Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has

Has the Rolex bubble finally burst? Perhaps it has

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Discussion

UnclePat

508 posts

89 months

Sunday 1st December 2019
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LaurasOtherHalf said:
However, I employ young people and my Datejust 36 is noticed and envied way, way more than any of my sports/professional models ever are.

Don't mistake your own preferences for what the youth may want.
Thank you, and yes, you’re right - in hastily replying I was a bit guilty of verging on the very misconception I was referring to.

I’ve said it before, but whilst Oyster Perpetuals & DateJusts perhaps don’t garner as much hype, they in many ways epitomise the very DNA of Rolex, and (for everyday purposes) are every bit as robust & practical as the sports models, with more formal elegance also.

And that’s the reason Rolex makes (and sells) so many of them - they do lots of things very well indeed.




okgo

38,371 posts

200 months

Sunday 1st December 2019
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I have the fluted jubilee blue face DJ41 - they're going for overs last time I checked and there's a (albeit shorter) waiting list also. Someone wants them. I'm also young, dread the thought.

Wills2

23,199 posts

177 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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okgo said:
I have the fluted jubilee blue face DJ41 - they're going for overs last time I checked and there's a (albeit shorter) waiting list also. Someone wants them. I'm also young, dread the thought.
The DJ II and DJ41 have become more popular as the S/S sports became too difficult to get for many at retail, a rising tide lifts all boats.

I think the larger DJII is the pick of the bunch between them all.





okgo

38,371 posts

200 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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Wills2 said:
The DJ II and DJ41 have become more popular as the S/S sports became too difficult to get for many at retail, a rising tide lifts all boats.

I think the larger DJII is the pick of the bunch between them all.



I also think dive watches are not really all that fashionable to young folks/the next wave of buyers.

If you look at what the majority of younger folk wear as watches, it'll be something by Daniel Worthington, or Mondaine - that sort of simple styling IMO. Of course there's still folks with Eco drives and Tissots and all sort of other things. But more often than not when I spot men in London these days below 30 they're wearing a DW type thing. Wonder if the styling of DJ is more appealing to many?




R Mutt

5,893 posts

74 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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Bit boring though

okgo

38,371 posts

200 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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R Mutt said:
Bit boring though
Each to their own. I've never got the appeal of the Daytona myself, but I know I'm likely in the minority.

I suppose the good and bad thing about the DJ is that you can spec it about 100 different ways, right from very understated, through to proper del boy, through to quite bling with some of the jubilee/fluted combo's. I love some of them, can't stand the sight of others.

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

198 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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okgo said:
I also think dive watches are not really all that fashionable to young folks/the next wave of buyers.

If you look at what the majority of younger folk wear as watches, it'll be something by Daniel Worthington, or Mondaine - that sort of simple styling IMO. Of course there's still folks with Eco drives and Tissots and all sort of other things. But more often than not when I spot men in London these days below 30 they're wearing a DW type thing. Wonder if the styling of DJ is more appealing to many?
As above, the fashion now is for a much more classic style of watch. Look at any male "influencer", if he isn't wearing a smart watch he'll be wearing a blinded out classic style watch. Not a sports model in sight.

R Mutt

5,893 posts

74 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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LaurasOtherHalf said:
okgo said:
I also think dive watches are not really all that fashionable to young folks/the next wave of buyers.

If you look at what the majority of younger folk wear as watches, it'll be something by Daniel Worthington, or Mondaine - that sort of simple styling IMO. Of course there's still folks with Eco drives and Tissots and all sort of other things. But more often than not when I spot men in London these days below 30 they're wearing a DW type thing. Wonder if the styling of DJ is more appealing to many?
As above, the fashion now is for a much more classic style of watch. Look at any male "influencer", if he isn't wearing a smart watch he'll be wearing a blinded out classic style watch. Not a sports model in sight.
I don't really take my Seamasters off, in the gym/ pool etc which is the way I like it as I'm lazy and will lose things. A bit more rugged is my style. Compared to fake tanned TOWIE bods who likely will go for something a bit more refined.

whatleytom

1,326 posts

185 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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I'd argue most buying in that price range aren't buying for fashion anyway, it's more of what brand, movement, style of watch appeals to the individual imo. Young folk buying CW and the like is going to be driven more by marketing and what they can afford I would guess.

Anyway, interesting update from bark and Jack sharing some actual data points given to him from chrono24. Price correction is plain to see in the UK. Will be interesting to see where the next 6-12months takes things.

Edited by whatleytom on Monday 2nd December 10:52

R Mutt

5,893 posts

74 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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It's funny, the appeal to me would drop if I was offered one at RRP and thought would struggle to get my money back if I decided to sell it on.

Of course the likelihood of both being offered a Pepsi and the used price dropping by a few grand is very low. Assuming a 24 month wait, the market could move a lot but of course were supply increased and thus availability this would impact the price.

whatleytom

1,326 posts

185 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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Thing is even with a much more meaningful drop nearly all of the sports range are still nowhere near RRP on the used market. A GMT is just shy of £8k from an AD and at the moment somewhere in the region of £15k on the grey market for a pepsi?

bazza.

700 posts

94 months

Monday 2nd December 2019
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Until the day comes I can walk into a AD and walk out with a Hulk I'd say not

GT03ROB

13,388 posts

223 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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R Mutt said:
It's funny, the appeal to me would drop if I was offered one at RRP and thought would struggle to get my money back if I decided to sell it on.
I think your view is not untypical. Things are only (more) desirable if you can't have them. Rolex marketing to a tee.

MPC09

158 posts

140 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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okgo said:
Wills2 said:
The DJ II and DJ41 have become more popular as the S/S sports became too difficult to get for many at retail, a rising tide lifts all boats.

I think the larger DJII is the pick of the bunch between them all.
I also think dive watches are not really all that fashionable to young folks/the next wave of buyers.

If you look at what the majority of younger folk wear as watches, it'll be something by Daniel Worthington, or Mondaine - that sort of simple styling IMO. Of course there's still folks with Eco drives and Tissots and all sort of other things. But more often than not when I spot men in London these days below 30 they're wearing a DW type thing. Wonder if the styling of DJ is more appealing to many?
I don't think that is necessarily that dive watches aren't fashionable - I think it's more likely that a watch like Daniel Worthington sits at c.£150-£200 and offer a smart clean watch design for barely any money (compared to your typical Swiss brands).

I'd also hazard a guess that social media (for the 24 - 30 year old bracket) is the biggest driver of what ends up on most people's wrists.

Whilst my social media points towards Rolex and Patek etc., it did used to (before I got sucked into this b*stard watch rabbit hole) used to point towards brands like MVMT & Vincero etc. - which a couple of my friends own and wear 24/7.

None of my lot would turn down a Rolex Sub or Omega Seamaster if given the opportunity.

MPC09

158 posts

140 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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whatleytom said:
Thing is even with a much more meaningful drop nearly all of the sports range are still nowhere near RRP on the used market. A GMT is just shy of £8k from an AD and at the moment somewhere in the region of £15k on the grey market for a pepsi?
I'm always intrigued by who is actually paying this price for a watch.

It must happen, otherwise Watch Club et al. would have static stock and we'd see the same Pepsi or Hulk in the window for months on end, but it looks (or certainly feels) like stock is free flowing. So back to my original question, which nutters are paying 80% over for their SS Rolex confused

EmilA

1,537 posts

159 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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I know someone who paid about 12k for both their Batman and Pepsi recently as they don't want to wait.

whatleytom

1,326 posts

185 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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MPC09 said:
I'm always intrigued by who is actually paying this price for a watch.

It must happen, otherwise Watch Club et al. would have static stock and we'd see the same Pepsi or Hulk in the window for months on end, but it looks (or certainly feels) like stock is free flowing. So back to my original question, which nutters are paying 80% over for their SS Rolex confused
The same 'nutters' that buy anything that appears to be inflating in value as an asset class. That's the only way you could rationalise it imo. Either that or a significant amount more money than sense.

Edited by whatleytom on Tuesday 3rd December 12:43

NDA

21,718 posts

227 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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MPC09 said:
whatleytom said:
Thing is even with a much more meaningful drop nearly all of the sports range are still nowhere near RRP on the used market. A GMT is just shy of £8k from an AD and at the moment somewhere in the region of £15k on the grey market for a pepsi?
I'm always intrigued by who is actually paying this price for a watch.

It must happen, otherwise Watch Club et al. would have static stock and we'd see the same Pepsi or Hulk in the window for months on end, but it looks (or certainly feels) like stock is free flowing. So back to my original question, which nutters are paying 80% over for their SS Rolex confused
City bonuses drive a lot of sales... people who don't want to wait but have cash sitting in the bank doing nothing.

If you pay a 'sensible' premium on certain watches, then the cost is fairly neutral. You have a nice watch and can probably sell it for the same amount you paid for it. It's deciding what 'sensible' is. smile

I don't buy watches to subsequently sell, but I own a couple that I could sell for almost double what I paid. I don't see that changing for a while yet.

harleywilma

520 posts

245 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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LaurasOtherHalf said:
As above, the fashion now is for a much more classic style of watch. Look at any male "influencer", if he isn't wearing a smart watch he'll be wearing a blinded out classic style watch. Not a sports model in sight.
Stormzy, young man of the moment, on Jonathan Ross the other night looked like he was wearing a black Sub..

LaurasOtherHalf

21,429 posts

198 months

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
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harleywilma said:
tormzy, young man of the moment, on Jonathan Ross the other night looked like he was wearing a black Sub..
So does Nico Rosberg, I’m sure we could spend all day offering each other examples that disprove a point.

I’d be willing to bet if you offered a selection of Rolex worth say £15k on the open market it would be some precious metal DJ that would get taken up by the bulk of young men, 18-30.