Latest on Hublot Ceramic watches

[hambone]

I am glad I purchased my Hublot BB when I did, it is truly a maginficent watch, and the 798.00 paid was well worth it.

I communicated with Andrew and the reason he has pulled his ceramic bezel Big Bang watches is because the manufacturer is raising the price $200.00 more. Andrew, (and Joshua) find this unfortunate and must follow suit by raising their prices.

REVISION...

Yesterday when I posted this, I was told and I saw that the ceramic bezel versions of the HBB were pulled from their site. (A&J). I was led to believe that they would not be selling them at those high prices as a matter of principle. It looks like now I was wrong and I am sorry about that.

[dluddy]

This is purely a good business decision. Andrew knows they would not sell at those prices so why should he take inventory or make a comittment to the factory?

Not so sure this is a demonstration of scruples or that it was a decision made in our best interests

[Pugwash]

I hope that those who are so adamant that these fellows have no scruples will view this action as one of looking out for us, the consumers, and drawing a line when it is clear that something unreasonable is afoot.

That is one interpretation of the events, yes.

[jkerouac]

Some members of the board have been saying all along that the way to control prices is to refuse to pay when the price seems too high. It sounds as if Andrew and Joshua are simply doing what other board members have already done.

It will be interesting to see whether the factory reacts to this line drawn in the sand -- or will members (along with consumers who are not members of these boards) undercut Andrew and Joshua's action by shopping elsewhere and paying the higher price.

[cableguy]

i dont see how this makes him a "decent" guy lol.

he figured out he cant make a profit off of us, so hes gonna cut the line....

[Watchmeister]

Well if the earlier loop about the ceramic bezels being sold out the back door of the OEM supplier is true than it makes sense that the rep manufacturer is just marking up those he has left. And yes, no one wants to be long inventory of a watch which no one will pay for.

[BobM]

I think none of us should expect our dealers will act other than in their own best [long term] interests. However, that doesn't mean their interests cannot be aligned with ours, with their customers. Indeed, that is the only way it can work, in the long run ... that our interests and our suppliers' interests are both served in every traansaction.

And aren't we all pleased when - most times - it works like that.

[Pix]

Hi,

as you maybe know, new HBB versions will be available soon, for about 300 dollars, using a PVD coated bezel instead of the ceramic one. Who would buy the expensive ceramic bezel then ? Some "purists" I guess. Those very same who would expect a gen 7750 in the rep. Needless to say that's not the majority.

The other explanation is also that since Hublot seem to have hit their ceramic bezel supplier quite seriously, it is likely that the source of "genuine fake bezels" has vanished. Therefore the version as we know it will probably not be produced anymore. That's just a guess, but make sense IMO, as I have difficulties thinking that the choice of carrying this or that model is related to an acceptable sales price. 800 was already not acceptable for some (which I belong to).

See the glass half empty or half full.

As far as I'm concerned, I'm glad we finally see an affordable HBB coming. Because that's a damn sexy watch !

[CY0811]

Ive had 2 Ceramic bezel HBB's and still think the price for a SS/Ceramic BB should be under $500 new. Its is however one of the best reps Ive handled but for $1000 it would in no way be worth it to me.....the ceramic bezel is great and all.... but not THAT great.

[italiano17771]

i thought andrew and joshua took the ceramic hbbs off their site? they are still on their sites and are asking ridiculous prices.

[CY0811]

HAHAHAHAHA............Black magic is OVER $1000 now...LOL

Edited September 12, 2007 by CY0811

[giorgio]

i thought andrew and joshua took the ceramic hbbs off their site? they are still on their sites and are asking ridiculous prices.

"A very reasonable" $968 - but they'd never charge us that much because "they would find this unacceptable"

[Pugwash]

I hope that those who are so adamant that these fellows have no scruples will view this action as one of looking out for us, the consumers, and drawing a line when it is clear that something unreasonable is afoot.

What flavour hat would you like to eat?

http://www.trustytime88.com/index.php?main...roducts_id=1385

Oops.

[italiano17771]

heres something to think about....

what i would like to know is...if this so called shortage of ceramic bezels is true why are they consistently releasing new hbb's with the ceramic bezel. they are releasing the gold tuiga version and the cappuccino version...both have the ceramic. shortage????? then why continuously release more and more hbbs hbb's????

[Watchmeister]

Holy Cow. Over a $1,000 for a couple. So much for the good guy theory. Good luck on that one. I was feeling pretty silly having dumped $750 into my Mellow Yellow between the watch and Swiss Movement transplant. Now I am a frigging genius!

[CY0811]

I hope the shortage thing is for real...or this is really a bad thing. All those new models too? WTF?

[dluddy]

I feel better knowing that they are looking out for me

So much for my "Smart business" theory

Wonder what waterproofing and extra seals cost?

[JoJo35]

Still haven't bought one of these, and don't think I ever will. It's not really the price (although it is on the ridiculous side), I just don't think it's a good looking watch; certainly one which I would never even consider buying the gen.

...ok, flame suit on!

[pabra]

Mmmm I smell ass, but Jack left town

[Rolexman]

Here is something I don't understand.. if Andrew and Josh are forced to sell the HBB at $1000 than what are they paying for these watches?..... $500? $600? $700? .... even $800?

I don't believe the wholesale price of this watch is that high... it's China for crying out loud.

Maybe the watchmaker increased the price from $10 to $210

Edited September 12, 2007 by Rolexman

[Pugwash]

Mmmm I smell ass, but Jack left town

It's ok, you can expect Hambone to never revisit this thread. He'll pop up later as if nothing happened and continue to tell us whence the sun shines.

[giorgio]

Here is something I don't understand.. if Andrew and Josh are forced to sell the HBB at $1000 than what are they paying for these watches?..... $500? $600? $700? .... even $800?

I don't believe the wholesale price of this watch is that high... it's China for crying out loud.

Maybe the watchmaker increased the price from $10 to $210

I'm willing to bet 50% of the COST is the ceramic bezel. We used to order ceramic bishings and eyelets where I worked, and they ranged from $60-300US. But that was zero-tolerance specs for an industrial application. So lets put these at $150. Add $10 for a decorated rotor, and $275 for the watch with sapphire and double AR (The latest BCE, though I'm sure the BCE costs a lot more than the HBB to produce), and we're still under $500 - and those are RETAIL assumptions.

[Pugwash]

and those are RETAIL assumptions.

... and western assumptions. Stuff is really, really cheap in China.

[giorgio]

I think it comes down this. They see n00bs come in complaining about the $1200 rep they got from euro or bluefakes. Then they look at some of the members' extensive collections. Several members brag about how many gens they own in addition to their reps. So they figure if 10% of the active members on 4 boards can afford to buy 7 or 8 $300+ reps a year, then surely there are a few (insert whatever here) that will pony up $1000 for this watch. That way they can raise the steel versions to $600+ and put the lite version in at around $400.

When I saw how many people jumped at the SOSF at almost $400 shipped (I know it's a nice watch, but as far as the sum of its parts go...) I knew this was coming. I'm waiting for Teejay to jump in with his "I told you so!"

[Pix]

It's true we are guessing, argueing and supposing a lot... without knowing. But one thing is sure : the "we thought that price is too high" is not a white lie, it's close to BS (sorry). The proof for that is that they're back for sales at what was just asserted as an indecent price for the valuable consumers we represent...

Did I miss something ?