Rolex "Old Man's Watch"

[johnnydeepsea]

I am 35 years old and not much of a WIS but I am learning a lot from all of you here. I was and am a Tag owner but I wanted to treat myself to a new watch. I saw Robert Downey Jr. wearing a Bell & Ross in Iron Man and thought that it was cool and I did some research but I could not get over the rubber bands.
Bigger watches are in with my age group and I was not thinking about Rolex I always remembered the fake gold ones I would see on vacation in the Islands and thought that they were a old persons watch.

I decided to buy a Grand Carrera and it cost $9000 and I thought I could probably look at a Rolex for that kind of money. I went on the Rolex website and was so surprised at the sport watches that I saw they did not look old at all. While I was looking I came across the Deepsea Dweller I thought it was the coolest watch I have ever seen and knew I had to try it on. When I told my friends about it they all told me I should be looking at Breitling since they all wore those but I was set. I went to the local AD and fell in love.

Why does Rolex not advertise in younger publications like Maxim or other 30 something magazines and get their new designs out there? I think they could sell much more if they lose their stigma as an old watch.

[Ed Rooney]

The reason they are perceived as old man watches is that we buy them as young men, and then wear them until we are old men. Jury is still out on being able to do this with a Breitling.

[Johny]

welcome. from the old Scottish guy

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

The reason they are perceived as old man watches is that we buy them as young men, and then wear them until we are old men. Jury is still out on being able to do this with a Breitling.

right on!

[kaiserphoenix]

No way they are for old people. I mean I dun mean to say old people cant wear them, but what I am saying is that a good watch is "ageless". Would you tell a young kid that Steak or that painting, that statue is for "old tastes"? No.

What is good is good. For the price, you will not get a better watch. Forget Breitling, their inhouse chrono costs over 6000GBP, u can get a submariner for 4900 which is also inhouse and a solid movement at that.

Tags dun even use their in house movements.

A rolex is a damn fine watch whoever wears it.

[smallcandle]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

The reason they are perceived as old man watches is that we buy them as young men, and then wear them until we are old men. Jury is still out on being able to do this with a Breitling.

Perfect answer. I'm 36 and have been aware of Rolex since I was probably 7 or 8 years old. I still remember all of those cool ads in National Geographic and couldn't wait for the day I could afford one.

[brettpaul]

Originally Posted by smallcandle

Perfect answer. I'm 36 and have been aware of Rolex since I was probably 7 or 8 years old. I still remember all of those cool ads in National Geographic and couldn't wait for the day I could afford one.

Too right mate - how cool were those Nat Geo Sub ads when you were a kid dreaming of adventure!!

[Cigarlvr]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

The reason they are perceived as old man watches is that we buy them as young men, and then wear them until we are old men. Jury is still out on being able to do this with a Breitling.

Couldnt agree more! I think it also depends on the Rolex you buy the stainless ones are easy to pass off as being young I think it is when you get the all gold models is where it gets difficult

[johnnydeepsea]

I never looked at Breitling watches before and I just spent a half hour looking at them and I do not understand what people see in them. They seem really big and busy also they seem to have a bit to much bling to them. Maybe this is the reason that they are popular with my 30 something generation. I would rather buy a nice Tag Heuer watch then any of the Breitling watches I looked at. I think that with the Rolex watches they just seem to be built with one block of steel and tank like. I see a lot of people complain about the DSSD but it seems like all of the Breitlings are bigger then the DSSD.

[bewithabob]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

The reason they are perceived as old man watches is that we buy them as young men, and then wear them until we are old men. Jury is still out on being able to do this with a Breitling.

I'm with you!

[OLJR]

My Dad wears a TT DJ with a pyramid dial, which he bought to celebrate his 50th birthday.

To be honest I think that it is a jolly nice watch but I would not consider wearing one myself here at age 29.

However I am sure that when I am older wearing a DJ like this will appeal more to me than it does at present. For now I will stick with the sports models.

Just as the clothes we wear change as we grow up so might the watch.

[Singslinger]

Old? I thought 50 is the new 40?

[Big A]

I don't think Rolex is aimed at the older person, merely the more discerning person

I got my first Rolex brand Tudor Sub for my 21st from my parents which I will never part with and wear on a daily basis. Before that I bought myself a TAG F1 with wages from my first proper job, which my dad now wears pretty much on a daily basis.

I remember seeing Roger Moore as James Bond as a youngster, turning the bezel on his Sub and it activating a magnet to unzip his ladies dress and thought "I need one of those in my life". Unfortunately I was mighty disappointed when I realised at an older age that this was indeed camera trickery However, I remember looking in AD's windows with my dad from probably around the age of 10 and always wanting one.

I also think that with my dad in the bespoke tailoring business all of his life, fine hand made suits and fine watches kinda go hand in hand which probably influenced my love of Rolex and other fine watch brands.

Now at the fine old age of 33 I recently bought a DSSD myself and am planning on treating my dad to a Yacht-Master while adding a white Milgauss and hopefully a Daytona to my collection in the very near future. Mind you at the same time I'm lusting over a few Panerai too.

With regard to Rolex advertising in younger publications like Maxim, I don't think this is the type of magazine Rolex would associate themself with. I remember subscribing to both Maxim and FHM in my 20's and as I got older, engaged then subsequently married, I found these magazines turning into soft porn and they lost their appeal to me and I have now changed over to reading GQ. I have also found myself moving away from the "boy racer" type cars that had me hooked growing up and now like more "grown up" cars like Range Rover and Bentley. The same with radio stations, I now listen to the same stations as my dad from time to time. Man, I'm turning into my dad Or maybe I am just getting old

[dinan545bmw]

Originally Posted by johnnydeepsea

While I was looking I came across the Deepsea Dweller I thought it was the coolest watch I have ever seen and knew I had to try it on. When I told my friends about it they all told me I should be looking at Breitling since they all wore those but I was set. I went to the local AD and fell in love.

[AK40DJ50]

Really nice watch. I am sure it will age well with you.

[johnnydeepsea]

My friends are really into Breitling but they seem a little to BLING to me. I like the look of Tags but I wanted something a little more upscale. I like the look of a larger watch without it being to much I think the DSSD fits the bill very well. Their really seems to be a love hate relationship with the watch though I read a lot about people having one for 3 months and selling it. It seems easier to buy one used then to find one at a AD. Mine was in my AD only two days and he said he had a hard time getting them but their are a lot for sale here.

Do you think Rolex is sending out less on purpose to spike interest in the watch because it is not as popular and their is a big used market. Or do you think maybe they will stop production and go with a new design?

[Rob_b]

Originally Posted by johnnydeepsea

My friends are really into Breitling but they seem a little to BLING to me. I like the look of Tags but I wanted something a little more upscale. I like the look of a larger watch without it being to much I think the DSSD fits the bill very well. Their really seems to be a love hate relationship with the watch though I read a lot about people having one for 3 months and selling it. It seems easier to buy one used then to find one at a AD. Mine was in my AD only two days and he said he had a hard time getting them but their are a lot for sale here.

Do you think Rolex is sending out less on purpose to spike interest in the watch because it is not as popular and their is a big used market. Or do you think maybe they will stop production and go with a new design?

Hi and welcome

IMHO the trend for the younger generation is to wear a slightly larger cased watch, nothing wrong with this of course.

As a ROLEX fan, I can understand that other enthusiasts want to try the DSSD. But I also appreciate that its not a watch for everyone in all situations, and they may flip it for something that meets their requirements a little better. Hence, the influx in used models. Just a blip in the big scheme.

And no, I for one would be surprised if ROLEX would hold onto stock to boost the DSSD image. There are easier ways to achieve this through advertising, surely

Stopping production or model change so quick after release is almost unheard of in ROLEX land Ok, so maybe there was the orange hand GMT, but it is now an instant classic. The day of the Zenith Daytona strategy is over.

Rob

[ArcticMoose]

I've never read Maxim, but just had a look at their website, and I can see why Rolex wouldn't advertise in it. There are Rolex ads in lots of other magazines aimed squarely at the 30s crowd.

[mjclark32]

Great watch, you'll see a lot of 20-30 year olds (and of course up) wearing a Rolex. I'm 25 and a few of my friends have them. Rolex being an old man's watch is a misconception, imo.

[mtrunner]

Welcome. I actually have never really thought of Rolex as being an Old Man's Watch and I think Rolex does market to a lot of demographics including the younger generation. They are huge sponsors of many sporting events and a lot of young athletes are spokesmen and women for Rolex like Lindsey Vonn and Roger Federer to name a few.

[gettocard]

The Watch Snob says it's an old man watch..:chuc kle:

[dddrees]

Everybody has an opinion. You'll find this in regards to watches, cars, houses and other things as well.

However you will find a number of people your age and younger on this forum. I am sure your demographic and even younger people than you are very important to Rolex. The baby boomers wont live for ever.

Maybe for a long long time, but not forever.

[t e x]

welcome to trf...

how about SI swimsuit. is that young enough!

[JimSnyder]

I'm half way to 100

[Warnsboy]

Originally Posted by JimSnyder

I'm half way to 100

+4 yrs!!! and I'm not old

[kareemthedream33]

Classic is classic, age means nothing with rolex.

[arttay10]

My son asked me for one for his 18th Birthday........ which I had to grant (obviously!)
He got a 14060 Sub - he loves it to bits !!

[RRY]

When a girlfriend of mine first saw my Expy she played with it admiringly and then said "there's something very senior citizen about the magnifying glass."

[DCgator]

My dad had a Rolex when I was a kid and have always thought that someday I would own one. And so I bought my first Rolex when I was in my early 30s. I own a couple three today.
I will give my 20 and 30 y/o sons their first Rolex watch this year or early next year.

[mike]

Nice score on the DS.

It's interesting that may feel Rolex is for the "more mature" set. Perhaps Rolex themselves lends to this with their "crown for every achievement" saying.
The implication being a Rolex comes later after your "mark" has been made.

I don't think that holds a lot of water. I got my first when I was 19 and remember a lot of younger guys wearing them because they were considered the best thing out there.

Sure Rolex has several bling references that perhaps are better suited to the higher income of those more well established, but again I not sure that is really the case.

The professional models are successfull because they are just that--professional models. Whether one actually uses the watch for it's intended purpose or likes the design, young or old there is an appeal to the watch that few can match.