Rolex exclusivity and prestige

[pickettt]

Originally Posted by Yobber76

I daresay most people that spend $8000 and up for a wrist watch aren't primarily concerned with having the time and date readily accessible. You can do that with a $100 quartz anything.
Whether we flash it around, whether it's gold or SS, we bought these watches because they mean something to our inner egos. There can be many individual reasons for this, desire, achievement, reward for years of hard work, or you have plenty of money and you love the finer things. None of them are wrong or bad, but they do feed our id.
For many people, I would list myself as one, Rolex was the name that meant luxury watch to me.

Rare is the honest man.

[Muxi]

What really makes me gravitate towards Rolex is its durability. I’ve had references from the early 90s still working flawlessly unserviced and untouched. That is why everytime I would like to venture towards other brands, I pause, then end up getting another Rolex. It is not a luxury item at all. In fact, when compared to brands such as Lange, a Rolex kind of looks ordinary and mass produced, as it is. But for durability and long-term satisfaction, it is hard to beat.

[Rocketman39]

There are many Expensive and Very Fine Watches out there. My Rolexs are for me.Nothing looks much like a Rolex but, maybe a Tudor. There are really Great watches that look too Busy for me. Lines, Hands, Dials, Bars stuff like that. Even a Daytona is Too busy for me. It's a great Watch for sure. Just not for me. Over 50 years of a Sub Face looking at my Face has made me love her Looks.When I look at my wrist I'm looking for Time not Bling. IMHO

[Switzerland]

So many great responses and thoughts. Thank you all for sharing them

[eonflux]

It's the most common luxury watch brand.

You're best off wearing a watch just because you like it.
But if you want to play that exclusivity game and post Instagram pics, go with AP, PP, ALS, JLC.

[Rocket_Man]

Switzerland is an expensive place to live so I'd guess it is not a surprise that Rolex watches are more plentiful. I travel to Tokyo and I see the same thing. Rolex's are fairly common on the wrist and there are many places to buy them. Not so common where I live.

But a Datejust is not that un-achievable if someone sets their goal to buy one. Much more affordable than a new car, and amortized over its expected lifetime could be considered fairly cheap. I have a 33 year old DateJust (it was a present) but over the years, even in present value, that is ~$75 a year.

To be a collector and flip 5+ figure watches that is a different thing. I'm working to a three watch collection and that will be it for me for a while.

[Mephist]

I purchased my first Rolex at age 20, because I had achieved a goal in my life that was for me worth celebrating.

Where I live I would guess that 3 out of 100 wears a Rolex, I always notice people's watches. However when out traveling, staying at hotels, eating at restaurants. I sometimes see lots of Rolexes.

However I never have cared and still don't. If anything I think it is positive, I hate to stand out in a crowd.

[DoDe]

Originally Posted by Juantxo

For the past ten or more years, at least, Rolex has been selling close to one million watches a year. That’s a lot of watches. However, you’ll notice that European royalty, the big whips of the world’s economy, movie stars and singers, in short, the rich and famous all over wear Rolex watches. Why? Maybe because they are solid and dependable watches like no other.

Famous people wear Rolex because they are solid and dependable? You make the Rolex` PR go

[Raku]

Originally Posted by Switzerland

Hello

I'm new to the forum and from Switzerland.

While growing up, I've always associated Rolexes with great, successful people. As grown up, I finally saved up and pulled the trigger on a Two tone submariner black dial. I'm not a great wis but after buying it, I noticed so many people wearing a Rolex in my area. Crazy. Even, if it's a pretty expensive watch, I'm shocked how many people actually are wearing Rolexes. To the point where I ask myself: Is it really that exclusive and holding that much prestige ? Of course, they're fine timepieces with some solid history. But still, whether you like it or not, it's also known to be a status symbol. Many people buy it for that reason alone. I'm just very surprised about how many people have them. Some of them are very young. Like, 20 years olds are wearing Rolexes here. Is that the same where you live ? I'm thinking of changing the brand because it doesn't seem to be that special anymore now that I see like one a week on somebody else...

Where I live is quite simple, if you have a good job you can afford a Rolex or a nice car, pay a mortgage and go on holiday; you don't, then you have to settle for a Casio (or God forbid a Daniel Wellington), take the bus and rent.
Overall I think England isn't really a WIS country, in my office of roughly 90 people there is just one guy wearing a Breitling (received as a wedding present), 80% of the people don't even wear watches. By comparison, when I was in Berlin, everyone was wearing a watch, kids, elderly people, ladies, practically everyone.

[joli160]

Welcome Switzerland,

I think you bought your Rolex for all the wrong reasons considering you want to change it because you see other people wearing one.

You live in a very rich country, but in my part of the world as in most other countries you don't see lots of higher end watches and you are very fortunate if you can own one.
With an average salary of 2100 nett monthly, high rents and energy bill's, costs of owning a car and all kind of taxes it is near impossible for someone having a decent job to own one.

Get off your horse and back to earth

[Mephist]

Originally Posted by Raku

Where I live is quite simple, if you have a good job you can afford a Rolex or a nice car, pay a mortgage and go on holiday; you don't, then you have to settle for a Casio (or God forbid a Daniel Wellington), take the bus and rent.

What!? My two favorite watch brands are Rolex and Casio! I have lots of Casio-watches. My Rolexes are the daily beaters that get the wear and tear. However at special occasions like a party, birthday or just want to feel cool I put on one of my Casio's. I only have Casio's from the Classic Lineup, but I have at least 15
At least half of them I have not even used, some of them are duplicates too, just because I am afraid they may stop producing it.

Casio it is so much value for your money, I just love it

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Switzerland

Hello

I'm new to the forum and from Switzerland.

While growing up, I've always associated Rolexes with great, successful people. As grown up, I finally saved up and pulled the trigger on a Two tone submariner black dial. I'm not a great wis but after buying it, I noticed so many people wearing a Rolex in my area. Crazy. Even, if it's a pretty expensive watch, I'm shocked how many people actually are wearing Rolexes. To the point where I ask myself: Is it really that exclusive and holding that much prestige ? Of course, they're fine timepieces with some solid history. But still, whether you like it or not, it's also known to be a status symbol. Many people buy it for that reason alone. I'm just very surprised about how many people have them. Some of them are very young. Like, 20 years olds are wearing Rolexes here. Is that the same where you live ? I'm thinking of changing the brand because it doesn't seem to be that special anymore now that I see like one a week on somebody else...

Why has wearing a watch have to mean something special Rolex are very fine watches and with little care will last its owner a lifetime and beyond.Rolex are massed produced at one time making around 1000000 units a year now around 850000.But Rolex should not be bought for simply thinking they are some sort of status symbol, many today think that but can assure they are not.So buy your Rolex and wear it with pride for yourself, knowing you have bought one of the finest mechanical watches made today its that simple.

[ashokleyland]

Originally Posted by Switzerland

Hello

I'm new to the forum and from Switzerland.

While growing up, I've always associated Rolexes with great, successful people. As grown up, I finally saved up and pulled the trigger on a Two tone submariner black dial. I'm not a great wis but after buying it, I noticed so many people wearing a Rolex in my area. Crazy. Even, if it's a pretty expensive watch, I'm shocked how many people actually are wearing Rolexes. To the point where I ask myself: Is it really that exclusive and holding that much prestige ? Of course, they're fine timepieces with some solid history. But still, whether you like it or not, it's also known to be a status symbol. Many people buy it for that reason alone. I'm just very surprised about how many people have them. Some of them are very young. Like, 20 years olds are wearing Rolexes here. Is that the same where you live ? I'm thinking of changing the brand because it doesn't seem to be that special anymore now that I see like one a week on somebody else...

That's the problem when you are living on a "First World" country.

How i wish i have that problem as well on my country. where owning a Rolex means you worked hard your whole life just to afford fine things in life.

[jps3b]

Originally Posted by Rocket_Man

Switzerland is an expensive place to live so I'd guess it is not a surprise that Rolex watches are more plentiful. I travel to Tokyo and I see the same thing. Rolex's are fairly common on the wrist and there are many places to buy them. Not so common where I live.



But a Datejust is not that un-achievable if someone sets their goal to buy one. Much more affordable than a new car, and amortized over its expected lifetime could be considered fairly cheap. I have a 33 year old DateJust (it was a present) but over the years, even in present value, that is ~$75 a year.



To be a collector and flip 5+ figure watches that is a different thing. I'm working to a three watch collection and that will be it for me for a while.

Well said

[AK797]

The actual cost of a Rolex is not that expensive, but the opportunity cost of a Rolex is very high for most people, unless they are into watches or status symbols, as that £5K is better spent on holidays, jewellery, bags, restaurants, towards cars, etc. I have friends who can easily afford a Rolex or three, but none of them ever want to part with that much money for a watch, in fact they wouldn't even part with £1K to have one.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by Switzerland

Is it really that exclusive and holding that much prestige ?

No and it never was.

Welcome to brilliant marketing. Rolex makes a fine product but they are mass produced luxury jewelry sold around the world.

At least now you have realized that.

[mikkolopez]

If you travel to Hong Kong, you’ll see TT DJ on wrist of shopkeepers and sales people to taxi drivers. So it’s not that exclusive in this part of the world. People just appreciate cool watches.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Onikage]

Not something we discuss here but there is a strong chance that at least half of them are China made. That's prestige for you.

[smym18]

Originally Posted by mulgogy

I find that with watches and cars, once you own it, you tend to spot the same thing everywhere.

This for sure.

[Terrakot]

I live in Moscow and here so many Mercedes cars - absolutely zero pleasure to drive one among others(((
I’m with you, OP