The Breitling Watch Source Forums

What's so good about rolex? Well techncially, they seem to always be at the forefront of watch development. Many people buy them or aspire to them. But for me, they exist to remind of what watch not to buy. Just kidding

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Jim

"You have Control".

I'm not a fan of most Rolex designs but you can't argue with the quality. Yes they are a great marketing machine, but unlike Tag from a decade or so back they can back it up with very high quality product. The level of vertical integration is untouched in the industry giving them unprecedented quality control and the freedom to innovate from a technical standpoint. They balance the evolution of their models with new models - the DSSD and more recently the Sky Dweller, and as that Sky Dweller demonstrated they aren't afraid of being a little 'out there' while retaining core DNA.

They also have a well deserved reputation for putting out a high quality product - especially since they addressed the bracelet issue and while the pricing has gone up just as with virtually every other Swiss brand, the value proposition of most pieces is still clear relative to the competition - especially on the 'mainstream' models. All that and they still manage to produce and sell more watches than virtually any other Swiss watch company.

The stigma associated with some Rolex buyers isn't there fault - I don't blame Breitling for the blinged out Bentley garbage that some demographics aspire to, and I don't judge my Breitlings because of that market. Same standard should apply to Rolex.

Agree with most of the analysis here. I've just (finally) gotten my 2nd Rolex ever (the 1st was my wedding Datejust 17 years ago...). It's almost a "comfort-purchase" -- I know I'm getting a great watch with a timeless design, don't have to worry about possible movement glitches, don't have to look for manufacturing nor assembly defects, don't have to baby it when wearing it (my datejust has never been serviced & it's still running great!), don't have to worry too much about prices (no 30% discount to fight for), and when the time comes they're liquid (with amazingly similar prices & desirability in every country in the world).

This year's SIHH didn't have any Panerai I like, which freed up funds, and hence, easy, comfortable purchasing decision for the DSSD (forgive iphone pic & tweak)

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a few Pams...

It's all a matter of taste of course. Personally, I didn't "get" Rolex until I owned one. Now my Sub C is pretty much my daily wearer. The fit and comfort is superb, especially with the glidelock clasp. Being 50, my eyes appreciate the legibility, and my lust for BIG watches has diminished. (although I still like them). As far as quality, my Sub C and Exp II are both within a second or two perday. The 904 steel feels different to me as well. Rolex craftsmanship is without question. My Sub is a watch I will give to my son one day, and hopefully he will do the same.

Just my two cents.

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An ever changing collection.....

I personally own a B (and many for that matter) and a Rolex in my current small collection. Not on is my TT Datejust II simply stunning to say the least, it feels outstanding on the wrist. I bought it from George at Govbergs last year, and before I waled out the door he tells me, "one you put a Rolex on, there just is not anything else like it." And.... He was right.

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Past: BlackBird, Navi World, SA, Rolex DJII, IWC Yacht Club
Present: CE, DSSD
Future: Changes daily

[quote="LR09WA"]Could I ask the question of what’s so good about rolex?



Well.... When I went to Switzerland for a trip last year, I shared my intention to buy a Breitling with my tour guide, his first response was, "hahaha are u a pilot?"... Another tour mate who was around said something funny, "There is only one true pilot watch in Breilting"...He was referring to the Emergency.. Another tour mate of mine was planning to buy a Rolex for his dad and all the attention was on him after he bought it. Everyone was discussing how expensive his watch was and that they couldn't bear to burn a hole in their pocket to buy one, Blar Blar Blar....almost nobody noticed or was interested in what I bought(even though if I wore it straight after the purchase) and they didn't even know that my new Chronomat 01 was more expensive than the datejust that my tour mate bought. One or two tour mates who knew that I bought a new watch asked to see my watch and when I showed them, they got no reaction and looked puzzled without knowing what watch I had gotten. It has been almost 6 mths since my purchase and so far my watch only caught the eye of one person, a friend of mine who knew about Breitling. I bought a datejust for my wife in Dec for our anniversary and so far her watch never fail to attract the attention of every person she meets.

So what's so good about Rolex? Well It seems to meet the needs of almost any type of people. For people who knows about watches, they buy Rolex for their quality and the heritage. For people who doesn't know about watches, they buy Rolex because it's "recognized" and a brand that they know about, after all they are spending a huge sum of money on it so design isn't the most important consideration to them. For people who likes high quality watches but doesn't want something that blinks, the size and plain simple design seems what they want. For those who like attention and want something that blinks and impress the mass, show that they are "wealthy and successful", the logo on the watch is enough to do the work...

I would say that I agree with all the points in the above posts about the superior quality of Rolex but however, many luxury watches also have that heritage, superior finishing, quality and timeless designs too. Therefore IMHO the answer to yr question that sets Rolex apart from others is their marketing technique and how they attract and reach out to the mass, not because they are really "better" than other brands. Just like many years back I also asked myself this question of, "what's so good about Tag Heuer" after a friend of mine told me that Tag Heuer is the dream of every man...and it's not just one person I came across who have said that. Say this to anyone in this forum and we will spit and say it's complete nonsense. But that is how successful Tag Heuer and Rolex are in their marketing and brand positioning.

So IMO Rolex is definitely good but not really better than other luxury brands.. Just my 2 cents worth...




ps: Anyway my wife's Datejust has been 10 sec off per day since purchase, I have yet to bring in for servicing. My Chronomat 01 LE faced the same problem when I bought but is now proudly performing at 0 to 1 sec gain per day after returning from the service centre in Jan. So Rolex is better? Not really for me...

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Breitling Chronomat 01 Limited Edition
Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm

....almost nobody noticed or was interested in what I bought(even though if I wore it straight after the purchase) and they didn't even know that my new Chronomat 01 was more expensive than the datejust that my tour mate bought. One or two tour mates who knew that I bought a new watch asked to see my watch and when I showed them, they got no reaction and looked puzzled without knowing what watch I had gotten. It has been almost 6 mths since my purchase and so far my watch only caught the eye of one person, a friend of mine who knew about Breitling. I bought a datejust for my wife in Dec for our anniversary and so far her watch never fail to attract the attention of every person she meets.



The above pretty much sums up Rloex for me .

Very well said!!

Yes, but Rolex have a worldwide name. But there again, so do Ben & Jerry.

I should add, that although I understand the point about the recognition a Rolex gets, I frankly don't wear my Lings for notice or a conversation point. I wear them because I have a belief in the maker. I could not care less who notices or comments on my watch. If they don't get it, then thats OK. if they don't notice my lings, then thats actually a bonus. Most people have not got a clue anyway, so I don't even try to explain.

A Breitling is a good bell weather though, because if someone does not recognise a Ling on your wrist then you would hardly ask there opinion of what constitutes a good watch, would you!

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Jim

"You have Control".

IMO i think that a Ling is way more of an attention grabber than Rolex. Most Breitling are nice bright and shiny. Where as a Rolex looks like a 20 dollar watch to most people except another WIS or watch enthusiast.

The only real reason any of us notice watches is because we are into them. most other people could care less. It has nothing to do with money or status. you either get it or you dont. I have lots of friends with much more money than me that think this hobby of ours is retarded.

Love this forum. Was not expecting so much love for the old Rolex on a Breitling forum. I like it when people are open minded to other brands.

Seems true and supposed to agree but however proven untrue in my case. In the first place people will not turn their attention to a brand that they do not know about. The only circumstances when people will think you are showing off and trying to grab attention is when you either wear a full gold or diamond watch(I mean not fake ones), and unfortunately, it applies to Rolex in many cases too. I think the person wearing it also have a part to play, if the person's character is known to be the "show off" kind, then obviously when he puts on a Rolex, people will feel that he is trying to show off. I have came across many "like to show off" people wearing Rolex to seek attention, but however I have never come across anyone of such character wearing a watch from other brands(including Breitling) to do so because how to show off when not many would know about yr watch brand? Many cheap watches can also be blingy in design and but even though it might capture people's attention initially for a few sec, they will not take a 2nd look because it's not a high end brand that they know about. I have a guy in my company(obviously the show off kind) bought himself a full Gold Rolex watch with diamonds... Why did he not purchase a gold watch of another brand since Rolex is not the highest end in Horology? He is no watch enthusiast and I believe he was just setting his mind of getting a brand that people know about so as to show his wealth. Therefore, like it or not, Rolex is attention grabbing, even though the watch might look cheap, the logo is enough to grab people's attention. And IMO Rolex is not really that down tone as the design is.. I have come across many cases where Rolexs get noticed on people's wrist by others even though the design is down toned. I think the reason is due to the finishing of the bracelet and non-AR coating on the case that when the hand is moved the "light reflection" caused by the watch actually caused it to "bling" sometimes and captures attention that will make people want to peep at the logo on yr watch to see what you are wearing. Sorry if I sound stupid because my attention have been captured this way before. It can apply to other luxury watches as well but as mentioned, once they cannot identify the logo on yr watch, they will not take a 2nd look as they might think that yr watch is not a high end one. actually if yr Rolex watch looks real plain and simple, this might even work against yr intention of not wanting to get attention. Because for people who do not know about watches, when they see that you are wearing Rolex but design so plain and simple, they do not understand the value behind it and might think that you are simply trying to show off, but yet "stupid" to pay a few thousand dollars just to get a recognised brand that looks "cheap" and "old fashioned" and "not value for money". Some might even feel that you want to show off but have tight budget so got no choice but to go along with a cheaper one. This is not my personal opinion but common comments that I have experienced.

Breitling on the other hand, have different comments from the mass, for some who have heard about Breitling but not a watch enthusiast, when they knew that I bought a Breitling, would commonly ask, "why didn't u buy Rolex?" When they are in turn asked why, they would say because it's recognized, the value will "go up" so it's an "investment", other watches don't... Again some might feel that people who buy Breitlings are stupid because we could have bought Rolex and get better recognition.

Anyway, I believe everyone in this forum wear watches for ourselves and not for others so who cares what others think. IMO if we do not want "attention" how we behave in front of others plays a bigger role. But Erm....sorry if u are wearing a full gold or diamond watch, you can never avoid attention... not from robbers at least

All the above pretty much sums up my point that Rolex is good in a way that it meets the needs of almost any type of people. From "wanting to show off", to "wanting to get a high quality watch but doesn't want something blingy", Blar Blar Blar ...... Whatever the intention might be, Rolex has projected that strange charisma among the mass, no unique and outstanding designs, no decorative or see through casebacks, all the models look roughly the same as if the variety is very limited, looks down toned but does "blings", using that "no identity as their identity" classic image. Their designs are classic among the classic, super safe and never different, so that it doesn't polarize opinions. As mentioned in above posts, they have taken the lead many years ago to imprint the brand and image in people's mind, way before other brands...so it's hard to replace them now...

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Breitling Chronomat 01 Limited Edition
Breitling Navitimer 01 46mm

Saw a Rolex once. It was in bits being worked on. Beautiful components and the independent watchmaker swore it was one of the best watches he had ever repaired.

Saw a second one on the wrist of a friend of mine.

Not much else to say really.

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Jim

"You have Control".

Lots of assumptions here. First off you really have no idea why your colleague bought the watch. You are just assuming that he purchased a gold Rolex because he wants to show off. And even if thats the case why does it bother you?? So what if people buy a watch for its name? It doesnt seem to make sense why this gets under your skin so much. To be honest I use to feel like this when I first got into watches. I use to say the same silly things that you are saying. Things like:

"people who know nothing about watches buy a Rolex'

or

"Rolex is a brand for thats just a name"

At one point I was just a Rolex hater. For no real valid reason at all. I simply let the fact that they produce so many watches and they were so mainstream turn me off from the actual brand. What a mistake. I have owned 5 breitlings in the last 2 years from a SA, 2 b4b GT's b4b motors T and a chronomat evo. I can say that out of all the Lings that I have owned that from a subtle/wearability standpoint, nothing compares to the subs that I own.

Youre really letting your judgement of how other people view Rolex turn you off from the brand. I am not saying to you that you need to love Rolex or that you have to own one. To each their own we all buy what we want when we want. Its just your love to shit all over Rolex is getting boring.

Maybe you should go on to TRF and ask the guys on there what they know about the brand,,,,,,you might actually learn a thing or two. Go outside and smell the fresh air. It might be better then living in the bubble.

At least you apologized.

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"I don't own any watches, I just lease them"