Who will be Rolex' biggest competitor

[L-16610]

Today they are the number 1 luxury watch brand.
A lot of others are more expensive, look better, are better

but if you ask an average person on the street to name a top watch brand, 90% will answer Rolex

But what within 5 or 10 years
I know they still will be the number one but which brand might cause the biggest competition ?

AP ( maybe too epxensive)
Patek ( top but also much more expensive)
Panerai ( same price but maybe for a lot of people too big)
Hublot ( their Big Bzng is a hit; but it's all they have)
Cartier ( always a big name in luxury)

What do you think

[crew]

Omega. They are one of the few "high end" manufacturers with the production capacity to compete with Rolex. Due to this capacity, their very good quality and their lower price points they will sell a lot of units.
With that said, they are unlikely to ever surpass Rolex's reputation.

[The Joker]

I'd say Omega is the closest now and would be in 5%-10%.

I'd say Tag is also a well known brand to the average person in the street.

[Passionata]

+1 for omega
however the coaxial mvmnt is a piece of crap.
all the others you ve named are much much smaller in output-except cartier-.

[capote]

Its not really a big leap from the Daytona to PP Aquanaut, VC Overseas or AP Royal Oak in terms of price. I would probably go with one of the above instead of a Daytona, and Rolex is narrowing the gap for every price increase.

[Numismatist]

Originally Posted by Passionata

+1 for omega
however the coaxial mvmnt is a piece of crap.
all the others you ve named are much much smaller in output-except cartier-.

Curious, why the co-axial poc?

[dddrees]

I don't think Panerai will ever appeal to as many people as a Rolex appeals to now, I think they will always be a niche brand due to the way their watches look. They are a great looking watches but a bit unusual.

Omega makes sports watches primarily like Rolex and I think they could possibly do it.

[mjrennie]

I'd say that in the UK, if you asked 100 people on the street, you'd probably get:

70% Rolex
25% Tag
5% of Omega, Cartier and maybe PP thrown together.

I absolutely think TAG is seen this way in the UK.

[asadtiger]

Omega will be the biggest competitor and the only one with the history and potential to surpass...it is a good battle to see.

[EchoBlueUK]

I would also say Omega.

[KingTafari]

Hublot is running Switzerland right now... I'm not crazy about the watches, but it is what it is. They are fresh, new, and open minded about designs

[texex91]

Well I guess it depend how you define competition. Until this year I would have never purchased anything but Rolex. It's the only watch I had purchased for 20+ years, and a lot of them.

Ever since I purchased my first Panerai, I am hooked. My Rolex is collecting dust, and I don't think about purchasing another Rolex (well maybe), but rather what is the next Panerai to purchase (which I have coming tomorrow).

I think the wave of the future is boutiques, and the brands focusing on that are Rolex, Omega and Panerai. Those brands are creating their marketplace, and getting ever so cleaver on controlling more and more of the 'hype' and demand/supply.

So in my mind, for ME, it's Panerai. However, for someone else it's Omega, etc. BUT, I will always have a Rolex in the collection (my eye is still maybe on adding LV )...see you can't stop, they are great watches.

Again just a personal opinion and nothing more

[GFEAR]

Breitling is the only one that's even close. The only
Company that is cosc on every movement, new in house models all the time. Price points are very very close. And only omega is even close to them as far as
Production numbers. Breitling is going after rolex big time.

[Atomant]

Originally Posted by Numismatist

Curious, why the co-axial poc?

x2

Originally Posted by asadtiger

Omega will be the biggest competitor and the only one with the history and potential to surpass...it is a good battle to see.

I agree with you with Omega's history and potential to surpass, but Omega's history is still peanuts as compared to Rolex's. JMHO.

[TB72]

I would say Breitling or Omega.

If you'd asked this question 6 months ago I would have said Breitling but after seeing a photo of their new Colt I'm a bit worried their designs are changing too much and not for the better!

[warrior]

OMEGA...if it ever gets its act together and starts to advertise more outside Asia.

[SWIMPRUF]

Omega.

[Kanger]

Originally Posted by Passionata

+1 for omega
however the coaxial mvmnt is a piece of crap.
all the others you ve named are much much smaller in output-except cartier-.

Wait why is the co axial movement a piece of crap?

[theironchef106]

Omega. I'm thinking about getting the speedmaster myself

[kareemthedream33]

Breitling.

[slcbbrown]

Originally Posted by L-16610

Today they are the number 1 luxury watch brand.
A lot of others are more expensive, look better, are better

but if you ask an average person on the street to name a top watch brand, 90% will answer Rolex

But what within 5 or 10 years
I know they still will be the number one but which brand might cause the biggest competition ?

AP ( maybe too epxensive)
Patek ( top but also much more expensive)
Panerai ( same price but maybe for a lot of people too big)
Hublot ( their Big Bzng is a hit; but it's all they have)
Cartier ( always a big name in luxury)

What do you think

Any brand that wants to challenge Rolex has to make watches in volume and have some basic distribution strength. Manufacturing is a much bigger issue than distribution, in this case. The brands you listed are tiny, niche players-- with a partial exception for Cartier which is a big jewelry maker and small watch builder. Really the same situation for Breguet, Blancpain, GP, VC, etc.

Firms that are almost hand making watches can't hit the "go faster" button. Same for the makers who are creating very complicated or unique movements.

That leaves us with Omega (Swatch owned and big distribution). However, Rolex is synonymous with quality, and that reputation took decades to establish. It will take Omega almost the same time to do the same thing. While I like what I see from Omega, I don't see anything that says they will equal Rolex, much less exceed. If Omega starts making watches that are as good in every way as Rolex, they will still run into the problem of pricing.

As Omega approaches Rolex pricing, they run into the same problem Lexus has with Mercedes. If a Lexus and MB are identical as far as styling and quality go, and the prices are the same-- I think everyone picks the Mercedes. So back you go to reducing the prices.

[Watch Professor]

Originally Posted by GFEAR

Breitling is the only one that's even close. The only
Company that is cosc on every movement, new in house models all the time. Price points are very very close. And only omega is even close to them as far as
Production numbers. Breitling is going after rolex big time.

I was going to say Omega, but Breitling is an excellent choice to answer this question.

[greekbum]

IMHO Rolex's only competition is its own watches. Used Rolex watches are the only competition New Rolex watches have.

[charlesvdw]

Omega. Maybe Cartier.

[dysondiver]

Originally Posted by capote

Its not really a big leap from the Daytona to PP Aquanaut, VC Overseas or AP Royal Oak in terms of price. I would probably go with one of the above instead of a Daytona, and Rolex is narrowing the gap for every price increase.

theres a lot of wisdom in that post , i think rolex are in danger of overpricing themselves into a bad position , where their percieved quality wont match the actual price.
panerai are the one to watch ,,, from relativly un heard of to common place in five years, i think omega have been in second place in the general publics eye ever to step up to number one , its a merc rolls thing. better or not its always seen as a second best.

[KingTafari]

Breitling resale is 30 to 50% on the dollar of the retail price... Cool to buy for yourself and wear, not a good investment

[watchdaddy1]

Omega has the potential, but IMO no1 will top Rolex

[herdinoh]

I wont consider Omega for anything more than 5k. i am not saying it is not good as Rolex. But if I pay same top price, why not Rolex?!

[Sixxgrand1]

Breitling. Even ROLEX authorities admit that Breitling is the 'other watch' many ROLEX buyers consider.

[Wisconsin Proud]

Breitling watches have such a different personality that I dont see them as direct competition to Rolex. They have a few samller watches like the 41 Galactic but someone looking for a Datejust-type of watch won't be buying Breitling.