I'm seeing Rolex everywhere and on everyone

[tbonesteak]

IDK, feels like the coolness and exclusivity are peaking and the cycle could be drawing to a close. I don't say that as a disgruntled consumer, I can have any model I want at MSRP within 4 weeks, but they're selling 1mm watches a year, everyone who wants one has one.

Most things are cyclical, and when I see a clerk at the DMV wearing a Sub, I get the sense the end is near.

[T01]

Good for you being able to get whatever you want in 4 weeks, if all of us were only so lucky. Not really cool to stereotype either.

[Vipes]

I never think of Rolex as exclusive. Look at Lange, Patek, AP for exclusivity. If you desire more exclusivity then look at the independent watch makers.

[Pballkm21]

I was out for MDW and was absolutely in a place where people could afford them...and boy did they! I must have seen 10+ subs, mostly TT, a RG rootbeer and a YG yachtmaster.

This was just out at a local bar spot.

[LooseCann0n]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

... they're selling 1mm watches a year, everyone who wants one has one.

Maybe in New York - certainly not the case in China where there are 100m+ newly middle class..
..or in Indonesia, or Malaysia or Thailand or...

New peak or new normal..?

[TswaneNguni]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

IDK, feels like the coolness and exclusivity are peaking and the cycle could be drawing to a close. I don't say that as a disgruntled consumer, I can have any model I want at MSRP within 4 weeks, but they're selling 1mm watches a year, everyone who wants one has one.

Most things are cyclical, and when I see a clerk at the DMV wearing a Sub, I get the sense the end is near.

[Ravager135]

Rolex has never been "exclusive" until recently (again this relative exclusivity is subject to debate and is limited mostly to stainless steel models). Rolex, by the very method in which they manufacture their pieces, are intended to be extremely high quality mass produced units. They aren't the haute horolgy house that AP, PP, VC, and ALS are. That's what makes this "shortage" all the more frustrating and suspected to be artificial at some point in the delivery process. I've been a collector for over a decade and I just simply refuse to believe this is market/economy induced.

What I have said over and over and over again is that I feel fortunate to have gotten the pieces I wanted, when I was able to. I would consider some of the new offerings like the BLRO, but it just isn't worth the headache when I already own the BLNR. If I could be reasonably assured I could get a BLRO at MSRP in a reasonable timeline without my money being tied up, I wouldn't be looking at other brands.

Panerai has washed out for me. I have what I want from Omega. I am actually becoming increasingly interested in what IWC is doing and may expand that collection next.

[tbonesteak]

Nothing against the clerk at the DMV, just using it as the latest example of seeing them everywhere.

Debating dumping my collection and moving on to PP. I'm sure a lot of us are watch lovers, collectors, enjoy movements, etc... To me it feels like anyone who wants to be cool and flash a little money buys a Rolex at this point.

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by LooseCann0n

Maybe in New York - certainly not the case in China where there are 100m+ newly middle class..
..or in Indonesia, or Malaysia or Thailand or...

New peak or new normal..?

I can only speak to my habitat, and here in NY, they're everywhere.

[vicsdca]

If you're looking for exclusivity you should wear something other than a Sub. Real ones are common, fake ones even more.

Wearing vintage watches is one way to go, the other option is to wear less popular sports models. However, the Sub is popular for a reason. It has been the perfect sports watch for decades (up until recently when Rolex made it with a square case).

[sillo]

Also have to think, how many of them are the real deal. I imagine most are, but definitely not all of them.

[Stew7]

In the Finance Capital of the World you are seeing a lot of Rolex watches? I would think it has been that way for many years.

[sillo]

Originally Posted by Stew7

In the Finance Capital of the World you are seeing a lot of Rolex watches? I would think it has been that way for many years.

This is true too. NY definitely has a higher Rolex density than most places.

[hitman23]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

IDK, feels like the coolness and exclusivity are peaking and the cycle could be drawing to a close. I don't say that as a disgruntled consumer, I can have any model I want at MSRP within 4 weeks, but they're selling 1mm watches a year, everyone who wants one has one.

Most things are cyclical, and when I see a clerk at the DMV wearing a Sub, I get the sense the end is near.

before you move on to PP, you can always help a fellow NYer get a pepsi at MSRP:)

[Colin G]

Exclusivity. Lol.

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by Stew7

In the Finance Capital of the World you are seeing a lot of Rolex watches? I would think it has been that way for many years.

I've always noticed watches, but lately, it isn't just the banker - it's the hipster with a skateboard, the engineer with the Google bag, the ConEd guy checking power meters, it's everyone... While anecdotal, imo the numbers are through the roof in the last 24 months.

[Carry The Interest]

Watches/jewelry are one of the top 3 categories of counterfeits in the US. The Sub is probably the most iconic, "accessible" luxury watch...You do the math. I can't imagine the # of counterfeit Subs, LV Neverfull bags and Hermes gold belts there out there relative to authentic ones.

That being said, watches have definitely become a more mainstream "fad" the past year or so. I think the mainstream part followed what we started seeing in the SS supply shortages trend ~2 years ago. This makes sense to me -- as things take time to really permeate into all the mainstream channels (e.g., is it just me or has GQ been putting out a lot more watch-related content the past 12 months). Today it's "cool" to save up and buy a Rolex. It's cool to buy vintage watches. There are now kids in college/fresh out of school trying to play the vintage watch game similar to what others do with hard to get sneakers/apparel. It's definitely a by-product of the digital/"influencer" social media world that exists now. Hell there are now even (hilarious) IG accounts like "rolexbusters", "ballerbusters", and "wristbusters" dedicated to exposing the influencer-types that wear fakes.

[omx5o]

Well that’s it then. Oh well.

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by hitman23

before you move on to PP, you can always help a fellow NYer get a pepsi at MSRP:)

Probably the only one I'll keep. Might get rid of a Hulk, SD43, & Root Beer... I'll let you know if I do.

[Ricky Rolex]

I'm one of those annoying guys who's always looking at people's wrists to see what they're wearing & I'm lucky to see 3-4 Rolex's a week if that and that's in London where I work in the heart of the city.

Just my tuppence worth.

[Colin G]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

I've always noticed watches, but lately, it isn't just the banker - it's the hipster with a skateboard, the engineer with the Google bag, the ConEd guy checking power meters, it's everyone... While anecdotal, imo the numbers are through the roof in the last 24 months.

Someone who owns a skateboard should not buy a Rolex?

Just to put a skateboard into perspective for you. I sold a few NOS skateboard decks from the 80's and made enough to buy another Rolex and I'm no hipster. Just an old skater and BMXer in his late 40's that happens to like Rolex watches.

[wisguy]

Rolax has been selling 1 million watches a year for many years, so yes, they are common.

But not everyone has one, right now not even people that want and can afford them have them!

[tbonesteak]

Originally Posted by Colin G

Someone who owns a skateboard should not buy a Rolex?

Just to put a skateboard into perspective for you. I sold a few NOS skateboard decks from the 80's and made enough to buy another Rolex.

No need to be a watch biggot.

I'm simply providing personal examples of things I've never seen until very recently, and I've always paid attention. A little sensitive, no?

[francoamerican]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

IDK, feels like the coolness and exclusivity are peaking and the cycle could be drawing to a close. I don't say that as a disgruntled consumer, I can have any model I want at MSRP within 4 weeks, but they're selling 1mm watches a year, everyone who wants one has one.

Most things are cyclical, and when I see a clerk at the DMV wearing a Sub, I get the sense the end is near.

I would respectfully disagree with your viewpoint

Rolex has always been everywhere with the exception of the longer standing Daytona waiting lists, and a recent two year window where the colorful bezel watches have become expensive.

I am also not certain why someone at the DMV would not have a sub? Assuming they bought somewhere between 1980s and 2010 it was an extremely reasonable prospect, and still wouldn't cost more than adding the "touring" package to a minivan. (I couldn't justify the touring package on my sienna)

Vintage is "cool" in a hipster way (which i use in the most affectionate way) but that has really become unreasonably expensive (the classic hipster paradox.)

Nautilus, daytona and vintage spikes are a result of how common even sports rolex are in booming markets - it's the next level of exclusivity.

[Colin G]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

A little sensitive, no?

Not at all.

[tbonesteak]

And FWIW, I have nothing against anyone owning a Rolex, I'm using my experience to point out that I am personally seeing a completely new genre of folks wearing Rolex that I haven't previously seen. This is just my opinion, no need to for anyone to be offended.

[myporsche]

Originally Posted by Colin G

Someone who owns a skateboard should not buy a Rolex?

Just to put a skateboard into perspective for you. I sold a few NOS skateboard decks from the 80's and made enough to buy another Rolex and I'm no hipster. Just an old skater and BMXer in his late 40's that happens to like Rolex watches.

That's awesome!

[Xerxes77]

Originally Posted by Vipes

I never think of Rolex as exclusive. Look at Lange, Patek, AP for exclusivity. If you desire more exclusivity then look at the independent watch makers.

This

[mgsooner]

I guess my question for OP would be, why do you care? You’re going to dump your Rolex collection because you’re seeing too many of them on other people? Answer this: did you buy your watches because you like them or because you saw them as something inaccessible to most people?

[vicsdca]

Originally Posted by tbonesteak

And FWIW, I have nothing against anyone owning a Rolex, I'm using my experience to point out that I am personally seeing a completely new genre of folks wearing Rolex that I haven't previously seen. This is just my opinion, no need to for anyone to be offended.

The public's perception of the brand has changed for the better. It has finally become cool to wear a Rolex and I think it's great that young people are able to appreciate the beauty of a purely mechanical device in a world of electronics. It gives me hope for the future.