Should Rolex be in the “Holy Trinity”

[Rexplorer214270]

Should Rolex be in the “Holy Trinity”? Who would you replace?
Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, and Vacheron Constantin? Interesting piece from HODINKEE from 2017 about why Rolex is not in the big three: https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/wh...-the-big-three

[PBJ1925]

Nope. Rolex IMO is on an island by themselves.

If there was a replacement, I'd swap Vacheron with ALS.

[danwang0520]

A Lange Sohne should be added to the league of holy trinity........but not Rolex

Rolex is a mass-produced product so little is paid to attention to details in decoration of parts

[gnuyork]

Not even close.

[ronricks]

Nope. Mass production eliminates it.

[Singslinger]

Originally Posted by ronricks

Nope. Mass production eliminates it.

Agree with this.

[Boopie]

For sure VC and Patek belong there.

I’d also heard decades ago from a very wealthy man, who had several high end watches, that because Rolex is a mass-produced product that doesn’t have the refinement of these others, it’s not considered the very top tier. Of course, Rolex watches are workhorses that, while expensive, are relatively “affordable” compared to the very top of the market (I would analogize them to a Mercedes versus a Ferrari..no dig at all...I wear a Rolex every day and drive a MBZ every day).

[Arid]

Nope, not even in the same league.

[Juan Luis]

ALS, a resurrected brand from the 90's, should not be in the holy trinity. JLC, on the other hand, should. IMO.

[GT3 Mike]

No it should not be apart of the big 3. Thats like trying to include the Corvette into the Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini trio.

[Boopie]

Some of the comments to the Hodinkee link made persuasive arguments that JLC should be included in the top three, as it makes its own movements. Other than the Reverso line, which I admire, I don’t know anything about JLC watches. Any thoughts?

[Jeanf]

Why is Breguet not part of the Trinity?

[JRell]

Only in the small watch world Rolex is not. 99% of the population puts Rolex in a league of it’s own. Not even close. Here is a good way to look at it. You can argue which of the holy trinity is on top. In the mass produced class, it is Rolex and then everyone else. That alone elevates it to be compared to the holy trinity.

[JRell]

Originally Posted by GT3 Mike

No it should not be apart of the big 3. Thats like trying to include the Corvette into the Porsche, Ferrari, Lamborghini trio.

Big difference - most of the population knows those cars, I hardly know anyone that knows the big 3 watch brands outside of the watch community. Brand recognition means something. Good debate.

[Tridor]

I think that Rolex is the most practical and robust when compared to the members of the Holy Trinity. It's MY brand of choice. However, it doesn't belong in the Holy Trinity because mass production is the disqualifier.

[GT3 Mike]

Originally Posted by JRell

Big difference - most of the population knows those cars, I hardly know anyone that knows the big 3 watch brands outside of the watch community. Brand recognition means something. Good debate.

My analogy was based on being the next level. The Corvette is a mass produced piece that often out performs the trio, which in similar fashion in the horology community, Rolex gets the respect it does.

[kieselguhr]

It doesn’t need to be.

[JRell]

Originally Posted by GT3 Mike

My analogy was based on being the next level. The Corvette is a mass produced piece that often out performs the trio, which in similar fashion in the horology community, Rolex gets the respect it does.

Good point - I guess I have a very narrow view, but the general population would consider a Lamborghini better than the corvette, but if you ask the same about watches, Rolex is the Lamborghini to the general population, and can perform with them. I know watch fanatics are probably appalled by that, but I think brand recognition is a huge value in its own and very much Rolex.

[Fleetlord]

VC is out.

Rolex is in

[GT3 Mike]

Originally Posted by JRell

Good point - but I guess my point is the general population would consider a Lamborghini better than the corvette, but if you ask the same about watches, Rolex is the Lamborghini to the general population. I know watch fanatics are probably appalled by that, but I think brand recognition is a huge value in its own and very much Rolex.

Great point.

[Juan Luis]

Originally Posted by Jeanf

Why is Breguet not part of the Trinity?

That's another one. Good question!

[sechsgang]

no way

[garyk]

Originally Posted by fleetlord

vc is out.

Rolex is in

+1

[Moondoggy]

You serious mmmm Jaquet Droz comes to mind for DNA

[TopDog2315]

Originally Posted by kieselguhr

It doesn’t need to be.

+1


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[GoPackGo!]

Father. Son. Holy spirit. Am I the only one missing this???????????????

[EEpro]

No, Rolex has a ways to go with build quality and movement finish if it was to compete against PP, AP, or VC.

It doesn't need to. It's the 800 pound gorilla and largest watch brand in the world.

Rolex makes an incredibly accurate and robust wristwatch with pretty good finishing. It doesn't even begin to hold up under close scrutiny.

Edit: added pics. I'm not saying it affects the watch. That isn't the topic of this thread but rather why not trinity and there's a counter example. Geneve seal means something in horology.

[sgwatchguy]

The “holy trinity” has no relevance in this day and age but that term is kept alive by lazy hacks. Makes for good forum fodder as well.

Who makes the rules? Clearly the market doesn’t care. And ALS is thumping the legacy trinity when it comes to quality, innovation, finishing.

Finally, Rolex doesn’t care either. They own the market. They’re in a league of their and firmly in control.

[Robert Bruce]

I have had a fair number of Rolexes over the years. Any that I have timed came in around +/- 1 sec/day. None of the so-called 'holy trinity' come close to that because they are just expensive, polished baubles. A Rolex is a time-keeping tool you can depend on.

[cvera]

No for me.