The fall of the real catalogue

[krispee]

Hi all.
I was going through my old catalogues and decided to get rid of them and ask for new, updated ones. They were nearly a decade old so I thought it would be nice to get some new ones. I thought it would be just as easy as last time, and would yield the same result.
Well, it turns out things have moved on, a lot of watch companies are changing their policy regarding catalogues, some of them are publishing only digital catalogues. Breguet for instance, and Audemars Piguet. In fact AP don't even seem to have a digital one either, you just look at the watches on their site. Not all the companies are there yet, but it makes me wonder if within a few years there will be no more physical catalogues only digital ones.
So keep hold of those pretty catalogues, boys and girls, because one day they might become pretty rare.

Cheers.
Kris.

PS - Still trying to get hold of a Greubal Forsey catalogue. I was sure that at one point they did actually print one, a real one. I have a digital one left over from a few years ago but although I've asked I have yet to receive a reply to this inquiry. Unless, of course, they never did print a real cat and I'm dreaming.

 

[Glaude]

Hi,

I'm pretty sure ADs will still have them available.
They are just going with the general and much welcomed, green movement, less printing if you can do it.
I believe I even read that as an explanation on one of the big brand webpages.

A more pragmatic explanation would be that those catalogue are often very well made, from good material and must cost a lot of money and space to store them, not to mention the logistic associated with sending them, for free.

 

[krispee]

Yeah, they must be very expensive to make indeed, although even an e-catalogue might cost a little, they are very glossily made. I'm not casting an opinion on the merits of e versus real, just making an observation really. I kind of sit on the fence when it comes to real books. I have a tablet and read a lot of kindle fiction on it, but there is something about a real book, in your hands, that can't be replaced. The feel of it; the smell of it.
Anyway, just my cent's worth.

 

[applestooranges]

Can confirm on AP. Asked for a catalogue and was directed to their website. They did say that i could look for a catalogue at the ADs, though i'm not sure if its available or just browsing material.

 

[applestooranges]

IWC, Patek, JLC and Omega has been pretty willing to mail catalogues if you ask nicely though, last i checked about a year ago.

 

[rek0001]

Went to the Chicago Auto Show last year, very few car makes had glossy booklets, gave out postcards with web address where you could view the entire lineup. Shame, you used to come home with a nice Toyota plastic bag containing all the brochures you could look at at your leisure.

 

[krispee]

It would be a shame if there were no books at all, in my opinion, although it's easy enough to look at an e-catalogue on your pc it doesn't quite have the same feel.

 

[loewenzahn]

an e-catalogue on your pc it doesn't quite have the same feel.

...... and above all is smelling totally different, of course.

 

[krispee]

...... and above all is smelling totally different, of course.

Ha, yes that is so true; the smell of a real book, nothing like it.

 

[trailboss99]

AP are nuts. If I'm contemplating a 30k plus purchase I want a catalogue dammit!

 

[Glaude]

AP are nuts. If I'm contemplating a 30k plus purchase, I want a catalogue dammit!

The ALS catalogue is one of the rare that come with a price sheet... in 2017 nothing was under 15 000 € (Simple Saxonia two hander) ! The catalogue is damn nice, hand signed (not printed, real ink) and personalised letter with it. For people spending big bucks and not really sure in which brand, this indeed makes a difference !

 

[krispee]

I just had a new catalogue from Jaeger LeCoultre and it's half the size of the last one I had and not as glossy or as well made. Even those giving catalogue's out seem to be spending less money on them.
Had a nice little book from Bovet though.

 

[rek0001]

Watch porn is just not the same viewed on a computer screen

 

[krispee]

Watch porn is just not the same viewed on a computer screen

An interesting way of putting it but it does make a difference it's true.

Had a lovely book from Harry Winston today, even the envelope/cover was super nice, with its own pull opener like Amazon. The address, though, was hand written on a sticky note you could buy at W H Smith.

 

[krispee]

AP are nuts. If I'm contemplating a 30k plus purchase I want a catalogue dammit!

Since you seem to be interested in AP I was curious what you thought about their new range, the Code 11:59 range of watches. I actually like a few of them, and I'm not an AP fan in general.

 

[BIONONE]

As far as i know AP had some difficulties with their publishing company of their catalogues for 2018... Not even the boutiques had a 2018 edition.

First time in like 5 or 6 years that i am not abled to enjoy some hard copy of true AP beauty...

Maybe they will return to their craftsmanship regarding art pieces in form of those gorgeous books - always enjoyed the artistic approach combined with designated artists from all over the world.

 

[krispee]

As far as i know AP had some difficulties with their publishing company of their catalogues for 2018... Not even the boutiques had a 2018 edition.

First time in like 5 or 6 years that i am not abled to enjoy some hard copy of true AP beauty...

Maybe they will return to their craftsmanship regarding art pieces in form of those gorgeous books - always enjoyed the artistic approach combined with designated artists from all over the world.

I think it's mostly a business decision, not only from AP but also from others. I now have more digital catalogues than real ones.