Prestige factor?

[timefinder]

So I was wondering...................

Omega has stated that 7 out of 10 people have heard of their brand, and they are working so that they can achieve a 10 out of 10 the Rolex has.

Does anyone know of the ratio for Ball? Are they considered in the same league as an Omega, Rolex, Citizen, Seiko, etc.? Just curious what people's thoughts were.

[bullosa]

IMHO I dont think Ball is as prestigious as Omega, Rolex, Seiko or Citizen. All of them have their own in-house movements and are much more established world wide.

However Ball is one very well made Swiss watch. Their performance, quality and technology is very impressive. Their prices are hard to turn down. In some ways Ball is like Tag Heur years ago when Tag began to take the market by storm.

[Scott D]

Depends on how you define prestige. If you go solely on brand recognition & dollars, no way. You ask more people on the street if they'd buy a Ball to wear & you'd get some pretty funny responses...

Even inside the watch enthusiasts, I don't think they're seen in the Omega's, Rolex's, etc. Like bullosa said, I'd rate them like a Tag.

BUT to me prestige also is about history. I'll be the first to say I didn't know much about Ball before seeing the new forum here, but from what I've read so far they got some great history. A great history and vision for the future is more prestigious to me for a watch company than brand recognition, so to that extend, yea - they got it.

[ltgary]

Couple of points: Ball with the tubes is a brand new watch brand. Been on the market less than three years. While the name is old and respected the Ball of today isnt the Ball of Old. They, because of their being so new especially to the US, have very few dealers and that will certainly keep the recognition factor way down. While they have swiss eta movements I am not sure where they are made(regardless of what the dial my say remember 50% does not have to be swiss). Will be interesting to see what happens when ETA stops supplying movements. Also since they are so new how stable are they financially???Will they soon run out of $$ and go belly up----I dont think Omega, Tag, or Rolex will. Having said all of that I love a couple of their designs. One might even turn out to be one of my grail watches.

[boscoe]

An esteemed name, a new history and interesting watches - all the makings for a revived legend. Are they are "prestige" brand? Not yet - but they generate much favorable buzz among us watch geeks, so that could come to pass sooner than you think. A lot will depend on marketing, since image is all important.
Without opening the traditional can of worms, Rolex isn't the world's best watch - in my opinion - although the prevailing view in the non-watch geek world is that it's tops. Many watch geeks think Patek and other more "obscure" brands are superior to Rolex, Omega, et. al.
So with marketing (and a bit of time), Ball could climb into the Rolex, Breitling, Corum, Omega league.

[shimside11]

I have always been intrigued with the "prestige" concept because it is so relative and elusive. If you're a regular American male and you tell your buddies that you just got a new Rolex, they are all going to be impressed one way or the other. It's either, "wow, nice choice, let me see that...you must be doing well lately" or "oh, you're one of them now, eh?"

If you tell them that you just got a new Breguet Double Tourbillon, they will probably say "cool watch, did you see the game last night?" They will have no idea that it cost you more than your house.

If you peel off the first layer of the prestige onion, which is largely Rolex and Omega, you expose a great number of very good watches. I think that Ball could be right up there with the finer brands if they play their cards right.

IMO, Ball holds its own with brands like Baume and Mercier, Longines, Tag Heuer, and Hamilton. None of these are super prestigious, but they are respectable brands that you wouldn't be ashamed to wear in nice company.

[foghorn]

Prestige is something that is fairly foreign to me.
Maybe I'm just too casual or down to earth but the P word has never entered my mind in the purchase of any item.
I buy stuff that I like.
Even if I someday break down and buy a Rolex prestige will be the furthest thing from my mind.

[bullosa]

shimside11 said:

If you peel off the first layer of the prestige onion, which is largely Rolex and Omega, you expose a great number of very good watches. I think that Ball could be right up there with the finer brands if they play their cards right.

IMO, Ball holds its own with brands like Baume and Mercier, Longines, Tag Heuer, and Hamilton. None of these are super prestigious, but they are respectable brands that you wouldn't be ashamed to wear in nice company.

I agree that Ball along with some other brands make fine watches. Some up to the mark with more reknown brands. I own one fine example at the moment and will continue to buy Ball watches as long as they meet my criterias for purchase.

Prestige have been understood as something respectable through achievements and awards. However it is interesting to learn that the original word of prestige from latin means 'illusion or delusion', connoting a false impression. In a world where 'branding' and 'advertisement', one can easily impressed the uninformed of 'prestige'.

I am persuaded that history, technological contribution in design and manufacture, quality, continued innovation, product quality and customer support define prestige in my book.

Ball is still relatively a young but showing a lot of potential to climb the podium in time to come. Buy your watch for the quality build, finish, design, etc...and you rarely will go wrong. If you want to buy one for prestige, make sure you have lots of money and you like that watch. Dont just buy it to impress people. ;D I have seen impressive personalities show up up at high end watch launch party wearing the Invicta Lupah, looking very good and very happy that night.