We are coming to the end of watch

[joe100]

I think it's probably the same percentage of young folks as it was 30 years ago. The watch industry is doing just fine. Hell, they raise prices all the time and we still buy.

[Cc1966]

The proof is in the sales....

[KMdad44]

Originally Posted by DVR

So true, I have been a member here from the beginning. And although a great forum everything just keeps coming back over and over again. The same questions, the same concerns, the same joy. It will never stop.

It's a given that many of you who are active today will have left and will not post any more because you have done and seen it all. Look at at the active posters today. 90% are recent members fresh to debate the model, size, material, etc etc of a Rolex.

Some leave because they get bored, others start to get interested in an other brands, usually the high end watches like Patek, Lange, etc.

So the only difference we will see in 5 years time is that most of you will have been replaced by new members starting all over with the topics you are discussing today.

Then I'll still be here

[KMdad44]

Originally Posted by jctrolex

In that case I will give you $100 for your entire collection before they become worthless in 5 years time.

Thanks for the generous offer, but I'll take my chances.

[KMdad44]

Originally Posted by SUBversive

X2

And I wouldn't bet against the op article that few young people know how to read a watch.

agree. A lot don't know how. It is like the manual transmission car. Some driving schools are not even teaching it any more because 5% of the new cars on the road is manual shifters.

[mr.president1]

I don't think we are coming to the end of watches as we know it. In fact I was on the college campus I graduated from during their HC game, and saw many students wearing a watch. So, I highly doubt we're coming to the end.

[East Bay Rider]

Of the young people who wear a watch, many wear fashion brands simply as an accessory. When they get older and mature they may upgrade to more 'serious' brands. Of the few that develop an actual interest in watches they will become the future WIS's.
IMO while the total number of watch wearers may be less, there will be more INTERESTED watch wearers.

[shnxx]

Originally Posted by jamesbondOO7

Well, the test would be to ask a 16 year-old boy two questions:

"would you like to own/drive a Ferrari?"

"would you like to own/wear a Rolex?"

and compare the answers.

Not sure what birkins are.

Several things.

1) Ferrari markets to children a lot more than Rolex or Patek. They're an advertising machine. Whether it is children or women, Ferrari has more brand awareness.

2) Ferrari costs a lot more than most Rolexes. Rolex is also not positioned near the top of the price range like Ferrari is.

3) You ask the same kid if he wants to have a Rolex watch 7-8 years later and he will likely change his answer, as he should now realize that Rolex is clearly a conspicuous status symbol.

It's also unclear what is meant by "young people" by the TRF members here.
Many forum members are in their 20s or early 30s.
That's about the lowest age group most people can afford nice watches by their own earnings.
Would it be surprising to learn that 16 year olds cannot use their salary to buy rolexes?
Do 16 year olds buy any nice things using their income?
And most likely, many 16 year olds from wealthy families already own rolexes and similar watches.

[GradyPhilpott]

I wore one of these all through college in the mid to late Eighties and a somewhat updated model in grad school in the Nineties.

Cutting edge at the time and perfect for a student living on next to nothing.


.

[shnxx]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I wore one of these all through college in the mid to late Eighties and a somewhat updated model in grad school in the Nineties.

Cutting edge at the time and perfect for a student living on next to nothing.


.

wow you would have fit right in at my school.

[Piloto]

Originally Posted by jamesbondOO7

For sure, none of my nieces and nephews wear a watch. Young people at the office don't either.

Probably cant read an analog watch or clock anyway.

I don't think there is a threat. The people that wear smart watches, will be the same ones lined up to have the computer/gps-tracker chip installed in their head so they can facebook via brainwaves. IMHO, it might be 10-15% of the potential watch market at the most.

[gulfstream69xr7]

Originally Posted by KMdad44

I agree young people do not wear them

My 22 and 24 year old "kids" both wear watches. My son owns several. Both of my best friends boys wear them, and collect them. I have had far more compliments/questions on my watches from twenty somethings than I get from any other age group. It is about half and half in my corporate office, but it is also about half and half with 40-50+ age group here as well. I see girls everywhere wearing the gaudy Michael Kors watches.

Is this a regional thing?

[Watchflair]

Hmmm. Thinking on it most people I know wear some sort of watch. I'm 30. I think it's even more prevalent that most working professionals wear one as well.

[00pumpkin]

Like many here, I completely disagree. I think wrist-wear will only continue to expand.