The name Rolex

[RTG]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

As are all our opinions, yours included big guy. Hell, you might find things tacky that I really enjoy. And that's absolutely fine with me, being a normal human being and all. Would certainly never call you ignorant over something so trivial, not my style.

Some people grow 2 feet taller when on the Internet. In the real world however, they may have to duck when calling somebody ignorant.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by RTG

Some people grow 2 feet taller when on the Internet. In the real world however, they may have to duck when calling somebody ignorant.

As it always was, is, and will ever be. The funniest part? Its as if they dont realize that everyone knows this.

[Old Expat Beast]

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/fo...ter-wristwatch

[Krash]

I agree. Rolex is a great name for a watch brand. Omega and Tudor are great names too.


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[Robf52]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

As are all our opinions, yours included big guy. Hell, you might find things tacky that I really enjoy. And that's absolutely fine with me, being a normal human being and all. Would certainly never call you ignorant over something so trivial, not my style.

You are misreading my post so I'll clarify; my post was not calling you ignorant. I was using your own word to describe your own comment as ignorant. Two different interpretations entirely.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by Robf52

You are misreading my post so I'll clarify; my post was not calling you ignorant. I was using your own word to describe your own comment as ignorant. Two different interpretations entirely.

I gotcha. A couple posts up from the one you quoted some dude pointedly called me ignorant, thats why i used that word. Sorry I misread.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by Krash

I agree. Rolex is a great name for a watch brand. Omega and Tudor are great names too.


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All great names, for sure. Hell Zodiac is a great name too, unfortunately for them right around the time of the quartz situation their name and logo got co opted by a freaking serial killer. Now there's a double dose of some crap luck.

[csaltphoto]

Originally Posted by Colorado_kid

If I can siphon to the top your main point being Rolex is a great name, I’d 100% agree (for now, let’s just forget your other point about the founder’s names as I don’t think it holds water).

Rolex has mastered marketing. But they also make excellent products and designs that last many years and multiple generations. They’ve captured pop culture all while not losing themselves or products.

I think Omega is a great name but they pale in comparison to Rolex’s market share.

Like others have said, if Rolex made crap products nobody would care about the name.

They market to individualism and heroism (that’s why they don’t sponsor or do marketing around team sports like Hublot). F1, tennis, golf, mtn climbing, diving… etc. all these athletes are lone heroes in a sense.


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Not sure if Omega is that great a name. It's the last letter in the Greek alphabet and literally means last in some circumstances. Like the lead wolf is the Alpha wolf and the one at the bottom of the pack hierarchy is the Omega.

[Kreyzhorse]

While it's a simple name, would the watches stand up on their own with a different name? Of course they would, a Rolex is way more than just it's name.

From an advertising standpoint, the name works and so does the advertising they've put forward. But neither of those alone account for the watch quality.

Advertising only gets you so far for so long.

[Old Expat Beast]

Rolex was a name found on a variety of products up to the mid 1930s, when Wilsdorf registered the name to cover all types of goods, not just watches.

[askdanny]

@rolex was available on Instagram.

[CHRONOLEX]

Knew this one would draw some heat. But I get your point - for some of us there's a lifetime of indescribable magic to this name. Growing up I was captivated by that crown on people's wrists and I just had to have one.

[TheVTCGuy]

There is some formula, that was followed by manufacturers, Kodak is another example. You always have five letters in the name, start with a consonant, then a vowel, then another consonant, then a vowel and ending up with.. well, you get the pattern. Kodak is one example, there are others, anyway I believe Wilsdorf was following this age-old formula when he came up with Rolex.

[Big Tex Rolex]

I submit for your consideration …

Apple Watch

Since it’s the Number 1 selling watch in the world.

PS … I think Rolex has gone beyond marketing genius with “Rolex” … they’ve kept it going with …

Submariner

Daytona

Sea-Dweller

Explorer

Yacht-Master

etc.

All genius (IMO) … unless they stole (“reused”) those names, and I don’t know about it.

Marketing genius, dating all the way back to Mr. Wilsdorf.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

Do whatever you want buddy, it's an open forum.

I get it. I'm just saying that I don't think Hans Wilsdorf Submariner exactly rolls off the tongue and im glad he thought up the name Rolex.

Does Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile roll off the tongue?
Or Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface?

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

EDIT: Beside, we're was talking watches not cars. Cars are a helluva lot more universal than luxury watches. Ask the average person to name five luxury car companies and I bet they'll have no problem. As the same question about luxury watches and I bet the VAST majority wouldn't be able to get past Rolex.

You literally mentioned other luxury brands like Ralph Lauren...therefore my comment is valid.

[WilsdorfNDavis]

Besides the company was originally called Wilsdorf and Davis...not just Hans Wilsdorf.

And it they weren't following any "age-old" formula when naming it Rolex, just random inspiration:

On Rolex's 50th anniversary, in 1958, Wilsdorf shared the story of how he originally conceived the 'Rolex' name in 1908:

"I tried combining the letters of the alphabet in every possible way. This gave some hundred names, but none of them felt quite right. It was one morning when I was sitting on the upper level of a double-decker powered at that time by horses, driving along Cheapside in London, that a good genie whispered in my ear: "Rolex." A few days after this fruitful journey, the Rolex brand was filed, and then officially registered in Switzerland by Wilsdorf & Davis."

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/fo...ter-wristwatch

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Rolex was a name found on a variety of products up to the mid 1930s, when Wilsdorf registered the name to cover all types of goods, not just watches.

I always love to sit back and wait for Adam to chime in.
Well done

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

Does Vacheron Constantin Quai de l'Ile roll off the tongue?
Or Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute Duoface?

No not at all actually. I admit that if they did I wouldn't have heard at least three or four different pronunciations for them in my life, so fair point. But then again, how many people have heard of them compared to the Rolex Submariner? A tiny fraction. Those two watches will forever be niche models from niche companies, not global icons.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

You literally mentioned other luxury brands like Ralph Lauren...therefore my comment is valid.

Ya got me.

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by WilsdorfNDavis

"I tried combining the letters of the alphabet in every possible way. This gave some hundred names, but none of them felt quite right. It was one morning when I was sitting on the upper level of a double-decker powered at that time by horses, driving along Cheapside in London, that a good genie whispered in my ear: "Rolex." A few days after this fruitful journey, the Rolex brand was filed, and then officially registered in Switzerland by Wilsdorf & Davis."

That's actually a really cool story.

[Tanuki]

Originally Posted by Cwillis0001

I have to admit I love the name Rolex, it was a great choice, and frankly it just sounds cool. Which is why I always kind of cringe when I see newer brands that are just named after the dude who founded it, like Christopher Ward or even Richard Mille or something. For one thing it reeks of vanity. Really bro, you need your name on every piece? Two, it's just so boring and uncreative. Lastly, it reminds me of fashion brands, like Ralph Lauren etc, things that have to change with every season. I dunno, no what-if can ever be known, but for some reason I think there's virtually no chance Rolex would be what it is today if it was named Hans Wildorf. Any thoughts either way?

How about Disney?

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

How about Disney?

You're right. That's the same thing as watch brands. I can't believe I didn't think of Disney. Just like when Ford was brought up earlier, my bad.

[Shadow Play]

Originally Posted by Tanuki

How about Disney?

Walt are you talking about?

[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by Shadow Play

Walt are you talking about?

Nicely done.

[77T]

i guess PP & AP are narcissists?


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[Cwillis0001]

Originally Posted by 77T

i guess PP & AP are narcissists?


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I mean really it's up to you if you think they are or not. I believe in my OP I said vanity, so if you read that as narcissistic personality disorder I'm not real sure what to tell you. And again, as I said in the OP, I'm mainly talking about newer brands a la Christopher Ward, Dan Henry, Richard Mille etc. I think it was a lot more common back in the salad days of PP and AP so slap your name on the front of every model rolling off the line, so to speak. If someone founded a watch company and did that tomorrow I would certainly call it uninspired.

[White Collar Boy]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I always love to sit back and wait for Adam to chime in.
Well done

x2! Interesting photos and new information to me, thank you Adam.

The other thing… Leave Ralph alone! (JK)

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by White Collar Boy

x2! Interesting photos and new information to me, thank you Adam.

The other thing… Leave Ralph alone! (JK)

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[George58]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I always love to sit back and wait for Adam to chime in.
Well done

I second that.

[ol' Rex]

In a sense, "Ralph Lauren" is also an example of a made-up word.

The real name of the company's founder is Ralph Lifshitz.

For some strange reason he decided not to name his brand after himself...