Are Rolex worth the $?

[stealthn]

Aren’t Rolex’s made in China now?

[aigel]

Originally Posted by stealthn

Aren’t Rolex’s made in China now?

Definitely not. Switzerland. But of course a lot of automation. I think they are good, but you pay a premium, which you get back if you ever sell it. They limit production. It's like trying to buy a premium Ferrari or a GT car Porsche. Often more expensive on the used market than new.

I like the watches, they are a bit bland, being an icon also makes the designs a bit too familiar. That's not the reason I decided not to buy / wear one. The reason I don't like them is because everyone knows what it is, too much attention. You can wear literally ANY other watch brand, even if it is 10x more than a Rolex, and it will reduce the number of people recognizing it as a nice watch by 90%.

Generally I don't like to show off. If I have something nice, it is for myself. It is hard not to show off with a Rolex, even if you are not intending to.

G

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by aigel

Definitely not. Switzerland. But of course a lot of automation. I think they are good, but you pay a premium, which you get back if you ever sell it. They limit production. It's like trying to buy a premium Ferrari or a GT car Porsche. Often more expensive on the used market than new.

I like the watches, they are a bit bland, being an icon also makes the designs a bit too familiar. That's not the reason I decided not to buy / wear one. The reason I don't like them is because everyone knows what it is, too much attention. You can wear literally ANY other watch brand, even if it is 10x more than a Rolex, and it will reduce the number of people recognizing it as a nice watch by 90%.

Generally I don't like to show off. If I have something nice, it is for myself. It is hard not to show off with a Rolex, even if you are not intending to.

G

Rolex makes 1.2 million watches per year. The demand is still higher than that.

[plexiform]

To the OP's question, Yes they are worth the money, if you are into watches. Don't expect to buy a Rolex and make money on it, but that is certainly possible if you choose the right model and buy at the right time. They are only worth it if you have the spare $$ and enjoy a very well made timepiece. And even the Rolex haters cannot argue that they are extremely well made machines and feel really nice on the wrist. So, yes they are worth it and if I had ~10-50K to blow, I'd happily spend it on a Rolex without regret. I've had many in the past and only sold to free up cash for other interests and I usually get most of my money out of it. Having said that there are a lot of other non-Rolex watches that are pretty darn nice (mechanically better in many cases) and for far less money. However other brands don't tend to hold their value as well as Rolexes. They are not made in China, and yes the demand has consistently outpaced the supply and continues to do so.

[Kraftwerk]

They have exceptional customer service, if you go to the headquarters in person to Geneva, Switzerland. .... and I only had my Tudor Pelagos in for slight cosmetic repair. The whole experience was great. Repaired for free out of warranty. A tall, blonde Bond-like-woman representative offered me a box of chocolates upon completion. Always say yes to chocolate in Switzerland.
BTW If I was shopping for a '70's or 80's Rolex Oyster, I would consider a Tudor of the same generation. OTHO, If I was buying a new Rolex, I would consider a brand new Yacht Master- if could get on the waiting list ! (and had 'unlimited' funds)