Rolexes and the oil business

[Tseg]

The oil company I work for used to give branded Rolexes for retirement. They stopped doing that after they got bought out.

[HogwldFLTR]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

To me it implies you are surrounded by smart hard working people with good taste

Interesting perspective, to me it doesn't. I've worked in the semiconductors industry for about 35 years. The industry is full of PhD Physicists, EEs, Chem Es and Material Engineers. Most are far more likely to wear a Casio or some other throw-away watch than a Rolex. I can't think of the last time I was a Rolex in one of my offices. None of these people are sitting on their asses eating bon-bons either.

[BNA/LION]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

All my exes live in Texas, all my exes got my Rolexes.

HAAAAAAAA!

[MaxCargo]

Originally Posted by fmc000

Still about half the price we pay here in Italy.


Sent from my mobile using Tapatalk.

in norway too

[Beef]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Interesting perspective, to me it doesn't. I've worked in the semiconductors industry for about 35 years. The industry is full of PhD Physicists, EEs, Chem Es and Material Engineers. Most are far more likely to wear a Casio or some other throw-away watch than a Rolex. I can't think of the last time I was a Rolex in one of my offices. None of these people are sitting on their asses eating bon-bons either.

I have seen this too, Hog. There is a government facility in my town that once gave us more PhDs per capita of any town in the US. That was a while back, but there are still dozens of the degrees and specialties here that you listed above. I think it's largely a sub-cultural thing, people in super-technical fields prefer the latest digital, satcom, turbo jet watch d'jour or don't care anything about watches. Their interests lie elsewhere. This phenomenon, like most higher math,is and shall remain, a mystery to me.

But that is a generalization. My Dad was an EE and always wore a fairly nice watch. An Omega that (I know of in the '60s) and Hamilton and Seiko later. He had a Chrono of some sort in the early '60s. I used to like to push the buttons and watch the hands. IDK what brand. My oldest son is an EE major (Junior year) and loves his "loaned" Exp. 14270.

To avoid stereotyping the above, I intentionally did not mention Dr. Sheldon Cooper or any other character from the "Big Bang Theory." LOL!

[Piloto]

Originally Posted by Kyle3130

Oil profits are why Texans call a Rolex a "Texas Timex"

So true!

[hawg]

There is lots of money in the oil business. I doubt there are that many true watch enthusiasts in the business but more status symbol types I would think.

[psv]

Rolex = Texas Swatch. Texas loves Rolex.

Then again, I work in software/hightech industry, Rolex are as usual as trousers at meetings...

[StaceeJaxx]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

To me it implies you are surrounded by smart hard working people with good taste

I agree

IBTL

[tkerrmd]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Interesting perspective, to me it doesn't. I've worked in the semiconductors industry for about 35 years. The industry is full of PhD Physicists, EEs, Chem Es and Material Engineers. Most are far more likely to wear a Casio or some other throw-away watch than a Rolex. I can't think of the last time I was a Rolex in one of my offices. None of these people are sitting on their asses eating bon-bons either.

Lee you interpreted this backwards. The comment was what do you think when you see guys at work wearing a Rolex and I gave my feeling

You took it like what watches are most "likely" to wear

Not same thing, I think?

[VICI]

That's more oil business than others, IMO

[Typhoon7]

Originally Posted by hawg

There is lots of money in the oil business. I doubt there are that many true watch enthusiasts in the business but more status symbol types I would think.

Interesting generalization you've made about the types of folks in the oil business who wear Rolex......

[Loevhagen]

How you look at it depends of where you are in the world. Where I reside - and I work for an oil major - Rolex is not regarded any special at all. In fact - it might work against you.

[c.rod]

I was around the main offices attending meetings etc with the plant managers of a local refinery. I don't know exact $ figures, but do know they are really well taken care of. What I have tended to notice is when a handful of people are making a lot more $ than the rest of the workforce they tend not to wear the really expensive stuff to work just to keep a low profile/not piss off the other engineers etc. I know for a fact one guy drove some crappy honda car to work and had an s550 at home...lol

[AndersB]

Not just four expensive watches, but four expensive watches of the same brand.

Shows the strength of the Rolex brand?

[FiftyTwoEighty]

The oil industry is jammed packed with hard working Engineers: PEs, EEs, MEs, Civil E, and etc...

It would be safe to say, stereotyping an industy is next to impossible -- especially an industry with multiple facets.

[Loevhagen]

I wear different Rolexes every day - and nobody at work gives a duck. :) But - try wearing a red pair of jeans or shirt. Everybody notice and comment.

The moral?

If you want the attention; wear colorful jeans / shirts.

[Keith1]

Originally Posted by tkerrmd

It's true! Don't know how you can have a fine watch other than it given to you unless you are a driven goal oriented hard worker, that's why I have them and what I think when I see one

Well said Tom. I feel the same way.

[rolexmania16]

Rolex was sure as hell good enough for Ol' JR!

[zama]

I dont think anyone is surprised oil = rolex, reflective of both money to be made and robust nature. Any industry that can produce decent cash you will find Rolex's. I work in the Medical industry and was out a while back with one of my Uk colleagues and a customer of ours between the three of us we had a sub date, TT sub and a Hulk. Rolex do represent a certain status as well as a nice watch.