name as a verb. This is an issue because the firm might lose intellectual property rights to the name Xerox if it enters the dictionary as a verb. Younger readers will by now be thinking of Google of course, but Alphabet too knows the story of the photocopier and has no excuses to be caught with its pants down in such a way.
No company in traditional watchmaking has this somewhat happy problem, but plenty have icons that define their brand in the 21st century. One such icon resulted in this story so yes, I am here to praise the Patek Philippe Ref. 5711/1A, and applaud the company for retiring it. I’m no watch nut, I confess, and that is one of the reasons I am penning this story. The editor wanted someone without vested interests or biases. The editor advised me that I should declare that I also am not interested in the Patek Philippe Nautilus Ref. 5711, nor do I own any version of it. The recent news about its coming withdrawal from the brand’s catalogue has caused waves of consternation that will likely roil the depths of certain watch collecting pools for years to come. However, the broader sea of watch lovers is likely unperturbed. I am here to offer a very particular perspective on the possible whys.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Spring 2021 من World of Watches.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة Spring 2021 من World of Watches.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
DARING VENTURE
Tudor partners Swiss Watch For New Boutique at The Exchange TRX.
GEEKING OUT
The biggest artisanal watch enthusiasts gather in Singapore for a weekend unlike any other in our region of the world.
INDEPENDENCE DAY
Once seen as niche players, independent watchmakers are increasingly visible within the industry as reflected in this year's edition of the Grand Prix d'Horlogerie de Genève.
DYING OF THE LIGHT
Hamilton updates the Khaki Field Murph once again, this time with a sparkling new white dial and a robust stainless steel bracelet.
OPEN SECRET
Ernest Borel left no stone unturned when creating the Grandeur Skeleton duo.
GOTHIC INSPIRED
Ernest Borel's Grandeur Big Date leans into the famed European architectural movement.
LIGHT TOUCH
Maurice Lacroix adds ultra-light titanium options to their ever-expanding Aikon collection.
LAST WORD
Longines introduces a smaller version of the Spirit Zulu, this time in titanium.
RACING PEDIGREE
Bell & Ross brings the worlds of motoring and aerospace together in the BR-X5 Racing.
AUTUMN HUE
Grand Seiko continues its celebration of the 20th anniversary of Calibre 9R with the limited edition SBGA499.