Just WOndering

[mnazri.tan]

I need opinion. Say I have enough money to start a company and produce Malaysian made watches. Let say maybe not with in house movement, but with movement like ETA or maybe even Selitta. But for sure, good quality movement only. I will employ great horology engineer….And I build the watch to be in high quality, the same you can get when buying swiss made. I will use expensive grade steel, sapphire and all those you expected from a watch maker. And I use my own original design which most probably look good in your eyes. Say all that and I sell it in the region of MYR 5,000 to MYR 20,000 depending on model. Say for a start I will have 20 model and eventually as the business grow I will have plan to have more models, a new one every year perhaps and eventually Malaysian made in house movement. That for later of course. And I position my brand along PANERAI.. (just example) or perhaps maybe more like TAG Heur. Then I open a boutique in Pavillion, Starhill , Midvalley, and all other posh area


Now the hypothetical question, on the day I launched the brand…Totally new brand with no history and I make it clear, it is Malaysian product…another original product from boleh land….would you want to buy my watch ? Say you like the design…..Give me your opinon…..and oh yes last one…on the dial…instead of swiss made…I will put up proudly Malaysian Made or maybe just Made in Malaysia

[G.MAC]

I would buy the watch BUT....most basic model. Because the product is still new and I am unsure on it so very hard for me to put down RM20k for a watch that i do not know of. But if your price range is say Rm1.5k-7k...then yes i would consider to get a few( if I like all the design). Positioning your brand along Steinhart, Epos, would be better. To compete against premier brands like Panerai would be a herculean task as your other competitor would be Rolex as well. Just my 2 cents.

[David_cheong]

Points to ponder.

Consider a Proton. It’s a Malaysian made car.
How many local and those who can afford, would want to buy a locally made car.
Compare it to a non-Malaysian made, be it a Honda, Toyota or a Suzuki. You be the judge.

Look around us, with all the mid range model on watches. And also look at the new comers as we had just viewed recently with all its launching.
These make and model are assembled in Germany? with Swiss DNA, where the entry market are between RM2k – 5k range.

Look at those watches that manufactured and assembled on the mainland China / Taiwan and India, etc.. If you have the $$, which one would you choose?. A Swiss made or the above?.

A long way to go but with a little luck, who knows…a re-badge(ing) perhaps and….A Malaysia watch is born
Good luck bro…….

Just my 2 cents.

dc

[hanz079]

I would buy one too BUT... only if I like the design and pricing.
And to start a new brand with no history whatsoever, why not position the brand to tie up with let say The Malaysian Navy or Army or Police. A standard issue model and then some civilian model based on the standard issue models.
Case back will be engraved "Dipakai dan diiktiraf oleh Anggota Tentera Malaysia"  
But seriously, the design will have to be distinctively Malaysian and that will be a huge task seeing that there's almost no Horology history of Malaysia.
Even Dievas which is Singaporean owned have to piggyback on German engineering history.

[takashi78]

You really wanna test the market?
Buy a spot in BASEL then you will know, or even SIHH.

Price range i would say for sure below 10k.

Look at our project watch thread for MWF, even employing people like Tourby or Stowa to produce MWF for us at rm5k also the project die down.

So with you brand totally new, no way you can charge those prices even if you say you put "quality" parts in.

Unless you have a big name designing or making the watch or developing for you, if not, learn from people like MKII,Lume-Tec,Damasko or even the Japenese like RWX.
Gain the trust of other forum people even with "affordable" models then move your way up.

[sshark]

I am thinking out loud, would you buy a Rolex if it is made in Japan, China or America? For watches they have to come from Swiss (with exception to some brands which have a long history) to command a premium and carry the luxury status. Anywhere else don't cut it. For example, Seiko. They made good watches for everyone depending on their affordability. R they successful? Yes they r. Do they share the same status as Rolex? I doubt so.

[hanz079]

@Takashi

Regarding that project watch, I stumbled upon the thread late. I was interested but thread was closed by that time.
But anyway, don't you think if we were to start a project watch, the design should incorporate everyone's 2sen?
I followed the WUS Steinhart Project watch and the way they did it is pretty cool and in the end, the watch is a looker.
Everyone got a say in the final design.
Maybe the reason our project watch died down is because the design wasn't to everyone's liking or maybe to participate in a project watch, we feel we might as well have a say in the design?
But still, it takes alot of work to get a project watch going so I salute those who did even if it did get off the ground.  

[takashi78]

Regarding the project watch, even the price we cant agree on, dun even have to talk bout design then.

Got to pay to play, too bad not everyone have enough bullet or find the value in it inside this forum at the moment.

But this thread is for something else, lets talk bout that instead.

[mnazri.tan]

guys....seriously....u sounded like i really have those money....hahahhahahah....well my bankers would told you i am 6 figure worth with negative sign

just wondering la actually....i was in different forum on different hobby but talking about malaysian product....

and honestly , i cant understand why is it that we still dont have malaysian made...we malaysian love watches anyway...look at number of watch store all around us....even if it is not a premium brand like Panerai, an orient level manufacturer i dont understand why no one up to it ?

I mean , come on seriously...what is so difficult in making watches ? pardon me, i am from manufacturing background...and i figure making watches is indeed intricate but nowhere near rocket science...the swiss watch industry like to make it sound like super rocket science so they can keep the price high...in fact to me it is a very straight forward process comparing to what other industries doing.....and to say malaysian engineer not good, is an understatement....i know several not so popular malaysian brand here (different kind of product) that is doing so well outside malaysia....even better than the competitors........it is not matter of skill or knowledge....it is about a guy, willing to take risk and invest....

I agree with all, with no history very difficult to make a panerai like brand prestige....that make me wonder even more, why none of our great grandfather start thinking of making watches those day so we can enjoy the brand nowadays...or perhaps we should start now so our great grand children will enjoy the brand later...

i live to dream...and while i am on it ...i dream big.....cheers

[maximillian]

well..if its said made in malaysia..i doubt i'll buy it..because malaysia is one of those countries that people dont even know existed..and in watchmaking,spelling made in malaysia on the dial will spell disaster.i mean people dont recognise made in china watches, and so will made in malaysia.people assume swiss made as a label that ensures high quality.really if u put a sea gull watch swiss made on the dial,anybody will buy it because people pay premium for the swiss made label.secondly ETA movt are almost impossible to outsource.best bet is sellita or miyota.but then again,by using miyota you can never charge the price you want really because to charge the same as panerai would?thats nuts.nobody will buy it.moreover,cost per watch is cheaper to build in china than here actually,look at f*ke watches..theyre booming like nuts!my idea is that produce a timepiece in switzerland,where components come from china,except the movement,place swiss made on the dial according to regulations and sell it.most important thing is consistency.if you produce 10 similar examples but are inconsistent in quality,then it cant be justified by the price charged.u can start a home brew/micro brand and sell through the forums first and see how the market is,and maybe grow from there.rome was not built in a day!

[mnazri.tan]

guys seriously, i dont have that kind of money....hahahhahaha

but, say i do have it....and say....i really want it....
base on earlier feedback...

Best to position the brand within the 3k to 10k price.....Maybe one model with 10k price for being limited edition of something.....
Then put in maybe ETA movement, but hearing that ETA plan not to sell to others, we may end up needing to use Selitta...Putting up miyota and selling at that price wont really work....or perhaps should get one of those russian made.....

Then what ? design....make one of the most appealing design...i doubt there could be any Malaysian DNA as i cant think of anything like it for watches...

ok, suddenly this pop in my mind (fuhh... goosebump ) why dont i target two brand...Tissot and EPOS....and to better both.....
so what is it other than price would make you want to buy a new malaysian brand with unknown history
Design ? Movt ? COCS cert ? Diving rate (say 500m)? Super bring lume ? Extraordinary precious metal ? or what ?

Say...Yvan arpa never really come up with titanic idea.....and say i come up with that idea and make that kind of watches....would you buy ?

Say i come up with really intresting watch concept....would you buy ?

Say i create something as unique as this hysek....ok let say hysek never produce this and i produce this ....and sell it as my super expesnive watch god know how much i would sell it for....would u buy ?



or do you have very strong perception of malaysia made never worth the price....no matter what

I might make a good thesis out of this....hehehhehe.....

[TheHobbit]

Bro,

Just to chip in. Most of the companies out there will require a minimum order to start work on your watch. The minimum that you can get away with is 200 pieces. That is 200 case, 200 dial and 200 hand set. After which you will need to source your movement. Say you go the non-eta way, you will still need a trade account to buy the movement. That is 200 movement. Note that the dial design is 200 pieces of the same design, not 200 pieces of a number of design. Same with the hands and case.

Prices for the case vary with material used, crystal and water resistant rating (snap back or screw down). Dial the same, what design and even the type of lume you want to use. Ditto for the hands.

Lets start with getting the people you want to the work for you. There are a couple in HK and if you want even the German guys will do the work for you. Prices do vary as do the minimum order quantity. You start with the basic case, dial and hand design. They will run (of course you have to commit if you are already at the prototype stage) a prototype and have you verify this is what you want. This can take sometime and lots of discussion and lots of going back and forth.

Once everything is ready and confirmed, payment is due (on top of the first payment on prototyping). Last payment of course is at delivery of the parts to you. Of course you can opt for the company to assemble for you. There are those that will even market the watches for you, but of course all these are extra cost.

Now comes the tricky part. How to market. Most people, as you have seen from the answers above would be very careful to dump lots of money on a new unknown brand. Look at Panerai when they first started out. Panerai had to get the senior management of Cartier involved in the marketing the watch. Nobody wanted to carry the watches as it was unknown and it was huge. Cartier actually 'told' these distributors that of they don't carry Panerai, they will lose the Cartier distributorship. Now Cartier is a cash cow for many of these distributors and so they carried the brand. At the point of sale, the sales people were 'begging' their customers to buy the watch. And that is Panerai.

Not wanting to pour cold water on your plans but you will need to position your product well and ensure that things like after sales service are in. Customers do not want to experience difficulties when they buy your products, like one of the new independent brand faced recently when they had problems with the bezel. It was finally solved but lots of people were left with a bitter after taste.

I personally would be hard pressed to pay RM 5,000 for a new brand when brands like Oris have watches in the RM2,000 region.

[mnazri.tan]

Guys...anyone heard about this...one of the most sought after seiko watches come with malaysian movement.... japan technology la ...but...clearly malaysian made sign

[mnazri.tan]

Not wanting to pour cold water on your plans but

dude...no plan...dont worry....just discussion among us....

[hanz079]

I remember the back of the seiko monster clearly states "movt malaysia" as well.
Anyone can confirm this?

[TheHobbit]

Many G-Shock were assembled in Malaysia before they moved up north. Well I know one Swiss company has its dial made in Malaysia.

[hanz079]

Many G-Shock were assembled in Malaysia before they moved up north. Well I know one Swiss company has its dial made in Malaysia.

Really?? Cmon... spill the beans already. Me noob want to know

[chrisyen]

proton not successful bcoz of
1. never aim at international market.... so no volume cant survive
2. poor quality
3. poor service

perodua doing ok bcoz of
1. malaysian is poor, thats the only car many malaysian can afford since malaysia practice high tax on import car to protect local car manufacturing
2. no need to pay r&d since its copy dihatsu model

so a malaysian watch not aiming at international market with design and assembling done here is not viable bcoz
1. malaysia got 27 mil population only
2. movement price control by SWISS
3. malaysia just dun hv brand in watchmaking

if u design and get it make in SWISS with your own name brand sell to the whole world then possible!

wus project watches is successful bcoz, wus member from all around the world, 0.01 member percent suppurt also can go...

[TheHobbit]

Many G-Shock were assembled in Malaysia before they moved up north. Well I know one Swiss company has its dial made in Malaysia.

Really?? Cmon... spill the beans already. Me noob want to know

Just find out which Swiss watch company head has a home in Malaysia and you have your answer.

[mnazri.tan]

who la??? zenith??

[ck77]

Ulysee Nardin's boss is resided here.
Dial made in Malaysia, not sure.

[TheHobbit]

Ulysee Nardin's boss is resided here.
Dial made in Malaysia, not sure.

Use to be made in Thailand when he was there. But the story goes that when he fell in love with Malaysia, he established a company to manufacture watch component in Sg. Way. The dials were manufactured in Malaysia for 10 years. Not too sure where the current dials are made.

Now with regards to the Thailand company, it had the following companies as its clients: Mido, Certina, Rado, Tissot, Camy, Fortis and Omega.

Bust goes the believe that all parts are made in Switzerland? Open secret perhaps?

[hanz079]

Actually components not made in Switzerland has been long known but what that we don't know where it has been outsourced to.
Alot of ppl think of China when outsourcing...
Correct me if I'm wrong, the Swiss Govt actually state that as long as 50% of the parts are frm Switzerland, then that's all it takes for a watch to be "Swiss Made"
The only thing that really gets me sometimes is the advertising of some brands.... 90% bull + 10% shit...
Sorry if it comes out abit rough... I used to be a tour guide so when my friends asked me what I told tourists on the bus, my answer is 90% bull + 10% shit... 

[G.MAC]

Malaysia DNA? We have sword hands for hour and minutes why not use kris for hour and minutes ? Also can use bronze as the dial shaped like a gong the gong is quite synonymous to this part of the world. Day indicator in BM? Ideas are plentiful. Only problem is the cost and people's perception. But still it is a fun idea. Although i would really love a PR indicator instead of a limited edition since it is only 200 pieces to begin with.

[chrisyen]

Correct me if I'm wrong, the Swiss Govt actually state that as long as 50% of the parts are frm Switzerland, then that's all it takes for a watch to be "Swiss Made"

the rules is value > 50% of watch parts and assemble in swiss
its easy to achieve, bcoz swiss movement sure more expensive than other parts...