In which I publicly beat a dead horse - or - Sorry

People don't become Beatles fans because it confers status on them.  "Beatles Only" fans just never opened the next door and explored a little further.  When it comes to music, and everything else, I am a bit of a pedant.  My Beatles phase lasted until my accidental introduction to King Crimson.

When people start talking to me about their Rolex, or their wait for a Rolex, I have the same reaction as I do when someone is complaining about a stain on the leather seats of their Maserati:  I am polite, I feign attention, and I immediately start thinking about where I will eat for lunch.  I find it easy just to scroll past Rolex posts here.  There are many ways to enjoy the hobby.

Now, let me brag to you about the best concert that I ever saw:  Kinks, 1981, Capital Center, Landover, MD.  They played for nearly three and a half hours, four encores.  There was a snowstorm outside and Ray decided to break out a fifteen minute version of Celluloid Heroes.  Dave was at the peak of his playing.

I think you make a good point, and of course it’s an imperfect analogy. It’s just the closest I could muster while also wedging in a musical topic. 😂

Don’t get me started on ‘70s prog rock! King Crimson and Gabriel-era Genesis are two of my all-timers. What’s your favorite KC album? Mine has to be Red. No question. 

Although I would argue that a lot of Beatles nuts see it as a status symbol—as if the rest of us plebes don’t understand, and their tastes are clearly better. 

Agreed. I've heard Rolex fanboys criticize any other brand with comments like, "Nice dial, but dressing well isn't the same as wearing the crown," and just roll my eyes. Read between the lines and you see they wear a Rolex to feel superior. They can't acknowledge someone else having their own favorite for their own reasons because that would challenge the basis of their superiority complex.

Granted this fanboy approach isn't limited to Rolex but I hear far more in that camp than any other. And you can find the same perspective among audiophiles, Ford vs Chevy guys, Beatles vs any other artist, etc. A true enthusiast can find something to appreciate about every option and not try to make others choose between agreeing or feeling inferior.

Even Richard Mille strikes me as the epitome of overpriced status symbols devoid of classic style but I don't want to make somebody who digs them feel inferior. I'd just genuinely comment on something like the cool technicality. No sense trying to shut down a fanboy -- it only leads to the argument they would revel in. When you encounter that fragile ego, acknowledge the flex by throwing it a bone and move on. If that's not enough and they want to elevate their tastes by criticizing yours, remember you have 7 billion other people on Earth you could be talking to.

I'm almost afraid to tell people I love (early)Zeppelin, because it gets the same sort of reaction as being a Beatles, or Rolex fanboy. 🤣

I think you hit the nail on the head. That said, there are definitely people who love Rolex for what Rolex is, and the quality of their watches, I'd even go so far as to suggest that in the watch enthusiast community they are the majority. The problem is, there are the vocal fanboys, who tarnish all of the fans with their foolishness. 

In Canada the truck fanboys are the worst I have dealt with. Chev/Ford/Ram/Toyota fanboys are the worst to try to deal with, and are among the most aggressively unlikeable people imaginable. Ask a question about a Colorado, and the Tacoma fanboys come running... 

Lastly, in my opinion Led Zeppelin(I) is the best album. I can listen to it cover to cover on repeat all day and not get tired of it.  

Wetton era KC is my favorite and Red may be the band’s best. I listen to S@BB, LTIA, Lizard and Discipline more. I like the jazz-like improv that Fripp took from McLaughlin.

I mean, I also love Led Zeppelin with an unbridled passion, and I will go to my grave believing “The Rover” is the best rock song ever written. So yeah I’m not immune. 😂

Lizard is one of my favorites too. 

I'm still very new to the watch scene, but I've been deep into other enthusiast communities, and I just don't relate to fanboys. There's so much variety in music, cars, watches, gaming consoles, etc., that I can't imagine forming an identity around one corporation's products and going to absurd lengths to defend it, or prove its superiority.

As far as I'm concerned, in the current market, Rolex has made themselves unattainable, and therefore irrelevant. Rolex doesn't offer me anything other brands can't offer for less.

I started watch collecting from 2000, and my first luxury watch was Omega Seamaster 300 quartz model. I liked it a lot, but after a while I wanted a Rolex and bought Explorer. I thought the bracelet was finely polished and hand winding was very smooth. After wearing the Rolex for several days, it became a every day watch for me. I realized that I was wearing my Seamaster more than Explorer, because I liked the design. At that time, I wanted a Rolex because it was Rolex. It was a good experience to have owned one, but after all, it is just a watch.

My $0.02 on the topic:

a) Yes, the horse is dead.

b) It has been dead for a while.

c) I really, utterly, don't understand why people care. I could live out my days with watches from Blancpain, Omega, Grand Seiko, Lange und Söhne, Glashütte, or even Longines, and never have anything in my life that I'm missing. There are plenty of companies that build fine watches. Rolex builds good watches, no question, but it's not even a particular artisan product. If somebody wants to pay a high price for them, they may do so.

d) I liked the Beatles in my early teens, but it was a phase. I have yet to outgrow my fondness for Seiko.

I mean, I’m not sure why I care either - other than it’s annoying to hear a bunch of posers with money try to talk as if they‘ve somehow “won” because they bought an overpriced watch. 

Nothing wrong with Rolex designs or quality. In today's market there is just no room in my collecting for a $6K watch selling for $12K, regardless of brand or prestige factor. 
 

Still view the brand as making great watches but most definitely NOT worth their current prices. 
 

And unless i somehow manage to fall into a pit of cash and then start having bespoke watches made for me, I am not going on a wait list for any watch. Ever. 

I feel that most Rolex SS models can be justified at MSRP, but just barely. I have three in my collection, all of which I purchased new from the local AD at MSRP (well actually I got a slight discount on my OP36).  The quality is marginally better than my Omegas, but certainly nowhere near what the secondary market pricing indicates. 

I appreciate the analogy between music and watches. I grew up listening to classic rock, and count the likes of Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd as amongst the best music ever created, but even they had some stinkers. I also try to keep my mind open, and have discovered that there is just as much awesome music being created today as there was back then. I still listen to the classics, but I make sure to mix that with current stuff as well, just as I try to mix things up with my watches. Variety is the spice of life.

I don't think it's even the money issue, as other luxury watches are not less expensive. It's this very singular focus that is somewhat perplexing. Somebody once said to me that nobody will notice your watch other than yourself. And I think this is still very true, most people don't look at your wrist, and have no idea what to look for. 

If you bought a Rolex in the hope that it sets you apart as a person, it might be a bit of a disappointment, and I have the feeling that some may try to force the issue. It largely doesn't bother me. 

I'm also not saying that Rolex watches aren't worth it. As long as people are willing to pay the price, that's exactly what they are worth. 

I used to dismiss Pink Floyd out of hand because all I knew for the longest time was Dark Side of the Moon, which I still never need to hear again. I’ll never forget the first time I heard “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun” and immediately thought “okay I get it now.” 

Ah okay. I think I misunderstood what you originally said. And yep, I don’t get it either. Don’t get me wrong; I’ve yammered on about Zodiac too much to say I don’t have favorites, but I do own a love a lot of other watches. As for the singular focus, I wonder if it’s just easier that way for some people. No guessing, no having to make a choice and wonder about it being the “wrong” one. Some people just like things laid out for them. That sounds like my own personal hell, but I can at least see the draw. 

Rolex makes a million fine watches every year. They are mostly machine made and they have excellent quality control to prevent bad watches from leaving the factory. They don't finish their movements to any significant degree, which is why they keep them covered up. They are a fine watch, but they are absolutely not an example of high horology. 

For me, I'm happy the fan-boys are obsessed with three or four brands. While they're "building their relationship" with their AD by buying "lesser" watches, only to immediately flip to the Grey market,  leaves me with a lot of discounted awesome watches which are considered jetsum by the avg Rolex flexer...I mean collector. 

I have picked up amazing Omega's, a Zenith,  Panerai, GO, etc, which almost all can outrun Rolex on finishing, design, innovation, etc. All of these have been Rolex relationship fodder in their quest for the Holy AD retail purchase price.

I hope the Rolex flex and fanboys never end. Let them chase'em. Meanwhile, I'm chasing the better watch brands at discounts! 

A lot of this has to do with history.  The fact is that militaries around the world adopted Rolex years ago (not so much anymore).  The brand became connected with success and marketing cemented that notion.  They were the prize for top tier success in sports.  They were on the wrist of those at the pinnacle of their profession.  

These are all historical facts that cemented the "meaning" of this brand in the zeitgeist.  Unless they completely screw up, they can ride that horse forever

I think you’re right. That said, I still don’t get the fanaticism. 

I think the "casual" luxury watch buyer probably doesn't look into it very closely and just goes with what they know from word of mouth and reputation.    A decent portion of the activity is also speculators and that's just a herd thing.

Absolutely 

Love your handle btw

Protect ya neck 

Wow I like this discussion. I’m not a Beatles guy either, though I do own a Rolex and for me it was an itch that could only be scratched by The Crown. But I would not consider myself a ‘fanboy’ either.

 Returning to the rock ‘n roll analogies: if the Beatles are Rolex (which I think is an excellent comparison btw), are The Rolling Stones Omega? What brand would best represent the Kinks?? Right now I’d say it’s Universal Genève, because I would do almost anything to see them both return.

I'm not making any sweeping generalizations, and I'm well aware that there are Rolex owners who aren't like the sort of person I was talking about. This forum alone is clear evidence of that. Like what you like, and I in no way insinuated that you need to explain your preference. This was in reference to a specific type of Rolex owner, which may not even be the majority, but it's undeniable that they're the most vocal about it. 

In your price range you can have someone cart a grandfather clock around behind you wherever you go.  Whether or not you need to explain the clock valet is another question.