Is $20,000 The New Price For Rolex SS

[brandrea]

Interesting times for sure. I won’t be paying that kind of premium to MSRP. Then again, I’m not looking to acquire any of those models.

[Yobber76]

I won't pay for more than MSRP. If that goes too high, I won't buy either. I have 2 Rolexes, they are wants, not needs.

[Starwalker]

I am fortunate enough to get whatever Rolex model I want at list price.....(even though I will have to wait - my 116500 took 14/15 months). However, with the current grey-market pricing, hype, rolex mania, and not being able to try the model you want at a store (i find it ridiculous) and yearly pandemonium for the latest new offering and the exorbitant premiums, waiting lists, politicking and this endless cycle of s$$$t......and also taking into account my collection is decently rolex heavy (the only model I would like to add is the new James Cameron Deep-Sea Blue - but it can wait)......I have decided to move on for the timing being....and went with something "very rare" indeed.....incoming to follow soon!

[LINVS]

Scarcity, and consequently, exclusivity justify that price.

SS Sports Rolex is getting to be for guys at the top of the pay scale. The “cool” models have become the playthings of the rich.

This is actually good for the other brands like Omega. For the young professional, there are other, very good options out there. I think this Rolex game off limiting supply might backfire in the end. The tradition of getting a Sub at graduation or after that first signing bonus will become less common. Without these young guys who live the adventure wearing Rolex, Rolex might lose its magic. When the very wealthy get tired of their Red Subs and ceramic Daytona’s and move on to vintage motorcycles, baseball cards, or Chinese Jades, then Rolex will be struggling.

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by LINVS

Scarcity, and consequently, exclusivity justify that price.

SS Sports Rolex is getting to be for guys at the top of the pay scale. The “cool” models have become the playthings of the rich.

This is actually good for the other brands like Omega. For the young professional, there are other, very good options out there. I think this Rolex game off limiting supply might backfire in the end. The tradition of getting a Sub at graduation or after that first signing bonus will become less common. Without these young guys who live the adventure wearing Rolex, Rolex might lose its magic. When the very wealthy get tired of their Red Subs and ceramic Daytona’s and move on to vintage motorcycles, baseball cards, or Chinese Jades, then Rolex will be struggling.

All good points.


Scarcity can't be contrived for the long term very often--unless your DeBeers.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by LINVS

Scarcity, and consequently, exclusivity justify that price.

SS Sports Rolex is getting to be for guys at the top of the pay scale. The “cool” models have become the playthings of the rich.

This is actually good for the other brands like Omega. For the young professional, there are other, very good options out there. I think this Rolex game off limiting supply might backfire in the end. The tradition of getting a Sub at graduation or after that first signing bonus will become less common. Without these young guys who live the adventure wearing Rolex, Rolex might lose its magic. When the very wealthy get tired of their Red Subs and ceramic Daytona’s and move on to vintage motorcycles, baseball cards, or Chinese Jades, then Rolex will be struggling.

The Rolex name will always hold the allure and so Rolexes will still be bought to crown achievements... but they will be DJs. Which is actually the situation now but now there is no crossover.

The Rolex world is now divided into two - Sports watches which are now mostly bought thru the influence of SM and Insta and largely this forum, and DJs for the masses who do no research and just go in and buy and don't even think to ask for a discount either, and who will just be momentarily surprised that there are not more sports looking Rolexes on offer.

I suspect prices will have to depart between Sports and DJs in future if Rolex are set on not really changing production allocation.

[LINVS]

Originally Posted by AK797

The Rolex name will always hold the allure and so Rolexes will still be bought to crown achievements... but they will be DJs. Which is actually the situation now but now there is no crossover.

.

Always?

Styles change with each generation. I’m a Gen Xer - we all know Rolex. Now my dad and grand dad’s generation had high opinions on Omega. Omega had been a “dying” brand back in the 1990s. But in their day, an Omega watch was a big deal. Go back another generation and young men getting Walthams.

But Rolex is will be in good shape until fellas my age all go room temperature.

[AK797]

Originally Posted by LINVS

Always?

Styles change with each generation. I’m a Gen Xer - we all know Rolex. Now my dad and grand dad’s generation had high opinions on Omega. Omega had been a “dying” brand back in the 1990s. But in their day, an Omega watch was a big deal. Go back another generation and young men getting Walthams.

But Rolex is will be in good shape until fellas my age all go room temperature.

I think pretty much always or while the world operates largely in the way it does today; they already had 19 of the top 20 selling watches over £5K in the UK and that was before the hype made the brand even stronger. If Rolex goes, it means all wristwatches will have gone.

[rblair]

I think there is going to be a lot of uptake with other premium brands. Rolex isn't the only game in town for attractive premium watches.

[lovetherolex]

Originally Posted by rblair

I think there is going to be a lot of uptake with other premium brands. Rolex isn't the only game in town for attractive premium watches.

That's assuming those jumping on the bandwagon like watches

Rolex are the only brand relevant to this discussion that everybody knows.

When you're in it for the Look At Me aspect, if you remove the aspect of recognition there's no reason for them to even look at this stuff.

[WJGESQ]

Yeah--no SS watches justifies that for me--at that price. At some point silly becomes stupid.


But--the invisible hand of the market will decide. Each to his own.

[Rogdogg]

It is if you're crazy and 20k doesn't matter to you.
However, for the brand as a whole I think this would be unsustainable at the volumes that they make now. If they want SS to be 20k they would have to significantly reduce their volume if you ask me and have real exclusivity. These watches are currently very hard to get but this is only a recent thing and in my opinion will turn around and get back to normal in future. The old Daytona was hard to get but not that hard if you really looked around and didn't just wait on the list at a single AD.

[peterpl]

@20k price range there are many options other than Rolex. Honestly as some have mentioned it just becomes totally stupid at a point and its getting near that.

[superstarmar]

I posed this question awhile back a little different.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=588632

[michael8238]

No way this madness is gonna last forever.
I don't think Rolex will ever collapse like Panerai did, but it def will cool down

[woodsworth]

Too many choices at 20k... would not go for the new blro. To me, it isn't that special

[Timelover]

Absolutely not a chance. Personally i will never pay above retail no matter what the brand is or how much i want the watch. A watch is a pretty useless item in the end, this bubble we are in kills the fun for me.

[meganfox17]

I'm staging a street protest against premium prices and greedy sellers

[dmash]

Did you personally photoshop all of those pictures?

[Onikage]

How did Breitling and TT Omega Seamasters come into it? I'm confused.

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Onikage

How did Breitling and TT Omega Seamasters come into it? I'm confused.

basically a sidebar about if rolex raises prices people will buy those watches instead.

I maintain they wont as they are not as recognizable as expensive watches as Rolex is, and i suspect that is a strong motivator for a lot of peoples purchase decisions. So in that sense and for those customers i dont think they are substitute watches. Even if the price goes up the need to have a recognizable watch is worth paying more money for.

[Stevec14]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

basically a sidebar about if rolex raises prices people will buy those watches instead.

I maintain they wont as they are not as recognizable as expensive watches as Rolex is, and i suspect that is a strong motivator for a lot of peoples purchase decisions. So in that sense and for those customers i dont think they are substitute watches. Even if the price goes up the need to have a recognizable watch is worth paying more money for.

Agreed. Think you have hit the nail on the head there.

[Onikage]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

basically a sidebar about if rolex raises prices people will buy those watches instead.

I maintain they wont as they are not as recognizable as expensive watches as Rolex is, and i suspect that is a strong motivator for a lot of peoples purchase decisions. So in that sense and for those customers i dont think they are substitute watches. Even if the price goes up the need to have a recognizable watch is worth paying more money for.

Hmm. I am firing on almost all cylinders I just didn't believe it. Agree but recognition aside Seamasters and Super Oceans are not Submariners. Breitling apart from the iconic Navitimer is kind of the budget diver brand. Increasingly so. Omega well.. It isn't Rolex - The Seamaster isn't a Submariner and the TT ain't a Bluesy. The Constellation ain't a Date Just and the gold Constellation sure ain't a Day-Date. So not only the ignorant but the priced out Rolex fanboy won't settle for these brands if 20k SS is the new norm for Rolex.. Which it won't be. IMO.

[SLS]

Glad I bought when I did, now I'm just paying for watches to be serviced. I did most of my purchases in the mid to late 2000's. The current trend is nuts.

[NeoAnderson]

Raise prices! Lets see whos got bank

[padi56]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

SkyD Blue
Daytona White
New Pepsi

Discuss.

Only to the fools willing to pay these crazy prices.

[enjoythemusic]

Originally Posted by padi56

Only to the fools willing to pay these crazy prices.

Perhaps, perhaps not. Money is a funny thing...

[Rjongco]

If as prices on the secondary market stay this high it makes much more sense to spend a few more for pm

[Alternative_Facts]

20k for sky dweller blue face or 24k for DD, 24k for YG sub or gmt....

I'm finding it hard to justify spending 4k LESS for Steel When the PM is so ridiculously hot.

[LAFLARE]

For 20K I'd start with AP while waiting on a Rolex list..no sense in feeding the frenzy