The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 25 December 2019, 12:36 AM   #1
WRISTROLEX
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Real Name: Kevin
Location: USA
Watch: 116503
Posts: 152
Baby boomer and Rolex popularity

Hi all, I am new here but have been doing a lot of reading. I expect my first watch to arrive today! So excited!

To the point of this thread post. I'm thinking this demand seen today for such luxury items is mainly based on an older group of people that can now afford to make these disposable income buys.

Surely, there are some younger guys and girls with the ability but....Do you folks agree?

If so, the future there would/might be a decrease, as the population changes again????

Just a thought, to provoke a conversation.
WRISTROLEX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 12:42 AM   #2
locutus49
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2014
Real Name: John
Location: La Jolla, CA
Watch: Platona
Posts: 12,194
Millennials end up buying luxury goods despite their anti-luxury claims.

Studies show millennials do lease cars instead of buying. However, the two most leased brands by millennials are BMW and Mercedes.

Millennials like a minimalist aesthetic. It is unclear if they maintain this as they age but they do end up buying luxury goods like Rolexes.

Millennials claim there are no good-paying jobs for them like there was for Boomers. But as they settle into careers they end up in the same kind of careers as Boomers.

Bottom line, millennials will buy Rolexes like the generations before them. IMO
locutus49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 02:43 AM   #3
Roddypeepa
"TRF" Member
 
Roddypeepa's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2019
Real Name: Mark
Location: Southern England
Watch: DJ41 SubC SMP mast
Posts: 1,691
Quote:
Originally Posted by locutus49 View Post
Millennials end up buying luxury goods despite their anti-luxury claims.

Studies show millennials do lease cars instead of buying. However, the two most leased brands by millennials are BMW and Mercedes.

Millennials like a minimalist aesthetic. It is unclear if they maintain this as they age but they do end up buying luxury goods like Rolexes.

Millennials claim there are no good-paying jobs for them like there was for Boomers. But as they settle into careers they end up in the same kind of careers as Boomers.

Bottom line, millennials will buy Rolexes like the generations before them. IMO


Agree


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Roddypeepa is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 02:46 AM   #4
TswaneNguni
"TRF" Member
 
TswaneNguni's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Real Name: Chris
Location: .
Watch: Daytonas/Subs/GMTs
Posts: 12,609
Its got nothing to do with generations .You are a watch person or you are not.
Nothing really changes ,all young generations age and become wiser .
TswaneNguni is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 03:18 AM   #5
Bigblu10
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Real Name: Jaime
Location: Here
Posts: 5,606
Quote:
Originally Posted by locutus49 View Post
Millennials end up buying luxury goods despite their anti-luxury claims.

Studies show millennials do lease cars instead of buying. However, the two most leased brands by millennials are BMW and Mercedes.

Millennials like a minimalist aesthetic. It is unclear if they maintain this as they age but they do end up buying luxury goods like Rolexes.

Millennials claim there are no good-paying jobs for them like there was for Boomers. But as they settle into careers they end up in the same kind of careers as Boomers.

Bottom line, millennials will buy Rolexes like the generations before them. IMO
You always opine on millennials as if there is some sort of resentment on your part. I am not offended as I am 53 which places me in the GenX category I (think). Anyway, the original OP was aimed at "baby boomers", my parents generation.
Bigblu10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 03:37 AM   #6
joli160
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
joli160's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NL
Watch: Yachtmaster
Posts: 14,761
It's fashionable when you are young nowadays to whine about older people and how they live and be mad about everything.

Once the younger ones stop behaving like spoiled little brats and make their own money most of them make the same choices as the generation before them.

Until than they feel entitled to my money
__________________
Day Date 18238, Yachtmaster 16622, Deepsea 116660, Submariner 116619, SkyD 326935, DJ 178271, DJ 69158, Yachtmaster 169622, GMT 116713LN, GMT 126711.
joli160 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 December 2019, 12:49 AM   #7
TheDude
"TRF" Member
 
TheDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DC Area, USA
Watch: IIc,1680 Red,16660
Posts: 4,492
Baby boomer and Rolex popularity

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigblu10 View Post
You always opine on millennials as if there is some sort of resentment on your part. I am not offended as I am 53 which places me in the GenX category I (think). Anyway, the original OP was aimed at "baby boomers", my parents generation.


You highlight a key problem with this thread. We need to define the generation ranges since it would appear there’s ample confusion.

As you point out, we GenXers are plenty old enough to afford multiple expensive watches as are Millennials and possibly even some GenZs.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TheDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 December 2019, 12:55 AM   #8
ernie117
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: U.s a
Watch: explorer1airking40
Posts: 144
iv'e been in to watches since i was 9 years old i have a hampton bay and a seiko that looks like a datejust dont refer to me as somthing as i am a man not a group now i own 3 rolexs
ernie117 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 December 2019, 02:12 AM   #9
TheDude
"TRF" Member
 
TheDude's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: DC Area, USA
Watch: IIc,1680 Red,16660
Posts: 4,492
Baby boomer and Rolex popularity

Quote:
Originally Posted by ernie117 View Post
iv'e been in to watches since i was 9 years old i have a hampton bay and a seiko that looks like a datejust dont refer to me as somthing as i am a man not a group now i own 3 rolexs


I’ll refer to you by your new unofficial name. “Runonsentencenocapitalletters” LOL
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
TheDude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 December 2019, 02:14 AM   #10
ernie117
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: U.s a
Watch: explorer1airking40
Posts: 144
[QUOTE=TheDude;10235349]I’ll refer to you by your new unofficial name. “Runonsentencenocapitalletters” LOL


Sent from my iPhone usin i’m a sovereign man that lives in the United States


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ernie117 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 December 2019, 02:14 AM   #11
ernie117
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2018
Location: U.s a
Watch: explorer1airking40
Posts: 144
Quote:
Originally Posted by TheDude View Post
I’ll refer to you by your new unofficial name. “Runonsentencenocapitalletters” LOL


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


I’m a sovereign man Who lives in the United States had a same rights as a king


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
ernie117 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 12:43 AM   #12
nolan
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: SG
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 13
Sharing my thoughts as well.

There are also people buying multiple watches and wearing them as accessories to match their attire and turnout.

The demand will continue to increase steadily
nolan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 12:57 AM   #13
watchmework
"TRF" Member
 
watchmework's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: DC
Watch: 126710BLRO, 116600
Posts: 7,869
Congrats in advance of your watch.

My short answer is yes it isn't just the older folks who are buying up all the Rolexes...part of the reason for the increased demand is the influence of social media.
watchmework is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:05 AM   #14
WRISTROLEX
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Real Name: Kevin
Location: USA
Watch: 116503
Posts: 152
Interesting! Can it be localized to the US (the millennials keeping it up) or do you guys feel this is global? I just love this optimistic points of view!

Thx Mr. Watchmework! UPS can't get here fast enough for me!
WRISTROLEX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:14 AM   #15
watchmework
"TRF" Member
 
watchmework's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: DC
Watch: 126710BLRO, 116600
Posts: 7,869
Quote:
Originally Posted by WRISTROLEX View Post
Interesting! Can it be localized to the US (the millennials keeping it up) or do you guys feel this is global? I just love this optimistic points of view!

Thx Mr. Watchmework! UPS can't get here fast enough for me!
watchmework is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:11 AM   #16
tbk
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 284
I think younger people these days are more likely to buy a Rolex than a decade or two ago, not less. Rolex is immensely popular with the younger crowd from my experience. More so than I can ever remember.

There are many many millennials with a ton of disposable income. If anything, I think the stereotypical boomer that saves up for a lifetime to get a Rolex and Corvette close to retirement is a thing of the past.
tbk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 03:39 AM   #17
sillo
"TRF" Member
 
sillo's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2015
Real Name: Sean
Location: NY
Watch: 5 Digit
Posts: 2,840
Quote:
Originally Posted by tbk View Post
I think younger people these days are more likely to buy a Rolex than a decade or two ago, not less. Rolex is immensely popular with the younger crowd from my experience. More so than I can ever remember.
Agreed. I am a millennial and I notice plenty of people my age with Rolex on their wrist or with interest in watches.
__________________
14060 | 16570 | 16600 | 16700 | 16800 | 79260

@TheGMTHand
sillo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:12 AM   #18
EEpro
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
EEpro's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Brad
Location: Purdue
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 9,243
Baby boomer and Rolex popularity

Probably this and the asset bubble we've had for the last 10 years. If buying broad market indexes quadruples your money it doesn't take a genius stock picker to have $10-20K lying around. :)
__________________
Ω
2FA Active
EEpro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:14 AM   #19
JParm
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
 
JParm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: NorCal
Watch: Yes!
Posts: 6,568
I think it will always be older folks as the majority, mainly because of price point, not a lack of desire. Even if you want to purchase a Rolex at a young age, the common post-college professional generally won't have the funds to throw $10k at a luxury good with the rising cost of housing, student loans, etc.
__________________
JParm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:16 AM   #20
beshannon
"TRF" Member
 
beshannon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Brian
Location: Northern Virginia
Watch: One of Not Many
Posts: 17,892
Quote:
Originally Posted by WRISTROLEX View Post
.Do you folks agree?

If so, the future there would/might be a decrease, as the population changes again????
No

Tastes change, people discover new things, population increases.

There will always be a market for the finer things in life
__________________
IWC Portugieser 7 Day, Omega Seamaster SMP300m, Vacheron Constantin Traditionnelle Complete Calendar, Glashutte PanoInverse, Glashutte SeaQ Panorama Date, Omega Aqua Terra 150, Omega CK 859, Omega Speedmaster 3861 Moonwatch, Breitling Superocean Steelfish, JLC Atmos Transparent Clock
beshannon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 02:06 AM   #21
Blansky
2024 Pledge Member
 
Blansky's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: swmnpoolsmovie*
Posts: 9,809
Quote:
Originally Posted by beshannon View Post
No

Tastes change, people discover new things, population increases.

There will always be a market for the finer things in life
I agree with this.

I wasn't all that interested in watches until I was in my 30s and then Rolex (as well as a lot of other mechanicals) a bit later and I'm a boomer.

Overall I don't think people and generations are all that different. Around the time I was interested in Rolex around 2001, there were people who thought they were phony status symbols and people who loved them just like there were in the 1980s and 1970s.

Some people get it and some don't and sometimes people get it later on.

Sometimes people wake up one morning and say "damn it, I should get a nice watch", and the madness begins.

People often think of these things as generational but there is an argument that as people age from one decade to the next their brains actually change. A 20 year old thinks differently than a 40 year old and not just because of money and commitments. A 40 year old and a 60 year old think differently partly because one is in the middle and the 60 year old is closer to the end. And we think different about life and possessions.
Blansky is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 02:14 AM   #22
Bluside
2024 Pledge Member
 
Bluside's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Florida
Posts: 3,081
I don't think most boomers have Instagram accounts. I may be wrong.
Bluside is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 04:30 AM   #23
locutus49
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2014
Real Name: John
Location: La Jolla, CA
Watch: Platona
Posts: 12,194
I am 70 and have an IG account and spend too much time on it flexing and stuff.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Bluside View Post
I don't think most boomers have Instagram accounts. I may be wrong.
locutus49 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 04:51 AM   #24
macrowatch
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: HK
Posts: 4,366
Quote:
Originally Posted by locutus49 View Post
I am 70 and have an IG account and spend too much time on it flexing and stuff.
Nice. The greatest generation should flex!

PS i had to look up flexing...
macrowatch is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:17 AM   #25
BroncoOne
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Location: Boston
Posts: 1,335
Congrats on the new watch and Merry Christmas.

I believe that the demand for Rolex is generally related to the huge strength of the US economy and its spillover effects in the rest of the world.

The next big factor is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that gove people thousands in new income that used to go out the door.

Rolex marketing prowess made Thor watches there and ready for the economy's sweet spot.
BroncoOne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:30 AM   #26
dtwer
"TRF" Member
 
dtwer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: midwest
Watch: DJ 41
Posts: 1,507
Every generation gets more affluent as it reaches its prime earning age. As people get more affluent, they buy the nicest things they can afford.

That's why there is always a demand for luxury goods, it's human nature to want nice things.
dtwer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:33 AM   #27
AK797
2024 Pledge Member
 
AK797's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Real Name: Neil
Location: UK
Watch: ing ships roll in
Posts: 59,369
Social Media has changed the landscape of how we live and consume things and that is most prevalent in the young, and while resale prices are high above retails anyone with a credit card can buy one and show it off for likes and jealousy and then make a quick profit, you don't even need a decent job any more so that rules in so many more people, and thus we have a sustained three years and counting hyped up bull market.
AK797 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:46 AM   #28
WRISTROLEX
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Real Name: Kevin
Location: USA
Watch: 116503
Posts: 152
Huh, not what I had expected at all! Great input thus far! Thanks for this!

All about the "want" that is being instilled into these younger buyers? Meaning "I want this, or I want that". Keeps us/them working towards our/their goals. It seems like the opinion here is, the younger folks have the "WANT"! Awesome!!!
WRISTROLEX is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 01:46 AM   #29
Jackie Daytona
2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member
 
Jackie Daytona's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Real Name: Brian
Location: Nashville
Watch: 16750
Posts: 6,626
I think that Rolex has created so much of an iconic image in the market that it has essentially created, that it will always remain relevant. Increasingly so as they are fantastic at creating influence in music, tv, sports and celebrity endorsements(often not direct). They have really created themselves a stance in the market as a staple that really cannot be surpassed by tech. They are watches, and tool watches, but also kind of like art with the ideals that they are able to project over the masses.
Jackie Daytona is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 25 December 2019, 02:20 AM   #30
djgallo
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: Eastwest
Posts: 1,322
A Rolex watch is recognized world wide...it is a status symbol....and represents great personal achievement to wear one. I doesn’t matter where you're from or the language you speak ....a Rolex speaks SUCCESS! So I can’t see any reasons why the next generation(s) will stop buying Rolex...barring a catastrophic earth shattering world event!
djgallo is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.