How does a Rodolphe Watch rank against other well known watch makers

[Vanquish]

I have a few swiss watches and I spoke to a N.Y. Jeweler (watch collector)to find out about this manufacturer, he never heard of this watch. Has anyone heard of them or for that matter know how it compares, interms of value manufacturing quality.

[Viper99]

My father is a jeweler who handles Rolex, Movado, Concorde, etc., and he too never heard of this maker. Seems like he is a niche watch maker. Kind of like a "Spot Builder".
The quality is good but the high price tag is more due the limited amount of watches made. I believe only 500 or so Viper watches are being made.
Personally, for 6-7K there are a lot of other watches I'd prefer.

[Daffy Duck Viper]

You know, it's one of those self-proclaimed things, like when a new CD comes out, and on the front cover is one of those labels - "Including the hit single Far Away" - that, in truth, is not even a hit song yet, and could very well never be a hit song. It's just self-proclamation crap. It doesn't mean sh!t. But by them saying it, they hope it will make it true. It's just advertising.

[Neil - UK]

I'd think they will struggle to sell 50 never mind 500 never heard of the company either, me to if had to spent that amount on a watch would choose something else

[SUN RA KAT]

Swiss Watch News 2000



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Rodolphe + Roamer + CAT = R&R Time Group

(January 31, 2000)

Today, the watch industry is in the throes of change with buy-outs, mergers, regroupings, and the sharing of development, production and distribution facilities. Now, three more middle-range brands have pooled their resources so each can develop in its own niche. The newly-formed R & R Time group will preside over the destinies of Rodolphe, Roamer and CAT.

The complementarity of the three watch brands is clear. CAT (for Caterpillar, known worldwide for its big earth-movers and, more recently, for its range of clothes and shoes) belongs to the large-volume lower-mid-range segment ($60 - $250). Its trendy products are a big hit with a young international clientele. For its part, Roamer fits into the mid-medium-range (CHF 150 - 500) and has a more mature, rational and Cartesian philosophy, as well as watchmaking roots dating back to 1888. Rodolphe is positioned in the upper-mid-range (CHF 500 - 2,000) and its watches reflect their designer, Rodolphe Cattin, an open-minded intellectual who is interested in the arts and stamped with the deep respect for true horological values that characterises watchmakers from La Chaux-de-Fonds. The group is planning to offer a perfectly complementary range of products covering a wide price spectrum. To this will be added a second layer of complementarity at the market level.


The R & R Time group has created a holding company under the direction of a group of Swiss and international financiers. The principal owners of the three brands have each ceded a part of their holding to the new group, which will be presided over by Mr Steve Kocher (right in photo), the manager who spearheaded the rebirth of the Roamer brand and, more recently, the ISA industrial movements group. The vice-president, Mr Jacky Epitaux (left), formerly market manager at Zenith, will be responsible for distribution. And designer Rodolph Cattin (centre) will continue to design the products for his own brand name as well as the other two, ensuring a synergy in product image while highlighting the particular characteristics of each brand.

The group's headquarters will be in La Chaux-de-Fonds and Solothurn. All Roamer's and Rodolphe's Swiss-made products will continue to be manufactured in the Jura region. The group currently employs 21 people. It has already created around ten jobs and envisages creating a further twenty in the near future, without counting those generated at the sub-contractors. The three brands plan to produce 250,000 watches this year, and increase that to 500,000 within the next two years.


FRANÇAIS



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[matt lankford]

SO...has anyone here taken the 6k plunge?

[doctorbob]

NOT!

[SUN RA KAT]

I'm wearing a 15 year old Three Stooges watch that was $30 new and only cost $130 to clean and adjust and replace the crystal a few months ago. When Rodolphe comes out with a better Three Stooges watch...

[AviSarfaraz]

I'd Much rather have a long lasting 3500$ DMC-2 Watch witch is nice, stylish, and places me in line for the new delorean. Or a Rolex....

[DR VIPER]

My suggestion is to wait for the replica Rodolphe watch,$20-$30 at the most.I may consider spending that,in the meantime I shall spend my $7000 on the Viper instead!

[Daffy Duck Viper]

Yes, but will the replica Rodolphe have YOUR name and VIN engraved on the caseback? Heh-heh.

[joe117]

I bought a replica Rolex and a Brietling on line. Can't tell them from the real thing. Total cost about $300 for the two.
I'd never pay big money for any watch unless I had already run out of other things to waste money on.
The day of the "fine watch" is over for any practical purpose. There was a time when a good one was really better than an ordinary one. Now, it's just jewelry.

[ElDiablo Viper]

I saw the watch with my own eyes at Chucks BBQ. The lady selling them asked me if I was interested (since I wore Bretelig) I told her that for business meetings I would never take Viper watch. If I had to spend $ on the watch I would get a Patek Philippe that I'm 100% sure that it would appreciate plus it is a brand name. This is like spending 70K on a Viper kit-car. To me a Viper watch is cheese only if you are hanging out with car guys it would make sense. If they offered the watch for $500 or less I would get it...for 6K I would rather blow my $ on MODs.

[Daffy Duck Viper]

I saw the watch with my own eyes at Chucks BBQ. The lady selling them asked me if I was interested (since I wore Bretelig) I told her that for business meetings I would never take Viper watch. If I had to spend $ on the watch I would get a Patek Philippe that I'm 100% sure that it would appreciate plus it is a brand name. This is like spending 70K on a Viper kit-car. To me a Viper watch is cheese only if you are hanging out with car guys it would make sense. If they offered the watch for $500 or less I would get it...for 6K I would rather blow my $ on MODs.

So, beyond what you told the lady, and beyond the "big deal price" of the watch, what did you think of the watch since you saw it in person?

[joe117]

Really, who is going to pay $6k for a Viper watch? It just doesn't make sense. It's a novelty kind of thing. This Rodolphe company doesn't have enough of a name for anyone to give it any notice.
I haven't seen it, do the wipers go back and forth with the seconds?