Has Rolex lost its pizzaz?

[Doug507]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Has Rolex lost its pizzazz????? With all the price increases....Rolex has lost its mind.

I couldn't agree more!

[Ski Dweller]

Anyone who wants to dump their Rolex has beens at half price can PM me. I'll use them as paperweights.

[subkrawler]

Maybe for some, but in my own little way, I'm doing my damnedest to keep it real.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=140192
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=141605
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=153886
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=165777
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=185253

[SWIMPRUF]

Originally Posted by dalip

Because those people are no longer personalities.

x2

[Incurable]

And don't forget Bond... he sold a lot of watches for Rolex. A fictitious person at that.

I think Rolex needs its own version of "the world's most interesting man". Sharks have a week dedicated to him, he's the life of parties he's never attended. I may not need the time often but when I do, I prefer Rolex. Ok, never happen but I love those ads.

[FremStar]

Tough question! The marketing may not be there in form of the "proper" personalities, however, the brand is very much alive and well. Like Nintendo the brand sells itself, from personal knowledge my "celebrity" associates all have extensive Rolex collections and my real friends enjoy a Rolex timepiece or two even though they gravitate towards other brands... Here is my non-celebrity hand embarking on some extreme sports (hopefully this offers some consolation to some folks here)

[Jinder]

I don't believe Rolex can ever lose it's Ora. I believe it's one of the most recognized brand names in the world.

Everyone world-wide knows what a "Rolls Royce" is. Same thing with Rolex. It's name now speaks for itself.

[Megalobyte]

Woah! You must be HUGE to crush a car like that!

[Megalobyte]

Originally Posted by Jinder

I don't believe Rolex can ever lose it's Ora. I believe it's one of the most recognized brand names in the world.

Everyone world-wide knows what a "Rolls Royce" is. Same thing with Rolex. It's name now speaks for itself.

Res Ipsa Loquitur. :) And here I was all these years thinking I'd never use my law degree. :)

[LTM]

No.

[Jinder]

Originally Posted by Megalobyte

Res Ipsa Loquitur. :) And here I was all these years thinking I'd never use my law degree. :)

Couldn't have said it better... It does speak for itself :).

[improviz]

It's because "time marches on"....40 years ago before the advent of multifunctional impact resistant digital watches, watches like these were the only game in term in terms of high reliability and accuracy. So back then, explorers et al wore them because they were the best tools for the job.

Now, they simply aren't. While there are people who do dive with Subs and they're obviously very well suited for it, there are far more sophisticated dive watches for the pros. Same thing with race timing, navigation, etc. etc. etc....there are simply much better options available these days, even for telling time (watches which set themselves, etc.), so these once-supreme tool watches are now fine jewelry which can still be used as tool watches if paramount accuracy and utility aren't the highest priorities for the user.

But for those who these attributes are the highest priorities, there are other, better games in town these days.

But hey, that's OK by me: I love them, and despite the inherant inaccuracy of a mechanical movement (vs a high-quality quartz), I wouldn't give them up for anything as I'm simply fascinated that a mechanical movement powered by springs is capable of these levels of accuracy. They will always remain a pinnacle of pre-electronic engineering in my book.

[gwalker]

Personally I don't give a crap if Obama has a Rolex (and I would rather he not). Personally who nowadays can actually point out an astronaut. I can't. Then again maybe Rolex should give one to the "Most Intersting Man in the World" in the Beer commercials. That would make me want another one. Lol

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by Doug507

Those conquering new frontiers these days are doing it with G-Shocks and Suuntos.

Exactly. I love Rolex and it's still a great brand, but it's not an adventurer's watch anymore, it's a luxury watch. And frankly some of the Rolex marketing seems silly to me . . . for example, calling the YM2 the skipper's watch . . .a great watch for the yacht club bar maybe, but not so much on a racing boat.

[aquanaut]

Well, rolex must be getting there message across..top 10 recognised brands in UK...1) Mercedes 2) Rolex..surprised they do not have more involvement in F1

[Sperry]

If they have to put polished center links on a tool watch, maybe they are feeling a little insecure . . .

[Buford]

I think they have lost some Pizzaz.My first guess as to why is there are so many more Swiss Manufacturers out there today than back in the times the OP mentions.I have so much more input and opinion but my typing skills don't allow for the Time.Like I said in an earlier thread(Lottery and Grail),I am sticking with Rolex.

[chestercopperpot]

Hey Guys, sorry it took me so long to reply to this thread. I was out summiting everest. Then swan diving off of niagara falls....with my explorer.

Who says Rolex lost it's pizzaz?!

j/k haha

[FremStar]

Originally Posted by gwalker

Then again maybe Rolex should give one to the "Most Intersting Man in the World" in the Beer commercials. That would make me want another one. Lol

Here is to you! Stay Thirsty My Friend!

[FremStar]

Getting back to the question at hand, we all understand that product placement is important, however, as stated before the Rolex brand sells itself. I even went a step further thinking about current mainstream celebrities that some folks might be able to associate with and said to myself I rather not see Britney Spears, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, or even Will i Am in Rolex adds trying to sell the brand. Watch companaies like Hublot & Audemars have employed stars like Dwayne Wade (Miami Heat) and Lebron James (Miami Heat) to promote the brand which I assume is ok and nothing new as sales peak with those special edition pieces, heck I even think Audemars made a special Arnold Schwarzenegger Terminator piece. Though I personally cannot relate with Rolex posterfolks like Matteo Manassero, Vicky Hurst,Yuja Wang, or Tom Kristensen, I like the fact that Rolex advertising can stay out of the limelight and low-key... (By the way I still have love for all celebrities that own Rolex timepieces, this is not a dig in anyway to any of you), Oh well enough of my rambling, here are some pics of the mainstream folks I referenced above... Maybe Bruno Meier is reading this somewhere thinking about keeping Rolex advertising low key while keeping the integrity of the Rolex brand intact

[Vaxe]

Our lab manufacturers and periodically deploys oceanic instruments into the sea (scientific/not for profit) - some on the surface, and others 2000ft+ deep.

Recent cruises involve the Pacific (dropped an imaging system down 500ft), and the Sea of Cortez.

Will be cool to stick a SD or a DSSD onto our next equipment, which will go down 2500ft into Guam.
Will be even cooler to have Rolex sponsor us. :)

http://jaffeweb.ucsd.edu/

[daunwaun]

Steve, how do you go from astronauts, presidents, and adventurers to snoop dogg and paris hilton? lol

[daunwaun]

And at the end of the day its all about the bottom dollar, Rolex is a company that is in business to make money.