Rolex's Biggest Mistakes.

[NukeMan]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

The sales manager in the Rolex store on Bond St. in London told me he sold two of those monstrosities to women. That's who seems to be buying the Leopard.

I think Elton John has one, together with a small football-team (European) of african dictators...

But besides, I think the introduction of crown guards on the Submariner was a mistake.

[Castor]

Originally Posted by mikxx

The Daytona Beach series is no mistake compared to

What the hell is that thing?!

[pensbay]

I THINK Rolex biggest mistake was to loose, Year after Year, the edge they had on inovation and design of their watches. Just Compare what they produce today with what they did in the 70's or 80's. To name one watch, I have a Coke GMT that was produced 32 Yes ago. In short, they have nothing on the market today as powefull or strong compared to what they had 40, 30, 20 years ago. In this fórum we have passion, but the market does not behave that way. Competitors are catching up...


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[Old Expat Beast]

Thinking that this would enhance the Venice waterfront was a pretty big mistake.

[RolexJNJ]

Wow, so much for subtlety

[southtexas]

The modern Daytona.


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[Dr. Robert]

Getting rid of lug holes of course

[Fed]

I really wish the current Explorer (ie Explorer 1) had longer and fatter hands!

[Castor]

Originally Posted by Fed

I really wish the current Explorer (ie Explorer 1) had longer and fatter hands!

I would also say that about the Explorer (3-6-9 dial). If it had more legible hands I'd trade in my 216570 in a minute.

[exkc135driver]

Originally Posted by jay1988

Their unwillingness/inability to service their vintage models.

The restrictions they place on parts hindering independent watchmakers from filling the void they created.

THIS ^^

Originally Posted by mike

I agree though I'm not sure I would call it a mistake, but an intentional act.

… and this ^ (and as Mike implied, it was the “accidentally on purpose” kind of mistake).

Originally Posted by Mick P

To be honest, I would think that the occasional thread of this nature must be a Godsend to Rolex because they get first hand experience of what their customers think of the brand in both a positive and negative manner. Most of the criticism in this thread has been constructive and that must be useful to the Rolex marketing dept.

It would be, if they gave a &$%#. My cats care more about the opinions expressed on this forum than Rolex management does.

[Baselman]

Their biggest mistake - not living up to their past creations and making jewellery instead of passionately designed watches.

[Cru Jones]

Hmmmm, anonymous internet armchair watch designers or Rolex? I think Rolex is doing just fine.

Everyone is going to disagree about something. I would rather concentrate on what I like.

[htc8p]

i dont like it when they made a design/production mistake on my gmt2c and doesnt even bother to explain

[Andad]

Not buying Tritium gas tubes from Ball.

[bsandiford]

All these 'mistakes' in design will be the very same things we desire in 20 years time. If I had a crystal ball it would be filled with images of collectors salivating over the ( now new) explorer with its shorter hands

[ironmanmarcus]

We always look back fondly on the past.

As mentioned above...in 20 years we may be saying 'Look at the ceramic, such an innovation back then.'

[Tseg]

Originally Posted by ironmanmarcus

We always look back fondly on the past.

As mentioned above...in 20 years we may be saying 'Look at the ceramic, such an innovation back then.'

I wish they made a two-tone bezel that didn't fade or scratch. I wish they put extra seals in the crown to better inhibit moisture from getting to the moving parts. I wish they would make more solid bracelets that could quickly adjust if my wrist shrunk or expanded. I wish they would make dial parts that wouldn't corrode over the years. I wish they would make a distinctive lume color that would glow all night. I wish they would use better steel so my watch would not corrode over time. I wish they would not be so conservative and add a slightly bigger watch or two to their offering. I wish they would offer distinctive watch colors to differentiate from the homage chasers. I wish they would put an anti-reflective coating under their Cyclops so I could better see the date in all lighting conditions. I wish they would raise prices on new models so my old models would hold their value. I wish... I wish... I wish...

Rolex' biggest mistake is resting on their laurels from 50 years ago, when men were men and watches wore out. ... But if they could only make a more durable watch, that is fancy, but not too fancy, that's cheap for me but expensive for everyone else, that is unique but classic, and that will only appreciate in value, instead they screwed it all up.

[Landshark33]

Originally Posted by Tseg

I wish they made a two-tone bezel that didn't fade or scratch. I wish they put extra seals in the crown to better inhibit moisture from getting to the moving parts. I wish they would make more solid bracelets that could quickly adjust if my wrist shrunk or expanded. I wish they would make dial parts that wouldn't corrode over the years. I wish they would make a distinctive lume color that would glow all night. I wish they would use better steel so my watch would not corrode over time. I wish they would not be so conservative and add a slightly bigger watch or two to their offering. I wish they would offer distinctive watch colors to differentiate from the homage chasers. I wish they would put an anti-reflective coating under their Cyclops so I could better see the date in all lighting conditions. I wish they would raise prices on new models so my old models would hold their value. I wish... I wish... I wish...

Rolex' biggest mistake is resting on their laurels from 50 years ago, when men were men and watches wore out. ... But if they could only make a more durable watch, that is fancy, but not too fancy, that's cheap for me but expensive for everyone else, that is unique but classic, and that will only appreciate in value, instead they screwed it all up.

Well said.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Tseg

I wish they made a two-tone bezel that didn't fade or scratch. I wish they put extra seals in the crown to better inhibit moisture from getting to the moving parts. I wish they would make more solid bracelets that could quickly adjust if my wrist shrunk or expanded. I wish they would make dial parts that wouldn't corrode over the years. I wish they would make a distinctive lume color that would glow all night. I wish they would use better steel so my watch would not corrode over time. I wish they would not be so conservative and add a slightly bigger watch or two to their offering. I wish they would offer distinctive watch colors to differentiate from the homage chasers. I wish they would put an anti-reflective coating under their Cyclops so I could better see the date in all lighting conditions. I wish they would raise prices on new models so my old models would hold their value. I wish... I wish... I wish...

Rolex' biggest mistake is resting on their laurels from 50 years ago, when men were men and watches wore out. ... But if they could only make a more durable watch, that is fancy, but not too fancy, that's cheap for me but expensive for everyone else, that is unique but classic, and that will only appreciate in value, instead they screwed it all up.

[MonBK]

Their biggest mistake was to let Patrick Heiniger on board.

[tom2517]

The fact that Rolex is still doing well meant they have't made any big mistakes, not like Nokia or Blackberry.

[AK797]

I think they are doing just fine which is why we are all happily here.

If in the next few years we don't get a ceramic panda Daytona or GMTc Pepsi then I think these will be big missed opportunities.

[SixPak]

Originally Posted by AK797

I think they are doing just fine which is why we are all happily here.

If in the next few years we don't get a ceramic panda Daytona or GMTc Pepsi then I think these will be big missed opportunities.

Have to agree with Neil. Rolex (or any other company for that matter) cannot appease everyone. Other than their prices I have no complaints.

If I don't like something I don't buy it. It's that simple.

[capote]

Blocky cases comes to mind.

[landroverking]

The super cases
42mm Exp II
Beach Daytonas(moving into fashion over function)

There's my three.

[Speed]

Welcome Mick.

While most savvy companies do peruse online forums about their products...Rolex focuses on the mass markets / folks who don't dive into the minutiae like we WIS do.

Therefore I think they will take very few - if any - of these complaints under advisement.

[Roselló]

The "Fat" lugs is the most awful mistake Rolex created with the new models........

[pensbay]

Originally Posted by Roselló

The "Fat" lugs is the most awful mistake Rolex created with the new models........

....Totally agree.....

[7S26]

Originally Posted by Roselló

The "Fat" lugs is the most awful mistake Rolex created with the new models........

The Fat lugs are just horrible. I can't believe Rolex did and still do Some oysters models this way.

[superdog]

Originally Posted by Roselló

The "Fat" lugs is the most awful mistake Rolex created with the new models........

and interestingly enough, i think its the best thing they have done.