Vote: Are You Moving Away From Rolex?

I hope everyone else's interest moves away from Rolex so prices on the 5-digit references that I like start to get back to reasonable levels.  (or I could be wrong, they could keep going at 50% year over year, and in 25 years a 16570 could be like $100m). 🤣

Been collecting for years and never had any more than a passing interest in Rolex. On 3 occasions I  I actually went to an AD and on all 3 occasions ,after side by side comparisons, I walked out with something else.

1st time- Breitling Superocean

2nd time-Chopard Mille Miglia 2001

3rd time-Omega Planet Ocean

There won't be a 4th time.

I never moved towards Rolex.

So basically they flipped the case and dial upside down

There are a couple of Rolex watches that I like but they are very plain and simple ones. The rest just don't do it for me , in fact I couldn't bring myself to wear one. Unless it is an Explorer or a steel  OP white dial.

Yes: A

Never got into Rolex in the first place. I absolutely hate fluted bezels, i dislike tacky watches. 

And almost the complete lineup looks like cheap beach watches from turkey. Only reason of their existence is to scream "LOOOOOOK AT MEEEEEE, I'M SOOO COOOL WITH MY BLING" from 10 meters away.

Only model i really was thinking about getting, was the Explorer II. But i'm a customer and not a beggar. So if the AD treats me like a beggar, he will never see me again.

That's when i became a regular at Omega.

I like Rolexes but I fortunately like lots of other watches too so it's "A" for me.

Don't get me wrong. If I could get one I like at retail from an AD, I'll be back but flippers, flexers and financiers (the F'ers) have driven demand to such feedback loop frenzied heights that the hope of me "getting the call" from my AD on my now 3+ year wait on the "list" for the Rolex I want is gone. 

When I saw Mr. Wonderful criticize a watch brand for mismanaging supply and therefore its brand because you could go into the stores and readily buy them making them poor "investments", I realized we are in tulip territory and was happy that I like so many other watch brands too (watches that I can freely wear and enjoy without worrying about them possibly losing value).

I have three but no desire to get another. Social media has ruined my interest in the brand. Zenith is now the main brand for me.

I was never anywhere near Rolex, so I don't know how I could be further away. When I started to pay attention, the hype train was already chugging along, and by the time I might have been ready to get serious about Rolex, it was barreling through the station, so I stayed out of the way and looked elsewhere. I have no idea if I'd be interested in Rolex absent the hype. Rolex is completely unavoidable. If I want one, it's because of hype. If I avoid it, it's because of hype. Hype defines Rolex, it colors every relationship to it. 

A) Yes.

I have a generally good opinion of the watches and quality, but I already have the one watch they make that really speaks to me (Explorer). There’s nothing else in their current catalog that would make me take a number at their deli counter.

The only Rolex I am interested in is th explorer. I put my name on a waitinglist 14 months ago and will pick it up tomorrow 😅 at retail, yes, otherwise no, I would never buy it. but then, it will probably be the only rolex I will buy because I am interested in so many other brands 

As a long time owner I'm not pleased with the current situation, but I'm still a- "B): No, not really".

Besides, if the powers that be keep killing the economy, we'll eventually be able to buy them for pennies on the dollar!

At the end of the day, this too shall pass...

Everything is cyclical. 

I’ve also never gotten into Rolexes. I was in the business world for many years. For me, I’m generally not a fan of large watches, not into fluted cases and don’t like the statement a Rolex on your wrist makes. I understand there are people who like them, fine with me, but not for me. So, I guess I’m a ‘B’; can‘t move away from a place you never were.  

I am only moving away from them because, for the most part, I have the ones I want. The only release that was interesting today was the 31 flower DJ. Wouldn't buy it, but at least it was creative. 

I will not spend money that I don't have on a watch that I can't get. My hot take is both stunning and brave. You may applaud now.

I am sorry to say this, but it doesn´t matter if we are moving away from Rolex or not... the thing is that, Rolex has moved away from us...

I’ve always loved the look of the sub, and sea dweller for that matter. I just feel like most people that buy Rolex now (past few years) are just snobs and not watch people. That’s completely fine, just not something I’m interested in being part of. 

b, is it comfortable if the crown is the left side?

I'm with you. While I like Rolex I often think of them as the Lexus of watches, because they make incremental changes, people want them, and they are reliable. Emphasis on the last point. They aren't even high horology but I still like them.

The question is predicated mainly on availability and some of their dealers being snobs. For that reason people that have collected Rolex exclusively, or may have wanted 1 or 2 in their collection are annoyed by this and may be looking at micro brands and other makers. There are numerous articles on this, and for me I'm simply curious what my fellow collectors have to say about it. I do agree buy what you want if you can get it. I buy what I like and have no allegiance per say to a brand. If I like AP, I'll get an AP or Breitling or whatever. I collect for me not for investing, clout or anything else. 🍻

Interesting. I don't see too many people around me or in my area that are "flaunting" Rolex. I think we see that via mainstream media and socials which is driving the hype, imho. I'm of the opinion buy what you like. I'm not a fan of spending money to impress people. Screw what people think.

A) yes.

Over the past 15 years or so they've blinged out most of their sports models. Other than the Explorer and Explorer II, there aren't many products that appeal to me. 

That combined with the lack of availability and absurd prices on the secondary market, I'm not buying another Rolex in the near future.

On the other hand, if there is a recession and flippers lose their shirts, I'll reconsider...

D)  Will never be able to afford a Rolex without a lottery win.

That was epic! This may be the only Rolex that may not have a major waitlist because most people hate it. 

As a Rolex owner (obviously), I've truly enjoyed the pair that I have, one vintage, the other new as of two years back. However, I've had the experience, and these days other things I'm finding more interesting. I think Omega, for example, has never been better, and JLC intrigues me more by the day.

Who knows what the future might bring - but I can safely say my Rolex thirst has been quenched.

yeah, sorta, not because I want to, but because of availability / premiums. 

don't get me wrong, I will and have paid up for some things I wanted however at some point you have to know your limit and I think I've reached mine. Not just Rolex, but life in general

I have an old SD4k that will serve me well as my only Rolex for the foreseeable future

I never cared about Rolex. It's a meme for "expensive brand". I find their watches boring. I'm sure they're fabulously made, but they've barely innovated at all in the last 50 years, regarding how they look. Their design language is very consistent, which is great from a marketing perspective, but from the perspective of "I want something different on my wrist," it doesn't work at all. I can look at a watch and say instantly "yup, that's a Rolex design." That's not a good thing.

Also, most of their watches are designed as a tool watch: for diving, exploring, etc. Yet, they make the watch out of platinum and cover it with jewels - I don't care if the fish want me to have a $200,000 watch, they can suck water. Sure, there's a place in the world for a fancy watch. A tool watch doesn't seem, to me, to be that place, so it ends up just looking weird. 

There are a variety of other luxury watch brands that interest me more than Rolex, and pleasantly, they're all more available and more affordable. (Except for Vacheron, which is not more affordable, but I expect never to be able to have one of those anyway.) 

A): Yes 

Year after year the same design and every new colour change is sold as the best thing ever; way to repetitive. I still like vintage Rolex timepieces - especially Sub and Daytona 💯

B. I enjoy the robustness of the movements, cases and especially the oyster bracelet. Nice to have some luxury you can hang around.