Posted on 07/07/2022 9:51:41 AM PDT by Cecily
Experts have revealed how shoppers have to 'build a relationship' with luxury watch brand Rolex by spending up to £100,000 on less desirable timepieces in order to pick up the latest models - as the brand tries to maintain exclusivity in the Instagram age.
While the uninitiated might assume that the luxurious fashion brand would happily take anyone's money, industry insiders have explained how the process of buying an expensive watch from the designer might be slightly be complicated than that.
Experts said that with demand outstripping supply, the brand has had to place limits on who can buy what watch - by deciding 'if customers are the right type of person' to wear their timepiece.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
As I was thinking of moving up the corporate ladder I was attending a formal function in my Tux and when I checked the time it was on my timex ironman watch. Since I had the money I decided to buy a used Rolex, got a deal on a 1977 Presidential which I put as a belated college graduation present (class of 77).
Now it’s been in its box for about 2 years as I like my smartwatch and no longer attend formal functions.
Wow, that’s cool!
My son inherited my grandfather’s from the 50’s. Still looks good and runs great. Just a cleaning and band replacement through the years.
I used to work in the jewelry business some decades ago, and if a person had the dough or the credit, we sold him the Rolex. One thing about Rolexes, at least then, is they were frequently in the shop for repairs. These days I wear a Timex. It takes a licking and keeps on ticking.
Meh, Casios keep better time.
But if someone wants to pay $50K for a man-bracelet, to each his own.
Here comes the day when you’ll no longer be able to buy a real Rolex but only lease one on subscription and it’ll be tracked. You’ll only be allowed to get one if your social media score is correct enough.
My $80 Seiko does a great job. I just have to replace the twist-o-flex band every couple of years. The $40 Timex also did fine, but my sweat interacting with the back of the watch turned my wrist green.
My $24.95 Casio analog waterproof has been through 20 years of motorcycle riding, hunting... just about everything. If I had to wear a Rolex I wouldn’t have done those things at all. To me an expensive watch is a detriment. Like my poor friend who spent years restoring a 1964 Porsche 912 and was constantly terrified it would be stolen and didn’t like to drive it anywhere. He finally sold it to someone else who is probably stuck at home, sweating.
No one is going to shoot you or knock you on the head for a Casio.
The prices have gotten ridiculous.
I tried to buy the Yacht-Master II Oyster Stainless steel and the prices were way more than I thought the watch was worth.
Same with the Daytona.
Rolex is making the same number of watches they always have. They will not increase production as that could compromise quality. The demand for luxury items as investments is crazy now. Just try to buy a new Ferrari.You can’t. An unworn Patek Philippe watch in stainless steel bought at MSRP($43K) from an authorized dealer may sell for $125K on the used market. Likewise Rolex sells for two to three times MSRP on the secondary market now. If you have a history with an AD, you wait on a list for a Rolex or Patek, and you pay MSRP. If you aren’t on the list, you have to buy used. It is simply supply and demand, and demand is through the roof!
I prefer the submariner :)
When I went on my first deployment over to the Med on the USS JFK back in 1977, they were selling the stainless steel Rolex watches in the Ship’s Store. I sprung for one, because it is simple, unpretentious and...heavy! It “feels” like quality!
It cost $150, I still have the receipt and the case.
I still wear it today. My dad had one just like it that he got in the late Fifties, and I destroyed it trying to “fix” it for him.
It had been in his dresser drawer for a few years not working, and when I was about seven, I tried to take it apart with a vise, a hammer, and a screwdriver.
I destroyed it, and in a panic, threw it in the trash. For the rest of his life, I would hear him muse quietly on that watch, muttering “I wonder whatever happened to that watch...”
And I never told him before he died. But...now he knows...:)
I loved those guys, love hurts.
Love it!
“I like the reverse snobbery idea of shunning luxury brands and wearing quality but non-luxury items.”
Yes, the only practical reason to buy a Rolex vs 100 other brands of high quality non-Rolex watches is if you simply must have the status symbol of a Rolex.
I currently have two, an iWatch my daughter gave me which does all kinds of neat things, and my favorite, my Citizen Ecodrive Calibre 8620 (or something like that). They are both great watches, although my only gripe is the leather strap on my Citizen has come apart. It’s the second one, too.
Not cheap, but far, far below the stratospheric prices of Rolex and others.
Rolex can keep their watches and their snobbery.
Nice!
All absolutely correct. One additional fun fact that many people don’t know is that Rolex is a non-profit entity. All of their proceeds are reinvested into the company and/or used to advance the art of horology in general.
Figured I would never own a Rolex, and wound up Purchasing a 1969 Omega Seamaster 300 with date window at an estate auction over 20 years ago. I’ve replaced the face, hands, crystal, crown and case back from a now defunct Watchco out of Australia (affects the collector value, but I don’t care) and it runs like a champ as my everyday watch. I’ve taken care of a nice vintage Omega Speedmaster reduced that I will present to my son in August when he graduates from Duke University’s Physician Associate program. He’s a rather bright boyo who’s just starting to get into watches.
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