Rolexes in Hong Kong

[gocsan]

I just came back from Hong Kong. I've been there many times before but first time since owning a 116610LV and just generally more observant in what watches people wear. I'm pleased that I haven't seen anyone else wearing this as it makes me look special :)

But anyways a lot of people do wear Rolexes in Hong Kong. I've see people from taxi drivers to sales staff at Sasa (equivalent to Boots in UK) to dish cleaners at a restaurant and he was wearing one with diamonds on the dial. This isn't to say that people there are more well off, but people over there are more willing to splash out on luxury goods compared to UK since status symbol is quite important for people over there.

Whenever I walk pass a Rolex store in Hong Kong, I don't see the stainless steel ones on window display. Most are gold with diamonds all over the watch on the window. It's all about the bling over there.

Hong Kong is an amazing 24/7 city and I feel comfortable and safe wearing my Rolex in public place. I always love going back there every time. Now I'm back in London covering my 116610LV with my sleeve because I don't want to get mugged.

[WWC]

Great you enjoyed such a Rolex city like HK. I guess during your stay you didn't encounter any people but sorry to burst your bubble, but lots of people with LVC, BLNR, and Black Daytonas! It's a Rolex paradise! It's one of the few places where even the person you least expect wears a Daytona

[omx5o]

Sounds to me like they have good taste.

[tquieng]

A lot of hi end fakes - I have seen my waiter, taxi driver wear Rolex but likely fakes. They tend to wear date just model

[Gunnar]

It's quite common through Asia, esp the big cities. Singapore is quite similar in that respect, not just with Rolex or watches but just luxury brands in general.

[shou.biao.kuang]

Originally Posted by Gunnar

It's quite common through Asia, esp the big cities. Singapore is quite similar in that respect, not just with Rolex or watches but just luxury brands in general.

Agree that luxury watches are common in Singapore, especially the modern Rolex models. but alas, the vintage scene are lacking here...

[Mezz72]

yes Singapore is one of those places you see more $200k bmw n merc on the roads then Toyota.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by tquieng

A lot of hi end fakes - I have seen my waiter, taxi driver wear Rolex but likely fakes. They tend to wear date just model

Most Hong Kong Chinese wouldn't be caught dead wearing a fake Rolex. Those sold here are mostly bought by American and European tourists.

[shou.biao.kuang]

Most think nothing of paying over USD100k for a Toyota! and USD150k for a BMW! These are crazy numbers in the US and EUR !

[shou.biao.kuang]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Most Hong Kong Chinese wouldn't be caught dead wearing a fake Rolex. Those sold here are mostly bought by American and European tourists.

to know this pal...face issue and hence no fakes?

[AK797]

Originally Posted by gocsan

I just came back from Hong Kong. I've been there many times before but first time since owning a 116610LV and just generally more observant in what watches people wear. I'm pleased that I haven't seen anyone else wearing this as it makes me look special :)

But anyways a lot of people do wear Rolexes in Hong Kong. I've see people from taxi drivers to sales staff at Sasa (equivalent to Boots in UK) to dish cleaners at a restaurant and he was wearing one with diamonds on the dial. This isn't to say that people there are more well off, but people over there are more willing to splash out on luxury goods compared to UK since status symbol is quite important for people over there.

Whenever I walk pass a Rolex store in Hong Kong, I don't see the stainless steel ones on window display. Most are gold with diamonds all over the watch on the window. It's all about the bling over there.

Hong Kong is an amazing 24/7 city and I feel comfortable and safe wearing my Rolex in public place. I always love going back there every time. Now I'm back in London covering my 116610LV with my sleeve because I don't want to get mugged.

Well the girls in Boots aren't gonna mug you for yours or know what it is!

[rollee1]

Rolex holds a special regard in Hong Kong, which evolve from a history of colonial rule, to a world class city of economic success.

People there are very competitive, and appreciates all finer things of life.
Rolex watches are seen as rewards of achievement, even at a very young age; that is why you see them worn by people from all walks of life.
Hong Kong sells about 30-35% of Rolex total annual production, for as long as I can remember.

The Rolex name symbolizes the operation of a business / making money, where each model carries a specific Chinese nickname, to suit a trade of work.
To a labourer, a Rolex watch is seen as a safer alternative than keeping money in the bank, because its always with you.

As a side note, a blue dial Rolex is unsuited for shop keepers because it sounds equivalent in Chinese to 'difficulty in running a business'

[SeikoSam]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Most Hong Kong Chinese wouldn't be caught dead wearing a fake Rolex. Those sold here are mostly bought by American and European tourists.

Funny... While i was in MBK in thailand last december... It was predominantly europeans and caucasians buying fake watches.

[SeaDweller50]

Originally Posted by SeikoSam

Funny... While i was in MBK in thailand last december... It was predominantly europeans and caucasians buying fake watches.

How do you know this? Were you selling them?

[Cryten]

To a labourer, a Rolex watch is seen as a safer alternative than keeping money in the bank, because its always with you.

Really? A manual labourer would rather turn an $8k watch into a $4k watch by wearing it on a building site (for example) than put $8k in the bank?

That's almost as wild a claim as:

Most Hong Kong Chinese wouldn't be caught dead wearing a fake Rolex

My experiences differ from the above quotes somewhat.

[bondtoys]

Sorry pal, you have to learn a lot about HK and the HK people.

[lg718]

Originally Posted by Mezz72

yes Singapore is one of those places you see more $200k bmw n merc on the roads then Toyota.

VEry true! boy do i miss living in Singapore :-(

[sea-dweller]

Bought my first Rolex in HK, back in '94. I used to travel there a few times a year on business, but haven't been in a few years. Great city!

[RetailSlave]

Ive been visiting HK almost anually for the last 25 years. I will agree from my experience that the vast majority of fakes are bought by American and european tourist. Owning a Rolex in HK is a status symbol and almost a necessity.
Put it this way... How can a bell hop at a hotel wear a genuine Rolex and the counter manager wear a fossil? You know the counter manager would sell an organ if he had to in order to purchase a Rolex because there is no way a bell hop can show him up. The very minute the counter manager gets a Rolex the hotel general manager would be at the AD upgrading his own because there's no way someone working under him can make him look a fool. In HK, it's all about saving face and receiving it. It may seem superficial but that's how some cultures are and how they approach status. HK is the Rolex capital of the world for a reason.

[Gunnar]

Originally Posted by Mezz72

yes Singapore is one of those places you see more $200k bmw n merc on the roads then Toyota.

Haha so true. The cost of cars in Singapore in general is astounding though yet you see lots of high end exotica.

[pain888]

Originally Posted by rollee1

Rolex holds a special regard in Hong Kong, which evolve from a history of colonial rule, to a world class city of economic success.

People there are very competitive, and appreciates all finer things of life.
Rolex watches are seen as rewards of achievement, even at a very young age; that is why you see them worn by people from all walks of life.
Hong Kong sells about 30-35% of Rolex total annual production, for as long as I can remember.

The Rolex name symbolizes the operation of a business / making money, where each model carries a specific Chinese nickname, to suit a trade of work.
To a labourer, a Rolex watch is seen as a safer alternative than keeping money in the bank, because its always with you.

As a side note, a blue dial Rolex is unsuited for shop keepers because it sounds equivalent in Chinese to 'difficulty in running a business'

wow you are so right! do you know what gold date date mean?

[SeikoSam]

Originally Posted by RolexplorerII

How do you know this? Were you selling them?

Duh.... Because i saw it with me own eyes?

[davidro]

Very accurate observations there about Hong Kong.
A while back buses had recruitment posters on them showing, proudly showing the monthly salary (about $2300 usd/month or less) and the bus driver was wearing a yellow solid gold sub.
Obviously he thought it was worth a years salary ? Doesn't make sense to me.
But that's Hong Kong

[Chris1974]

Interesting thread. I would imagine HK would be similar to other places when it comes to Rolex or other high end things. For example, in the US If you see a guy wearing a Rolex working as a waiter in a chain restaurant and driving a Honda Civic chances are good the watch is fake.

But a guy in a nice suite dining at the restaurant and driving a BMW would probably be wearing a real one.

So I guess the question is, how do so many working class people in HK afford a watch that could cost $8000-$12000?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by Chris1974

Interesting thread. I would imagine HK would be similar to other places when it comes to Rolex or other high end things. For example, in the US If you see a guy wearing a Rolex working as a waiter in a chain restaurant and driving a Honda Civic chances are good the watch is fake.

But a guy in a nice suite dining at the restaurant and driving a BMW would probably be wearing a real one.

So I guess the question is, how do so many working class people in HK afford a watch that could cost $8000-$12000?

Most people don't own a car, and very many live with their parents, so they have money to spend on watches. To illustrate the popularity of Rolex here, there are 68 ADs for a population of just over seven million. The first ADs opened here in the 1930s.

[Norway]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Most people don't own a car, and very many live with their parents, so they have money to spend on watches. To illustrate the popularity of Rolex here, there are 68 ADs for a population of just over seven million. The first ADs opened here in the 1930s.

[Cryten]

Sorry pal, you have to learn a lot about HK and the HK people.

You’ll notice I used the word “experiences” not “opinion.” You may be able to use a coherent argument and your vast knowledge to educate me about the HK populace, perhaps even sway any opinions I may already have, you cannot however change the experiences I have already had.

There is one gentleman in particular whom I have nothing personal against, he is actually a very pleasant chap, however he not only supports fakery, he actively deals in it. I choose to keep my distance as I dislike the counterfeit culture immensely, and I certainly don’t want anyone thinking I might be tempted to purchase any of his wares. You could be correct as he may not be a HK native, but he is there nonetheless, therefore to suggest every watch in HK is genuine is untrue, and this I know for a fact.

[JoeYu]

I agree on many points about Hong Kong and the Chinese in general. The Chinese culture as a whole puts "face" ahead of many things. Therefore a Rolex is looked at as achievement of hard work despite the type of job they hold. I'm first generation American Chinese and its this way with the older generation so I can only imagine how it is in Hong Kong.

[Old Expat Beast]

Face plays a large part, but you have to dig a little deeper for the larger picture.

Rolex watches have been sold in Hong Kong since before the Second World War. After the Communist Revolution in the late 1940s, millions of people came, especially from Shanghai, to seek refuge in Hong Kong (up to the 1980s and even a few in the early 1990s). The first wave of refugees were relatively wealthy but often had to leave much of their cash and belongings behind. An easy way to show their (former) status was to display a gold or partly gold watch. Many of those first arrivals, just like Hong Kong’s ‘native’ Chinese, went for the Datejust, as it was relatively new and had a novel date function which was quite the thing back then. It’s still perhaps the most popular model today, judging from the number seen around town.

From the late 1950s, refugees were poorer, more desperate folk, fleeing mass starvation during the Great Leap Forward (1958-61) or the horrors of the Cultural Revolution (1966 to 76 approx). Many were single men, and for them the first item on the shopping list was a transistor radio, but the grail was a Rolex watch, or at least a Tudor, a brand for which many settled (as in those days they looked exactly like Rolex, thereby giving some ‘face’ at least from a distance), and which is still very popular today.

This as I see it (and I am happy to be corrected by our Hong Kong Chinese members) is more or less how Rolex came to be an integral part of Hong Kong life. Go into the Rolex Service Centre any day of the week and you will see the place packed with people of all shapes, sizes, ages, and wealth brackets. Office girls, rich housewives, old men with their retirement Datejusts, young entrepreneurs with their vintage PN Daytonas and red subs, etc, etc.

Hans Wilsdorf’s death in 1960 made Front Page news in the local papers here. I doubt that was the case in many other cities around the world.

[bluerolex]

Originally Posted by Chris1974

Interesting thread. I would imagine HK would be similar to other places when it comes to Rolex or other high end things. For example, in the US If you see a guy wearing a Rolex working as a waiter in a chain restaurant and driving a Honda Civic chances are good the watch is fake.

But a guy in a nice suite dining at the restaurant and driving a BMW would probably be wearing a real one.

So I guess the question is, how do so many working class people in HK afford a watch that could cost $8000-$12000?

I am from America been living here for over 30 years. But my family is from Hong Kong. To answer you question.

I suppose a Hong Kong person would say how could a working class person in America afford a $40,000 Ford Mustard and buy another one and trade it in 5 years.

To me it is simple math it is a lot easier to start with a lower end Rolex and trade up to even a platinum president oven 20 years then to buy 5 brand new Mustangs and trade one in every 4 years over 20.