Tag Heuer watches vs. Rolex etc. - Young buyer
Discussion
As with anything, depends on the model. warren182 said:
battered said:
Nope. All the stainless divers Rolex watches share the same in your face design. The only Rolex that dont are the pre oyster manual wind models.
Is it half term already? battered said:
warren182 said:
battered said:
Nope. All the stainless divers Rolex watches share the same in your face design. The only Rolex that dont are the pre oyster manual wind models.
Is it half term already? Most Rolexes aren't "in your face" in today's world. In fact, many would argue that some of them appear humdrum. Yes, you can buy jewel-encrusted horrors, but most of the steel watches are pretty low-key.
All of which said, Rolex does have an unshakable arriviste image. Rightly so perhaps. I am sure that all of us here apprreciate Rolex for what it is, erudite bunch that we are. However probably the majority of buyers think of them as a status symbol, and in that capacity they somehow become "in your face" without actually being in your face.
I've had the one on the left since 1987 snd still have great affection for it!
The one on the right since about 1998
I remember in 98 thinking how incredibly boring Submariners looked
So maybe Subs, GMTs, Explorer 2s are really only "in your face" when people know what they are and apply their own prejudices!
No date Sub in your face? Hardly
Show someone who isn't interestefd in watches a Sub, Black Bay Black bezel, Grand Seiko, Steinhsrt, Davosa from 5ft away and they are all the same watch to them
The one on the right since about 1998
I remember in 98 thinking how incredibly boring Submariners looked
So maybe Subs, GMTs, Explorer 2s are really only "in your face" when people know what they are and apply their own prejudices!
No date Sub in your face? Hardly
Show someone who isn't interestefd in watches a Sub, Black Bay Black bezel, Grand Seiko, Steinhsrt, Davosa from 5ft away and they are all the same watch to them
Edited by don logan on Saturday 14th January 09:15
13m said:
Most Rolexes aren't "in your face" in today's world. In fact, many would argue that some of them appear humdrum. Yes, you can buy jewel-encrusted horrors, but most of the steel watches are pretty low-key.
All of which said, Rolex does have an unshakable arriviste image. Rightly so perhaps.(snip)... in that capacity they somehow become "in your face" without actually being in your face.
Thank you 13m for an intelligent reply that hits the ball not the bowler.All of which said, Rolex does have an unshakable arriviste image. Rightly so perhaps.(snip)... in that capacity they somehow become "in your face" without actually being in your face.
While you are right that the arriviste image makes them "in your face" when they may not so overtly be so, I do think they have a very masculine and aggressive design language. A big chunky SS body, big bold bracelet, the bezel, and so on. All of these set up a very bold, assertive, masculine kind of image, which does of course go with the image that the marketing department set out to portray and the buyers inevitably buy into. "I'm a rufty tufty outdoor sportsman, if you get in my way on the way to the decompression chamber I'll make you sorry".
All modern Rolex models, be they Sub, Air King, Milgauss, share these design elements to a greater or lesser extent, and retain the family resemblance. They therefore retain the image, but subtle they are not.
The Rolex watches that don't share this design language are the vintage models from the 50's. Now these are considerably more discreet. They don't shout across the room "Hey, look! I'm a Rolex!" in the way that a modern Sub does. If I were going to buy a Rolex, these are the models I would be choosing from.
Edited by battered on Saturday 14th January 10:03
battered said:
13m said:
Most Rolexes aren't "in your face" in today's world. In fact, many would argue that some of them appear humdrum. Yes, you can buy jewel-encrusted horrors, but most of the steel watches are pretty low-key.
All of which said, Rolex does have an unshakable arriviste image. Rightly so perhaps.(snip)... in that capacity they somehow become "in your face" without actually being in your face.
Thank you 13m for an intelligent reply that hits the ball not the bowler.All of which said, Rolex does have an unshakable arriviste image. Rightly so perhaps.(snip)... in that capacity they somehow become "in your face" without actually being in your face.
While you are right that the arriviste image makes them "in your face" when they may not so overtly be so, I do think they have a very masculine and aggressive design language. A big chunky SS body, big bold bracelet, the bezel, and so on. All of these set up a very bold, assertive, masculine kind of image, which does of course go with the image that the marketing department set out to portray and the buyers inevitably buy into. "I'm a rufty tufty outdoor sportsman, if you get in my way on the way to the decompression chamber I'll make you sorry".
All modern Rolex models, be they Sub, Air King, Milgauss, share these design elements to a greater or lesser extent, and retain the family resemblance. They therefore retain the image, but subtle they are not.
The Rolex watches that don't share this design language are the vintage models from the 50's. Now these are considerably more discreet. They don't shout across the room "Hey, look! I'm a Rolex!" in the way that a modern Sub does. If I were going to buy a Rolex, these are the models I would be choosing from.
Edited by battered on Saturday 14th January 10:03
foxsasha said:
I don't think the Perpetual looks too aggressive. It's my favourite of the Rolex range as it doesn't look like it is trying to hard nor a status watch.
I agree. It has the family resemblance but the design themes are very much toned down. No bezel, a slimmed down case, and as you say it doesn't try too hard. I hadn't seen this model and I can see why you like it over the others in the range.NJH said:
With the thin brushed lugs it also looks much more elegant like the older models were compared to the current fat lug shiny bling stuff Rolex put out.
I agree with you about the fat lugs. There was no need for it and it removes some of the aesthetic appeal; it makes them look more crude. The polished centre links can look quite good though IMHO.InductionRoar said:
don logan said:
Show someone who isn't interestefd in watches a Sub, Black Bay Black bezel, Grand Seiko, Steinhsrt, Davosa from 5ft away and they are all the same watch to them.
Surely that is the same with everything? I have a few watches, some get looked at some not. I'm sure plenty of people never notice the difference.
InductionRoar said:
don logan said:
Show someone who isn't interestefd in watches a Sub, Black Bay Black bezel, Grand Seiko, Steinhsrt, Davosa from 5ft away and they are all the same watch to them.
Surely that is the same with everything? "He obviously sees himself as an alpha male"
"He obviously thinks he's made it"
MAYBE he obviously likes his watch?
Some people reserve that judgement until they know which brand it is despite looking REALLY REALLY similar!
Oh it''s a Daviso! Oh it''s a Submariner? You nouveau try hard bell end with no imagination!
People impose their own conceptions on others
Their are plenty of places in the world where having ANY watch might make you look s bit flash
don logan said:
Yeah it is and it's a shame that sometimes when people find out which brand something is they suddenly have an opinion and suddenly think they can judge the person who is wearing the watch or driving the car! too!
Man judged by personal appearance shocker."Yeah, well, I lost me job as a salesman after I had a death's head and Waffen SS tattooed on my face. Just discrimination, innit?"
I know a guy who had a WW2 BMW bike in either Gestapo or SS livery. He used to take it to shows and get loads of grief as a Nazi sympathiser. He wasn't, he was just into military vehicles and WW2. His Willy's jeep in US insignia was fine.
If you buy a high profile consumer item, car, or house in a particular area then people will rightly or wrongly make assumptions about who you are. But that's life.
battered said:
don logan said:
Yeah it is and it's a shame that sometimes when people find out which brand something is they suddenly have an opinion and suddenly think they can judge the person who is wearing the watch or driving the car! too!
Man judged by personal appearance shocker."Yeah, well, I lost me job as a salesman after I had a death's head and Waffen SS tattooed on my face. Just discrimination, innit?"
I know a guy who had a WW2 BMW bike in either Gestapo or SS livery. He used to take it to shows and get loads of grief as a Nazi sympathiser. He wasn't, he was just into military vehicles and WW2. His Willy's jeep in US insignia was fine.
If you buy a high profile consumer item, car, or house in a particular area then people will rightly or wrongly make assumptions about who you are. But that's life.
Pfffft!
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