atan888

I am a Rolex fan as well.... Congrats on your new sub.

Flying Finn

Thanks guys.

+1!

Smiles

I have an original Master Geo, with a black dial and therefore an exhibition back. There's a BIG difference in the way a JLC movement is finsihed and the way a Rolex movement is finished, which is why Mr. Odets has it out for Rolex. And I don't necessarily disagree with him.

Until fairly recently, the Daytona used the Zenith El Primero movement. The Rolex was priced several times more than the El Primero. Was the Rolex better finished? No. Is the Rolex worth much more now? Yes. Rolex has one of the strongest brand names, polices its advertising policy thoroughly to bring the highest margins to its dealers. This in turn keeps resale values strong. Rolex deserves the image it has carfefully cultivated from a history of fine watch making.

However, Rolex is in the business of mass-production. They don't make serious complications, or finish movements, or cases or dials, as finely as some smaller manufacturers, JLC being a fine example. Or IWC. Or, moving up, Patek Phillipe or Lange & Sohn.

Terry Adams

bart1

Patek or Lange are on a whole 'nuther level...

Damian in NJ

It's Rolex for sport, Patek for dress, everything else is just having fun. Oh, and Rolex completely redid the Zenith movement-altered the beat, changed the balance and escapement, and plenty more.

I guess you know that Patek does the same with their hand wound chrono-buy the ebauche from the Swatchgroup, then redoes it?

AGC

My wife just dropped off her Datejust for service (cleaning) at the Rolex Dealer (NYC), cost for service is $555

Rinty

Damien:

Are Rolexes more difficult to work on than other brands? The reason I ask is that (I confess) I had my 1974 GMT serviced by a couple of independent watchmakers, with very unhappy results. Rolex Canada ultimately got it properly serviced and running right, and I have extended a mea culpa to my local dealer.

Rinty

4X4SCHE

Firstly, I only own mechanical watches.

Here is the issue on Rolex value for me.
At these prices, it is no challenge to produce an attractive and accurate mechanical watch. Omega can match them on conventional watches and Heuer can match Rolex on Chronographs, all for far less than half the price.

At about $250, a Seiko with a 7S26 automatic movement is a way superior technical achievement, in that it sells it for less than 10% of a Rolex, and in my experience is just as accurate in daily use and operates without maintenance for a good 10 years.

I am shocked that you would equate Rolex with Porsche. Rolex pricing is about marketing more than engineering. Porsche have been pretty crap at marketing all along. I don't wear a Rolex any more because it reveals ignorance rather than knowledge.

Just my opinion.

Damian in NJ

Rinty, not really. The thing is that if your watchmaker's weren't factory authorized to repair them they may not have access to genuine parts-so they use generic, which can be troublesome. And you do need some specialized tools as well.

4X4-Please tell me which Tag can match any Daytona please. After you've worked on a few dozen of each let me know. Schocked that I would compare them to Porsche? Ever been to any PCA event? What do a large percentage of owners wear? Which two companies are the most profitable in their fields? Rolex is about marketing? Do you know that they operate three watchmaking schools globally, and don't charge tuition for the two year program? www.lititzwatchtechnicum.com is the US school. The students aren't obligated to work a day for Rolex at the completion of the two year program. They do this to support watchmaking as a whole, and don't advertize the fact at all.

Not about engineering? They use a different steel alloy than virtually everyone else that is more corrosion resistant. They make white gold that doesn't need rhodium plating, but it's more expensive. They make their own rose gold alloy that won't change color over time. They have their own special hairspring material.

And a Rolex is a commodity-like a 1ct D VS2 diamond, you can find yourself anywhere in the world and cash out in a minute. Let me know what the Seiko or Tag will be worth in twenty years, it won't be the same as a Sub.

Flying Finn

I don't know much about Rolex but I do know that Porsche nowadays is almost all about making ton of fiarly general cars & boatload of money and it doing it by riding it on it's racing & real sportscar heritage.

BTW Damian,

Thanks for all the info you've provided. It's always interesting and educational to hear from someone who has real experience on something and not just "knowleadge" from reading internet etc.

texas911

Bravo to them. One thing that people love about Rolex is that they hardly ever change their models. Why mess with perfection. Although they are succumbing to the "big watch" trend and are introducing bigger versions of their lines. For better or for worse. I happen to love the new look ceramic GMT. Others are rushing out to buy the out going model. Remember when German cars hardly changed for years? Now they are on the same time table as Japanese manufacturers.

Rinty

Damien:

Thanks as well, for all your information. It's good to be able to get a professional's take on these exclusive watches.

Rinty

jdistefa

I think the SubM is a timeless and classic piece. It's a milestone of a watch - rugged, simple, functional. Looks good with anything without being bling. IMO, getting hung up on the relative merits of the movement misses the point - the thing is a design icon. Yes there is careful control of the sales chain, and juggernaut marketing behind it, but the thing had to be good in the first place to sell. Is it overpriced? The market says no .

I will have a SubM some day, but for now I went with something a little different, primarily because it's a novel watch (in terms of case material) from a great little company that basically avoids mass market advertising. And nobody else seems to have one....

bart1

My first auto was a Sinn back when you couldn't get them here. Had a shop in Germany send it to me. Great little watch.