Iron Heart is similar to….. Rolex?
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I think most notional similarities between the brands are facile. While IH may be considered a prestige brand in certain circles (I certainly don’t think of it that way), Rolex is a truly global prestige brand with instant brand recognition for enormous amounts of people.
It was only ten years ago that IH and other Japanese denim labels were considered «secret brands» and they still are to an extent. Walk out onto any high street in any town or city in the developed world and show 100 people a Rolex watch, then a pair of IH and and ask them to name the brand. What are the numbers going to be? In some cases you might get 100-0 in favour of Rolex.
When it comes to cost, IH aren’t eye wateringly expensive when compared to other premium denim brands. They are marginally more expensive than many and the reasons for that are relatively transparent. There are only a few brands in the watch making world that can charge what Rolex charge however. And those brands have price points a couple of orders of magnitude over other brands with comparable products.
The limited batch drop is a market mechanism that either occurs due to methods of production and economic circumstance (Roy), or as a deliberate marketing ploy (Supreme). The point being it’s become a common feature of consumerism in late stage capitalism. I’m not going to compare Yeezy’s to a UHF based on that.
There’s no doubt that the two brands look good together though [emoji1]
As I said, nice post @Farmered . Certainly got me thinking.
Maybe there are other watch brands that are comparable to IH? New-ish, niche, over-engineered, rugged. @Graeme ?
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I don't own a Rolex but have come very close to buying one. What stops me is that the people I know who do own them all say things to the tune of - you don't buy a Rolex for it's toughness or accuracy…this bothers me given the price. I don't think you could ever say the same about Iron Heart.
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Hmm. I'd suggest Bremont watches to your question @neph93 But don't feel its a perfect match. I'd suggest a model- the Rolex explorer. (I am aware of other watch brands haha). Have a quick google of knox- Johnson's Explorer when he circumnavigated the world. It's aged wonderfully.
And such a good point regarding the respective supply. Rolex supply is utter bullshit for mass produced watches.
It is interesting that the vintage watch crowd aren't into denim. Both tribes are into patina.
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@EJS:
I don't own a Rolex but have come very close to buying one. What stops me is that the people I know who do own them all say things to the tune of - you don't buy a Rolex for it's toughness or accuracy…this bothers me given the price. I don't think you could ever say the same about Iron Heart.
The way I see it is people pay for the prestige, in-house mechanical movement, quality of the parts and steel and uber machines and workshop that make them.
If you want accuracy then there are atomic watches and toughness there are other watches. -
Hmm. Maybe closer to Grand Seiko than Rolex… At least geographically [emoji1]
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**I think most notional similarities between the brands are facile. While IH may be considered a prestige brand in certain circles (I certainly don’t think of it that way), Rolex is a truly global prestige brand with instant brand recognition for enormous amounts of people.
It was only ten years ago that IH and other Japanese denim labels were considered «secret brands» and they still are to an extent. Walk out onto any high street in any town or city in the developed world and show 100 people a Rolex watch, then a pair of IH and and ask them to name the brand. What are the numbers going to be? In some cases you might get 100-0 in favour of Rolex.**
That ^^^^. That's what sets IH and Rolex worlds apart IMO.
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That ^^^^. That's what sets IH and Rolex worlds apart IMO.
And makes it impossible to compare. Rolex was founded 113 years ago and developed into a global brand over many generations, while IH -considering the timeframe- is only at the beginning of a hopefully sustainable future within a difficult market.
From what I've learnt so far is, that Haraki san was with Edwin for 20 years before he founded IH 15 years ago.
Time will tell… -
Rolex, Audi, Gucci, etc etc all represent aspirational 'all the gear and no idea' buy it because GQ magazine says it will make a 'statement about who you are and what you have 'achieved'. Many a brand could have replaced any of those 3 examples. I live in Essex, the home of money can't buy style, but people will die trying.
For me, Rolex and it's like represent the material aspiration that modern society in industrially developed nations use as markers for success.
Iron Heart for me is artisan. It's values appear to be based in ethical and sustainable production and responsible consumerism. If I am wrong, then H and G are even better marketers than I already thought.
The risk for producers of quality artisan products is that they become a victim of their own success. With upscaling always almost without fail comes compromise..loss of quality, outsourcing production, cheaper materials…
I can't see (and desperately hope) that IH never has to make that decision.
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As an owner of both IH and Rolex I offer my own reflection. The two, to me, are not alike but how they leave me feeling when I wear them is. I avoid intellectualising the issue as when I do I often loose touch with how I feel and for me it's all about the feeling I have when wearing IH & Rolex.
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Rolex strike me as being similar to Iron Heart in that they're well engineered, well made, and pretty tough. Furthermore, both companies aren't at the cutting edge of design, in that a modern Rolex will generally look pretty similar to what they produced in the fifties or sixties, and a lot of Iron Heart gear could have been produced anytime in since then.
The differences are that Rolex are the biggest Swiss watch manufacturer in the world, and they spend a massive amount on marketing their brand identity, along with playing supply chain games to maintain an image of exclusivity. (Go into a boutique and ask about delivery times for a Daytona, Sky-Dweller, or GMT in steel, and you've got a good chance of being told you can't order one.)
Iron Heart is a relatively small company. I think marketing is mostly word of mouth, and production is limited by the mills and factories they use.
I think that a closer comparison might be someone like Habring2, an Austrian microbrand set up by Richard Habring, who developed IWC's Doppelchronograph, an affordable split seconds chronograph.
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And come on guys. Almost 300 quid for a shirt? I know its not over 6k for a watch but average joe would definitely put that in prestige?
The sticker shock does take getting used to, but when you compare the quality of IH over other brands there’s no contest. But, like anything this is all subjective. You should see the Filson IG page. Seems like every other comment is about how the average working man can’t afford Filson’s stuff, but Filson isn’t transparent about where all their stuff is sourced and their prices are high for non-US made goods
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Filson quality has taken a nose dive in recent years. I have an old wool vest that is much thicker and better made than the vest I just returned to them. High price isn't a guarantee of quality.
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Plus iron heart wont insist on servicing your item for £500 before charging you to replace a button or a snap upgrade.
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And come on guys. Almost 300 quid for a shirt? I know its not over 6k for a watch but average joe would definitely put that in prestige?
The sticker shock does take getting used to, but when you compare the quality of IH over other brands there’s no contest. But, like anything this is all subjective. You should see the Filson IG page. Seems like every other comment is about how the average working man can’t afford Filson’s stuff, but Filson isn’t transparent about where all their stuff is sourced and their prices are high for non-US made goods
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Filson quality has taken a nose dive in recent years. I have an old wool vest that is much thicker and better made than the vest I just returned to them. High price isn't a guarantee of quality.
Was your vest a Mackinaw? I think I paid full price for one of my Filson hats, everything else I got on sale. Don’t think I’d pay full price for most of their goods. Agree that high price doesn’t guarantee quality.
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Off topic but before Filson was bought out (the first time ~2006?), their goods were never on sale. No compromise. The one dealer in the Midwest that was caught giving out 15-25% off vouchers was threatened with losing their retail rights. I have a few pieces from that era and they are at a near IH of quality and durability. I stopped buying Filson when they brought out the Lodge Line and started opening flagship stores in every hip city.
As for IH, I see them more as a Muhle Glasshutte or Sinn.
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Plus iron heart wont insist on servicing your item for £500 before charging you to replace a button or a snap upgrade.
£800 for servicing a 'Vintage' watch now… ???
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Iron Heart for me is artisan.
Filson quality has taken a nose dive in recent years. I have an old wool vest that is much thicker and better made than the vest I just returned to them. High price isn't a guarantee of quality.
Carhartt also…USED to be great.
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Iron Heart for me is artisan.
Filson quality has taken a nose dive in recent years. I have an old wool vest that is much thicker and better made than the vest I just returned to them. High price isn't a guarantee of quality.
Carhartt also…USED to be great.
Carhartt is a mixed bag. I really dislike the Carhartt WIP stuff as that's just their stuff being licensed for the European market and is more fashion driven, despite being a workwear brand. I have a Carhartt trucker cap and acrylic winter hat that I like, but I likely wouldn't buy any of their other clothing. Their duck clothing are supposed to be tough as nails though
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I have a couple pairs of Carhartt jeans and while they are pretty tough, I wouldn't say they are more tough than anything else. Also their fits are pretty terrible. I have to size up pretty much 2 sizes to get the thighs to fit. I have a Carhartt duck jacket that is pretty nice, and pretty full of holes all over.
I think Duluth Trading fire hose canvas is a lot more comfortable and tougher than Carhartt duck.
