Are Rolex worth the $?

[pc100porsche]

I have only one watch that I’ve worn every day for the past 25 years .... Blue Face Sub In Stainless & 18ct ..... ever since getting it new, I have never felt the desire to have multiple watches .... it doesn’t date and as a side issue is supposedly worth twice what I paid for it ....

[greglepore]

Well, any quality watch fits this bill, really. I have both Rolex and Omega, and honestly the Omega is pretty much the same quality at 1/3 the price. My dad's Connie, purchased in 62, is my go to nostalgia piece.

[Jims5543]

I hate these threads. They make me do bad things.

I just bought a 1920's vintage Rolex Oyster that caught my eye this morning.




*edit*

I am attending a Wedding in January in Tulsa. The theme of the weeding is 1920's my wife purchased a 1920's vintage dress, I was not so lucky I purchased a modern 1920's inspired suit for the wedding.

This watch was purchased for the wedding and because in a few years it will be 100 years old.

[vash]

I prefer my stainless Tudor more, but I wear this Nov and Dec just because. I’d never buy it for myself but it’s great to remember dad’s crazyass blingy taste once a year. It keeps great time after I serviced it. I scratched it on my truck the same week I got it back. I imagine dad slapping his forehead at the time. The day-date is a beotch to set.

[BeyGon]

how much for the dog?

[Hodgey]

I have, ostentatiously, a Datejust (36mm) and a Daytona whiteface. I am lucky...I know...it doesn't make me a bad person

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Hodgey

I have, ostentatiously, a Datejust (36mm) and a Daytona whiteface. I am lucky...I know...it doesn't make me a bad person

Doesn't make you a good one either. All it shows is that you have expensive watches. The rest is up to you.

[fintstone]

Originally Posted by vash

I prefer my stainless Tudor more, but I wear this Nov and Dec just because. I’d never buy it for myself but it’s great to remember dad’s crazyass blingy taste once a year. It keeps great time after I serviced it. I scratched it on my truck the same week I got it back. I imagine dad slapping his forehead at the time. The day-date is a beotch to set.

Nice! That looks like the one I want. Looks great on you. Everyone has different tastes.

[WPOZZZ]

I love watches, cars and women. Due to my girlfriend, I can only collect cars and watches. Rolexes are good watches, but if you are looking for exclusivity, look elsewhere. They are well made, and keep its value once in the secondary market. If you want the best return, get a sports model, or something rare. If you want one for the sake of having one, get what you like.

[Kraftwerk]

An older Rolex Oyster or Submariner would be a great thing to have, or a vintage Tudor dive -watch, there are a few watches that might be better than a Rolex in terms of build-quality, rarity, investment re-sale value. Look around. I have always liked mechanical things... got a broken '53 "Bubble-Back" Rolex for free (!) in the 80's. It took 10 years to get it running ( sat in a drawer while I debated the amount of money it would cost to fix it, then finding the right person etc.) It's has an amazing sound keeps perfect time. It's a phenomenon of human engineering, sound familiar?
And did I mention it was free? Besides 2 major repairs, the first one was $60 (!) then a re-hab I had done on it Switzerland was $500, and totally worth it.
Later I bought a much-used '71 Omega Speedmaster because I like the design and the stop-watch capability ( not that I use that aspect a whole lot.) The watch itself, though, I didn't take off for TWO years ! Though over a decade it has needed major renovation 3 times! Mostly since I wore it while dropping mufflers etc. This has tripled the initial price of the thing... it is actually quite delicate. Such expense is of course not "justifiable" but somehow I still wear it, like it and use it to tell the time....all the time. Right now it is 12:31.

[NutmegCarrera]

One note on exclusivity:
Rolex is cutting off dealers at an alarming rate.
Also limiting shipments to dealers. I have visited three different dealers recently and all agree.
You can get a discount on some of the “non-sporting” models, but the amount they are willing to “give” is pretty low.
You will not find a discount on a sub, explorer, milgauss, or Daytona. You’ll be lucky if you can find one of those models at all - and dealers I spoke with are putting customers on a call list.

Appears that Rolex has recognized a decline in cache of the brand - and limiting supply is a good way to do so.

My theory is that China is absorbing a large portion of their production - so the US market is seeing reduced supply.

YMMV. My observations only.

[911boost]

^ this is exactly what I have seen as well.

[WPOZZZ]

My local Ben Bridge has a ridiculous amount of Rolexes in stock. It must be because they sell a ****ton to the Asian tourists. Never asked about a new sports model because I have what I want. Well, maybe a Daytona would be nice, but I think I'd get an AP or Patek instead.

[Oracle]

Originally Posted by NutmegCarrera

Appears that Rolex has recognized a decline in cache of the brand - and limiting supply is a good way to do so.

I agree, I don't think any guy under 40 considering a Rolex... ever..
Their market is slipping away..

New generations will go for the smartwatch (if any).

For the above I don't see the high prices sustaining too much longer.. not just Rolex, all brands..

Just like gasoline cars: "The writing is on the wall"

[mjohnson]

Originally Posted by Oracle

I agree, I don't think any guy under 40 considering a Rolex... ever..[/B]

I know of one - 35yo, PhD materials guy from the bay area on station in DC. Absolutely infatuated with buying a new submariner. I said, hey - there's probably more interesting things out there with better value, but if that's what he wants - buy it now and get it over with. It'll make him happy, he can afford it, and he'll quit bugging me about my recently purchased Milgauss.

(irony is thick there, but honestly - I love my little green alien glass watch)

[Ayles]

Milgauss is the Rolex to have! Would take one in a heartbeat!

[Hugh R]

Gave my 33 year old submariner to my 30 year old Son a few weeks ago. He. Might as well enjoy it while I’m still around.

[seafeye]

I found this for sale. Will give to a friend on Christmas. Sub $1000. It does 1 thing, but it does more than a ring or earring or a necklace. In this age of Christmas belonging to electronics. I think it’s nice to get or give a gift that doesn’t need new firmware or will become obsolete in 2 years.

[sand_man]

Originally Posted by mjohnson

...and he'll quit bugging me about my recently purchased Milgauss.

This was another one on my shortlist when I went into Rolex to purchase my Sub. You don't see too many of them in the wild and that's why I was attracted to it.
There just weren't any to be found and I had $$$$ burning a hole in pocket...

[javadog]

One of the things that soured me on the watch collecting hobby was that it was difficult to obtain watches such as that. Back when they re-released that watch, I was spending most of my time in facilities where that watch would've been beneficial. Virtually all of the buyers that got one, bought it for its appearance and not because it had practical applications in the areas where strong magnetic fields might be present. As usual, I offered to get on a waiting list and wait my turn, but I had many dealers tell me that I wasn't a sufficiently "good customer" to warrant them putting me on a list. Hopefully the last dealer that told me that regretted it, as I turned around and traveled out of state to another dealer and bought three new watches from him. I never ended up with the Milguass and have since sold off every watch I owned, including all of my Rolexes.

I'm no longer a fan of most dealers, or most of the products currently offered by the better watch companies or most of the people in the watch collecting hobby.

Maybe, someday I will buy another watch, maybe I won't. We'll see.