Look at Shop's guide it looks like what happened in the past. http://www.shopnbc.com/onair/Default.aspx?view=programguide&dir=pg&cm_re=GN-_-ONAIR-_-PROGRAMGUIDE

Maybe but Renatos current design direction, big and quartzy isn't helping.

http://www.shopnbc.com/SearchM/Default.aspx?page=LIST&free_text=renato

The Vintage Beast, now swollen to 50mm, with tiny little hands


The Calibre Robusto, one of my favorites, also now struggling with obesity at 50mm and given the ubiquitous quartz chrono


And what I suspect is the TTV, WildeBeast, also at a scale tipping 50mm, and a 35mm ladies version.

I'm glad to see Renato 2.0 has answered the call for more reasonable case dimensions and more automatics

Enough giant quartz

mrneddles wrote:I'm glad to see Renato 2.0 has answered the call for more reasonable case dimensions and more automatics

Enough giant quartz

Totally agree mr n........

Quartz=cheap
50mm=horrendous

These are all very good points, gentlemen. I too see Renato going away yet again, but my guess, for what it's worth, is that they'll go out the same way that XOS has; a mere shadow of its former glory, offering cheaply made, kitschy watches that'll last about five minutes on the wrist...and about twenty months as a watch company. Anyone remember when Voit bought Harley-Davidson? I do, and it still makes me want to cry every time I recall those days...yeah, I know; Renato is no Harley! True enough, but MZB is no Voit, either...

Maybe a blessing in disguise for you Mortus.
Quit buying them AMF watches already, and for gods sake get something with a f_cking kick start..... batteries are for whimps.

Hater wrote:Maybe a blessing in disguise for you Mortus.
Quit buying them AMF watches already, and for gods sake get something with a f_cking kick start..... batteries are for whimps.

Well, I did have this beautiful custom Harley Heritage Softail...***SIGH***...but after sustaining a broken back and a 'shattered' left leg nearly eleven years ago, The Boss, AKA She Who Must Be Obeyed, AKA my better half, instructed me to sell it, asserting that I had no business being on a motorcycle anymore...I suppose she was right, but I sure miss that bike every single day since I said goodbye to it...

After watching a little of the ShopNBC presentations from this past weekend, I can only guess that Renato isn't going to be around much longer at those price points. WIS know the score (made in China, "hand made" on the face, etc), they'll be too expensive for TV viewers, and boom, epic fail. It's not going to work; everything with Renato is stop/start (we have a website & blog, oops, no we don't; we're streaming, oops, no we aren't; we are making tourbillons, oops, no we can't).

Frankly, they should be catering to the women's market - after all, they were semi-endorsed in Oprah's magazine at one point, and there's pictures of her actually wearing one - but they never knew what to do with such a plaudit. In my experience, women love their designs in smaller case sizes a hell of a lot more than men gravitate to them, so what does Renato do? Come out with a big "new" line of men's stuff in bigger sizes than ever, and only two women's models.

A matter of months and you'll find their stuff at markdown stores like T.J. Maxx. I'd bet the ranch on it.

TemerityB wrote: A matter of months and you'll find their stuff at markdown stores like T.J. Maxx. I'd bet the ranch on it.

Unfortunately - or fortunately, depending on your view - I think your prediction is spot-on. That they - Shop & Renato - don't get this is just flabbergasting... As always, great post, TB!

Mortuus wrote:

TemerityB wrote: A matter of months and you'll find their stuff at markdown stores like T.J. Maxx. I'd bet the ranch on it.

Unfortunately - or fortunately, depending on your view - I think your prediction is spot-on. That they - Shop & Renato - don't get this is just flabbergasting... As always, great post, TB!

Thanks, as always, but it certainly doesn't take much to look at the current Renato strategy and think "WTF." It's the most confused, muddled, center-less approach I've seen any business come up with in ages - the fact they really cheesed off about half their most loyal customers before the Berger takeover hasn't even been addressed, seemingly. I mean...raise prices...lower quality....neglect the fans that made you what you are/were..it's just brilliant, ain't it? As for me, I own two older models (one with a 2824) but I can't imagine buying another. I mean...they just repeat themselves over and over, which is strange for a brand with so many "limited editions," isn't it.