controversial Rolex demographics

[TauKappaEpsilon]

Good morning TRF. I'm thinking about buying my first watch and I really like the submariner (I like the two tone with the black face which I know isnt as popular here) but I've run the idea by some of my friends and they all seem to say the same thing. They all advise me not to buy a Rolex and go with another brand (such as Omega). Many people that I've spoken to all have this idea that people buy Rolex's as a status symbol and they dont necessarily care about the watch/know exactly what it is they are buying. What do you all think about that? Do you think that argument holds any weight, or do you think that the majority of people buying Rolexs genuinely like them?

I'll be 21 in a 3 months and every since I can remember, probably for close to 15 years, I've always loved the submariner and knew that I'd buy one when I could afford it. However, recently I've been doing some research and I've also come across Panerai which I really like, although the PAMs and the Subs are very different I really like both. All my friends tell me to go with the PAM over the sub without hesitation, but I can't make up my mind.

[travisb]

Not what your friends tell you to buy.
If you've always wanted a Sub then it's the Sub you should get.
If not - you'll get something else and wish you would have gotten the Sub.

[mrbill2mrbill2]

Who cares what your friends say. Buy what you want and let them buy what they want.

If you're asking your friends you really do not know what you want.

[capote]

There are all kind of people buying for different reasons. Omega is a great brand too but buy the watch YOU want. Good luck deciding

[landroverking]

I have been wearing Rolex since I was 25. My first was a GMT.
I looked hard at the Sub 1680 & the Exp 1655, but at the time choose the 1675
Buy it for you and no one else. Just a footnote I gave my daughter a TT YM on her 25th and will give my Son a Sub or GMT next year on his 25th.

[Tan]

Some people buy them for status symbols. I don't know anyone that would drop thousands of dollars onto a watch they didn't like and solely because it was a status symbol. However, I think it is a mixture of both! There is two ends of the spectrum and I think the majority of people buy Rolexes with a bit of both sides (pestige and a genuine liking for the watch).

[azguy]

You need to sit down and do some watch research, the Rolex history is amazing from the Sub, the Sea Dweller to the GMT.....

[Delpga]

My first watch was a Cartier because all my friends had tags , breitlings or rolex. Just purchased my first Rolex and am thrilled. Buy what you want to wear not what your friends say.

[Bangel]

Stereotypes and generalizations are everywhere.

The question is whether you believe them?

My advice is that it's your watch, so get what you want.

[WhatTheDeuce]

In ten years, you'll wonder why you let your friends influence YOUR buying decisions. Good luck with YOUR decision. (hint: get the sub )

[Manofsteelpt]

Rolex makes a great watch... Are there better watches? Of course there are. Get the Sub that YOU want.

[TauKappaEpsilon]

Thanks for all the responses and I'm 99% sure I'm getting the sub because if I get anything else I'm going to be envious of people I see wearing subs.

Why do you think submariner wears (more so then any other rolex) are stigmatized so much?

[Tan]

Originally Posted by TauKappaEpsilon

Thanks for all the responses and I'm 99% sure I'm getting the sub because if I get anything else I'm going to be envious of people I see wearing subs.

Why do you think submariner wears (more so then any other rolex) are stigmatized so much?

I don't think Sub wearers are stigmatized. For one thing, the majority of people I know don't even recognize a Sub as a Rolex when they see it from afar. I think its the umbrella brand that people stigmatize rather than the specific watch.

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by TauKappaEpsilon

Why do you think submariner wears (more so then any other rolex) are stigmatized so much?

They aren't. I think people who don't like Rolex watches don't like the brand generally, and not just specific models.

You generally seem to be asking if Rolex wearers are mostly d-bags. I work in DC too and the answer is no. A lot of very successful people in this town wear them, people who do not have a need to show off.

[jackwebb]

I have never met a fellow watch enthusiast in the wild. I have found that most of the Rolex owners I have met know virtually nothing about the watch they are wearing. It seems you have a love and knowledge greater than the general public and if you want a Rolex get it. I have spent thousands of dollars on other brands before I bought a Rolex and all I can think is, why did I wait so long. Good luck

[gwozhog]

I'm not sure how much of the watch you are expected to know about. I'm pretty sure maybe only a handfull of our members could take the case back off and perform repairs to it. Half of our members are to scared to even take some cape codd cloth to the watch and polish it. I promise you the morning after you wake up with your new Rolex nothin in your life will have changed. In the end it's just a hunk of metal. Now if we are talking about TRF that Is a whole new can of worms. I think at least 25 percent of the members would give up there watches before they gave up there TRF membership.

[Longhorn]

I don't think the people who avoid the Rolex they like because of the stereotype are any better than the people who buy a Rolex as a status symbol. I fell into that predictament when I was in the market for my first watch, and I inevitably picked the submariner anyway, even though I thought I wanted to be "original" and get something different. Pick the watch that is a reflection of you and your style.

[R.J.]

Concider me your friend and this friend says to buy the Submariner. You'll never regret it.Welcom to the Forum.

[mjclark32]

If you've always wanted the sub you should get the sub

[caryyee]

We all have affinities for certain brands for all sorts of reasons. Buy whatever watch that YOU like. What I will say, is that you can't go wrong with a Sub. It's iconic, it's classic, and it won't ever go out of fashion ... it's got a simplicity that will withstand changes in fashion. The Sub today, is essentially the same looking Sub from 40+ years ago, and in another 40 years time, will still probably look the same. Just like the Speedmaster Pro in the Omega range.

[bigbear]

If tomorrow Rolex stopped printing ROLEX on their dials, then worldwide sales will become close to ZERO. I would definitely not spends thousands. When someone looks at my watch and says "oh wow, A rolex!!", that makes me a little happy!!! We all, in our heart of hearts, want to be recognized in someway and want people to pay attention to us. We all, in some subliminal way, want to send the message out to our brothers and sisters that "I have made it -- look at me!!" and "you haven't made it, you pathetic loser you! -- that's why you are looking at me"

We all can't be Bill Gates, so this is a poor man's high, sort of and we all know these watches are not worth the premium they are going for. These watches boost our fragile egos.

I will bet my house that any modern seiko today will last as long as any modern Rolex today. But wejustify our exuberant purchases in the name of gold, or history, or legacy, or complication or what ever we can do to justify.......

[RRGHOST1]

I know someone who recently got a Black TT SubC and loves it and i have the Blue TT SubC and they are quite popular but as said buy the watch you want. They are probably telling you dont buy a Rolex because they dont want you to get one because they cant buy one themselves. A Sub is a great watch.

[kilyung]

I don't think you can generalize a buying segment of the population based on what they buy. If that were the case, would you call everyone who drove a BMW a yuppie? Or someone who enjoys cruise vacations an old fart? Get what YOU want and ignore the stereotype.

[drjfc62]

Sure there are people who are baffled by someone spending thousands on a watch. So what? As others have said, buy it (or not) for yourself--you're the only one you have to please in the end. I have about 20 watches, of which only the TT sub and DSSD would be considered high end, but I like all of 'em and wear what I want cause I like it that way.

[ingoodtime]

I am sure there are many perceptions of Rolex by the masses. The name Rolex conjures up many to me. Owning them leaves me with many emotions. The first one is Ahhhhhhh....I enjoy wearing it, I could finally afford one. Then there is, am I a watch snob, am I a jerk for spending so much money on a SS watch when less expensive brands work just as well? Will people think I am crazy for spending so much on a watch?

There is also the fear factor. Will someone mug me for my watch?

I enjoy the brand and personally recognize the history of the brand. I also love the fact that they have not strayed very far from their earlier designs so there is always a family resemblance. When I look down at my wrist and see my Rolex, I feel comforted. We are building history together. I know my newphew loves mine and he knows someday, it will be his.

All I can say is, buy the watch you want or you will end up flipping it at a loss to buy what you originally wanted. Go try it on and see if it sings to you. It is a classic size nd comfortable.

[Trouble15]

Originally Posted by travisb

Not what your friends tell you to buy.
If you've always wanted a Sub then it's the Sub you should get.
If not - you'll get something else and wish you would have gotten the Sub.

Completely agree

[B. Doggy]

You'll love Rolex, irregardless of what someone else says or thinks.

[FeelingTheBlues]

I am 21 and I've never bought any watch for a status symbol, whether it was made of gold or not and no matter what the brand was. I've always bought them because I liked them, period.

If you like the Rolex Submariner then by all means buy it and enjoy it to the fullest but one should never buy something because his friends or somebody else tells him to do, especially when it costs that much.

P.S.: I love the black TT Submariner so if you buy one you'll have a fan right here!

[TakesALickin]

Originally Posted by jackwebb

I have spent thousands of dollars on other brands before I bought a Rolex and all I can think is, why did I wait so long.

Ditto to this. I'll bet you'll find lots of guys on this forum who bought their first Rolex in their 20s that still have it ten, twenty, maybe even thirty years later. How many of us are still hanging out with our friends from our 20s? Not nearly as many. Do what your heart tells you you want to do, and ignore your friends. If they give you a hard time about it, consider your Rolex purchase to be only the first of many things that you'll do for yourself that will distance you from your friends. Making decisions based on what we want, and not on what our friends tell us, is part of growing up.

[tlbarrs]

I would say get the sub it sounds like that's what your heart is telling you to do, as for your friends it doesn't matter what they think as long as you are happy. I recieved my first Rolex today a sub 14060m a watch I have dreamed about owning for many years, opening that Rolex box was a magical feeling one that will stay with me for the rest of my life, I am expecting some of my work colleagues on Monday to have the green eyed monster, how much? what a waste!! etc ect but I don't care what I spend my money on is up to me and I love it!! that's all that matters buy what makes you happy.