Would you lose interest in Rolex if it was easily available?

[Seddyspaghetti]

Would you lose interest in Rolex if every model was easily available at the AD for msrp?

I probably would. As amazing as they look, the difficulty to get certain pieces is a big part of the attraction for me. I get bored with instant gratification.

[MONTANTK]

Probably not. I really enjoy the aesthetics of their watches. Something about the design of each one is just perfect

[BrazenC5]

Quite the opposite. I'm losing interest because they are not readily available at an AD.

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[Scott_]

If they were available at retail, I'd have purchased one or two of them recently. That said, if it weren't for Rolex unavailability, I probably wouldn't have purchased the Grand Seiko spring drive watch that I bought in January instead.

[thenewrick]

I didn’t even know they were hard to get until I tried to get one. Then I had to temper my expectations. I wouldn’t mind if they were easier to get and still retained their value well. I wouldn’t want them to make millions of $200 watches like Seiko and dilute the quality.

Figure Omegas are easy to get and Cartier and they aren’t any less special at least to me. I would probably buy those brands at a discount from a Grey though. I passed on new Rolex at a grey when they were under msrp because I wanted it to be genuine and more fresh and special. I suppose a Globemaster probably wouldn’t need to be as fresh or genuine for me to take the plunge with them.

I got a BLNR today and I don’t expect to see anyone else with one, or with my OP41 silver. But if I did, I’d probably say hi just because they’re so uncommon here.

Used to do the Subaru wave in the 2000s to other WRX/STi owners. Too common now so nobody gets the wave.

[JRell]

Originally Posted by thenewrick

I didn’t even know they were hard to get until I tried to get one. Then I had to temper my expectations. I wouldn’t mind if they were easier to get and still retained their value well. I wouldn’t want them to make millions of $200 watches like Seiko and dilute the quality.

Figure Omegas are easy to get and Cartier and they aren’t any less special at least to me. I would probably buy those brands at a discount from a Grey though. I passed on new Rolex at a grey when they were under msrp because I wanted it to be genuine and more fresh and special. I suppose a Globemaster probably wouldn’t need to be as fresh or genuine for me to take the plunge with them.

I got a BLNR today and I don’t expect to see anyone else with one, or with my OP41 silver. But if I did, I’d probably say hi just because they’re so uncommon here.

Used to do the Subaru wave in the 2000s to other WRX/STi owners. Too common now so nobody gets the wave.

Congrats on the BLNR, how do you like to so far?

[dpt.calvin]

I've thought about this. Part of the attraction for me is the "exclusivity" (yes, I know Rolex is mass produced).

What I'm becoming more aware of now is how good the replicas are and how many replicas are in the wild. That, to me, makes Rolex less desirable.

Rolex is becoming like Louis Vuitton in my eyes. Do you know how many fake LV bags there are? I don't, but I know there are a lot. It's sad because I still love Rolex and their designs...

[BillBrasky626]

Originally Posted by BrazenC5

Quite the opposite. I'm losing interest because they are not readily available at an AD.

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Ditto. Even if they were something like a guaranteed couple of months wait, I would have bought a lot more than planned at this point. Unfortunately my current wait is for a Daytona so it's a bit annoying.

[mykii]

I would gain interest if Rolex was more available!

[TexEd]

As long as the prices remain high I'm ok with greater availability. If, on the other hand, the prices are low and the watches are readily available then, in my opinion, the watches are no longer a luxury good and I'm not a buyer.

[thenewrick]

Originally Posted by JRell

Congrats on the BLNR, how do you like to so far?

Compared to OP41..

Like the jubilee style bracelet, like the movement and GMT hand. It’s neat looking at 3 times and the date. Feels like a lot of info to me. I wear a lot of black and navy so it goes with my attire well.

Prefer 21mm bracelet size and single latch oyster clasp from OP.

Overall feels a little smaller than expected but that seems to be a trend with me because online photos are zoomed in and on smaller wrists.

Going in a couple weeks to get another link put in.

[Time Out]

I wouldn't lose interest at all. How many $10,000+ watches can the average Rolex consumer buy ? I think you would see a lot more " trading around " if they were more available hence making the collecting even fun'er.

[wesdaniel]

I've already lost interest because they're so difficult to get.

[vh2k]

Global demand would plummet because secondary prices would nosedive. Thank God Rolex doesn’t listen to “watch enthusiasts” on forums.

[DubOhio]

I will also say I was blissfully unaware of how hard it has become to get a Rolex until a close friend has talked me in to getting back in the mechanical game. With that said, while Rolex is mass produced and for 'some' $10k+ isn't braking the bank I would still consider the price point making it in some ways exclusive.

I personally would be just as interested if not more if I could just walk in and get what I wanted. I often look at my watch not to check the time but just to admire the quality of the watch and also that i'm fortunate enough to have them.

[JRell]

Originally Posted by thenewrick

Compared to OP41..

Like the jubilee style bracelet, like the movement and GMT hand. It’s neat looking at 3 times and the date. Feels like a lot of info to me. I wear a lot of black and navy so it goes with my attire well.

Prefer 21mm bracelet size and single latch oyster clasp from OP.

Overall feels a little smaller than expected but that seems to be a trend with me because online photos are zoomed in and on smaller wrists.

Going in a couple weeks to get another link put in.

It feels smaller compared to my 41 sub. I mean it makes sense, but really feels comfortable on my wrist. Having the oyster and jubilee bracelet is a great combo! Congrats.

[Tensai]

Some models are actually getting easier to get...Subs, DJs, etc. Will be interesting to see the hype beasts disappear as prices go down.

[Harry-57]

No. I'm less interested at the moment because so many models at MSRP may as well be mythical. It's hard for me to maintain interest in something I've never seen for real and will probably never own.

[OYptL]

Mine were purchased without knowing forums and hype existed. Bought them cuz I Loved the brand.

[Dirt]

I completely went the other way
When they really started to be hard to get and with all the shenanigans that go on around that, I basically became completely detatched from that scene.
I suppose it's alright for me to adopt this position, as I've had many fantastic examples come and go and it's been an amazing journey with the brand, but I currently have all that I could have ever wished for in the current state of my little collection

[mfserge]

I don’t care what the values are, I just want to be able to go into an AD and buy a Pepsi and a Skydweller to complete my lineup of favorite pieces, two watches that I think are beautiful for what they are and not their potential resale value. I

[Old Expat Beast]

The shortage, or whatever folks want to call it, and resulting prices of new and used/vintage made me lose interest and move to other brands. I sold quite a lot of my Rolex collection, and the ones I still have get very little wrist time, as I genuinely prefer my other watches now.

[Oyster Sauce]

A change in availability probably wouldn't change my interest in Rolex. I'll say, however, that my interest in Rolex is mild to begin with. I believe Rolex to make attractive, robust watches that deserve to be respected in the watch community, but I'm not desperate for or seeking hard after any of them. I have what I have, purchased at reasonable prices when the opportunity arose. I refuse to pay the crazy inflated non-MSRP prices for Rolex (and pretty much any watch). I'd welcome a return to "normalcy" of Rolex watches at boutiques and ADs...would probably be an opportunity to purchase a piece or two that interests me at MSRP. May never happen, and I'm okay with that.

[Bigmozza]

No I would be made up I’d go and buy blue dial Sky Dweller and rose gold DD olive dial

[scarlet knight]

Originally Posted by BrazenC5

Quite the opposite. I'm losing interest because they are not readily available at an AD.

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Through a quirk of fate, I really bought all the Rolexes I wanted before things went awry. I got on an imaginary waiting list for a Daytona, but have not heard anything in years and I would not pay gray prices. I probably would buy a ceramic Daytona if it was readily available.

[Polar Bear]

Most people would say "no" but that begs a deeper question

Why are you interested in Rolex in the first place?

The amount of people who come here claiming to be "watch collectors" but only buy Rolex shows there seems to be a delta between people who like watches and people who like Rolex

If you want a well made, accurate watch that you can hand down to your kids, there are a thousand options out there.

The value retention and investment angle seems to be an underlying drive for a lot of new Rolex buyers, I feel like this speaks more to their financial position than anything else. People say they want to "hand it down", but if your planning to never sell it, why does it matter what its worth in 10 years time?
If you cant afford to take a small loss on a watch, you shouldnt be buying it. IMO

In 2022, mechanical watches are superfluous luxury goods.
I'm all for buying smart but the paradox of "I'll never sell it, but do you think it will hold value" is a strange one to me

The easiest way to never loose money on a watch is to never actually sell it

[Wee-Willie]

No, I loved the days when I could walk into the AD with a full case & buy what I wanted & could wear it home.

[Laostuh]

No, I wasn't able to afford them when they were readily available. But now that I am able to afford them the market has gone insane. So if they were readily available I would probably buy 1 every other month until I have 5 and call it a day.

[just1time]

If there were easily attainable they would be regular luxury goods and wouldn't appeal to a lot of people. The scarcity is part of what makes it desirable for a LOT of people.
We always want what we cant get.

[TimeAZ]

If you care about "investment" and value retention, then you will lose interest if there's greater availability.

If you are an enthusiast, hobbyist, or otherwise actually enjoy wearing a finely crafted, beautiful and supremely comfortable watch, then you will celebrate greater availability.

I am in the second camp.