Would you wear it?

Everyone’s tastes are different but I wear a lot of “Sterile” dial watches but can appreciate the craftsmanship of more adorned watches. Some people have also said a lot of the budget brands copy Rolex, so I guess that’s a long way of saying yes.

I’m not sure. There’s a lot that goes into how a watch makes us feel, and the name on it is part of that. I feel like watch nerds spend a lot of time talking about being above that, but I don’t believe it. I’m aware of what Rolex is and is not, but there’s still something to the name. It’s like trying to separate the Speedmaster as a chrono from the Speedmaster as a piece of history and an Omega. It is what it is because it’s all those things.

Put it this way: I’d wear a non-branded Daytona, it’s a great looking watch. But it wouldn’t be quite as special.

For a TON of purchasers, yes status is probably THE criteria when purchasing a watch.

If you were able to poll every person that bought a Rolex during a given year for the top 3 reasons why they bought a Rolex, I'd wager that 'status symbol' would be the winner by a wide margin.

I’ve asked myself if I’d wear my grails, the Explorer 1 and Railmaster (I do not own them), without the brand logos. Good question…

I have to admit I think the logos add a finishing touch to their very cool dials. There are many homages to each watch. I haven’t bought one, but I haven’t bought the originals either…

I don’t think of myself as a brand snob (I’ve been wearing a Duro and 5610 on vacation for the last month), but in the case of my grails I think I am one big time.

Yes, I'm not brand name focused.

No, I don't like the design, so branding is irrelevant in this case .

Yes I'd still wear my sub if it didn't have the name on it , the design is iconic and it's a great watch in my opinion,I wear an explorer 2 and most people haven't got a clue what it is even with the name on the dial

I am DESPERATE for an Air King. I would very happily wear it without the Rolex name on the dial, but i'd want something there in the green text, as that#s one of the design features I like the most.

Picture from trying on an "exhibition model" in Singapore airport.

I only purchase what catches my eye. I'm not interested in its "status". The only person a watch I buy needs to impress is me.

I'd wear it but, despite generally thinking sterile dials elevate a watch, I wouldn't buy it, at least not at Rolex prices.

While I can appreciate the quality blah blah, a large part of that premium is the brand recognition. I don't want other people to notice, but I want to notice. I'd feel a bit cheated.

I see several people commenting about not caring what others think, and I agree. I was making the point that the brand matters to US. The name Rolex means something extra to me because of the story that Rolex has told about itself. The Speedy means something extra to because of its story and association with other great watches.

As I said, these are great watches that can stand on their own, but they are enhanced, in my own eyes, because of the brand that makes them. We tell ourselves stories about logic and specs, but a big factor that brings the credit card out is emotion. How many times have we said “wear what you love?” Humans love stories a lot more than specs.

I am drawn to the heritage models of watches, so this idea falls in with the homage and micro brand arguments that I have a tough time dealing with. My daily wear is a Hamilton khaki field mechanical, which if they came out with a sterile version it would be so cool because that is how they originally came, the same is true on my thoughts with Flieger (which I would want to buy from Laco or Stowa). But most other watches I would want the brand name because I would want the heritage. That is why I struggle with homage and micro because they are stealing (homage) or manufacturing (micro) the heritage of the watch.

I just ordered a watch with no branding, as a matter of fact, simply because I loved the design.

H moser has almost (sterile) dials I would wear if they weren't too big and I could afford them!

In terms of Rolex, I think there would be too much negative space on the dial. The crown lining up (or misaligning lol) with the 12 o clock triangle, and general text add interest to the watch and makes it seem less empty. Maybe minus The 4 line Subs, that may be too much text.

Yeah sure, it’s the watch not necessarily the tag for me

Agreed. Most of the Rolex buying public can't name the movement in their watch. Not that I'm judging. It's fine and they can do what they wish with their money. But we know what's goin on ..

Exactly my thoughts. When you are aware that you're paying higher for the names (and there's no avoiding it), then why remove the name?

At that point, it would make more sense to wear a very close homage.