do you think rolex is losing its appeal?

[vpsss]

Not really, i been wearing Rolex since 16 and currently in my mid-20s too, but i do prefer Rolex over other brands. Maybe it is just my personal preference.

Yup, personal preference thing. Guess its just my group of friends (and myself) don't really like the cyclops. But there'll always be ppl who don't mind.

[zidaneong]

Yup, personal preference thing. Guess its just my group of friends (and myself) don't really like the cyclops. But there'll always be ppl who don't mind.

Ya, but there are also Rolex Models without cyclops like milgauss, SD, Daytona, Ak, celini and etc Maybe you and your friends will like one of those? . I always love Rolex as people around me are wearing Rolex watches.

[Wingwalker]

I think we all have to agree on one fact: Rolexes are NOT appealing to youngsters in the 20-35 age group. As I, mid-20s newbie, was looking my first decent watch, I kept on looking at Omegas. The main reason why I dislike Rolex is becoz of the CYCLOPS..! Its just UGLY and USELESS (seriously, who needs the date to be magnified other than the seniors??!!).. Rolex never crossed my mind.. Until I saw the Explorer I..

And the rest is historyy..

I have a slightly different view on this (BTW, I am in my late 40s).

I noticed that most people in their 20s are just not interested in watches. If they have extra cash to throw - they would rather upgrade to the latest smartphone or buy new clothes, instead of looking at a Rolex or any other watch.

[exxondus]

Yup, personal preference thing. Guess its just my group of friends (and myself) don't really like the cyclops. But there'll always be ppl who don't mind.

If you have never worn watches with cyclops, it does take a while to get used to it I too was like one of your friends untill I actually tried one

and due to the popularity of the cyclops, more brands are following suit on such designs. Seems might even get more popular with time instead

[Oceanklassik]

I've mentioned this before - the love for watches is unique from person to person. What I see nice, may not be what you like and vice versa. And what I do not like today, I may grow to like one day. To each his own.

[seiko.citizen]

like everything in life, its subjective. there is no one size fit all solution.

[Chunster69]

I think we all have to agree on one fact: Rolexes are NOT appealing to youngsters in the 20-35 age group. As I, mid-20s newbie, was looking my first decent watch, I kept on looking at Omegas. The main reason why I dislike Rolex is becoz of the CYCLOPS..! Its just UGLY and USELESS (seriously, who needs the date to be magnified other than the seniors??!!).. Rolex never crossed my mind.. Until I saw the Explorer I..

And the rest is historyy..

I am still within that age group and the looks and branding of the Rolex appealed to me even before I was 20yrs old. Got my 1st rollie at 26...

[ting_ys]

I read a lot of watch magazines, some years back, I saw a report about a watch magazine gathered a few top watch designers from different watch brands, to sit down and discussed about the best watch designer in the industry, to my surprise, they all agreed that Rolex is the best watch designer in the world, why? You and me may think that year after year, Rolex doesn't change their design very much, but imagine you design a car that can still sell after 25 years with little changes, that is good design, plus the fact that, you can wear your Rolex to any occasion, be it dinner, sports or any events, and it still looks good, not many watch can do that. The other day when I look at Rolex new lady half gold watches, wow, after so many years, they still look so good, I show it to my teenage friends, surprisingly, they all agreed, you see, that is the Rolex magic.

[HerzAusStahl]

This is a fun thread

I collect rolexes, omegas, sinn, seiko, and casio. Along the way, also bought for fun a little of other swiss brands here and there. I mainly like Rolex, like Omega, like Seiko, like Casio. I exist in multiple target markets.

I own a german car, a korean car, a japanese car, but drive an american-branded-conti-built company car. My TV is LG, but my amps are audio research. I own a good grand piano, but I wear $20 polarised sunglasses. I almost only eat at hawker centres, and never drink designer coffee, but my chinese tea must be top grade. I cannot accept ikea furniture in general, but toyogo is ok.

We are conundrums, but this is reality and life isn't it? Rolex losing appeal or not, and what it loses the appeal to, is a philosophical question that is hard to ring-fence (but fun lah). We assume everyone has to dichotomise their watch preferences, which is obviously not true, even in a rolex-forum. Some has to, some doesn't. I am capable of multiple interests, as are many of us here.

But I'll weigh in with my intuitive and unsubstantiated gut-feel: Yes, Rolex is slowly losing it's appeal (at least in my circles).

[HerzAusStahl]

Continuing my monologue since I cannot sleep...

I feel that Rolex is losing appeal locally primarily because of globalisation and education. To shape my thoughts a little further:

1. Increasing Markers of Success. With globalisation and education, information and mental barriers are being eroded, and we are cognisant of many alternative markers of success: status, wealth, intellect, character, morality. While a Rolex or Merc is no less a symbol of success now than yesterday, the alternatives have increased, and made the symbol of success market much noiser than before. A solid gold day-date (which incidentally is what I'm hankering for ) may be serious ammo for displaying wealth as a success marker, but if my marker for success is intellect (and a haughty disdain for material possessions), then perhaps a basic $20 casio that tells the time might do the trick better.

2. Marketing. Plus there is marketing of course; coordinated, globalised marketing. Plain old information warfare on our cognition. Association and imagination are powerful when used together.

So ah, I think bottomline is we need to buy more watches lah hehehehe... a crown for every achievement, a watch for every occassion

[DM101]

Losing it's appeal ?

It is the top luxury watch BRAND you can "trade" it into local currency any country in the world....

I dun think one can find a prawn shop that does not "eat" a ROLEX watch

That the APPEAL!

[capt chunder]

You are starting to see the big well known collectors off loading their collections. We now look at any one who wears a fob watch ( gold chain and flip lid) and roll our eyes, the next generation will do the same for people that have single function wrist watches.


I think people are wondering if there will be any value in the watch say in 20- 30 years time? I am sure it will go the same way as cod pieces, snuff boxes, walking sticks and fob watches. All very valuable at the time but now just gathering dust in the attic.

No one will really want one. Expensive multi function communication devices will be what people want to have blinging under the suit sleeves.

[Trinidad]

Expensive multi function communication devices will be what people want to have blinging under the suit sleeves.

Muayhahahahahahahhahaa!!!!

[zidaneong]

I still love my Rolex watches.

[Gunbucker]

You are starting to see the big well known collectors off loading their collections. We now look at any one who wears a fob watch ( gold chain and flip lid) and roll our eyes, the next generation will do the same for people that have single function wrist watches.


I think people are wondering if there will be any value in the watch say in 20- 30 years time? I am sure it will go the same way as cod pieces, snuff boxes, walking sticks and fob watches. All very valuable at the time but now just gathering dust in the attic.

No one will really want one. Expensive multi function communication devices will be what people want to have blinging under the suit sleeves.

Hang on, where have I heard this before? Oh wait, it's from the Quartz movement manufacturers in the 70s!

Jokes aside, a Rolex 6538 single function (yep, just checked, it just tells the time, nothing more) mechanical watch will always be desired (the last one went at $160,000 and climbing!!!) over any high-tech multi-function gadget with a strap. The same reason why a Ferrari 250 GTO California (look it up), will always be more expensive than ANY modern sports car manufactured, present and future, period.