Why do you think Rolex is a status symbol?

[pannocchia]

Another question for you:
"Why do you think that Rolex is became a status symbol and how it reached this success?"
"Why is a luxury symbol?"

[capote]

One word: Marketing

[Alcan]

1970's California conspicuous consumption.

[Demosthene]

Quality and price.

[bayerische]

I don't think it's a status symbol.

[Demosthene]

Originally Posted by bayerische

I don't think it's a status symbol.

You would be wrong

[seand442]

Another vote for marketing.

[Andad]

I am not answering any more questions Archie.

[cecilia]

Originally Posted by bayerische

I don't think it's a status symbol.

I agree, i dont think it is a status symbol eather. I like the watch for its design. And it can keep the time right..... want be missing any busses with that watch on my wrist

[Deep Sea]

I don't think it's a status symbol at all. Anybody with as little as $2K can buy a used Datejust, so that hardly says 'status symbol'.

NOW, I think a lot of people who buy them think they are a status symbol. I lived outside the US for a few years, and where I lived, material goods were the mainstay of a status. Funny enough, though, Rolex was not the watch of choice...it was more Cartier, or so it seemed.

Those that do see it as a status symbol are likely lured in by......marketing. Rolex is likely the best in the world at it, and it shows.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Demosthene

You would be wrong

Really?

I always thought of my watches as a time telling device... Not status symbol. Shouldn't I have it glued to my forehead then???

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Deep Sea

I don't think it's a status symbol at all. Anybody with as little as $2K can buy a used Datejust, so that hardly says 'status symbol'.

NOW, I think a lot of people who buy them think they are a status symbol. I lived outside the US for a few years, and where I lived, material goods were the mainstay of a status. Funny enough, though, Rolex was not the watch of choice...it was more Cartier, or so it seemed.

Those that do see it as a status symbol are likely lured in by......marketing. Rolex is likely the best in the world at it, and it shows.

-> This!

[Widows Son]

It's not a status symbol. There are MANY brands out there that cost 10X than a Rolex. People tend to spend their $$$$ differently. I'd never spend $50,000 on a new car that can be bought for 1/2 that in a couple of years. But if you have that kind of income, go for it!!!

[Demosthene]

Originally Posted by bayerische

Really?

I always thought of my watches as a time telling device... Not status symbol. Shouldn't I have it glued to my forehead then???

A casio G-shock is a time telling device.

A Rolex is only purchased for two reasons.
1. Your a WIS with a genuine appreciation for the brand, design and the engineering of a mechanical watch.
2. A status symbol

While no doubt the majority of TRF members fit in the first category, its the second that makes Rolex the most recognised luxury watch brand in the world.

[Jimbits76]

It aint a status symbol in my house. My wife still thinks I'm a moron!

J

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Demosthene

A casio G-shock is a time telling device.

A Rolex is only purchased for two reasons.
1. Your a WIS with a genuine appreciation for the brand, design and the engineering of a mechanical watch.
2. A status symbol

While no doubt the majority of TWF members fit in the first category, its the second that makes Rolex the most recognised luxury watch brand in the world.

And even though you give me two possible options, I'm somehow wrong in personally thinking it's not a status symbol.

You need to what you wright.

The Casio thing doesn't work. The sun is also a time telling device if you want. (even if it's hard to use at night or on an overcast day)

Just because one is out to buy a "time telling device" doesn't mean one must buy the cheapest one.

A suit from walmart is a suit, but would I buy it? No. I would buy a quality suit, say a Burberry or the like. No one will see the burberry sticker in it, so it's not about status.

Thus saying buying a Rolex or BMW or Ferrari etc is about status is shallow at best. Some probably do that, but those who only do it for that reason usually post a pic of a thousand bucks in small notes along with their Rolex, just to show their "status".

Cries and bans usually follow. So I don't think there's a lot of guys/gals here who buy their Rolex for status.

[mjclark32]

One of the most easily recognizable watches due to marketing, yes. A status symbol I don't think necessarily think so.

[yannis]

Originally Posted by Jimbits76

It aint a status symbol in my house. My wife still thinks I'm a moron!

J

I think the answer on the question whether Rolex is a status symbol depends...it can be a status symbol in certain societies or local divisions of societies.
Also its top ranking on recognizable brand names could be due to marketing, bomb proof design, the breakthrough inventions such as the oyster case and the first diving watches made from Rolex that came as a result, the first places it achieved from time to time in depth ratings with watches such as the Sea-Dweller, people like us who have given so much attention to it and more.

[rr-nyc]

It's a status symbol to those that don't know about watches but are influenced by marketing. To watch enthusiasts, perhaps not but I doubt more than a few would have ever known about Rolex if it weren't for their marketing.

It's marketing that has made Rolex an aspirational purchase and its marketing that allows the brand to produce and sell 900,000 watches per year. No other watch brand has their name and logo spewed on affluent lifestyle events and media like Rolex.

[Demosthene]

Originally Posted by bayerische

And even though you give me two possible options, I'm somehow wrong in personally thinking it's not a status symbol.

It's not a status symbol for you, but for a vast amount of people in the world it most definitely is.

Originally Posted by bayerische

You need to what you wright.

Touché

Originally Posted by bayerische

Just because one is out to buy a "time telling device" doesn't mean one must buy the cheapest one.

A suit from walmart is a suit, but would I buy it? No. I would buy a quality suit, say a Burberry or the like. No one will see the burberry sticker in it, so it's not about status.

Thus saying buying a Rolex or BMW or Ferrari etc is about status is shallow at best. Some probably do that, but those who only do it for that reason usually post a pic of a thousand bucks in small notes along with their Rolex, just to show their "status".

If your purchasing a Rolex because you appreciate the quality, then you fall within the WIS category. My points are not mutually inclusive.

Originally Posted by bayerische

So I don't think there's a lot of guys/gals here who buy their Rolex for status.

Did I not already say that?

[pannocchia]

wow! i'm really happy about these very interesting discussion about it!
A lot of people that maybe don't know anything about watches think that it's a luxury symbol, and my study it's about it. It's so interesting that most of you don't think so!

[Lion]

Rolex is associated with quality and yes, through marketing has been classified with having status and culture!!!

[threemonkeys]

Originally Posted by pannocchia

wow! i'm really happy about these very interesting discussion about it!
A lot of people that maybe don't know anything about watches think that it's a luxury symbol, and my study it's about it. It's so interesting that most of you don't think so!

I agree. People not familiar with watches really are surprised when they see I have a Rolex. For them, there's still the 'wow' factor. Remember, we're all pretty knowledgeable regarding used watches, costs, where to buy, etc. But someone in the office or walking down the street more than likely hasn't taken the time to research cost and availability.

And I think most people would look at spending 1,000's of dollars on a watch as either nutty or a sign of disposable income.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by bayerische

i don't think it's a status symbol.

X2 But many today just wear the brand and have no idea about the watch it self.

[stephentross]

I do not think a ROLEX is a status symbol. There are many higher end watches that are "status symbols" A ROLEX is a tool. A well made, TOOL. These watches were not made popular in 2011 and people do not buy them today because they are "expensive" Expensive is a relative term.

In the 20's, 30's, 40's, and 50's you purchased watches that you had to wind. There was no quartz until the late 60's. The everyone had a quartz. Now Mechanical is making a huge comeback, probably to escape everything else in the world that is electronic and battery driven.

As for the other stuff, I would just google it. Wikipedia has good history on the marketing, etc..etc..

[rossi46]

Why? Because it costs many times more than the average watch, and adds little to no more functionality. This same concept works across all kinds of product lines: automobiles, clothing, electronics, etc.

An $8,000 Rolex that does nothing more than an $80 Brand X watch is a status symbol, whether you know the history and multitude of past innovations of Rolex or not.

edited to add: Those that claim that a modern-day Rolex is a "tool watch" (whatever the hell that means these days) have fallen victim to just as much marketing crap as those that buy one because Roger Federer wears one.

[Ebruner]

Originally Posted by capote

One word: Marketing

x2.


-Eddie

[stephentross]

Originally Posted by rossi46

Why? Because it costs many times more than the average watch, and adds little to no more functionality. This same concept works across all kinds of product lines: automobiles, clothing, electronics, etc.

An $8,000 Rolex that does nothing more than an $80 Brand X watch is a status symbol, whether you know the history and multitude of past innovations of Rolex or not.

edited to add: Those that claim that a modern-day Rolex is a "tool watch" (whatever the hell that means these days) have fallen victim to just as much marketing crap as those that buy one because Roger Federer wears one.

There is a difference in buying quality that lasts and buying something to say look at me. If I wanted to have a watch that said look at me I would go spend $85,000, not $8000. Of course this is my opinion. Yours may say that your $8000 watch is your status symbol. I don't know.

The same can be said for the term tool watch. YOu can slap on a rolex and wear it everyday for 20 years and there is a good chance you know what time it is at all times. and measure times in life for whatever you need it to measure without fail. where it in a suit or in the ocean 90 feet down exploring a sunken sailboat. That is a tool.

[ArcticMoose]

There, I fixed it.

Originally Posted by bayerische

Thus saying buying a Rolex or BMW or Ferrari etc is about status is shallow at best. Most probably do that.

Granted, you won't find them hanging out here, but Rolex sells a million watches a year.

[firstOwatch]

Originally Posted by capote

One word: Marketing