Who Will Buy Rolex 30 Years From Now ?

[SeaAndSky]

Originally Posted by pickettt

Thank you for saying it.

Sorry, but you speak for yourselves. Certainly not me. I've never bought anything in my adult life to impress others.

[McLovin]

People have liked jewelry since the beginning of time. I'm not worried about the luxury watch business.

[kearez]

Rolex will be around there marketing is world class plus remember they have no share holders to please.

Also Rolex will still be seen as a status symbol to the general public. Like it not that is how Rolex is seen. There will always be a market for these types of luxury goods.

[ronricks]

Originally Posted by sco

Are you guys just worrying about selling your collections one day?

I'm not sure what the future holds. I just like wearing my watches...

They could end up like baseball cards and be worthless except for extreme vintage examples. There is a reason Swiss watch sales are down. None of this will stop me from wearing or buying a Rolex however.

[robbycon]

I'm a 30 year old software engineer and I love my mechanical watches. The movement is what first brought me in, but the design has kept me wanting more. I feel like smart watches will get younger people wearing SOMETHING on their wrist, which they weren't before. Eventually some will want a luxury watch on their wrist to replace the immediately obsolete technology they were wearing.

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[sutats]

Celebrities have a massive influence on sheeple's buying patterns. We'll find out in 30 years.

[Juantxo]

When I bought my first Rolex, a two-tone Datejust with Jubilee bracelet, Omega had recently launched their way awesome quartz Mariner Seamaster. And Seiko was taking over the watch world. That's over thirty years ago. In the world of Rolex things haven't changed much.

I wonder, though, if we as a species will be around in thirty years to tell time. With so many psychopaths ruling the world, who knows.

[OgSnowflake]

I’m 30 and not really into apple watches ...in 30 yrs I’ll prob be teleporting into my local rolex ad once a yr to grab something.

[rolex75216]

I think they will sell more than they do today. People will always have the desire to have a luxury time piece in my opinion.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I think there will always be a place for mechanical watches.

One things for sure, though, thirty years from now, I won't be buying any.

You and me both, pal.

[WhiskeyKoffee]

The world may be a totally different place in 30 years. Who knows. Watches might fly at that point. I'm living in the present and looking for my next Rolex.

[sgarrity]

Why not own both? Apple Watch at the gym and to work some days, Rolex and Breitlngs at work sometimes and evenings and weekends.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

You and me both, pal.

You can lump me in with your group as well

[Boothroyd]

I am highly likely to be fertilizer by then, so not me. Won't worry much about it. Rolex will be around.

[JBoone]

Need to remember that wristwatches have only been popular witb the general public for the last hundred years or so. Also interesting that it could argued that the mechanical watch has been retro since the quartz revoulotion.

God knows what 30 years will bring but I would bet that quality time pieces will outpace inflation during this time period (but my crystal ball is no better than yours)

[mmmmp]

Fun thread! There have been some excellent and thought provoking postings.

Just my opinion but I think there will always be people that appreciate quality and craftsmanship.

Like me, there will always be a segment of society that is appalled at this disposable culture we live in. To say nothing 30 years down the road. I'd like to think things may re-balance themselves in the future, but unless it becomes cost effective to do so, it might get worse. (Throw-away cars perhaps? Lol)

Just my two cents,
Mark



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[Uppersouth]

[QUOTE=robbycon;7996271]I'm a 30 year old software engineer and I love my mechanical watches. The movement is what first brought me in, but the design has kept me wanting more. I feel like smart watches will get younger people wearing SOMETHING on their wrist, which they weren't before. Eventually some will want a luxury watch on their wrist to replace the immediately obsolete technology they were wearing.

This is an interesting thought. I like the idea of wrist device trainingcoupled with dissatisfaction with the never ending obsolescence of wearable electronic devices.

[Rsubnodate]

I’m 26 and I wouldn’t be caught dead with a high tech smart watch. I wear and enjoy Rolex and other mechanical brands for many reasons. For some a Rolex is just a status symbol and that will not change in 30 years. Then you have the true watch fans that enjoy design, function, and craftsmanship of a mechanical watch.

Trends come and go but a Rolex lasts forever.


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[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by nawarra

There is a chance that in 30 years you won't be able to live without something like Apple Watch. It will monitor your health, start your car, replace your drivers license etc...

Agreed. The real threat is if and when these gadgets become indispensable to everyday life/health and compete for wrist real estate. I mean, just think how desirable pocketwatches are now days...

[Star Ferry]

It will still be around. People currently in their teens and 20s will be in their 40s and 50s... buying then what they covet (but can't afford) now

At least one person will be buying, as I'll still be in my 50s

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

It will still be around. People currently in their teens and 20s will be in their 40s and 50s... buying then what they covet (but can't afford) now

At least one person will be buying, as I'll still be in my 50s

Ill still buy them in 30 years too.

I would also add that the "collecting" of many, many watches is relatively new generally. I know my fathers and grandfathers generation if they had a Rolex or something similar they typically had 1 especially when they were young. Today people have 5 or 10 or more Rolex's and its not uncommon at all and that is starting at an earlier age. So maybe the number of buyers have gone down and will continue to do so, but the ones that are are collecting are getting more per person. I think that trend will continue.

[The Libertine]

There will always be a market for, and interest in mechanical watches.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by tyler1980

Ill still buy them in 30 years too.

Hopefully we'll still be around in 30 years -- let's not tempt fate

I would also add that the "collecting" of many, many watches is relatively new generally. I know my fathers and grandfathers generation if they had a Rolex or something similar they typically had 1 especially when they were young. Today people have 5 or 10 or more Rolex's and its not uncommon at all and that is starting at an earlier age. So maybe the number of buyers have gone down and will continue to do so, but the ones that are are collecting are getting more per person. I think that trend will continue.

I guess if you look back before quartz, Rolex was a high quality but mostly utilitarian item. Similar to how I currently own one letter opener and have no desire to purchase a second one

Maybe being a status symbol is key to the collectibility. 70 years ago, there were rich men buying multiple homes and cars, right? Or maybe a large collection of fine hats? (history isn't my strong suit)

prices have gone up in real terms, deeper into luxury territory, based on this chart that I've seen posted on TRF in the past

[tyler1980]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

Maybe being a status symbol is key to the collectibility. 70 years ago, there were rich men buying multiple homes and cars, right? Or maybe a large collection of fine hats? (history isn't my strong suit)

I don't know for sure. I just think the sheer amount of "stuff" the average person accumulates now is way more than it used to be.Ive got more collectable stuff than my dad and he has more stuff than his dad and so on. Sheer quantity seems more important now. Not judging, but its the feeling i get.

[CPRWATCH]

In 30 years from now ,I will just be happy to wake up in the morning. But people will & always have bought Quality through the ages so , Rolex = Quality . Rolex will always sell watches , But I think Market tastes may change over time & Rolex may not offer the choice it does today ,& will probably focus on a couple of models .

[broken_link]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

prices have gone up in real terms, deeper into luxury territory, based on this chart that I've seen posted on TRF in the past

looks like Rolex also had its “perestroika” moment around 1985 :-)

10->6 between 1984 and 1988 on your chart

[justdate]

Originally Posted by Star Ferry

prices have gone up in real terms, deeper into luxury territory, based on this chart that I've seen posted on TRF in the past

However, cheap, plentiful consumer credit and a booming secondary market does change the realities of that graph, and means these watches are more accessible than ever - other than availability!

[MonBK]

I will.

[Star Ferry]

Originally Posted by broken_link

looks like Rolex also had its “perestroika” moment around 1985 :-)

10->6 between 1984 and 1988 on your chart

Perhaps it was the emergence of astronomical compensation in finance & "tech" during that time? I wasn't there... I just read The Bonfire of the Vanities

[Kenrocks]

I’ve been thinking about the same question for a while - kudos to the OP!

I hold a more positive view:

While demands for our watches may diminish after the biggest asset bubble burst which will happen in the next ten years, I’d imagine that there will also be some kind of electronic crisis/apocalypse within the next 30 years, when people realize that there should have been a bigger place for mechanical time pieces. At the time however craftsmanship required to make these watches will become so scarce that our Rolexes will be worth dozens of times over compared to their value today.


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