Is a Rolex always "worth" the price?

[Jimbits76]

Are Rolex the best, let alone worth it?

I'm sure right now Patek owners, VC owners, JlC owners, Breguet owners, Zenith owners, IWC owners etc are all wondering the same thing.

Brand association is almost tribal. Think about it. In the Uk when I was a kid we had Commodore and Sinclair home computers...some guys opted for one and stuck with them throughout. Later on kids were either sega or nintendo.

These kids grow up and it becomes Mercedes or BMW, Rolex or Omega, Calloway or Ping, Nike or Adidas. It goes on forever.

Some guys support Manchester United, some Liverpool, some Lakers, some Knicks...the list is endless.

Everybody thinks the thing they are passionate about is the best, thats where the passion comes from. Is a Mercedes SL AMG worth £120000...to guys who love Mercs it is. Me I wouldn't pay more than £20000 on a car, the damn things lose money as soon as you drive them.

But....there are many who wouldn't pay £3500 on a watch, let alone £20000...it's horses for courses as my old nan would say!

J

[kcmo]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

I would rather have one or two very nice things than a bunch of lesser quality stuff. I am more of a quality vs. quantity kind of guy.

I totally agree

To me, nothing feels as good on my wrist as a Rolex. Personally, I DON'T WANT to wear another brand.

[entropydave]

I believe in the "one-time-purchase" principle - Essentally I try to get the best, even if it mean extending myself - but this does not ally to clothes or booze or cars. Fro exsmple, I spent over £5000 on a HiFi (Linn-Naimbased ystem) and you know what? although everyone, well almost everyone thought I was crazy - well, it lastyed longer than my marraige and been thru 3 kids! And it still works as well as the day I first set it up all those decades ago. Worth every penny - long afer the pain of payment has passed, the pleasure ofthe item long remains. I feel that way towards my Rolex amongst many other things I possess.

[Skutt50]

I have to admit I like Rolex not because it happens to be the best watch ever made but a good watch combined with the exclusiveness of the brand.

IMHP other watches keeps time just as accurate. I have an Omega Constellation who is within a second per day. Also my Casio G-Shock and an old seiko is spot on. So for me the accuracy is not the selection criteria.

Waterproof, yes. But so are many other watches. E.g. my Casio.

Solid. Yes and so is my Casio. It survives my style of life, Travel, Farm life, Worshop environment, work in the forrest etc. Also my Seiko and Omega managed this.

What else do I want from a watch? Looking good. This is personal and in my eyes some watches look good some don't. As an example I do not like the looks of the Sea Dweller. (Do I dare to say that here?)

So why do I have a Rolex?

Since I was about 20 I always dreamed of one day being able to buy a Rolex, because it was expensive and glamorous. (I also dreamed about a Rolls Royce but that is still a dream.) Now I finaly have reached the point where I got a Rolex. (It's a Date Just).

Why a DJ? It combines my thoughts above, Accurate, Solid, Waterproof, Looking good AND it has the glamour associated with it.

So in summary: Without the glamour sourounding Rolex I would have choosen another watch.

Does this make it worth the price? Yes and No. Fram a practical point of view I find it very overpriced but from a glamour point of view it could just as well be more expensive.

[f16570]

Not convinced that the swapping would be as pleasing. I cannot put my finger on why, but if you have to ask...................

[Baptistman]

Good post, Ive been down this road many times and always come back to Rolex.
Why: where do I begin. I like the styles, I like the build quality, I like the original simplicity.

However I see Rolex entering a new era of design and pricing, so I guess I purchased the right watch at the right time for me.

When I have my SD on, I find myself giving casual glances at displays, my SD gives me 100 percent satisfaction as a WIS.

[Hamilton Carvalho]

X3

Originally Posted by Felly Jr.

X 2

[OYSTERMANN]

The quality and enjoyment of ownership lasts a lifetime, long after the price is forgotten.

[Teofilo]

I wanted a Rolex for my 40th birthday and saved really hard so I could afford it. It now lives in my safe and when I want to feel special my Sub comes out.....fantastic !
However, I have since spent about a third of the money on an Omega and find that the cheaper watch has a better bracelet, better clasp, better lume and feels more comfortable on the wrist.
I wouldnt be without either, but I doubt I will be paying Rolex prices again.

[cocopeep]

Looked at many other watches, and I still find myself admiring the rolex brand, although I dont like half of the new stuff, as I still like the mid-90's designs the best.

[Andad]

If you check the prices of Rolex watches over the years you will see a pleasant trend for those who purchase this brand.

[DS/B MINI S]

When you buy quality, you only cry once.

Yes, I feel the Rolex watches I own were worth the cost.

[Terry Newton]

I would not have thought of buying this watch for myself though I always wanted one. My wife convinced me to get my first one and the second came soon after. I have always said here that I consider myself to be practical. It is hard for me to justify the expense. I believe in quality though and have always bought the best of what I could afford. That meant music (Nakamichi, Denon, Jamo, Polk, Proton), Steiner Binoculars, Leica Camera, Lexus (4th one now), Bicycles (many quality road bikes pedaled thousand's of miles, etc. The list goes on. I got the Submariner used from a fellow TRF'r and saved a lot of money, the Tag I bought gray market and saved a bundle, the RGM Watch I just bought I got a great deal from the second in command there, and the TT GMT-Master IIc is the only one I paid full price for before the price increase. I don't think I'd own that one today if I had to pay the current price. I figure I have $25,000 worth of watches for a $19,000 investment. I plan on working many more years and will have saved a bundle to have a nice retirement. I had my house paid for and bought a store for my wife which ended up being a tax write-off for us, I have not paid an interest payment on a credit card in close to 20 years, I pay cash or I do not buy, I max out my IRA plus save extra every year, and, for the most part, live frugally.

So I figure the joy I get out of looking at my watches daily is a small sacrifice for the money that I paid. I was afraid of the expense initially as it is a lot of money. The joy I get out of wearing them more than paid for that. Plus I figure that if I get in a pickle I can sell one of them here.

I can honestly say that it was money well spent. I also appreciate someone questioning this as it helps me to clarify for myself why I spent the money I did. Thanks.

Terry Newton

[rob]

How much is anything worth paying for over wholesale? You figure (USD) you have to earn $2.00's to spend $1.00. So If you watch costs you..say..6k, you have to make 12k! That is pretty sobering! Wages, Taxation:, Gov(Fed), SS, and state, depending on your tax bracket. I think it is important to reward yourself, as long as everything is order!!!! Everything in moderation!!!! That is the key for me!

[SL%%]

Originally Posted by GoldenBear

I would rather have one or two very nice things than a bunch of lesser quality stuff. I am more of a quality vs. quantity kind of guy.

same here and for me if you want something and you're going to buy it, why settle on the second best if you can have what you think is the BEST

[GMTJOHNNY]

Worth every penny! They really hold their value! Glad I did it when I did it.

[Bama]

I've really enjoyed reading all the different thoughts and opinions from everyone on this issue. I really appreciate it and I continue to enjoy the diversity and the well- mannered folks here on TRF.

[ROLEX MAN]

worth it thats why I only have one!

[RKA]

Originally Posted by DSJ

I thought this too, and talked myself out of buying a Rolex in 2000, when I bought my SMP instead. The desire of Rolex ownership was not placated. If one wants a quality watch and has no brand particularity, an Omega or Breitling or many other watches will do. For one who wants a Rolex for whatever reason, nothing else will do.

I too have owned some great watches, but always knew that I had "settled" for less than a Rolex. Now finally as an owner I feel great about this watch. I have never thought about the cost.. I tell myself now that, " I'll stop after two!"

[unclesallie]

hmmm
no advice to give on this one. i go with what i like at the moment.
best, dan

[jasonbellevue]

Wearing my Rollies makes me happy, so YES, it's definitely worth it.

[Felly Jr.]

Originally Posted by jasonbellevue

Wearing my Rollies makes me happy, so YES, it's definitely worth it.

They make me so happy I was able to quit taking anti depressants! Yay, no more ding biscuits!

[jasonbellevue]

Originally Posted by Felly Jr.

They make me so happy I was able to quit taking anti depressants! Yay, no more ding biscuits!

[daveathall]

I bought a GSAR so that I wouldnt have to wear my SD to work, the GSAR stopped two days after I first wound it up, nothing wrong with it, but every time I go to put it on something says Nah, and I end up wearing my SD, it just seems a natural reaction.

Before I bought my SD I was one of those people that said "I just dont get Rolex"

Well I do now, I love em.

"I just dont get Rolex" what a daft saying.

[marshallr47]

I think you get what you pay for.

[arnaud]

Moi je recherche une rolex submariner 14060 d'occasion, 2600 USD Max vous pensez que c'est trouvable?

[fernando]

Rolex isn't "worth" the cost; but who really buys one thinking about the the nice profit they just donated to Rolex? It's like women get about spending on weddings - an emotional thing rather than a purely rational thing.

[jasonbellevue]

Originally Posted by arnaud

Moi je recherche une rolex submariner 14060 d'occasion, 2600 USD Max vous pensez que c'est trouvable?

c'est difficile

[TempoKing]

Back when I was pennyless I found my first Rolex in the street while searching
for a half eaten hamburger
...Yeap thats me when I found the watch..!



Then I started trading it for a better watch, finally after trading a few hundred
times I was not pennyless anymore but could never forget my humble beginnings
so I bought "Pennyless"...just below



Please trade your Rolex....and think of me..LOL

[TempoKing]

Originally Posted by arnaud

Moi je recherche une rolex submariner 14060 d'occasion, 2600 USD Max vous pensez que c'est trouvable?

Mon ami...if you will find the "OUgly" submariner 14060 for 1.625 euro
I will become a resident of Dijon and eat moutarde for breakfast...every day.