The Breitling Watch Source Forums

I have found most web sites for luxury watches to be extremely annoying - hard to navigate, takes too long to load, and just a really poor presentation of the product(s).

Does anyone have a luxury watch site they've been to where you think they did it "right?"

_________________
************* ************************ **********
PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

I've complained about this before. A great many watch sites use way too much Flash, taking an extraordinary amount of time to get you your information. I ran some tests a while back, and of the major watch manufacturers, Breitling and Rolex take the longest time to get a simple piece of information, like the diameter of a watch for example.

I like Doxa's site. Flash is used as an accent, rather than for the whole damn page. DOXA

I've seen this Flash phenomenon on a lot of websites for luxury goods, like clothing and pens. These sites are slow, Flash-ridden messes. Example: http://www.valentino.com/en/

The rest of the Internet is not like that. I don't know why select companies think making their sites into unnavigable crap makes them look hip or sophisticated. It's the online equivalent of going to a store, and them making you walk up a flight of stairs to look at a single product. Oh, you want to look at this in a different color? Walk up another flight of stairs, idiot.

Like if you went to a department store designed by MC Escher, that's Rolex's website.

_________________
---------------------
[Witty signature here]

I was going say Doxa too. It's not a modern look at all, but in terms of seeing a picture of the watch and finding information, it's pretty good. Personally I'd like to be able to see their watches in 360 degrees, so I think they would benefit from a little more animation on there, but ultimately I much prefer Doxa's approach compared to something like Rolex's which I find stupidly tough to navigate and find information on. However, the biggest problem with the Doxa site is that they seem to update it in terms of information once every couple of years or so. For example the 1200T had been on sale for at least 3 or 4 months before it even made it onto their website. And up until last month they were still offering free shipping in November on a couple of models. That's November 2009 incidentally.

No company seems to manage to get it "just right" IMO.

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I agree. It seems either the format is lacking, the information is lacking, or both.

Here's a list of stuff I'd like to see:

• Intro videos play below the main menu interface, not as something I have to skip to get to anything else.
• A page showing the different model ranges, with representative models from each range.
• A page showing all the models in a range. You need this and the above for proper browsing.
• A menu system so that if I know exactly what I want, I can get to it quickly.
• Regular updates; current information.
• All relevant data for any given watch, movement designation, depth rating, size; all that good stuff. Breitling has almost all of this.
• A configurator wizard, where you can select features you want, and then it'll show you watches that have that.
• Flash used when appropriate. Flash should not be used to display text or static images. Seriously, these people who make these websites for watches need to go look at the rest of the Internet, and they'll begin to comprehend to what an incredible degree their interfaces inhibit finding information.
• Good pictures. All watches should have a 3D view and a picture showing the lume.
• This isn't essential, but I like to see a video showing the history of the brand, and maybe something about their manufacture.

Hmm...I'm sure I'll think of some more stuff here...

_________________
---------------------
[Witty signature here]

i agree with you guys most of the sites are hard to navigate and way too flash heavy. IMO the brands outsource or higher companies that are well known for design. And when you are dealing with graphical designers they always like to make things look good as oppose to functional. good intentions gone array.

Often the best bit on the site, is the skip intro button.

I know this is a little off topic, but for second hand watches, the wide selection of different brands, simple description and good photos, I like.

http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk

I can spend a lot of time browsing there.

Ian.

_________________
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Navitimer World, Callistino.
Omega Speedmaster Moon, Hamilton 992B, Steinhart BS LEII #2, B&R 01-92 Heritage

Tell a lie - the 750T GMT Divingstar is STILL being offered with free shipping in November 2009!

_________________
Driver8

Site Moderator

I think the most important button by far is "Mute."

_________________
---------------------
[Witty signature here]

I agree with you both.

Not sure why this phenomena is what it is, but you'd think "someone" at the luxury watch companies would take notice.

_________________
************* ************************ **********
PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller

As I was doing some browsing tonight - actually, Graham is pretty decent relative to others in the luxury line - a little difficult to navigate, but compared to the others, much more enjoyable to browse.

http://www.graham-london.com/en-gb/home.aspx

_________________
************* ************************ **********
PAM359, Omega PO Big Size, 1951 Omega Seamaster, Rolex Sea Dweller