Are you a "luxury watch" or a "tool watch" person?

[Dan Pierce]

My Seiko's scream pure luxury.
dP

[zeuloa]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

Someone I know said they wanted a "luxury dive watch" and asked for recommendations. I didn't really have an answer for him as I am not really into luxury things. I prefer solid, durable things that age well - BMW cars, Ray-Ban shades, Rolex sport watches....I know the tool watch aspect of Rolex has become a bit of a joke, but occasionally we hear from someone who does, like the guy posting from a diving bell with his DSSD a few weeks ago.

Well.... I'm afraid a Rolex Submariner is a luxury dive watch now a days. Unlike when the Submariner was introduced as a tool, you can find a Seiko that will go just as deep for much less money.

We can tell ourselves (and partners...) all we want that our Rolex are tools but they are not any longer I'm afraid. André Heiniger said it himself once when asked by a friend how the watch industry was doing. He responded, "I don't know. Rolex is not in the watch business, we are in the luxury business."

Regarding BMW - In some parts of the world you can purchase a stock, cloth seat, manual window, basic radio BMW or Mercedes-Benz. I would consider these tools. In the U.S. this is not a reality and they are luxury cars in my opinion.

[Ed Rooney]

Originally Posted by zeuloa

Well.... I'm afraid a Rolex Submariner is a luxury dive watch now a days. Unlike when the Submariner was introduced as a tool, you can find a Seiko that will go just as deep for much less money.

We can tell ourselves (and partners...) all we want that our Rolex are tools but they are not any longer I'm afraid.

Regarding BMW - In some parts of the world you can purchase a stock, cloth seat, manual window, basic radio BMW or Mercedes-Benz. I would consider these tools. In the U.S. this is not a reality and they are luxury cars in my opinion.

I can buy a Toyota Camry with all of the amenities of an E-class Merc. I don't understand what represents luxury in a car these days. 30 years ago it was power windows, leather and a cassette deck.

[caryyee]

I have a Sub, but I don't dive.

I have a Milgauss, but I work nowhere near strong magnetic fields.

I have a GMT but I use my iPhone to keep track of multiple timezones.

I have a Daytona but I have no need for the chronograph function.

So I guess all my Rolex's are treated more as a luxury timepieces

I wear my nice watches all the time but when I really have to 'rough it', I'll swap to my cheap plastic digital ... I'm sure my Rolex can handle whatever life can throw at it, but I'd rather not have to spend $'000's or even $'000's should it get damaged, when my plastic digital can be replaced for $100.

[Silvio Mosiello]

Luxury

[TempoKing]

I had to stop and think for a moment..

I'd say both..

[c-dub]

I think it's luxury for me- Milgauss and DateJust (TT). Now I think I want a gold DayDate too... Love the brand - love the quality.

[Chad072]

I see my Sub and SMP as luxury watches...mainly because I'm not a baller and I'm anal about my more "pricey" items. Well, I even baby my others, but not as much.

[How]

For me, 4 reasons in fact:

- Tool
- Luxury
- Style
- Trusted quality to last generations.

[horseco]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I am a luxury tool watch person.

(for a real tool watch I wear a Casio G-Shock)

I agree with the doc...

[cedargrove]

I like the tool watch stigma of Rolex, but have no illusions that mine are anything but luxury watches.

[mjclark32]

I wear my sub for everything... So both

[incontrol]

For real tool use I wear micro brands (swimming, hiking, rainy days). Normal daily use I wear "the really good stuff" so luxury. I guess both is the right answer!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[watchf]

Luxury daily wear but not for rough/extreme activities...so 80% luxury, 20% tool?

[will hung]

Def a tool watch guy.

[viper]

Originally Posted by JJL

Are people really answering this honestly? I understand that there are probably a select few who truly use their Subs for deep diving, or their Daytonas for racing, or their GMTs for piloting, but even then... aren't these watches a very expensive for what they are intended on doing? Aka, can't another tool watch be had for fractions of the price?

I'm a luxury watch guy.. the tool aspect is just a cool feature, let's be honest

^^^^^this

[airchitect]

TW unless its the weekend and I'm going to get religious, then its a DW

[ecsub44]

Tool.

[baybombers]

Originally Posted by fiery

+1 It's good to know rolex watches can take a beating, but for a tool watch anything based on a thermo-compensated quartz movement would be far better.

Agreed.

[elevensheep]

luxury ---> tool in 3 months

[JohnBoy]

There is nothing in my life that requires 'tool type' watches to make a living, but I like 'em, so I wear 'em. And I like DJs, too ; although I do use manual and power tools about every day now that I am retired - never while wearing a Rolex. Guess that means 'luxury,' huh? Oh well....

[AJMarcus]

Both. That's why I only wear a Rolex!

[Mickey®]

I hate to say it but these must be called Luxury Tools.

[BNA/LION]

I am a "luxury watch" and a "tool watch" person!

[DCgator]

Both. For me it is Rolex DSSD = tool; Zenith = luxury.

[kbutler971]

Luxury tools for me. I admire all the Rolex attributes: ruggedness, accuracy, reliability, investment grade, and good looks to boot. My life doesn't depend on my watch(es) functioning but when I'm doing the usual weekend warrior activities I'll probably switch to the G-Shock.

[threemonkeys]

My Casio is my tool watch. It's more accurate, has more functions and doesn't scratch.

[Hairdude1]

Both! I have an Explorer I(39mm), GMTIIC and an AP 15300. Love them all!

[acce1999]

Originally Posted by Ed Rooney

Someone I know said they wanted a "luxury dive watch" and asked for recommendations. I didn't really have an answer for him as I am not really into luxury things. I prefer solid, durable things that age well - BMW cars, Ray-Ban shades, Rolex sport watches....I know the tool watch aspect of Rolex has become a bit of a joke, but occasionally we hear from someone who does, like the guy posting from a diving bell with his DSSD a few weeks ago.

Since every little gadget tells time nowaday, wearing a watch that costs thousands is a luxury ... but this do not stop me from using my watches as tools. It is a luxury, being able to wear such expensive tools...

From a visual (or fashion) appearance, I prefer things that looks like, and work like tools, rather than being of precious metals or having diamonds. And from this point of view, the professional line from Rolex still looks like tools, although very old tools ... compared to all the electronic inexpensive alternatives ... And this is one of the reasons I like Rolex.

Interesting topic!

Best,

A

[Psmith]

A Rolex is a luxury product

I don't see the point of trying to label a luxury watch in different ways, especially in a way that the manufacturer itself would not do

We buy them because we like them, not because we need them. Sure, they tell the time but that's hardly the point. And after all, it's a standard TRF joke to say something like "I look at my watch 100 times a day and still don't know what the time is"