The Breitling Watch Source Forums

Dont understand why Rolex has so many haters. How can you possibly overrate a company that makes almost every single piece of the watch???

Ferrari's are great cars, they hand make every piece of the car including the engine which is made in Ferrari's onsite foundry. Rolex puts the same attention to detail in every aspect of their watches. If you don't like then design then that's fine but ton say they are overrated is like saying Albert Einstein was a moron.

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

I don't think Rolex are over rated, I just don't see a design from them that appeals to me. At all. I think they do some things better than most other companies, but the aesthetics leave me wanting. Personal preference.

Can't argue that at all, if it's an aesthetic thing then that's totally understandable.

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

My position exactly. I loved the fit and finish. I apprecited the quality and precision. And in the end, it just left me flat. No one can logically dispute the quality of Rolex. The ignorant can try, but just look stupid.

In the end my Steelfish did more for me subjectively. Bottom line - the only right answer to this question is the preference of the individual.

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SHARKMAN

Any GMTII (not just the IIC) over any BB for me.

Yeah, yeah, I know...

You were already on thin ice. Aussie AND lawyer, it doesn't take much more.

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SHARKMAN

MY problem is the way they do business, its not right, they dont let the free markey determine their worth, they are controling and manipulative, and overpriced.

that being said the dssd and gmtII are very nice watches, and i would own one or both if they werent so fuggin dainty small

I think you may have a different perspective than most based on your relationship with Provident. I'm glad Rolex controls their dealer's discounting, it helps keep the values up. You can buy a Breitling at 30% off today then tomorrow you would have trouble reselling it at 50% off. More watch manufacturers could be as controlling and manipulative if it would help protect the value of the consumer's watch.

As for Rolex being overpriced, I strongly disagree. Bentley 6.75 retails for almost $9,000 A Rolex GMT IIc retails for around $7,000. One can say Breitlings are overpriced...for that matter one can argue that all watches are overpriced. A Blackbird and a GMT IIc retail for nearly the same price...no way you can objectively say a Rolex is overpriced and the Blackbird isn't!

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

Controlling discounting is one thing - restricting supply to the ADs is where Rolex pisses people off. My AD explained it like this - no matter what an AD wants - Rolex TELLS the AD what they will get. And they are big enough, there isn't anything the AD can do. You have to have twice as much display volume as any other brand. You have to carry a massive inventory of gold Date Just and such even though they may just sit there forever.

And it carries over to the customer. If I go in tomorrow and ask for a SS Daytona, Rolex will tell the AD that I can just wait 6 months. OR they would be happy to provide me with a white gold model tomorrow. So sure that helps the resale value of SS Daytonas tremendously, but it doesn't really serve the potential customer.

If I want a certain Breitling, or IWC, or JLC, or Breguet, etc... I will get it as soon as it can be shipped. Rolex does it differently.

While that may help customers on the back end with higher resale value, it hurts customers getting what they want on the front end. If the AD is being bullied, then I as a potential customer am being bullied as well. I don't like being bullied.

That's what I was told - no idea if it's true or not.

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SHARKMAN

bingo, i dont have a problem with them controling pricing, i am for that, i have a problem with how they try to control the dealers.

lately they have gotten worse. take mayors for example. mayors isnt allowed to sell any other watch line in their store WITHOUT ROLEX'S APPROVAL. rolex closed hamiltons because they sold breitling, panerai, patek and others. thats bullshit.


president of rolex just died btw

Well aside from how Rolex or Breitling decides to go to market...I would pick the GMTIIc over the BB regardless of which version of the BB is currently available. I personally do not care for Rolex, but given the choice between the 2...the GMT is the better quality timepiece. As Serge said...how can you not pick a watch that has pretty much every piece built by the manufacturer. Like them or not...Rolex makes a hell of a watch.

That said...I have no plans to own one anytime in the future.

Now a BB with an in house movement would make the decision a little more difficult (provided it still looks like the traditional BB).

I'll go with a slightly different example. The Submariner 11610LN just increased in price from $7250 to $7395. The standard Blackbird retails for $6940. Both are certified chronometers, but whereas the Sub is "just" a watch, the BB also includes a chronograph and a big date function. Admittedly, the BB uses a modified ETA movement, whereas Rolex is in-house. And "overpriced" is a subjective term, no matter how you slice it. However, I think I can objectively say that a Blackbird gives you more watch - at least in terms of functions/complications - for the money than the latest Sub. One can argue differences in build and quality, but I don't hear too many people complaining about the Blackbird being a subpar watch in either capacity. Now I'm not saying that makes the Blackbird better, or makes the Rolex overpriced. Indeed, if I had my choice, I'd probably go with the Rolex. But I do think there is room to argue that Rolex gives you less watch for more money than Breitling does.

Yeah, now that I look at it again, I guess that was just plain hypocritical of me, huh?

I have been told by more than a few Breitling ADs that they can't carry the B4B line or Rolex is pushing them to get rid of the closest competition or Rolex is pulling out. So besides not fitting my personal taste, the way they run their business really turns me off. I won't support a company like that.

If you equate not having a chrono to being less of a watch then that's just silly.

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