Why am I disappointed at Rolex releases this year?

[101031-28]

I was thinking about this last night, for the past 30 years, I’ve known Rolex to be a company that doesn’t have new releases every year. When I started collecting, Rolex had just introduced the automatic 16520 Daytona zenith (1987) we did not even see a new movement and somewhat redesigned case until 2001 when the 116520 was announced. GMT-Master sapphire was pretty much introduced in the late 80s (16700/16710) and continued that production until 2007 when ceramic 116710 was presented. Sea-Dweller 16600 late 80s up until recently when 116600 was introduced. I’m not sure why I’m getting so upset when in reality most models I know had a run of 10 even 20 years before anything major changed. Thoughts, anyone?

[Tools]

Not sure what folks are expecting, or why we hear so much grumbling. I think that it is the Apple syndrome where folks think that every year there must be something to "upgrade" to.

Rolex has some great looking watches and rolled out their latest 32xx movements. Rubber straps on the YM, which will likely bolt directly onto a Sub, Jubilee bracelets as standard where the rage has been to try and retrofit a DJ Jubilee on everything.

A TT Sea Dweller, well, this brings a heavy duty tool into the luxury arena, for the first time ever. That, and it has the latest 32xx movement for the first time in a diver. As we know, they start with one model and following years the others follow, like the Sub Date, etc.

It's a good year. These new models with new movements are the new kids on the block, it's a fully transitional year.. Go get a new generation watch, everything else is being left in the dust.

[LesserBlackDog]

I wasn’t disappointed by Rolex this year - in part because I reminded myself several times in the lead-up hype that Rolex isn’t the type of company to totally reshuffle its lineup every year just for the press buzz. One of Rolex’s great strengths is its slow-moving consistency. The fact that Rolex doesn’t release and re-release new models every year is why its watches are able to retain value so well over many years and decades. And it’s why Rolex’s watches have that certain timeless design quality to them - while other brands that hop on design trends see their watches fall out of style and look dated after 5-10 years.

I’m a little more disappointed by Tudor, which has a lot more room to be trendy and have fun with its designs, but didn’t deliver anything this year other than some gold accents on existing watches and one unattractive old-new design that should have stayed in the prototype archives.

[037]

Perhaps this year will cause a shift towards buying the watch people truly want rather than chasing whatever is new and hot. Or, they'll sit tight and be happy with what they have.

Travel, spend time with family and enjoy what little time we have on this Earth. It goes quickly.

[henrylee]

Aren’t we all

[brandrea]

It was a weak year IMO.

To a degree I agree with Larry, that we have come to expect too much.

I’ve been saying for a while now that Basel could be every other year / or rotate different manufacturers through the show every other year. This would give us all a break and it would let the manufactures really focus on rolling out innovative references. Just my

[oldman2005]

For me, I had low expectation of Rolex regarding the ss sport watches beside if something nice came out, most couldn't have it anyway. With that understanding, I'm at peace :)

[Casey VP-26]

As for me, I expected Great Things from a Great Company. OMHO

[JP.]

They don't seem to like that two-tone Sea-Dweller. I think it's a blasphemy too.

[Innocenti]

I was hoping this year Rolex would launch a watch I really wanted to own.
Maybe next year

[AK797]

I'm a little bit very disappointed.

[vtsnowplow]

Look Rolex is a jewelry company, obviously not a watch brand. They want gold and jewels as they are higher margin. Sales are coming out of china, Dubai and with high net worth people who want garish and ugly bling pieces. Once you realize all of this, you will know that this is exactly what they gave their customers in 2019.

[rolexinfl]

Because you should be, and we should all be.

It has nothing to do with the fact that Rolex normally doesnt release new things yearly, we know that. We werent expecting anything 'earth shattering' like a completely new line.

You/we/us should be dissapointed because Rolex is pissing on us an telling us it's raining.

They not only didnt release anything even remotely in-tune with their consumer base [read; i'm not even talking about WISs], they actually REMOVED models. So we've actually taken two steps back from where we were a month ago.

Thats why.

They teased us with a potential milgauss refresh, they had a chance to refresh the Explorer II and Sub even if only new movements due to anniversaries, they had a chance to keep the black GMT and maybe up production a few hundred units over the next 12 months...but they didnt.

They routinely pull shenanigans like purposely releasing a model in PM only for 12 months and then following up with an SS model....like we can't tell theyre trying to fleece us.

They divested themselves further from what they should be and should have done. We now have less SS and less choice to choose from, all the while having to suck up whatever Rolex tells us is best for us.

This is the official start of the new Rolex, the jewelry Rolex.

[t65tampa]

Originally Posted by 101031-28

I was thinking about this last night, for the past 30 years, I’ve known Rolex to be a company that doesn’t have new releases every year. When I started collecting, Rolex had just introduced the automatic 16520 Daytona zenith (1987) we did not even see a new movement and somewhat redesigned case until 2001 when the 116520 was announced. GMT-Master sapphire was pretty much introduced in the late 80s (16700/16710) and continued that production until 2007 when ceramic 116710 was presented. Sea-Dweller 16600 late 80s up until recently when 116600 was introduced. I’m not sure why I’m getting so upset when in reality most models I know had a run of 10 even 20 years before anything major changed. Thoughts, anyone?

You brought out some really good points. I think people who are passionate about watches transfer some of our expectations and hopes in to the hype that surrounds shows like Baselworld. Like another person stated, we're conditioned to expect the next new cool thing like with mobile phones and cars. If anything, Rolex is giving us more variety and a wider range of watch options than we have ever had, but we're not necessarily happy when we don't see what we want. Rolex is going to do their thing regardless of what a vocal yet relatively small population of watch enthusiasts think.

[HappyFish]

Who is a watch enthusiast and who isnt-bull shiter?!

[strafer_kid]

Originally Posted by oldman2005

For me, I had low expectation of Rolex regarding the ss sport watches beside if something nice came out, most couldn't have it anyway. With that understanding, I'm at peace :)

Same here,,,,,,,,,I think people expect too much which is kind of surprising given releases in recent years.

[lawrence1]

Originally Posted by rolexinfl

Because you should be, and we should all be.

It has nothing to do with the fact that Rolex normally doesnt release new things yearly, we know that. We werent expecting anything 'earth shattering' like a completely new line.

You/we/us should be dissapointed because Rolex is pissing on us an telling us it's raining.

They not only didnt release anything even remotely in-tune with their consumer base [read; i'm not even talking about WISs], they actually REMOVED models. So we've actually taken two steps back from where we were a month ago.

Thats why.

They teased us with a potential milgauss refresh, they had a chance to refresh the Explorer II and Sub even if only new movements due to anniversaries, they had a chance to keep the black GMT and maybe up production a few hundred units over the next 12 months...but they didnt.

They routinely pull shenanigans like purposely releasing a model in PM only for 12 months and then following up with an SS model....like we can't tell theyre trying to fleece us.

They divested themselves further from what they should be and should have done. We now have less SS and less choice to choose from, all the while having to suck up whatever Rolex tells us is best for us.

This is the official start of the new Rolex, the jewelry Rolex.

You tell them chief!!!

[denrusso]

Personally, I like this year. They introduced two models these past two years that you still can't purchase. Why introduce another model to that mix? Fulfill the current demand and then introduce something that will create demand that we all know they are capable of.


Thanks,
dr

[HogwldFLTR]

Rolex is still a watch company; they’re just a luxury watch company and don’t really care about their tool watch history other than attracting buyers to their traditional line. Tool watches are just nostalgia jewelry and have little use in real life. The GMT2 is the cosmopolitan watch per their site. What does that have to do with being a tool watch?

[037]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Rolex is still a watch company; they’re just a luxury watch company and don’t really care about their tool watch history other than attracting buyers to their traditional line. Tool watches are just nostalgia jewelry and have little use in real life. The GMT2 is the cosmopolitan watch per their site. What does that have to do with being a tool watch?

'Cosmopolitan' means belonging to the world, as in a world traveler. What's wrong with that?

[Gerry.GEG]

I'm not in the category of being able to buy a new one whenever I want but, if I did what would make think that I could even get a hold of some new model?

From what I know (and I'm no expert) but pay attention to what's being said here, it seems that unless one is a deep-pocket consumer who has a credit-line at his/her AD or just crazy money - one will be on a wait-list for an eternity.

[Pulpdiction]

They can't keep bringing out new models each year, this Basel thing is just hype. I understand why they have done what they have, this year, new higher end models to capture the section of the market who will pay anything to be seen in the new models, there are people who just have to have the latest, great, good for them.

I'm hoping that this means with the rationalisation of the range, a few lower demand high end models, this means they can actually step up the availability of the in demand models and take some of the heat out of the re-seller market.

ADs who can't get stock, or who sell to re-sellers to middle men for a share of the extra money and long waiting lists are all damaging for Rolex, their marketing is very successful and people want to buy the product but can't, so people will go elsewhere as many won't pay the premiums demanded by re-sellers. Many of the big re-sellers, esp. in the UK just have stock sat there, people won't pay on principle.

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by Tools

Not sure what folks are expecting, or why we hear so much grumbling. I think that it is the Apple syndrome where folks think that every year there must be something to "upgrade" to.

Rolex has some great looking watches and rolled out their latest 32xx movements. Rubber straps on the YM, which will likely bolt directly onto a Sub, Jubilee bracelets as standard where the rage has been to try and retrofit a DJ Jubilee on everything.

A TT Sea Dweller, well, this brings a heavy duty tool into the luxury arena, for the first time ever. That, and it has the latest 32xx movement for the first time in a diver. As we know, they start with one model and following years the others follow, like the Sub Date, etc.

It's a good year. These new models with new movements are the new kids on the block, it's a fully transitional year.. Go get a new generation watch, everything else is being left in the dust.

Could not agree more with your point. As a society we are getting conditioned into wanting newer, faster, better. But that would make Rolex like an Apple Watch-disposable. Yet, we read posts here about passing these down to our kids. I plan to pass down my 16610, I had for 20 years to them, that was given to me my my mother. There is no fun in passing down the most recent sub or Daytona available.


I said this on another post, but interestingly enough I have lost the urge to flip my Daytona and may just hold on to it, the old classic steel bezel works just fine and there is no real difference between that and the new.

[GradyPhilpott]

I can't say that I'm wild about the TT SD, either, besides the fact that it's out of my price range.

The reality is that I'll probably never personally see one, unless I just happen upon one on a visit to my local AD, and we all know the odds of that.

The part I don't really understand regarding the reaction is the fact that the SS SD is still here and more robust and durable than ever!

So, what if some eccentric, saturation diver or some Walter-Mitty-type, office dweeb wants to spring for the TT model?

Why is that so objectionable?

If one wants a pure, Rolex tool-watch, one need look no further than the 114060.

[Roll the Lex]

I’m disappointed that nothing radical and cool was released. But I still love Rolex. More than enough lust worthy models in their line up. I love the dd40. A bit of a bummer that they didn’t release any new dials. Like the turquoise dial on the dd36.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Etschell]

No standout home run from Rolex or Tudor. No omega either. Basel is dead imo. 500 exhibitors. Everyone seems depressed. Maybe it is the weather.

[101031-28]

Originally Posted by Tools

Not sure what folks are expecting, or why we hear so much grumbling. I think that it is the Apple syndrome where folks think that every year there must be something to "upgrade" to.

Rolex has some great looking watches and rolled out their latest 32xx movements. Rubber straps on the YM, which will likely bolt directly onto a Sub, Jubilee bracelets as standard where the rage has been to try and retrofit a DJ Jubilee on everything.

A TT Sea Dweller, well, this brings a heavy duty tool into the luxury arena, for the first time ever. That, and it has the latest 32xx movement for the first time in a diver. As we know, they start with one model and following years the others follow, like the Sub Date, etc.

It's a good year. These new models with new movements are the new kids on the block, it's a fully transitional year.. Go get a new generation watch, everything else is being left in the dust.

Very well put, Larry. Apple Syndrome, couldn’t agree more.

[101031-28]

Originally Posted by 037

Perhaps this year will cause a shift towards buying the watch people truly want rather than chasing whatever is new and hot. Or, they'll sit tight and be happy with what they have.

Travel, spend time with family and enjoy what little time we have on this Earth. It goes quickly.

Indeed

[101031-28]

Originally Posted by HogwldFLTR

Rolex is still a watch company; they’re just a luxury watch company and don’t really care about their tool watch history other than attracting buyers to their traditional line. Tool watches are just nostalgia jewelry and have little use in real life. The GMT2 is the cosmopolitan watch per their site. What does that have to do with being a tool watch?

Very valid point. I suppose that more than a disappointment with the new releases, mine comes from watching Rolex slowly moving away from the tool watch concept toward a more jewelry oriented one.

[donq]

Ten or twelve years ago nobody knew what Baselworld was aside from jewelry dealers and watch industry executives.

Now everyone spends a couple of weeks speculating and being whipped in to a frenzy, like a child at Christmas time. And then they act disappointed when the watch companies don’t deliver something absolutely ground breaking every twelve months.

Rolex doesn’t have a history of doing things for the sake of doing them.
If you look at all the changes they’d made over the last few years you could almost say they’re gone crazy by earlier standards.

I think our expectations are what the issue is.