What I like about Rolex is....

[modee]

that you may own the best one there is, without having to be obscenely wealthy. Big fish in a small pond as it were, compared to say the million dollar master complicated watch owner category.

Or that even the lowliest Rolex commands respect and intrigue.

And it's a solid brand, maybe not the best, but considered to be one of the best by some. With fantastic variety.

[FremStar]

Cool write up and some truth to it. As you start to collect and add Rolex references there will always be an appetite for different brand of timepieces such as AP, Patek, and JLC to name a few. Those brands definitely have a more elegant build than many of the Rolex watches we all love, however, with that said I have seen grown men and savvy collectors cry when they realize that $80k timepiece is now worth more than half retail when they are looking for their next big fish to conquer...

Case in point quite recently a black dial Patek 5170 that retails for about $80kUSD just sold at a Sotheby's auction for $38k before buyers premium. I like my chances of adding Rolex watches where I know if it came to it and I were in a jam I wouldn't have to take a bath on getting my money back. Besides that's the fun about this hobby, the chase leads many full circle and most always wind up coming back to the Rolex brand after dabbling in "haute horology"

[liuk3]

It's branding, but I've always loved the historical ties and images with the spirit of adventure. I've also enjoyed association with quality.

[liuk3]

Originally Posted by FremStar

Cool write up and some truth to it. As you start to collect and add Rolex references there will always be an appetite for different brand of timepieces such as AP, Patek, and JLC to name a few. Those brands definitely have a more elegant build than many of the Rolex watches we all love, however, with that said I have seen grown men and savvy collectors cry when they realize that $80k timepiece is now worth more than half retail when they are looking for their next big fish to conquer...

Case in point quite recently a black dial Patek 5170 that retails for about $80kUSD just sold at a Sotheby's auction for $38k before buyers premium. I like my chances of adding Rolex watches where I know if it came to it and I were in a jam I wouldn't have to take a bath on getting my money back. Besides that's the fun about this hobby, the chase leads many full circle and most always wind up coming back to the Rolex brand after dabbling in "haute horology"

Well said, sir!

[modee]

FremStar yes true, excellent point, that once you've been able to acquire a Rolex for a good price it may not appreciate necessarily (although some will) but no matter what it doesn't drop as hard as some brands, for example Audemars, Cartier, etc.

[Paul_I]

I was recently on a sailing tour of Chicago and noticed a fellow member of the touring party wearing a very nice EXP II. I had my Y/G DD40 on at the time. We struck up a conversation and ended up having drinks (along with my girlfriend and his wife) later that night.

It's a great conversation piece, and someone with a DD40 still looks for the guys wearing the EXP II (he probably made much more a year than I do, and most of us are mature enough to know that how much you spent on your watch has little relevance to income).

The history, diversity of models, and heritage of the brands attract me to both Omega and Rolex, and I look for others that appreciate the same.

[Syed117]

Rolex is the most well known luxury watch brand in the world.

The average person knows what rolex is. They have no idea about higher end brands.

Put a rolex and any Patek/Lange/AP next to each other and the average person will take the Rolex.

[Lee66]

It's association with history and being the first at many innovations...

Oyster case, automatic movement, date wheel, Cyclops, GMT hand..

[Vinyasa]

What I like about Rolex is...

For me, the attraction in no particular order is: luxury branding (I'm a sucker for great marketing); quality manufacturing processes that produce impressive precision/accuracy timepieces; attractive designs; low(er) total cost of ownership/servicing; relative exclusivity compared to most other brands; better than average customer service (excellent, in my experience).

[GB-man]

Originally Posted by FremStar

Cool write up and some truth to it. As you start to collect and add Rolex references there will always be an appetite for different brand of timepieces such as AP, Patek, and JLC to name a few. Those brands definitely have a more elegant build than many of the Rolex watches we all love, however, with that said I have seen grown men and savvy collectors cry when they realize that $80k timepiece is now worth more than half retail when they are looking for their next big fish to conquer...

Case in point quite recently a black dial Patek 5170 that retails for about $80kUSD just sold at a Sotheby's auction for $38k before buyers premium. I like my chances of adding Rolex watches where I know if it came to it and I were in a jam I wouldn't have to take a bath on getting my money back. Besides that's the fun about this hobby, the chase leads many full circle and most always wind up coming back to the Rolex brand after dabbling in "haute horology"

Preach! Been there done that.

Secretly wish I picked up that 5170 for low 40s

[KenNethcole]

Originally Posted by FremStar

Cool write up and some truth to it. As you start to collect and add Rolex references there will always be an appetite for different brand of timepieces such as AP, Patek, and JLC to name a few. Those brands definitely have a more elegant build than many of the Rolex watches we all love, however, with that said I have seen grown men and savvy collectors cry when they realize that $80k timepiece is now worth more than half retail when they are looking for their next big fish to conquer...

Case in point quite recently a black dial Patek 5170 that retails for about $80kUSD just sold at a Sotheby's auction for $38k before buyers premium. I like my chances of adding Rolex watches where I know if it came to it and I were in a jam I wouldn't have to take a bath on getting my money back. Besides that's the fun about this hobby, the chase leads many full circle and most always wind up coming back to the Rolex brand after dabbling in "haute horology"

So true. I started with Rolex and went onto experienced other brands and came back to Rolex. I'm now exclusively Rolex sport models. It was a bit costly to owned and then flipping other brand watches but it was worth it to see the differences.