The name Rolex

[Cwillis0001]

I have to admit I love the name Rolex, it was a great choice, and frankly it just sounds cool. Which is why I always kind of cringe when I see newer brands that are just named after the dude who founded it, like Christopher Ward or even Richard Mille or something. For one thing it reeks of vanity. Really bro, you need your name on every piece? Two, it's just so boring and uncreative. Lastly, it reminds me of fashion brands, like Ralph Lauren etc, things that have to change with every season. I dunno, no what-if can ever be known, but for some reason I think there's virtually no chance Rolex would be what it is today if it was named Hans Wildorf. Any thoughts either way?

[brucethemanlee]

What about Patek Philipe, Audemars Piguet, or Vacheron Constantin … they’re all names

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by brucethemanlee

What about Patek Philipe, Audemars Piguet, or Vacheron Constantin … they’re all names

Well that's why I went out of my way to say newer. Rolex doesn't go as far back as any of those I don't think?

[Scholar]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

Well that's why I went out of my way to say newer. Rolex doesn't go as far back as any of those I don't think?

So you think Laurent Ferrier, Roger Smith, Kari Voutilainen, etc are all tacky.

Fascinating.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by Scholar

So you think Laurent Ferrier, Roger Smith, Kari Voutilainen, etc are all tacky.

Fascinating.

Well I've only ever even heard of one of them, I can tell you that. But they all sound kinda tacky to me, but thats just my ignorant opinion. Admittedly I'm not much of a fashion whore though so its not really my wheelhouse.

[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

Well I've only ever even heard of one of them, I can tell you that. But they all sound kinda tacky to me, but thats just my ignorant opinion. Admittedly I'm not much of a fashion whore though so its not really my wheelhouse.

Ignorant is the operative word. Today's haute horology brands mostly sport the owner's name....F.P Journe, MB&F, Voutilainen, Richard Mille, Philippe Dufour, new Gerald Genta; even classic brands such as Cartier, Chopard have their founders names. Sure, the Rolex name was an ingenious invention and is now ubiquitous world-wide, but your point is meaningless.

[MILGAUSS88]

Originally Posted by brucethemanlee

What about Patek Philipe, Audemars Piguet, or Vacheron Constantin … they’re all names

All 3 were named after founders, were as "Rolex" was a completely made up name, without roots in any language.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by MILGAUSS88

All 3 were named after founders, were as "Rolex" was a completely made up name, without roots in any language.

A name that was to be no more than five letters. A name that was pronounced the same throughout all of Europe’s wealthiest languages. A name that could not be claimed or associated to any one nation or culture. IT WAS MASTER CLASS MARKETING that created more wealth and success than any rooted name you could have come up with. What matters is where you are, and what you can do with what you have right now. Roots are worthless. Hans Wilsdorf knew his name would’ve sucked on watches, regardless of his roots. It was perhaps the biggest part of Rolex success.

With exception of low IQ individuals who will buy and wear uncomfortable shoes for the sake of style, people don’t buy products they can’t read or pronounce. They also don’t buy products from people they believed to be their enemies. A name like Wilsdorf would’ve reeked of Germany, and destroyed the brands potential in the first half of the 20th century.

[RTG]

Originally Posted by Warton

You wouldn’t think Rolex was a cool name if it were making shitty watches

If they made shitty watches, we wouldn’t be talking about this right now, and there would be no Rolex brand today.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by Warton

We might not be taking about it but there would still be a Rolex brand name.
There are lots of shitty watch brands having survived for decades and some of them have really cool name, like swatch (the brand name not that agglomerate group)

To add to that, Swatch would certainly not be Swatch if it was simply named after the dude who founded Swatch lol. To claim otherwise would be absurd. Just like with Rolex, I believe.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by brucethemanlee

What about Patek Philipe, Audemars Piguet, or Vacheron Constantin … they’re all names

Also, and unlike Rolex, barely anybody besides watch nerds, celebrities, and fashionistas can name any of those brands.

[daveswordfish]

Jaeger leCoutre, AP, VC, Blancpain, Breguet, ALS, Piaget, Chopard, Heuer, PP…the vast majority of higher end watches are named after people.

In fact, Timex was founded 50 years before Rolex. Maybe dear old Hans ripped off the name?

I do agree it’s a great name. After all, the key to Rolex’s success has always been their marketing.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by daveswordfish

Jaeger leCoutre, AP, VC, Blancpain, Breguet, ALS, Piaget, Chopard, Heuer, PP…the vast majority of higher end watches are named after people.

And the vast majority of higher end watches have never been heard of by anyone outside of the watch space. Rolex does not have that problem. Rolex one hundred percent set itself apart with a great, universal name. It's amazing to me that anyone can't realize that.

[RyanJ]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

And the vast majority of higher end watches have never been heard of by anyone outside of the watch space. Rolex does not have that problem. Rolex one hundred percent set itself apart with a great, universal name. It's amazing to me that anyone can't realize that.

They are not famous because their name is so good. They are famous because for a very very very long time Rolex spent more money on advertising than every other watch brand combined.. I mean it is a nice name but marketing is what makes things famous. With that said, I am happy that having a Rolex makes you happy. I wish there were more happy people in this world.

And guess what.. Rolex was originally named Wilsdorf & Davis when it was a British company.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I always love to sit back and wait for Adam to chime in.
Well done

Originally Posted by White Collar Boy

x2! Interesting photos and new information to me, thank you Adam.

The other thing… Leave Ralph alone! (JK)

Originally Posted by George58

I second that.

Thank you

[Cwillis0001]

All valid points, I guess I just think Hans Woldorf would have been a crap brand name.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Ford, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, Honda, ...
Do I need to list the other 20 or so other car companies named after the founders?

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

Ford, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Porsche, Aston Martin, Audi, Mercedes Benz, Chevrolet, Honda, ...
Do I need to list the other 20 or so other car companies named after the founders?

Do whatever you want buddy, it's an open forum.

I get it. I'm just saying that I don't think Hans Wilsdorf Submariner exactly rolls off the tongue and im glad he thought up the name Rolex.

EDIT: Beside, we're was talking watches not cars. Cars are a helluva lot more universal than luxury watches. Ask the average person to name five luxury car companies and I bet they'll have no problem. As the same question about luxury watches and I bet the VAST majority wouldn't be able to get past Rolex.

[PenDelicate]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

Nope, I get it. I'm just saying that I don't think Hans Wilsdorf Submariner exactly rolls off the tongue ahd im glad he thought up the name Rolex.

Not at all. I'm proud to wear my Dorfer Daytona!

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by PenDelicate

Not at all. I'm proud to wear my Dorfer Daytona!

[RTG]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

Do whatever you want buddy, it's an open forum.

I get it. I'm just saying that I don't think Hans Wilsdorf Submariner exactly rolls off the tongue and im glad he thought up the name Rolex.

Your instincts are correct. In marketing, it’s less important to know what’s right, and more important to know what’s wrong. Hans Wilsdorf knew the importance of a name, he took a logical, educated approach to choosing one. It should be taught in businesses 101, and probably is in many schools.

People use AP, PP, RM, JLC, etc. because many don’t know how they are pronounced or spelled, and don’t want to embarrass themselves if they speak or write them incorrectly. That has negatively affected each brand. They succeeded in spite of their names, because they have made great products or do other things incredibly well. There names have not helped them one bit. The name Rolex did help, and is part of an amazing success story.

I recently turned down the opportunity to invest in a company because they’re stuck on stupid and insist on using a name that nobody can spell, and nobody knows how to correctly pronounce. Their business plan is solid, but they will fail, and their name will be a big part of it. When someone wants to buy a product, but can’t figure out how to find it in the search bar, they end up buying something else.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by RTG

Your instincts are correct. In marketing, it’s less important to know what’s right, and more important to know what’s wrong. Hans Wilsdorf knew the importance of a name, he took a logical, educated approach to choosing one. It should be taught in businesses 101, and probably is in many schools.

People use AP, PP, RM, JLC, etc. because many don’t know how they are pronounced or spelled, and don’t want to embarrass themselves if they speak or write them incorrectly. That has negatively affected each brand. They succeeded in spite of their names, because they have made great products or do other things incredibly well. There names have not helped them one bit. The name Rolex did help, and is a teachable moment in business history.

I recently turned down the opportunity to invest in a company because they’re stuck on stupid and insist on using a name that nobody can spell, and nobody knows how to correctly pronounce. Their business plan is solid, but they will fail, and their name will be a big part of it. When someone wants to buy a product, but can’t figure out how to find it in the search bar, they end up buying something else.

Great post, said well better than I could have.

[drhr]

Originally Posted by RTG

Your instincts are correct. In marketing, it’s less important to know what’s right, and more important to know what’s wrong. Hans Wilsdorf knew the importance of a name, he took a logical, educated approach to choosing one. It should be taught in businesses 101, and probably is in many schools.

People use AP, PP, RM, JLC, etc. because many don’t know how they are pronounced or spelled, and don’t want to embarrass themselves if they speak or write them incorrectly. That has negatively affected each brand. They succeeded in spite of their names, because they have made great products or do other things incredibly well. There names have not helped them one bit. The name Rolex did help, and is part of an amazing success story.

I recently turned down the opportunity to invest in a company because they’re stuck on stupid and insist on using a name that nobody can spell, and nobody knows how to correctly pronounce. Their business plan is solid, but they will fail, and their name will be a big part of it. When someone wants to buy a product, but can’t figure out how to find it in the search bar, they end up buying something else.

Great information, and makes a lot of sense

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

Do whatever you want buddy, it's an open forum.

I get it. I'm just saying that I don't think Hans Wilsdorf Submariner exactly rolls off the tongue and im glad he thought up the name Rolex.

Does Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile roll off the tongue?
Or Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface?

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

EDIT: Beside, we're was talking watches not cars. Cars are a helluva lot more universal than luxury watches. Ask the average person to name five luxury car companies and I bet they'll have no problem. As the same question about luxury watches and I bet the VAST majority wouldn't be able to get past Rolex.

You literally mentioned other luxury brands like Ralph Lauren...therefore my comment is valid.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

Does Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile roll off the tongue?
Or Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface?

No not at all actually. I admit that if they did I wouldn't have heard at least three or four different pronunciations for them in my life, so fair point. But then again, how many people have heard of them compared to the Rolex Submariner? A tiny fraction. Those two watches will forever be niche models from niche companies, not global icons.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

You literally mentioned other luxury brands like Ralph Lauren...therefore my comment is valid.

Ya got me.

[Cwillis0001]

Tough crowd today.

[Calatrava r]

Another good watch name is Timex.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

Another good watch name is Timex.

And probably a lot better than the name of the guy who founded Timex, which pretty much no one knows. Kinda my point.

[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

And probably a lot better than the name of the guy who founded Timex, which pretty much no one knows. Kinda my point.

"Shortly after purchasing the Waterbury Clock Company in 1941, founder Thomas Olsen renamed the company Timex, as a portmanteau of Time (referring to Time magazine) and Kleenex."