Recent trip drove home how unbelievably popular Rolex and other watches are right now

[ExplorerI]

I live in a rural area where you don’t see many watches. However I’ve been wearing an Omega or Rolex of some kind for more than 10 years now. Even when I go to bigger cities or Europe very rarely would anybody comment on it. I’d spot a few watches that other guys were wearing but they were also few and far between.

I just went to Europe for work and today it seems like every other person you see in the airport is wearing a Rolex or some other Swiss watch. Then on the streets in Europe again every other person wearing some kind of Swiss watch. Gold watches which you rarely used to see were also very common.

At our meeting there were 4 other people wearing GMTs. I think I had 10 other people comment on mine or ask me about how I bought it which is probably about the same number of conversations I’ve had on watches with other people in the last 10 years.

Crazy how times have changed and I wonder how long the cultural interest will stay focused on these silly things?

[amh]

I've seen the opposite. Used to see a half dozen Rolex wearers during any visit to the local shopping mall, now it's all apple watch

[Tim Plains]

Opposite experience as well, all Apple Watches.

[Gerardus]

Not my experience regarding Europe. Apple watch or nothing (at all)

[Nads786]

It’s mostly Apple Watches for me as well with an exception at large airports or resorts.

Disney and Florida seems to be a great place for watch spotting.


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[Bozzie1982]

Agree.

Just had a holiday in Corfu and spotted several subs and a few PP also.

[JonaG]

Interest in these “silly things” is waning fast hence more and more people getting called by the AD. I was in Europe this month and nothing really stood out, some Rolex’s, a lot of Apple watches. Most I didn’t pay attention to. Almost all friends/colleagues/family have no interest in watches so it could be the occupation you have and where those offices are located that are giving you this lens on Europe….

[jb335]

Hmmm. I definitely don’t notice THAT many people wearing Rolex. No where close to “every other person”


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[JRell]

Only other Rolexes I see on people are old TT Datejusts

[dlddrrr]

From what I see in Vancouver, Rolexes have never been more popular than they are now.

[RobJohnFL]

My experience in Europe:
70% Smartwatches
10% Luxury
20% Other

[JC316]

Originally Posted by RobJohnFL

My experience in Europe:

70% Smartwatches

10% Luxury

20% Other

Sounds about right. More smart watches for me.

[Marcjvr]

My last trip to Disney land you couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone wearing a Rolex. Same thing at a pga tour event. Same thing when going to the carribean

[enjoythemusic]

Have attended various luxury shows globally for about three decades. There's an uptick Big Time for those with means. Guys now stop me at shows asking if i'm wearing a Snoopy or Hulk or ___ depending on what is being worn. Those who know me have been calling/emailing asking my advice moreso over the past five years than the twenty that proceeded it.

jmho

[MONTANTK]

Originally Posted by Marcjvr

My last trip to Disney land you couldn’t swing a dead cat without hitting someone wearing a Rolex. Same thing at a pga tour event. Same thing when going to the carribean

I was at a PGA Tour event in NYC a couple of years ago and saw tons of Rolex. Mostly subs and a few GMTs and day dates. I was at Oak Hill this year and I’m sure it would have been the same story but everyone was wearing long sleeves.

[Pop Art Suzy]

I live in a small college town, so I mainly see Apple Watches. I never see people wearing Rolexes here. Maybe in Denver it's more prevalent, but not where I live.

[Roddypeepa]

I’ve seen the opposite. During 3 weeks in France didn’t see a single one. Rarely see in uk.


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[Chaucer1787]

I’m near the Pocono Mountain region of PA and have seen exactly one BLNR (in a large gas station chain). When I am down along the Jersey Coast fishing offshore tournaments it’s a different ballgame. Fished one back in July and saw day dates, subs, gmts of all kinds.


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[daveo5]

During one, three week visit to Europe, Germany, Austria, and Italy I only observed two people wearing Rolexes. One was a waiter in Munich, the other a parking lot manger in Trieste. Go figure.


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[GreatScott]

When I was there I saw a lot of Moonswatch wearers, more than anything else, it was crazy

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[RichardBartlett]

On my world cruise there were a few of elderly folk wearing mainly elderly Rolexes. One ex Italian Senator and his wife had a nice range of Rolexes with them but tended to wear his Moonswatch onshore and she stuck with her gold lady day just.
One French guy wore his SS Daytona everywhere even in the more risky places!. An Amercian wore his solid gold bluesy but only on the ship.
The vast majority wore Invicta or worse

Our on trip in general onshore I noticed watches only in places where you'd expect them to be (Dubai HK Singapore etc) . otherwise no not really.

[Marcjvr]

Originally Posted by Roddypeepa

I’ve seen the opposite. During 3 weeks in France didn’t see a single one. Rarely see in uk.


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Went to Barbados in 2019 and it felt like every British tourist I saw had one on. Made me wonder if Rolexes were issued to British travelers along with their passports

[AndVegas]

I’m in Las Vegas so naturally see tons of luxury on the Strip, mainly Rolex and Audemars Piguet. There’s been an increase in locals wearing Rolex though - they are everywhere nowadays!

[JasoninDenver]

Originally Posted by Pop Art Suzy

I live in a small college town, so I mainly see Apple Watches. I never see people wearing Rolexes here. Maybe in Denver it's more prevalent, but not where I live.

Durango, Ft. Collins or Greeley??

Not very prevalent in Denver as a whole but my area of Cherry Hills I would say about 30% of the guys wear them and about 10% of the women.

[Pop Art Suzy]

Originally Posted by JasoninDenver

Durango, Ft. Collins or Greeley??

Not very prevalent in Denver as a whole but my area of Cherry Hills I would say about 30% of the guys wear them and about 10% of the women.

Fort Collins. Good guess!

P.S. I LOVE Cherry Creek.


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[sambb]

i see mainly apple watch - not much else in corporate america. a few rollies but not many.

[Nads786]

Airports during the work week is a great time to spot Rolexes. Watch culture is still prevalent in the consulting world I suspect.


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[ExplorerI]

Originally Posted by JonaG

Interest in these “silly things” is waning fast hence more and more people getting called by the AD. I was in Europe this month and nothing really stood out, some Rolex’s, a lot of Apple watches. Most I didn’t pay attention to. Almost all friends/colleagues/family have no interest in watches so it could be the occupation you have and where those offices are located that are giving you this lens on Europe….

Wealth management and Switzerland lol. I spose that has something to do with it.

[puma1552]

Not much in the Twin Cities.

Well, except that guy at the Mercedes dealer with a big oversized solid gold whatever model intentionally conspicuously in view with his sweatshirt cuff intentionally wedged above it.

[Krash]

We just went to Venice, Italy a couple months back. We flew business class and stayed at a 5 star hotel. So of course we saw a lot of luxury watches, especially Rolex. People always comment about how popular black dial Submariners are, but I think I saw everything but one of those. I saw DJs, DDs, Daytonas, GMTs, and two tone Submariners.


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