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Originally Posted by inadeje
Well written and perfectly accurate synopsis of where we’ve been and the contemporary buzz around our hobby and the Rolex brand.
I personally appreciate how you have walked us through time, while providing your sentiment during that period. It certainly helps to frame the scenario better. I can relate to almost everything you have stated, however, my viewpoint emanates from across the pond, which was mainly where I lived during the 80s and 90s era. The whole gamut has changed, as you so eloquently stated. The motivation to buy has penetrated tranches of society that Rolex marketing could only have dreamed of a few decades back. Notwithstanding, I still think that this outcome wasn’t Rolex’s doing, at least I don’t think that this was a masterplan, rather the subtle outcome of a 24/7 connected world. Even back in the 40s and 50s there were idols, people the general public looked up to and tried to emulate, albeit because their styles and habits were seen less frequently, on movie screens or in print media. The phenomenon we are living today is one in which the human need for an idol or figurehead is rammed down everyone’s throat 24/7, thus creating a more intense outcome, a reality that is portrayed in today’s watch market, since watches are one of the trinkets society considers as a sign of success.
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Agreed.
There was a period where a Rolex morphed from being an item where one could park some money and generally get it back after enjoying it, transitioning to an asset class where one could get rich quick with the right purchase.
Social media drove this transformation with these forums also playing their part.
Now, I have seen two articles published on the internet in the last few weeks more or less pushing the fast buck concept one way or another.