Rolex watches = Naff.
Discussion
cyberface said:
northernboy said:
If I were about to buy a rolex (if...), I don't think I would be under any illusion that I was getting one of the very best watches in the world. I would think it was a nice watch, that I would enjoy wearing and think that maybe, just maybe, if I liked it a lot, it could be the start of a collection.
I do like them, though.
I do like them, though.
You need to define what 'best' means to you though. Rolexes are world-known and everyone knows what it is when they see the Rolex on your wrist (apart from some older esoterica). The Explorer, Subby and Sea-Dweller are tough, robust watches that can be worn as everyday beaters and used for sports. I relentlessly abuse my Daytona and it works without complaint. That to me is the value of Rolex - a 'prestige'-ish brand that also can take a kicking..
I had pretty much decided that I wanted a yachtmaster. A very kind female friend has just called me from the watch shop in Columbus Circle (NY) to tell me that 1) they are more expensive there than in London, and 2) she thinks it looks far too shiny, and that the Explorer II is much better.
So I am utterly confused now. I had been thinking that the mid-size yachtmaster would be perfect, and now don't know again.
I miss the days when I could make up my mind over something...
And why has no-one been along yet to tell me I am a dreamer who probably can barely afford a swatch yet? Something strange going on...
petrolnog said:
As a private pilot I don't really have my phone powered on anyway, even if I did, I would still use my watch, as it is useful for more than just telling the time.
AlexKP has basically said everything in a much more concise manner.
Good reason for a decent watch, the caterham & hyper car arguement is flawed. A caterham has no roof or doors and awful aerodynamics so is quite slow at the top end, so is a real one trick pony = gets you round the bend damn fast. The hypercars in most ways are more usable and you pay for this.
steve bowen said:
petrolnog said:
As a private pilot I don't really have my phone powered on anyway, even if I did, I would still use my watch, as it is useful for more than just telling the time.
AlexKP has basically said everything in a much more concise manner.
Good reason for a decent watch, the caterham & hyper car arguement is flawed. A caterham has no roof or doors and awful aerodynamics so is quite slow at the top end, so is a real one trick pony = gets you round the bend damn fast. The hypercars in most ways are more usable and you pay for this.
Fair enough, a flawed example, take a lotus exige, noble or ariel atom. My basic point is that something will always do a job just as well, be it a TV, a blender etc, its the feeling something gives you, and the freedom of choice.
By the way, I don't own a Rolex, the reason being I don't appreciate the vulgarity of their design, however I do own several watches ,ranging from what could be seen as stupidly priced, to a £20 watch, and I appreciate the individual technology within equally. Its just the 'poseur' word I have issue with, of course there are poseurs, but I like to think I'm not one when it comes to watches, they get used and abused like my cars.
northernboy said:
And why has no-one been along yet to tell me I am a dreamer who probably can barely afford a swatch yet? Something strange going on...
Well it says 'banker' in your profile, and unless that means you're sitting behind the cashier's desk counting out notes and accepting cheques
then you've probably got a bonus to spend. Which even in back office junior management in most places this year would buy you a decent average watch. As I said before, I don't like the Yachtmaster at all and would agree with your girl friend, the Explorer is a much better design. My old one had a black face, which I thought looked good, however any Rolex dealer can swap face colours for you if the only one you can find has the wrong colour.
Steel sports Rolex used to be a pain to find because Rolex have this annoying supply-restriction policy (they still do with Daytonas, ever seen a steel Daytona at list price anywhere?
) so don't worry if you can only find a white-face Explorer if you want a black-face Explorer, the dealer can swap it for you. My business partner had this exact problem and got it sorted same-day. And for your amusement, Swatch make an interesting model with a very interesting mechanical movement for £3500. I love the idea of the oddball movement, but the rest of the watch (plastic as per Swatch normally) doesn't live up to the complexity of the movement within for £3.5k...
cyberface said:
northernboy said:
And why has no-one been along yet to tell me I am a dreamer who probably can barely afford a swatch yet? Something strange going on...
Well it says 'banker' in your profile, and unless that means you're sitting behind the cashier's desk counting out notes and accepting cheques
then you've probably got a bonus to spend. Which even in back office junior management in most places this year would buy you a decent average watch. As I said before, I don't like the Yachtmaster at all and would agree with your girl friend, the Explorer is a much better design. My old one had a black face, which I thought looked good, however any Rolex dealer can swap face colours for you if the only one you can find has the wrong colour.
Yeah, I am an exotics trader, but regularly get accused of working in McDonalds, on here, which I am sure is all very amusing.
I will look at the explorers again, I think. Will buy within the next week and (and here comes the point where I give away my poverty/wish to get value for money[take your pick]), and might look at an "as new" pre-owned (we used to call that second hand when i were a lad) one. That way, when I change my mind in a month, it is not to painful to switch back out.
Thanks very much for the advice, by the way, it is much appreciated.
Edited by northernboy on Wednesday 14th March 22:35
tertius said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
tank slapper said:
NiceCupOfTea said:
Are they any good, does anybody know?
Is it good value for money or just a 30 quid movement wrapped up in fake cold war packaging?
Worth that kind of wedge? (not a small amount for me)
My current watch has just packed up (well, the bloody crown wheel has come off somewhere
)
Is it good value for money or just a 30 quid movement wrapped up in fake cold war packaging?
Worth that kind of wedge? (not a small amount for me) My current watch has just packed up (well, the bloody crown wheel has come off somewhere
)I'm no expert, but from what I have read they are reasonable for the money. Most of their watches are based on the Valjoux 7734, the tooling for which they bought and modified.
Anywhere I can read a review or testimony? Sorry, complete numpty on this subject!
Search Pistonheads - I think there were a few supporters posting a while back.
Try here for sales rather than testimony: www.russia4u.co.uk/shop/
For that price point also look at Sinn, here: www.chronomaster.co.uk/ (typically Sinn use the Valjoux 7750 chrono movement - certainly a classic in its own right).
On the same site Ollech & Wajs also worth a look.
Also for something different, and certainly rare, try RLT - English made using a variety of (usually) Swiss and (usually) mechanical movements. Many of them aren't to my taste, though some are quite interesting, esp. the RLT 13. www.rltwatches.co.uk/
RLT is also good for watch "odds and ends".
Finally if what you want is a "flieger" style chronograph, consider also Laco or Glycine. I got this:
Well (and I mean well) within your price bracket, on fleabay, new in box, with papers and warranty, a little while ago - again 7750 based. Laco are a German watchmaker, with some history as watch suppliers to the Luftwaffe.
Now that I like
Also that Tag Carrera Chrono is just my cup of tea but about 10 times my budget
Might keep an eye out for one of those Ebay flieger style watches (nothing there at the mo though).
What's the general consensus on Tissot watches - I know they're not in the same class as the ones being mentioned here but they have some very nice looking watches around my budget (max 250), quartz movements rather than mechanical.
I like this PRC200
And also the cheaper PR50
nicecupoftea said:
Now that I like
Also that Tag Carrera Chrono is just my cup of tea but about 10 times my budget
Might keep an eye out for one of those Ebay flieger style watches (nothing there at the mo though).
What's the general consensus on Tissot watches - I know they're not in the same class as the ones being mentioned here but they have some very nice looking watches around my budget (max 250), quartz movements rather than mechanical.
I like this PRC200
And also the cheaper PR50
I really like both of those. Very classy and nowhere near as in your face as some rolexes and brietlings.
Rolex watches = Naff
Oh yes completely and utterly agree. They mostly seem to be bought by folk who want to say "LOOK AT MY ROLEX"
Basically the same as those that buy a Porsche to be seen in rather then to drive it. Alot of Porsche drivers would be perfectly happy with the same price tag and body if it was a yaris under the skin.
Now i can completely see the expensive watch as a piece of art argument but not a Rolex it just shouts i want to impress so much. Normally huge showy and tacky perfect for your normal secondhand car dealer with his orange tan.
Oh yes completely and utterly agree. They mostly seem to be bought by folk who want to say "LOOK AT MY ROLEX"
Basically the same as those that buy a Porsche to be seen in rather then to drive it. Alot of Porsche drivers would be perfectly happy with the same price tag and body if it was a yaris under the skin.
Now i can completely see the expensive watch as a piece of art argument but not a Rolex it just shouts i want to impress so much. Normally huge showy and tacky perfect for your normal secondhand car dealer with his orange tan.
thinfourth said:
Now i can completely see the expensive watch as a piece of art argument but not a Rolex it just shouts i want to impress so much. Normally huge showy and tacky perfect for your normal secondhand car dealer with his orange tan.
Rolexes aren't especially large, and the non-bling models are really very simple designs compared to many prestige watches. They are also designs that have been around for decades with very little revision.
I don't like any watch with gemstones tbh. But a simple Oyster Perpetual is perfectly tasteful in my opinion.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Rolexes aren't especially large, and the non-bling models are really very simple designs compared to many prestige watches. They are also designs that have been around for decades with very little revision.
I don't like any watch with gemstones tbh. But a simple Oyster Perpetual is perfectly tasteful in my opinion.
i agree entirely. (and i don't have a rollocks).
the porsche comment is a valid one but from a different perspective - yes there are lots of people who buy them because of the name. there are also people who buy porsches for the name. BUT that doesn't make them bad. now the uber watch nerdsclaim that rollocks don't make as fine a movement as some of the other makers. i do not know this. i know that i was advised this when i started looking at iwcs. but i do not know it. i strongly doubt that even if ixwc make a better movement to rolex (and patek even better ones) that the rolex one is 'crap' and not as good as something off the market..!
a lot of rollocks are very over the top BUT all of the models that the supports are talking about are actually quite restrained. they are less obvious than a casio calculator watch.
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northernboy said:
sheetstabuer said:
I like my tags
I love my S/El. Bought it ten years ago, and, as I alluded to above, it made me happy every time I checked the time.
Us men do not really get to do much in the way of jewellery, and a watch is quite a nice thing, as we can pretend it is practical...
Greg in agreeing with the boy of the North shock.... Every time I look at one of my Tags, I think of my ex-wife. Seriously. I think "This is 2 grand you never got your grubby hands on, you scheming bitch."
Have an Explorer II, didn't buy it to show off, like I didn't get the elise to show off. I got the Explorer as:
1. Wanted a mechanical/automatic as opposed to a battery watch.
2. Wanted something that to my eye looked good, which, to my eye, it does.
3. Wanted something that had a reasonable expectation of lasting a 'lifetime' so I could pass it on (Bought it the same year as my first born)
4. Wanted something that was good with timezones as I travel frequently
5. Something I could sell almost anywhere for the price of a ticket out of whereever I was if needed.
6. Needed something that was robust enough for diving/parachuting/climbing etc. but still looked good in a formal environment.
7. Tossing up between Submariner and Explorer the Explorer won as it is a little more unusual and isn't obviously a 'Rolex'.
Everyone else who has their on preconceptions and doesn't judge by the same criteria are, of course, free to think what they like about why I have one, but it doesn't change why I actually do.
1. Wanted a mechanical/automatic as opposed to a battery watch.
2. Wanted something that to my eye looked good, which, to my eye, it does.
3. Wanted something that had a reasonable expectation of lasting a 'lifetime' so I could pass it on (Bought it the same year as my first born)
4. Wanted something that was good with timezones as I travel frequently
5. Something I could sell almost anywhere for the price of a ticket out of whereever I was if needed.
6. Needed something that was robust enough for diving/parachuting/climbing etc. but still looked good in a formal environment.
7. Tossing up between Submariner and Explorer the Explorer won as it is a little more unusual and isn't obviously a 'Rolex'.
Everyone else who has their on preconceptions and doesn't judge by the same criteria are, of course, free to think what they like about why I have one, but it doesn't change why I actually do.
I do find most Rolexs tacky but the Submariner and Daytona do look good IMHO, but they are not good timekeepers. I have friends that have them and they are always losing time, its a prestige thing it seems which is a bit pointless if you ask me. I do like my watches and I have the TAG Chronograph CT2111 which I think is a great looking watch, not showy and keeps perfect time. Its also a little less expensive than the Rolex's at £2K, heres a pic.
But I am getting hankerings for the TAG Monaco, heres a pic
Which I intend to buy but still keep the TAG I have already.
The top end Tags IMHO are miles ahead of the others, of course they are not to everyones taste, I hust feel they are doing things right at the moment with design.
Mike
But I am getting hankerings for the TAG Monaco, heres a pic
Which I intend to buy but still keep the TAG I have already.
The top end Tags IMHO are miles ahead of the others, of course they are not to everyones taste, I hust feel they are doing things right at the moment with design.
Mike
rsvmilly said:
loneranger said:
What I see here is exactly the same as all the Ferraris and Porkers you see that never leave London. People with too much money who just want to pose.
loneranger on another thread said:
If I buy an expensive pen I don't lose it and so always have a pen available. Current in daily use are a set of Montblanc Czar Nicolas 1 limited edition in malachite.
Why have any more than a bic?
Hey ho Silver, away......
Edited by andy_s on Thursday 15th March 09:34
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