Is $20,000 The New Price For Rolex SS

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by richard371

Good point but I’m starting to wonder if Rolex is trying to push their line closer to Patek by making the SS models more exclusive by lowering the production etc and trying to move the Tudor line for the masses wanting a good SS watch.

Rolex is clearly cutting production here or the desire for SS Rolexes has gone nuts recently.

With that goofy hour hand--can't imagine Tudor will grab the love of the masses.

[Rogdogg]

It is if you're crazy and 20k doesn't matter to you.
However, for the brand as a whole I think this would be unsustainable at the volumes that they make now. If they want SS to be 20k they would have to significantly reduce their volume if you ask me and have real exclusivity. These watches are currently very hard to get but this is only a recent thing and in my opinion will turn around and get back to normal in future. The old Daytona was hard to get but not that hard if you really looked around and didn't just wait on the list at a single AD.

[Enicarman]

Originally Posted by richard371

Good point but I’m starting to wonder if Rolex is trying to push their line closer to Patek by making the SS models more exclusive by lowering the production etc and trying to move the Tudor line for the masses wanting a good SS watch.

Rolex is clearly cutting production here or the desire for SS Rolexes has gone nuts recently.

Strategy seems this: We stop selling (so many) watches, and instead increase selling the name - through prestige scarcity. Our profits will now overwhelmingly come from the name, and not the items themselves. (My guess is that 80% of the sale price is in the name now.)

[richard371]

I agree to a certain extent. I don’t know anyone that is into high end watches. My friends say it’s a waste of money and I even only have 1 now. Sad thing is most of my friends are extremy successful so it’s not about money. Some have Apple watches and most none at all. Yes most are younger then me. I’m pretty sure high end wrist watches will be dead in the not to distant future but just not yet I hope :). I think Rolex realizes this and is trying to constrain the lower end SS models to create spark/interest and will re-adjust things in the future if needed. If 5 or 10 years down the road we are all still here on these forums buying more high end watches then ever with SS Rolex models in great supply I’ll eat my words. I seriously doubt it. Prettty soon I think it will be only extremely high end pieces for the super elite.

Originally Posted by douglasf13

This may not end well for Rolex one day. Current buyers think back fondly to adventurers and “cool” guys wearing these tough little tools. The kids of today are going to look back at these watches as the status symbols of middle aged dads and/or wealthy guys. As I’ve said before, think Harley Davidson.

[oldman2005]

Originally Posted by WJGESQ

With that goofy hour hand--can't imagine Tudor will grab the love of the masses.

X2. You want a Rolex buy a Rolex, I'd not buy myself a Tudor thinking that I actually got a Rolex.

[MinMay]

Originally Posted by oldman2005

X2. You want a Rolex buy a Rolex, I'd not buy myself a Tudor thinking that I actually got a Rolex.

There are tons of millionaires who can easily afford a Rolex, but also choose to add Tudor into their collection. Rolex is nothing special my friend....I considered them as the cheap luxury watch....

[peterpl]

@20k price range there are many options other than Rolex. Honestly as some have mentioned it just becomes totally stupid at a point and its getting near that.

[superstarmar]

I posed this question awhile back a little different.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=588632

[michael8238]

No way this madness is gonna last forever.
I don't think Rolex will ever collapse like Panerai did, but it def will cool down

[woodsworth]

Too many choices at 20k... would not go for the new blro. To me, it isn't that special

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by WJGESQ

With that goofy hour hand--can't imagine Tudor will grab the love of the masses.

the hour hand has nothing to do with it... if it was a status symbol then people would buy it anyway. Its not, so you actually have to like the watch.

I cant tell you how many times i have seen people at an AD saying things like "i want a Rolex, what do you have?" They dont care, they just want the brand.

[Timelover]

Absolutely not a chance. Personally i will never pay above retail no matter what the brand is or how much i want the watch. A watch is a pretty useless item in the end, this bubble we are in kills the fun for me.

[meganfox17]

I'm staging a street protest against premium prices and greedy sellers

[dmash]

Did you personally photoshop all of those pictures?

[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by breitlings

I've said it a few years ago but I think 20k will be about the MSRP soon for many SS references including 500.

TRFers are a very small percentage of Rolex buyers. Many potential Rolex buyers shop Omega and Breitling, too. If Rolex SS is priced at 20K, then they will just go for something else.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

TRFers are a very small percentage of Rolex buyers. Many potential Rolex buyers shop Omega and Breitling, too. If Rolex SS is priced at 20K, then they will just go for something else.

Maybe if Omega fixes that absolute monstrosity of a Michael Kors bracelet and stupid looking HEV wart at 10 o clock, it would get some additional sales on the Seamaster. Flat out, the thing can’t hang with a Sub because of those two things. The watch has serious potential otherwise, the case and dial look fantastic.

[meganfox17]

Originally Posted by dmash

Maybe if Omega fixes that absolute monstrosity of a Michael Kors bracelet and stupid looking HEV wart at 10 o clock, it would get some additional sales on the Seamaster. Flat out, the thing can’t hang with a Sub because of those two things. The watch has serious potential otherwise, the case and dial look fantastic.

Off topic here but I must agree to disagree with your assessment Sir. Personally I would give Omega credit for persistence and focusing on upgrading an original iconic yet controversial model. Omega didn't waiver but endured through time with a 25 yr old familiar Seamaster design, naturally polarizing but delightfully asymmetrical that gives the Seamaster its unique character, the skeleton hands appear both simplified yet complicated, casing and dial reworked, being thoroughly refreshed and looking totally avant-garde. Since the new Pepsi GMT is out of my range, for now I'll just stick to a brand I know so well

[dmash]

Originally Posted by meganfox17

Off topic here but I must agree to disagree with your assessment Sir. Personally I would give Omega credit for persistence and focusing on upgrading an original iconic yet controversial model. Omega didn't waiver but endured through time with a 25 yr old familiar Seamaster design, naturally polarizing but delightfully asymmetrical that gives the Seamaster its unique character, the skeleton hands appear both simplified yet complicated, casing and dial reworked, being thoroughly refreshed and looking totally avant-garde. Since the new Pepsi GMT is out of my range, for now I'll just stick to a brand I know so well

Sure, on a glitzy model like that, the Michael Kors bracelet looks fine, but on a traditional black SS diver it looks out of place. It's like putting PCLs on a stainless black Sub or SD43. Zero sense. and I don't know of a single person who think the HEV is actually attractive, it's just an eyesore. We all know you're a huge proponent of Omega though, and anything I say you are probably going to counter

However, I already agreed with you on the dial and case. I like the skeleton hands as well. Also, they have the right idea by adding the touch of red to the seconds hand. This balances out the dial with the red 'Seamaster' font. Rolex should have done this with the SD43 as well. Omega is doing a lot of things right, but at the same time, some things obviously (aesthetically) wrong......and I'm by far not the only one who thinks this about them, a lot of people do.


10000%, I would pick up a Seamaster if they finally made the HEV flush and gave it an entirely brushed bracelet. That would be a no brainer pickup for me as a 'do everything' kind of watch, and not have to worry about banging up your $10k SS Rolex. Tudor is the only other viable option with the Pelagos, but I was underwhelmed with it in person.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by No SUBctitute

TRFers are a very small percentage of Rolex buyers. Many potential Rolex buyers shop Omega and Breitling, too. If Rolex SS is priced at 20K, then they will just go for something else.

i just dont think they would. Rolex is pretty underpriced to begin with compared to a lot of brands so they could easily charge quite a bit more. The status and name recognition is a huge factor in a lot of peoples purchasing decisions. 20K for a rolex and everyone recognizes it is still probably better than spending less on a Breitling that no one has a clue about since that is why a lot of people are buying in the first place.

I think people would buy less Rolex's sure. But they would still buy one at 20k... maybe that isnt a bad thing. The fact people today who are into watches have 5-10 of them maybe indicates they are not expensive enough. I do think quantity owned, in general, is higher presently than decades ago.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

i just dont think they would. Rolex is pretty underpriced to begin with compared to a lot of brands so they could easily charge quite a bit more. The status and name recognition is a huge factor in a lot of peoples purchasing decisions. 20K for a rolex and everyone recognizes it is still probably better than spending less on a Breitling that no one has a clue about since that is why a lot of people are buying in the first place.

I think people would buy less Rolex's sure. But they would still buy one at 20k... maybe that isnt a bad thing. The fact people today have 5-10 watches maybe indicates they are not expensive enough.

I owned a Breitling










at 20, for one week.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by dmash

I owned a Breitling










at 20, for one week.

i owned one too. I quite like some of them, they are just too big for me.

If its not a Rolex though, people dont recognize it as an expensive watch. So for a lot of people its a non starter. People constantly underestimate the mentality of "if im going to spend 10k on something, then people need to know i spent 10k on it" its easily done with a Rolex as its the most universally recognized expensive watch.

As long as it maintains that recognition there will be buyers at 10k, 15k, or 20k or wherever they raise the price to. People who buy watches based on merit are a minority, im convinced of that.

[Timelover]

Originally Posted by dmash

I owned a Breitling










at 20, for one week.

Breitling make very reliable watches and are fantastic for what they are. If you'd rather buy more expensive watches for whatever your reasons are, then good for you!

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Timelover

Breitling make very reliable watches and are fantastic for what they are. If you'd rather buy more expensive watches for whatever your reasons are, then good for you!

I think it was was absolute garbage and has nothing to do with only buying more expensive watches. I’d rather have a Seiko than a Breitling. Won’t get into a Breitling rant....but no, completely disagree with your statement. Although my friends old school Steelfish he picked up for under $2k was a good buy.

[Timelover]

Originally Posted by dmash

I think it was was absolute garbage and has nothing to do with only buying more expensive watches. I’d rather have a Seiko than a Breitling. Won’t get into a Breitling rant....but no, completely disagree with your statement. Although my friends old school Steelfish he picked up for under $2k was a good buy.

You are entitled to your opinion, it's just always better to avoid generalizing, it's a good brand.

[Onikage]

How did Breitling and TT Omega Seamasters come into it? I'm confused.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Onikage

How did Breitling and TT Omega Seamasters come into it? I'm confused.

basically a sidebar about if rolex raises prices people will buy those watches instead.

I maintain they wont as they are not as recognizable as expensive watches as Rolex is, and i suspect that is a strong motivator for a lot of peoples purchase decisions. So in that sense and for those customers i dont think they are substitute watches. Even if the price goes up the need to have a recognizable watch is worth paying more money for.

[meganfox17]

Originally Posted by Timelover

You are entitled to your opinion, it's just always better to avoid generalizing, it's a good brand.

Some0ne started this and I'm going to end it right now. A few years, I had a heated argument with my brother, in a fit of anger, I threw my brother's Avenger ll Seawolf cobra yellow at him, he ducked and the watch slammed against the wall so hard, it bounced off then hit the floor and bounced again a few more times.Trust me you really wouldn't want to do that to a US$ 20K Pepsi GMT but the Seawolf ? Oh, you could do it over and over again and yes Sir, except for a few dents, the watch was still running well as if nothing had happened. I can vouch for the Seawolf, it's a damn robust superbly built watch. Period!

[Stevec14]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

basically a sidebar about if rolex raises prices people will buy those watches instead.

I maintain they wont as they are not as recognizable as expensive watches as Rolex is, and i suspect that is a strong motivator for a lot of peoples purchase decisions. So in that sense and for those customers i dont think they are substitute watches. Even if the price goes up the need to have a recognizable watch is worth paying more money for.

Agreed. Think you have hit the nail on the head there.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

basically a sidebar about if rolex raises prices people will buy those watches instead.

I maintain they wont as they are not as recognizable as expensive watches as Rolex is, and i suspect that is a strong motivator for a lot of peoples purchase decisions. So in that sense and for those customers i dont think they are substitute watches. Even if the price goes up the need to have a recognizable watch is worth paying more money for.

Hmm. I am firing on almost all cylinders I just didn't believe it. Agree but recognition aside Seamasters and Super Oceans are not Submariners. Breitling apart from the iconic Navitimer is kind of the budget diver brand. Increasingly so. Omega well.. It isn't Rolex - The Seamaster isn't a Submariner and the TT ain't a Bluesy. The Constellation ain't a Date Just and the gold Constellation sure ain't a Day-Date. So not only the ignorant but the priced out Rolex fanboy won't settle for these brands if 20k SS is the new norm for Rolex.. Which it won't be. IMO.

[dmash]

Originally Posted by Timelover

You are entitled to your opinion, it's just always better to avoid generalizing, it's a good brand.

Not generalizing, I have experience with it. I'll take it as you obviously own Breitling seeing as how defensive you seem over it?

Originally Posted by meganfox17

Some0ne started this and I'm going to end it right now. A few years, I had a heated argument with my brother, in a fit of anger, I threw my brother's Avenger ll Seawolf cobra yellow at him, he ducked and the watch slammed against the wall so hard, it bounced off then hit the floor and bounced again a few more times.Trust me you really wouldn't want to do that to a US$ 20K Pepsi GMT but the Seawolf ? Oh, you could do it over and over again and yes Sir, except for a few dents, the watch was still running well as if nothing had happened. I can vouch for the Seawolf, it's a damn robust superbly built watch. Period!

Cool story, now let me 'end it' too.

I had an avenger Skyland, which after 5 days of owning, I slightly brushed against a desk upon getting up from my computer chair. The entire bezel became dislodged and fell to the ground. Was purchased from Govbergs, no grey market/eBay possibly fake excuses. That's pathetic quality control or a horribly built watch, take your pick.