MGoSponsor Note: Marawatch

Submitted by Seth on

Starting yesterday afternoon you may have noticed some pictures of incredibly swank, Block-M'ed watches bracing your MGoContent. To just insert a little more information, these are very high-end, officially licensed watches, and very few are made of any one series. Friend of the blog Shashi Mara (see Brian's writeup on him last month) is the man who created them, and how they came to be is an interesting story itself.

Note that these are not at all normal every-guy watches. But for those of you on the other side of many successful seasons, and who can bear witness to just how great it is to be a Michigan Wolverine, then maybe it's time.

Seth

November 22nd, 2012 at 10:46 AM ^

I think he's right to not carry a price tag. This isn't something you see and buy. It's something you want for a long time, and when you have the means you start having the conversation. If I can indeed make a career from MGoBlog, I plan to buy one when I retire.

These are the real deal, thus expensive. He's not cagey about the price, but when it comes to these things they cost what they cost--the margin is what it needs to be for somebody to make a living creating these things, and otherwise you're paying for parts that are exquisite and labor that is masterful.

mGrowOld

November 22nd, 2012 at 11:45 AM ^

In all due respect Seth I strongly disagree.  I have made a nice living selling stuff over the past 25 years or so - sometimes expensive stuff and sometimes cheap stuff but in all cases we always told our customer how much we were initially asking for our stuff up front.  That way the consumer (be it B or C) can evaluate if they can even consider the offering prior to engaging the company or salesperson.

Not giving a price, IMO, is simply a way to get contact information from a prospective customer so you can double back on them should you fail in your first attempt to close the deal.  Absent of that there really is no reason not to divulge your asking price up front in any transaction.  And most consumers HATE being hounded by companies trying to re-close a deal they passed on in the first place.

 

akim

November 22nd, 2012 at 11:22 AM ^

I kinda wish we at least had order of magnitude on price.  I'm certain I can't afford it now, but I"d like to know how many years it would take to get one if I wanted one.  :P

jg2112

November 22nd, 2012 at 12:30 PM ^

and btw, I'll never delete the email. Imagine having a conversation with a person who writes descriptions of what a bottle of wine tastes like, and that's the world you're entering.

One of the watches will cost you around a 1/3 of a year of Law School. At Michigan. University of. Ann Arbor.

MLaw06

November 22nd, 2012 at 12:25 PM ^

I think Reno Drew called and found the prices last time.  Looked it up and here they are in case any of you are getting a nice bonus this year.

- The Game Changer (limited to 30 pieces): $7,995

- The Rainmaker (limited to 12 pieces): $6,995

- The Risk Taker (limited to 8 pieces): $6,995

- Custom handmade straps: $200 to $350 each

MLaw06

November 22nd, 2012 at 12:28 PM ^

By the way, I wanted to say that I was very impressed with the turnout from Michigan fans last night at MSG. 

Composition of the fan base (based on observation and exit polling (jk)):

Michigan fans 75%

Pitt fans 10% (most of which consisted of their student section)

Delaware fans 10%

K-State fans 5%

Overall, MSG looks like they sold out all of their suites and most of their lower bowl seats, but their upper bowl was empty.  Not bad for an early season game with only one ranked team.

chitownblue2

November 23rd, 2012 at 8:31 AM ^

People spend money on all sorts of things that do more than serve their base function. Do you drive the smallest Kia for $9999 (or hell, a 10 year used car?), or something more expensive? The Kia will get you to the same place as any other car. Do you just eat rice and beans or sometimes have steak? They have the same caloric value. Do you dress in an insulate sack, or do you wear clothing? They'll both cover you and keep you warm. Do you have an alumninum shack, or do you own or rent a house or apartment? They'll both shelter you.

Do you own anything that isn't the cheapest possible option that can accomplish the same task?

Some people like watches, the same way others like electronics, books, jewelry, cars, etc.

Bb011

November 22nd, 2012 at 12:26 PM ^

Meh, if it doesn't have a price, or at least price range, then I normally will continue looking (even if I could very well afford it). They are very cool though.

chitownblue2

November 22nd, 2012 at 12:41 PM ^

It's as expensive as other nice, expensive watches. TAG, etc.

The purple prose in this and Brians post are absurd - it's not as aspirational thing of beauty, and I think anobody who uses the term "bespoke" is unaware of the definition. The very fact that he offers three specific models prohibits it from being fully custom.

If you're in the market for a Tag, a Movado, a Breitling, and really want something with an M on it....here you are. It's not a Rolex.

I'm just uncomfortable with the air of pretension surrounding this. Get over it. You don't need to be a wealthy man, you need to not have kids until you're thirty. Then you'll be able to afford it.

ChicagoBigHouse

April 7th, 2013 at 11:44 AM ^

From an admitted 'watch-nut' who spends way too much time online on watch websites, and way too $$$ on collecting watches, the price for this piece is totally out of wack.  The alligator straps are a reasonable price compared to others, i.e. Panerai OEM straps.  But for a no name watch company with a dressed up generic swiss movement, the prices are insane.  

For this price you could buy a new Rolex Submariner,  which would likely be worth what you spent on it in 10 years, a well studied and well updated movement, containing an amazing number of 'firsts' in the watchmaking industry.  In addition, they promise to provide service for that watch for the next 25 years, and will definitely be around that long.

Not that I love Rolex, but the value is much greater in terms of the piece itself, and the heritage.