“Everyone has a Rolex! If by the age of 50 you don’t own a Rolex, you’re a total failure!”
That is the infamous and controversial quote from French advertising mogul Jacques Séguéla, in defense of then-French president Sarkozy after being criticized for wearing a Rolex and dining at expensive restaurants during the worst French recession since WW2.
He said this on national television in 2009, and as you would imagine, it didn't go over well.
For some reason, this always stuck with me. I'm not 50, not yet anyway, but I'm getting close, and now it has me thinking about how we mark success, especially at certain points in our lives.
As a group, we often mark meaningful events - marriage, the birth of children, a job or promotion - with a watch. So by that logic, why not a Rolex at 50?
But what do you think?
I like watches, wine and whisky, photography and travel, beer and coffee, and definitely cinema and cooking. But I love my family most of all.
Not again. Rolex is a great watch, but clearly the watch for non-watch people to say “look at me, I’m a success”. I can think of many watches I would rather own.
If you need a watch to tell you that you’re successful, you’re probably just underachieving. 🤷
Rolex is the watch for people who want to say “look and me” and also watches for people who want well made timepieces that are classic and in many cases define whole genres.
I would say that by age 50 everyone should be able to afford a Rolex*. Whether you decide to buy one is entirely up to you.
*We all come from different beginnings and make different choices. This statement assumes you started off middle-class or better and have made decent choices. I assume that by virtue of being on this forum, this applies to most of us.
I didn't own one until I was 53 & I considered my career up to age 50 as an underwhelming failure. Despite this lengthy period of failure I could have bought a Rolex but chose the "think differently" mantra & had a number of Cartier over this period.
A Rolex gives people the impression of success but in my opinion it's meaningless. Success & your own self worth run far deeper than what's adorned on your wrist. I bought an Oyster Perpetual eventually because I always loved the design.
I see why someone would want to add a more personal story to their purchase. Marking success is a powerful reason to make that purchase & it should be celebrated so. Life's a tough journey & rewarding yourself accordingly is important. Go for it, enjoy it & pass it on to someone that'll appreciate it's quality & your story :)
If you're judging your life by material things something is terribly wrong...
That isn't to say people shouldn't have nice or quality possessions. I understand "buy nice, or buy twice." But all these things will pass into obscurity. How useful, or functional, or even functioning, is your Grandfather's pocket watch?
And this is how you judge your life as one well-lived?
I feel a great deal of pity for this poor guy...
"Everyone has a Rolex!"
This is exactly why I have no interest in a Rolex...
I bought a Rolex when I was around 30, all it proved was I could still make a poor decision as a full grown man.
So if I bought a Patek Philippe but not a Rolex when I was 40 I’m a failure? Hmmmmmm something is wrong with this thinking lol.
So if I bought a Patek Philippe but not a Rolex when I was 40 I’m a failure? Hmmmmmm something is wrong with this thinking lol.
Lol I always thought about that too regarding this quote. Then again, if you can afford a Patek, you've probably got a Rolex, too
My Confucius brother said to the Frenchie. ‘STFU’
If that's what you want, go for it. No shame at all if you appreciate the watch. Some people are so offended by Rolex or love pointing out how popular they are. So what? I really enjoy mine and know I don't need them to prove anything to anyone.
Most of the other watch collectors I've come across making statements like this in my 28 years of collecting have been Rolex collectors. Not all of them are like this. It's pure snobbery. The only reason they cost so much is because they advertise way more then any other brand and also sponsor sporting and red carpet events. You're not paying for anything special in terms of quality just a bunch of publicity. Hublot is another one except I've yet to meet a Hublot collector making such outrageous insults to other watch enthusiasts. But they are also one of the bigger advertisers. Sorry for being long winded; just my two cents. Cheers!
This is why I had to buy 3 Rolex at age 33 now I have 17 years I can chill out without worrying about what this French guy thinks about me.
since opportunities leading to 'success' are not evenly distributed among us, people who spout such things only demonstrate an insulated crippling ignorance. They should be ignored.
hey guys, chill out it was just a hypothetical I suspect with tongue in cheek.
The thing I loved about WC when I joined was the sense of humour & lack of nasty jibes & replies. This is watch collecting we're not trying to solve the problems of the world, social or otherwise. I hope watch crunch doesn't go the way of so many other social media platforms & become an unfriendly (nasty) space to hang out, can we just be polite to each other & keep a smile on your face when you are posting.😊
I'm way over 50 and I don't own a Rolex. Why should I? What on earth is special about crossing 50 that would make me stupid enough to buy a watch that I don't like?
Speaking of Sarkozy, wearing Rolexes was the least of his problems during his tenure as the president of France.
You can always be a total failure at any age, certainly if you give credit to total idiots the likes of that one…
Lol. Also, guess I'm not a failure 😉
Great question is wearing a Rolex by 50 the definition of success. My answer, it depends! Rolex are a bit of the holy grail, especially for blokes who like James Bond. Talking about the only actor that I ever considered as being 007 "Sean Connery" his Rolex submariner was my holy grail watch; until I saw my buddy in the office owned one! After that I didn't want to wear one and be accused of copying! So I ended up getting an Omega Moon watch instead! Another story that comes to mind is when I was living in Hong Kong a mate flew over, he had a beautiful blue and gold Rolex submariner. Anyway after a big "night out" (we weren't married) he ended up going off with a "lady" suffice to say he spent the night in a hotel. As usual before he went to sleep he took of his beloved Rolex and put it on the bedside table! Anyway next morning he woke up and the lady was gone! and so was the Rolex Submariner! After that he started wearing "heritage" (copy watches lol). Moral of the story, all that glitters isn't always guaranteed success. Ref. https://manofmany.com/fashion/watches/a-complete-list-of-all-the-james-bond-watches!
It's just a brand. If you like it and can afford it, buy it. If not, then don't.
Don't get caught up in marketing. It's gauche and unbecoming. So is measuring success by networth. Those who measure success by material possessions have not yet succeeded. Hopefully they get there some day.
One?
Everyone should have at least two. And an additional wrist. If you are only wearing one watch, you’re not trying hard enough.
60 is the new 50 nowadays and that seems about right. I’ve always felt Rolex is an achievement watch and why I think Rolex = old man. When I was young I’d see a few Rolex watches all being worn by what I thought of as old men.
When I started work with my current company the 25 year award( so I would have been 50), was a Rolex watch unfortunately we were bought out before I got to that milestone. Thought I’d buy one myself to celebrate the milestone but when I went to collect a datejust I just didn’t feel old enough and walked out with an Aqua Terra
I will think about one again when I retire
First I'll add that the bizarre cosplay of American politicians, a bunch of multimillionaires self-constrained into wearing ill-fitting suits and cheap shoes and the like to present this bogus egalitarian everyman offends me. I judge books by covers and assume that people that look like lackluster schlubs are what they seem to be.
I see that a lot here and find it utterly bizarre. It appears to be from a different social class than mine and I'm unsure of relative direction. Other people buy you things to celebrate you. There is something so odd about this dichotomy of wanting to splurge on one's self but feeling that it needs a reward rationale and some ascetic delayed gratification. Why not just spend moderately or buy what you wish without an excuse? It's conflicted behavior.
Furthermore, this practice rather reinforces the "success equals material wealth" notion that some above properly excoriate. "Hey I got married or had a child or something but that's not important enough on its own. But if I drop a few grand on a luxury purchase that'll help make it memorable and meaningful to myself and/or others!"
But a head of state having what looks like a steel Datejust should not be worthy of comment. But I disagree with the statement as I am only a partial failure.
I think when there are so many better things to spend your money on having an occasion as an excuse to splash out on yourself helps with the enjoyment instead of thinking there’s a new sofa and tv on my wrist when ever they look at it they have a happy memory when ever they check the time. Personally I’ve done it once when I got to 25 years service in work I bought an Aqua Tera. It didn’t make it any more special as I didn’t really enjoy the 25 years I spent working there. Sold it now 😂
Add it to the reasons to not buy a muggles' Rolex. Show your passion for this hobby with an enthusiast's pick that gets you excited and smiling when you put it on your wrist, instead of reminded of Sarkozy and bs snobbery.
So.... What if one is successful and went straight to Glasshütte Original, A. Lange & Söhne, or JLC? I guess those folks aren't showing how successful they are? 😄
So.... What if one is successful and went straight to Glasshütte Original, A. Lange & Söhne, or JLC? I guess those folks aren't showing how successful they are? 😄
Complete and utter failure. Look, I don't make up the rules, I just play by 'em. I mean, are those even watch companies that you listed? It goes Casio, then Rolex. That's it. Someone once mentioned something else, but I think they were making stuff up.
Success is defined individually. Define your goals and if you reach them, you've been successful.
Or is it a dialect thing? I often read Americans equating success to monetary wealth.
Rolex is the watch for people who want to say “look and me” and also watches for people who want well made timepieces that are classic and in many cases define whole genres.
I would say that by age 50 everyone should be able to afford a Rolex*. Whether you decide to buy one is entirely up to you.
*We all come from different beginnings and make different choices. This statement assumes you started off middle-class or better and have made decent choices. I assume that by virtue of being on this forum, this applies to most of us.
Monetarily advantageous doesn't necessarily equal good, though. Low-budget life can be a lot of stress saved, provided you're socially secure enough.
I agree with the sentiment - in a high-earning career, such as a state-level politician, a Rolex shouldn't be considered excessive.
A collection of rare Roleces might be, though. 😀