do you think rolex is losing its appeal?

[Taipan]

Does it matter?

More importantly, I think one should go out and get a rolex because he genuinely likes the watch and wants to own it. It really doesn't matter whether it appeals to the younger ones or not.

Rolex will always have appeal and for several good reasons. Every Rolex tells a story about its wearer. It is not meant to be a status symbol per se as the founder Mr Hans Wilsdorf said. It means much more than that. Wilsdorf was born a German in 1881 and he became an orphan at age 12 before he moved to boarding school and later to Switzerland for his first taste at work. He started out as a pearl trader and later watch making in 1905. He and his business partner Davis registered Rolex in 1908 which slowly became a success. Unfortunately he had no heirs when his wife passed away in 1944. So he started a trust fund for childrens' charities (as he had been an orphan himself) around the globe to ensure that Rolex always stood for greater things other than wealth. Hopefully its wearers also recognise this meaning and tradition of Rolex's founder.

Having been a orphan and living a dreadful life in boarding school where he learnt to read and write English which was to be pivotal in setting up a watch company which commands respect to this very day, he meant Rolex to be much more than a watch (http://www.watchmasters.net/the-role...wilsdorf.html).

"Hans Wilsdorf's passion in life was his Rolex watch. He intended his watch to make the world a better place, through its uses, its accuracy and its beauty. He wanted his watch to be considered a symbol of achievement, not a symbol of status and he became agitated if it was referred to as such. His watch was priced just out of reach of the middle-class man meaning, to earn one, one would have to contribute a bit more, work a little harder and reach a bit farther. A Rolex watch is generally significant of a major achievement in its wearer's life. Upon Mr. Wilsdorf's death in 1960, he owned all of Rolex and the Company today is still privately held and overseen by the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation which is a Charitable Organization. It is said that the proceeds discreetly go to Children's Charities around the world (Mr. Wilsdorf was an orphan) and to cutting edge entrepreneurial endeavors (Mr. Wilsdorf had over 700 patents). You should be extremely proud of that Rolex on your wrist, your achievements to get it and this Company who produced it. It says a lot about you. "

The more zany designs to tempt the young are introduced through its Tudor series.

Here is a pic of the late Rolex founder Mr Hans Wilsdorf (German descent) who looks very grandfatherly. Among his most iconic creations is the first Submariners which came out in 1954 before his passing (1881-1960) and he would have had a part to play in introducing the design too!



Thus Rolex celebrates the success of the human spirit in more ways than one. Does anyone here have further info on its other campaigns around the world?

[Oceanklassik]

Wah! I felt so proud ... (and my signature refers)

[Darkangel]

Nice read....awesome history the brand has and really respectable. It's not just a watch my friend...it's a piece of history you will pass down to future generations.

Which was what made me fall in love with this brand...

[BAR_Honda]

I bought my first luxury watch a few months ago... a Rolex Submariner SS... after saving over many many moons for it. The only other "expensive" watch I owned before this was a Tag Heuer automatic 2000 series bought in 1994 with my very first year-end bonus.

I think it is bloody expensive for a watch that only tells the time & date for me (I don't dive).... but it is very very well made... every single part of it... and it feels damn good on the wrist

[116520]

will Rolex like Omega? I heard that Omega was a "good" branded in the 70s and was selling about the same price with Rolex... now is still good but Rolex is better....

it does in a way. why? u like rolex, that is why buy it. however, thru the years, if it loses its appeal and the brands becomes oblivion, would you not feel the heartache?

[keltzar]

Rolex is about the stories.

Read the 2009 watch supplement.

[Taipan]

Good Effort!

I bought my first luxury watch a few months ago... a Rolex Submariner SS... after saving over many many moons for it. The only other "expensive" watch I owned before this was a Tag Heuer automatic 2000 series bought in 1994 with my very first year-end bonus.

I think it is bloody expensive for a watch that only tells the time & date for me (I don't dive).... but it is very very well made... every single part of it... and it feels damn good on the wrist

That Rolex Sub you scrimped to save up for is something more than a watch. It is an anchievement and you have earned it well. Don't let anyone ever tell you anything less. Every Rolex has a story to tell about its owner. Whether its from ADs, BNIB or pre-loved, it does not matter. Perhaps the best part is realising that a significant portion of their profits still actually go to children's charities around the world through the trust fund set up by the "Hans Wilsdorf Foundation" to help orphans and under-privileged children who deserve a better chance in life.

So here's more about its other symbolic values of the Rolex brand :
"MEN WHO GUIDE THE DESTINIES OF THE WORLD WEAR ROLEX WATCHES".

[lthg25]

Over supply will kill the brand

I am not sure about other markets but for sure there is too many sports models being let go into the Singapore market. This will only make the resale market weak, the watches being too common will also make the brand less attractive.

I personally think 850K watches a year is way too much. If Rolex is not going to do anything about it, I can only see the brand going one way.

[exxondus]

I am not sure about other markets but for sure there is too many sports models being let go into the Singapore market. This will only make the resale market weak, the watches being too common will also make the brand less attractive.

I personally think 850K watches a year is way too much. If Rolex is not going to do anything about it, I can only see the brand going one way.

hard to fault ur arguement here

wonder if once resale value drop, would pple still wanna buy rolex that much?

[stektan]

Rolex losing appeal?

Rolex, with it's rich heritage and history, will always appeal to older folks and watch collectors and lovers. There is no denial that Rolex makes high quality watches and while it may not be the most innovative or creative from a design angle, most people buy a rolex not for those reasons. Saying that, I do agree that Rolex does not really have appeal for the younger folks (in their 20s and early 30s). But then again, a Rolex was never meant to appeal to the younger folks or average joe. It was priced high and will always be high so that people will aspire for it. What I think Rolex can do better is to market it's Tudor brand. It was suppose to be "market entry" brand for luxury watches and they should use it to market to the younger generation who will hopefully move on the mother brand when they reach a different status. Tag, Omega and other upcoming brands own that space now and they should really promote Tudor differently. Just my thoughts....

[keltzar]

Agree about Tudor. Some of the designs are really not bad, and the pricing is actually competitive relative to brands like Omega. The movements are also based on similar ETA movements.

That said, with ETA scaling back on supplying ebauche movements it does make me wonder what Tudor will turn to.

[Cop]

Every Rolex tells a story about its wearer.

I agree, from the watch making history & the person wearing it or getting it..

Saying that, I do agree that Rolex does not really have appeal for the younger folks (in their 20s and early 30s). .

Maybe it the drfferent group of ppl & calture, i see many ah beng, high class ah lians all wear super blink rolex..& of cos many sports model.

[exxondus]

..i see many ah beng, high class ah lians all wear super blink rolex..& of cos many sports model.

at least those ah bengs ah lians know the good stuff if thats the only thing they know in life

[Taipan]

The entry point into the world of Rolex...

What I think Rolex can do better is to market it's Tudor brand. It was suppose to be "market entry" brand for luxury watches and they should use it to market to the younger generation who will hopefully move on the mother brand when they reach a different status. Tag, Omega and other upcoming brands own that space now and they should really promote Tudor differently.

I agree with stektan. Tudor should step up more to fill that void.

Here is an example of the latest incarnation of Tudor called the "Iconaut". Its a chronograph with a 24-Hour GMT Hand as well. Nice chunky bezel in stainless steel, and a "chunkier" case with what appears to be an oyster bracelet. This new watch from Tudor is a whopping 43mm in diameter.

Priced under US$3k otherwise it is not easy to make it appeal to the younger generation :

[wrxy]

i would partially agree that rolex is losing its appeal to the younger market,not generalising just within my group of frens...people i know are much more for pams and iwc...

i'm 21 and the reason that i am attracted to rolex is mainly due to the fact that my parents dont object to me purchasing a time piece as such...many think that not much work is put in to its asthethics in terms of its outlook but its the simplicty of the watch that draws me to em .The gmts are the main culprits that i am attracted to the crown...its ability to hold its value after years given its price range is definitely impressive i would say...not much of an investment but more of an assurance that what u've spent on ur watch aint erroding away in terms of value..