Basel 2009 - came in with a BANG, crawled out with a WHIMPER!!! SHEESH!!!

[Latrodectus]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Next year wil be better, Rolex always have a down year in every 5 year period.

Jocke

We all hope for the best and that you are right

[AstroBoy]

Right on JJ! and No new clasp for EXP-II either!

[presario]

I agree, this year was a bit of a disappointment. 2010 is gonna be big for Rolex with the new SS Sub.

[EmailShmemail2000]

So did they introduce the new clasp for the Plat YM?? I see that new TT YM clasp on their website and that just bugs if they didn't. After talking to the Baron and Leeds store guys in Costa Mesa earlier in the year they say that it might be introduced at Basel. Was it not true??

[Skullring]

JJ you are right on target. I was very disappointed with all of the over-decorated crap that came out. On the other hand it makes all of the traditional Rolexes look so good in comparison. There is a reason that the SS Daytona is such a hot item now. Because they were smart enough to leave a good thing alone.

They did do a great job with the SDDS I hope they don't cancel the 4000.

[gregdolley]

Originally Posted by Singslinger

By your logic, Rolex, which is a global brand, should only cater to "western men's fine tastes and understatement''. Your logic also suggests that making flashy watches is a recent phenomenon to cater to the "tasteless new markets like Russia, China and Middle East'' and that in a couple of years, Rolex will come to its senses and stop making these watches.

Apart from making poor commercial sense, you fail to recognise that Rolex have been making solid gold, diamond-studded watches for decades and that these watches are not just sold in non-Western markets but all over the world. If Rolex were to exhibit the snobbery that you demonstrate, I think they would be nowhere as successful as they are today.

x2. Rolex is not going to bow down to the minority who like understated looks. It may seem to the members of TRF that everyone likes tool watches and that those who like bling are strange people with no taste. This is because most people on TRF like tool watches, but this is hardly indicative of the whole world. In fact, to estimate what is indicative of the world on average, all one has to do is look at the ratio of tool watches vs. dressy and bling watches at your AD. How many tool watches are there? Now how many DJ and DD's are there? At my AD, the section for non-bling tool watches has about 25% of the Rolexes on display. About 45% of the display are DJ's and about 30% are DD's. One doesn't have to be an economics major to figure out that maybe the nicer looking Rolexes sell more than the tool watches.

[oneillba]

JJ, I agree.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by ijen0311

JJ your post titles ALWAYS LOOK LIKE THIS with some small letters and THEN SOME CAPS!!

LOL!! Jen, half the secret of a successful thread lies in the thread title - bring it on with a bit of gusto and everybody wants to have a read of it!!

[redshirt1957]

Came in with a BANG, crawled out with a WIMPER. Hmmmm, Zemina writing your life story?

[gettocard]

Originally Posted by Singslinger

By your logic, Rolex, which is a global brand, should only cater to "western men's fine tastes and understatement''. Your logic also suggests that making flashy watches is a recent phenomenon to cater to the "tasteless new markets like Russia, China and Middle East'' and that in a couple of years, Rolex will come to its senses and stop making these watches.

Apart from making poor commercial sense, you fail to recognise that Rolex have been making solid gold, diamond-studded watches for decades and that these watches are not just sold in non-Western markets but all over the world. If Rolex were to exhibit the snobbery that you demonstrate, I think they would be nowhere as successful as they are today.

a 41 flashy DJ is absolutely tasteless. This the "bigger the better" thing is a last gasp of these wannabe strong economic years gone like ashes in the wind.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Came in with a BANG, crawled out with a WIMPER. Hmmmm, Zemina writing your life story?

[peppermannen]

With all due respect, JJ, there's been a lot of talk about Rolex bashing, and now this comes from you, of all people? This is fuel to the fire started by other members, I won't mention names. I don't know man, just doesn't feel right..... makes me a bit sad, actually.

[peppermannen]

Originally Posted by yoda

what kind of comment is this? So the population of the above is tasteless? Forum members come from all over the world.

x 2

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by peppermannen

With all due respect, JJ, there's been a lot of talk about Rolex bashing, and now this comes from you, of all people? This is fuel to the fire started by other members, I won't mention names. I don't know man, just doesn't feel right..... makes me a bit sad, actually.

The purpose of my thread, Petter, was NEVER to bash Rolex. I love the brand too much to do that.

But it just sickens me to see Rolex merely catering to the rich and famous with all their garrish, blingy stuff.

That's why I did mention that there were a few really good models to come out of Basel in recent years - namely the GMT-IIC. DSSD and Milgauss.

I've also advised that guys stick with their present collection as the new ones will also be pretty unaffordable for most us anyway.

JJ

[PalmSpringsCaVault]

WATCHES THAT ARE HATED on inital release become super rare collectibles because of the low sales, just a thougth. milguasse etc.

[peppermannen]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

The purpose of my thread, Petter, was NEVER to bash Rolex. I love the brand too much to do that.

But it just sickens me to see Rolex merely catering to the rich and famous with all their garrish, blingy stuff.

That's why I did mention that there were a few really good models to come out of Basel in recent years - namely the GMT-IIC. DSSD and Milgauss.

I've also advised that guys stick with their present collection as the new ones will also be pretty unaffordable for most us anyway.

JJ

Well, JJ, that's good advice, holding on to our old Rolexes, in a few years they'll all be worth more than these new ones anyway. However, today's moderns are tomorrow's classics, right? Also, some of the watches that other members swear by, I wouldn't give 50 cent for, and vice-versa I'm sure. Isn't it nice that people have different tastes? Otherwise vintage subs and sea-dwellers would really be out of my reach...
Anyway, I wish you and everybody else a great weekend

[gettocard]

Originally Posted by Yoda

what kind of comment is this? So the population of the above is tasteless? Forum members come from all over the world.

well...I admit tasteless may sound offensive. Let's just say "different " tastes.

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by peppermannen

With all due respect, JJ, there's been a lot of talk about Rolex bashing, and now this comes from you, of all people? This is fuel to the fire started by other members, I won't mention names. I don't know man, just doesn't feel right..... makes me a bit sad, actually.

JJ only bash RADO and NATO.

Jocke

[Otto]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Hi guys,

So all that hulla-balloo about Basel 2009 finally came to zilch, bugger all, nothing and a total waste of time.

The long awaited 41 mm DJ was a total disappointment. I wanted it on the Super Jubilee, but all they did was bring out some weird looking dials with flowers on them (what the hell were they thinking??!!) and even the normal dials were asymmetrically designed and looked pretty cockeyed to me.

Then, of course, we had the 2 famous TT Subs. The Blue colour, as expected, was all wrong; but, in all fairness, the BLACK one does look terrific - what the new prices are going to be is anyone's guess!!

As expected, quite a few totally unaffordable Pars Hilton and David Beckham bling models were introduced........but most of them were garrish and ugly.

So what the heck did Rolex give us this year from Basel 2009? Bugger all!!!

Hey guys......just stick with your present collection and don't make the mistake of selling any!!

The ONLY really SUPERB model to come out of Rolex in recent years is the GMT-IIC (and maybe the DSSD) - end of story......and end of this vent too!!

JJ

JJ,

I understand what you're saying, but the fact Rolex decided to introduce new twists on old models (DJ and Daytona) to attract women and perhaps some of the super wealthy to the lines seems like a good thing to me. It's good for women and it adds to the perceived value of Rolex; which potentially helps us all if we resell a watch at some point. I've also come to like the new TT Subs; both of them; from the pictures. I bet they both, especially the blue, sell big time.

I doubt I'll be a fan of any 41 mm DJ, but who knows? I've changed my opinion before from negative to positive after seeing a watch in the flesh; the Deep Sea being one recent example.

J. Dowling reported during Basel show that Rolex told him the 41 mm DJ II jubilee bracelet would be coming soon. In the last year, Rolex has introduced several new dials for the Daytona, along with a new padded strap with new colors for the 116518; and a new clasp for the 116520; all outside of the Basel show. It seems Rolex changes might not be as necessarily tied to the Basel show as in the past.

And we still have the Explorer and Explorer II updates to look forward to; as well as the Pepsi GMT II C, which I'm sure they'll figure out soon! As for selling one out of my present collection, that's good advice; but I know I won't follow it. There are two many new and "old" watches I still think about, and to afford them, sooner or later, I know I will recycle and buy again.

Otto

[rajurama]

Originally Posted by Jocke

JJ only bash RADO and NATO.

Jocke

Is that so?!?! my most comfortable watch!