Rolex resting on their laurels

[Dr Rock]

Hi all!

I'm just putting this question into the ring for discussion: for the first 60 odd years Rolex were around, they were very active and inventive in the field of wristwatches, design, technical innovation etc. For the past 30 odd years have they really done anything? Or are they resting on their laurels, doing the odd tweak or so to their watches?

Obviously they sell all their watches, so sales aren't hurting and it could be said that there is no real place to go when you are at the top and also the market for timepieces is different to in the past, but I just thought I'd ask you more knowledgeable guys for an opinion

Fraser

[kings4sap]

If I had my wish - they would do a little less secret shopping on their AD's (to see if they are giving discounts) and more policing of the fraud (fakes on eBay and the like) which hurts their product/brand much more than 10% off of retail.

K4S

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by kings4sap

If I had my wish - they would do a little less secret shopping on their AD's (to see if they are giving discounts) and more policing of the fraud (fakes on eBay and the like) which hurts their product/brand much more than 10% off of retail.

K4S

As much as I agree with you on the "policing of frauds and fakes" bit, it would cost them an arm and a leg to go about it!! So Rolex really couldn't be bothered.

I think they'd prefer to go with the age old saying: Imitation is the purest form of flattery!!

[mike]

Originally Posted by Dr Rock

Hi all!

I'm just putting this question into the ring for discussion: for the first 60 odd years Rolex were around, they were very active and inventive in the field of wristwatches, design, technical innovation etc. For the past 30 odd years have they really done anything? Or are they resting on their laurels, doing the odd tweak or so to their watches?

Obviously they sell all their watches, so sales aren't hurting and it could be said that there is no real place to go when you are at the top and also the market for timepieces is different to in the past, but I just thought I'd ask you more knowledgeable guys for an opinion

Fraser

Good question Fraser.
I'm sure everyone has their own views depending on when the "bug" bit. From my perspective 30 years ago (circa 1977) Rolex was still in the "tool watch" business. References like the 5513,1680, 1675 etc... still used matt dials, tritium, and no WG surrounds. These were watches that had lug holes,the wonderfull 15xx slow beat movements and were simple strong pieces designed for a purpose with fashion secondary.(I know Rolex made gold versions of these pieces, but that was secondary to main purpose of the tool concept.)
Indeed if we go back to about 1980 we see the advent of the 3xxx fast beat movements but still housed with a matt dial devoid of anything hinting of an "upscale" bias.
It seems about the mid 80s we see the gradual trend in Rolex moving toward a brand of luxury with the introduction of gloss dial WG surrounds with smaller indices.
In some sense, after the introduction of the hacking feature, quick-set, fast beat movements, Rolex did take a break IMHO. Recent Rolex innovations seem to center more on bling than what brought them to the status they enjoy(marketing aside).
I'm hopefull with the advent of the maxi-dial, the 3186 movement, and possibly expanded use of the ceramic bezel (although I've yet to "wring one out") Rolex may come back to it's roots.
What is really a shame is the curtailing of support for the great 15xx movements on the part of Rolex. These were the watches that made them!
Such a shame Rolex seems to deny it's own heritage.

[A. Jacobs]

Rolex may not change their products much or often, but when they sell every watch they make, I guess they feel they don't have to.
I do agree with the post stating that Rolex should do more to eliminate the production and sales of fakes.

[watchnut]

I know what you mean, but I wonder how much can be done with an automatic movement short of adding complications. I wish they could come up with a really long lasting lubricant so the service times could be extended dramatically. When you see whats been done with synthetics in automobile engines, it doesn't seem impossible. Speaking of the odd tweak, they sure have us fanatics number when all they have to do is change the color of a hand or number and we salivate for it. When I saw the new turn-0-graph with the red second hand, red date and the rolex-rolex-rolex-rolex around the dial I about lost it. Fortunately, the $7800 tag woke me up. No matter what they do, the mystique grows!

[nko51]

Why spoil a good thing when you have it. Rolex is still the watch that I would trust in water, on land, and in the air. Look what happened to Coca Cola when they tried changing their formula.

[ohlins]

well......sometimes it's a very tough job to improve on what's near perfect...:)

evident from the new hairspring is....they are always searching for improvements......

i wonder if they are looking at a new escapement ....that will be real cool.

[kings4sap]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

As much as I agree with you on the "policing of frauds and fakes" bit, it would cost them an arm and a leg to go about it!! So Rolex really couldn't be bothered.

I think they'd prefer to go with the age old saying: Imitation is the purest form of flattery!!

JJ - I think that we would all agree that they charge enough on their watches to make an excellent profit. There has been past discussion on how much Rolex gives to charity, etc.. All I am saying is that Tiffany, Vuitton, Mueller and some other luxury brands are beginning to stick it to eBay and others who are blatantly abusing their brands. I would just like to see a bit of new about Rolex doing the same.

K4S

[Solo118]

Most admire the watches so much since they are so old fashioned and timeless. This is Rolex's key to success sticking with a formula that works.
I would not be too impressed with a Rolex if it looked futuristic and whatnot.

What if you recently saw a coronet on one of these lol

[John Ireland]

interesting that digital watch sales are taking the big hit right now because of cellphones and the like. But that only proves that mechanical watches are no longer in the technology loop...they're just jewelry for those who like doodads.

I think the mechanical watch trend will soon begin to fade...how much money will people really want to spend on something they really don't need...and all the resurected boutique names like Breguet and Lange and Omega and VC will go back into the horlogical dust they rose from, and the luxury holding companies will cut back on their manufacturing of fad products like tourbillons and Harry Winston gargoyles and bloated Reversos...and finally somebody will throw out a totally dry mechanical auto wind watch in plastic case...it will tell hours minutes seconds and day...cost fifty bucks...last three or four years and people will buy it as a retro gag gift.

Somewhere in all this Rolex will sell its name and assets to someone too late to the party to know better. As for vintage watch fans...we'll become post-nuclear loonies, living in tent cities and hording main springs and case tubes. Sometimes we'll be spotted by children and laughed at as we pick through the trash at swap meets, looking for anything to fix our broken bracelets.

And our wives, like the widows of ancient mariners, will huddle in rags in the parking lots of malls where they will sell spoiled potatoes and wilted celery as they sing songs about how we left them with nothing but their carbuncals.

And a thousand years from now...a fourteen year old warrior queen from Etat Oceana will be dragging a stick in the sand and she will uncover something yellow and sparkling...she will poke at it with the stick...the sun will dance across the odd symbols on the flat surface. The queen will pick it up and knock the sand from it...then she will drop it in surprise. Something under the glass-like surface has started to move. She will peer closer at it...and see a slender arm gracefully moving in a circle, passing a gold coronet.

[Incurable]

Very theatrical John... Me like

[TARDIS]

John:


And a thousand years from now...a fourteen year old warrior queen from Etat Oceana will be dragging a stick in the sand and she will uncover something yellow and sparkling...she will poke at it with the stick...the sun will dance across the odd symbols on the flat surface. The queen will pick it up and knock the sand from it...then she will drop it in surprise. Something under the glass-like surface has started to move. She will peer closer at it...and see a slender arm gracefully moving in a circle, passing a gold coronet.

Etat Oceana? A beach in Auckland maybe?

Strewth, she found JJ's watch!!!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by TARDIS

John:


And a thousand years from now...a fourteen year old warrior queen from Etat Oceana will be dragging a stick in the sand and she will uncover something yellow and sparkling...she will poke at it with the stick...the sun will dance across the odd symbols on the flat surface. The queen will pick it up and knock the sand from it...then she will drop it in surprise. Something under the glass-like surface has started to move. She will peer closer at it...and see a slender arm gracefully moving in a circle, passing a gold coronet.

Etat Oceana? A beach in Auckland maybe?

Strewth, she found JJ's watch!!!

Hopefully, I'll still be around and kicking!!

[leopardprey]

Unfortunaley, there is some truth in what you say John. Find myself when working using my mobile phone, ipod, laptop for dateand time. But, I like the traditions of a mechanical watch. That is why I really like the Rolex when i travel, cause I am not keeping a mobile phone and not on the computer all the time.

I like how Rolex has pretty much kept the same watches for 50 years. you can buy a GMT, SUB, DJ, or Exp 1 and nopt much has really changed in 50 years (other than the price)

[Dr Rock]

*I* like the fact that the watches haven't changed that much in the past 50 years: I have a VW Beetle and Saab 900's, both of which had long production runs. I don't like change for changes sake, but I would like to see the clasp and maybe the bracelets improved (given that other manufacturers can do it) and also a curved, flush fit anti reflective sapphire crystal, along with the removal or the option to not have, the white gold surrounds on the Rolex tool watches.

[Alex Stylianou]

very theatrical