- The
complete text of Miguel's post:
-
- Moderator and
Zenith in the US of A
- Posted By: Miguel Seabra
(pbr2.telepac.pt)
- Date: 10/2/01 07:06
-
-
- I would like to ask the
moderator to gather all those Zenith articles and
features that have been made at TimeZone and put
them over here at the Zenith Forum.
-
- I am a tennis/golf writer
and editor (I also write about watches and
translate catalogues into portuguese) that travels
a lot troughout the world and wherever I am, I
always buy magazines, check out shops and see
what's going on with the local watch market.
-
- It used to be fun to visit
all those shops in Manhattan, including Time
Machine, during the US Open with one of my Zeniths
on the wrist. The costumers and the sellers would
be very curious and ask me to take a closer look at
them. I guess all those years without Zeniths in
the US gave you a special apetite for the brand. I
haven't been in the US this year -- how is the
situation these days? Is that problem with Zenith
Computers over? The american ownership of Zenith
years ago almost killed the brand; I was told that
during the quartz revolution, the american owners
wanted to destroy all the old machines used to make
the traditional movements, and what saved the
company was that some workers refused to obey
orders and did hide those machines...
-
- Zenith is a hell of a brand
that is finally getting everything it deserves. It
is sad that it had to lose its independence, but it
is good to be a part of a large luxury group where
the money flows. And now Zenith is the manufacture
of the LVMH group -- providing its great movements
El Primero and Elite to other brands. It has
already started with the TAG Heuer Classics
Monza...
-
- I've been in Switzerland
late August (to visit Audemars Piguet, Renaud &
Papi and Paul Picot) and it is clear that they have
been investing a lot in advertising with the Zenith
brand -- you can see it at the Geneva airport, in
the magazines, in the streets. And the portuguese
dealer told me that Zenith bought back all the
quartz watches (they had a second catalogue, only
with quartz watches) to destroy them and reposition
the brand within the manufactures and luxury
segment.
-
- Prices have also gone up, to a
level more compatible with the Zenith pedigree -- you
had a lot of other brands with much worse movements
more expensive than Zenith. I also heard that, in
order to take full advantage of the manufacture
experience, a Zenith tourbillon could be on the way
(but it takes years), even though the CEO of Zenith
(Monsieur François Manfredini himself) told me
a couple of years ago that they would stick only with
the chronographs and simple complications. I guess
Zenith's new status demands something
else...
-
Articles are the property of their authors. I retain
rights to my listing, but feel free to use or copy it
as long as you include the "Title Block" at the top
with the author's name and revision dates. If you have
additions/corrections please
email me and I
will add/correct them.
-
- Enjoy!
-
- -- Chuck
|
on 2 October 2001,