Collecting Rolex
Hey, my name is Pascal and I am addicted. I am a Rolex fanboy. I tried once not to be.
It all started in December 2017, I bought my first Rolex, the Air-King. I felt in love with it, because it doesn’t look like a classic Rolex. Later I added a Rubber B strap which fits so well. But now I was in the Rolex trap, I felt the quality, I got used to the Mercedes hands and so on. So my next one was in September 2018 the GMT-Master II Pepsi. Followed in May 2019 by the Oyster Perpetual 39 in white and the Submariner Date Hulk in August 2019. In April 2021 my dream came true and the call came… Hello Pascal we have a steel Daytona in white for you! My absolute grail watch. I thought it’s over now. I have everything I wanted. But as you can see on the pictures it never ends. I got end of February 2022 the Explorer I Rolesor. Next one on the list: OP36 in yellow. I bought all my Rolex at the AD for RRP.
From all watches out there the Cosmograph Daytona is my grail and from all my watches it is my most loved one. I love the small size, the black&white contrast and the dial layout. The next one is the OP39, it is the essence of Rolex, simple and perfect. Followed by the Explorer, the 36mm are perfect for this watch and the gold let it look like a bit retro w/o having fauxtina. At the Air-King I love the dial so much, however it is a bit thick. The least loved ones are the Pepsi and the Hulk, I am not a big fan of the cyclops. But the bicolor bezel and the jubilee are so lovely on the Pepsi, and the green sunburst dial on the Hulk is amazing.
I am not only collecting the watches, I try to get everything besides, I try to collect Rolex. Like the catalogs and journals directly from Rolex as well as magazines with features of this watches and The Watch Book - Rolex from Gisbert Brunner. It is not that easy anymore, the time of Rolex gifts like the anchor, pens, gloves and so on is over at German ADs. The only thing my AD have as an extra are the pouches, but only if you ask twice for it. You even have to fight for the bezel protector and the white tag.
I always wonder why I am so attracted to the brand. I love the design, the quality and the simplicity. I also love that it is owned by a foundation, there is no pressure to produce higher amounts in cost of quality to even make more money. They grow organically with keeping all what they are standing for. The in-house aspect is also a factor for me, there are only a few parts not made by Rolex itself. All made in Switzerland in a industrial process with some steps made by hand. However a part of the attraction is for sure also the brand recognition, re-sale value and hype. And finally it was founded by a German ;)
So what do you think of Rolex? Do you also love it? Is it not your cup of tea or are you ignoring it to don’t feed the hype?
Collecting simple watches with 2 to 3 hands from Switzerland and Germany. Proud member of Berlin Watch Circle: instagram.com/berlin_watch_circle/
what a great collection sir well done! i love rolex too but not with the hype and flexing culture around it. i believe rolex may be bring curiosity and love for the new watch enthusiast. i hope someday i could buy one too. my favourite is black ceramic daytona and black sub 🍺
Enjoy hearing about your passion. I think the two-tone Explorer I is going to be a nice collection rarity in the future.
I do love Rolex.
Admittedly, the hype and supply situation due to instagram chuckleheads etc. has dampened my enthusiasm - a bit. 🤷🏻♂️
You’ve got quite the collection!!
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!
THIS is precisely what I love about WatchCrunch! It has amazing enthusiasts like you, who truly love their watches, regardless of make, model, hype / no hype.
That is a PHENOMENAL collection! Congratulations on such a gorgeous set of timepieces!
Great watches! That Rolex Explorer is stunning, definitely my favorite form your bunch through the pictures. Unfortunately I've never seen any of these in the metal so I can only make assumptions!
Are you at the point where if the Rolex AD would call you for something you don't have, let's say an Yachmaster 2, would you say yes or are there specific pieces you ask of them?
Start adding in some Tudors. They do the experimental stuff that Rolex would never dare try. And don't do steel. Go bold...Bronze 43mm, 58 925 or (Ti)Pelagos. You'll find they're just as good as Rolex and significantly compliment the already impressive collection.
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!!
THIS is precisely what I love about WatchCrunch! It has amazing enthusiasts like you, who truly love their watches, regardless of make, model, hype / no hype.
That is a PHENOMENAL collection! Congratulations on such a gorgeous set of timepieces!
thanks a lot :)
Happy to hear that you like it!
Great watches! That Rolex Explorer is stunning, definitely my favorite form your bunch through the pictures. Unfortunately I've never seen any of these in the metal so I can only make assumptions!
Are you at the point where if the Rolex AD would call you for something you don't have, let's say an Yachmaster 2, would you say yes or are there specific pieces you ask of them?
Living in a bigger city is here a big advantage, we have besides the ADs two Rolex boutiques. The boutiques have always models to try, so you can even try every Rolex.
No, my AD doesn't call me for other Rolex models :). I only get calls when I am on the list for a special model. They also call me if they have models for which I said I have an interest to try it on, before ordering it. In December I got the call to try the Tank must color watches for example.
Lovely collection! Interesting to see how focused and immersed into the brand.
Personally there’s not a brand that I feel that affinity to. Some brands I like have more models that I may like but it doesn’t really matter to me. It is fascinating to see different types of watch collecting!
I think Rolex is great, and I am on the waiting list for one, but I think the idea that they make only so much, and don't care about making more is not accurate. They make as many as they can, but are just so in demand, they can't keep up. Here is the sales volume by brand, in 2020:
By Company:
Source: Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020 Market Share - Editorial (monochrome-watches.com)
I think Rolex is great, and I am on the waiting list for one, but I think the idea that they make only so much, and don't care about making more is not accurate. They make as many as they can, but are just so in demand, they can't keep up. Here is the sales volume by brand, in 2020:
By Company:
Source: Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020 Market Share - Editorial (monochrome-watches.com)
Those are remarkable charts.
Those are remarkable charts.
Yea, however, while that is market share, and not unit sold, in the unit sold department, they are very strong.
They come in 4th, behind much less expensive brands. Also, keep in mind, a unit sold for a watch manufacturer, means sold to a retail store, not to a customer. Pretty much every Rolex sold ends up in the hands of a customer. This can not be said for many other brands, so they might be 3rd.
I think Rolex is great, and I am on the waiting list for one, but I think the idea that they make only so much, and don't care about making more is not accurate. They make as many as they can, but are just so in demand, they can't keep up. Here is the sales volume by brand, in 2020:
By Company:
Source: Top 50 Swiss Watch Brands of 2020 Market Share - Editorial (monochrome-watches.com)
Is it weird that the takeaway I got from these charts was that Longines crushed 2020?
Is it weird that the takeaway I got from these charts was that Longines crushed 2020?
They make a great watch and have a long impressive history. I have no idea why they are not more desirable.
Awesome collection! Grüße aus Düsseldorf!
Its great you are doing what you want. 😊👍💯