Buying my first ever Rolex ..... Please advise ....
Discussion
lostkiwi said:
And a Smart.
What's your point Mr Porsche owner?
Image. What's your point Mr Porsche owner?
And I really must update my profile!
We just have to remember that absolutely nobody on this planet ‘needs’ a Rolex, or a Merc, or a well made and fitted suit, or £400 shoes, or a £10k holiday, or a £100 lunch. Nobody at all. So why does it matter to some people SO much how others spend their money? We all know that a £20 digital watch from Argos is more than accurate enough, and all the features of any watch are available on a £500 smartphone.
I don’t care whether a big fat Swiss person makes my watch, or if the glass is polished by pixies off their tits on E. I saw the watch, tried it on, liked it, bought it. If I win big enough or work hard enough I might choose to get interested in other brands, or I might just spend my time on this planet being nice to those who need help. I could chuck all my worldly goods at UNICEF, or on a roulette table. Who cares?
The UK have always been big Rolex fanboys, so you you get a bit of a polarised view on their brand value here. Go to Europe, USA and Asia and it's completely different. Omega, IWC, JLC, Patek, Blancpain, Hublot ALS,AP etc have far more equal presence.
Just compare the prices across the continents for Rolex and you realise the UK is in a bit of a Rolex bubble with dealers taking the complete piss.
The whole market is also swamped with very high quality Rolex fakes too, easily imported from China. `And when I say high quality, I mean virtually indistinguishable, and all for a few hundred dollars. It's frightening what these Chinese watch factories are producing with modern imaging and cnc machining technology. You'll hear a lot of crap about being able to tell through this and that but it's nonsense, you literally have to access the movement to spot the miyota gearing. A very sad state of affairs indeed.
Just compare the prices across the continents for Rolex and you realise the UK is in a bit of a Rolex bubble with dealers taking the complete piss.
The whole market is also swamped with very high quality Rolex fakes too, easily imported from China. `And when I say high quality, I mean virtually indistinguishable, and all for a few hundred dollars. It's frightening what these Chinese watch factories are producing with modern imaging and cnc machining technology. You'll hear a lot of crap about being able to tell through this and that but it's nonsense, you literally have to access the movement to spot the miyota gearing. A very sad state of affairs indeed.
Tony1963 said:
lostkiwi said:
And a Smart.
What's your point Mr Porsche owner?
Image. What's your point Mr Porsche owner?
And I really must update my profile!
We just have to remember that absolutely nobody on this planet ‘needs’ a Rolex, or a Merc, or a well made and fitted suit, or £400 shoes, or a £10k holiday, or a £100 lunch. Nobody at all. So why does it matter to some people SO much how others spend their money? We all know that a £20 digital watch from Argos is more than accurate enough, and all the features of any watch are available on a £500 smartphone.
I don’t care whether a big fat Swiss person makes my watch, or if the glass is polished by pixies off their tits on E. I saw the watch, tried it on, liked it, bought it. If I win big enough or work hard enough I might choose to get interested in other brands, or I might just spend my time on this planet being nice to those who need help. I could chuck all my worldly goods at UNICEF, or on a roulette table. Who cares?
Why are people getting angry with Rolex for not ramping up supply to meet demand? It’s an enviable position for any business to be in and it should be nurtured. Mindless expansion and short term profits are not a sound or sustainable business model. Rolex ramping up supply would completely kill the product exclusively and desirability, and consequently the long term prospects of the business.
Look at the numerous higher end fashion brands (and luxury watches are fashion brands) out there that have done that and are now crashing and burning. Michael Kors being a fine example of this.
Look at the numerous higher end fashion brands (and luxury watches are fashion brands) out there that have done that and are now crashing and burning. Michael Kors being a fine example of this.
raihaan123 said:
Thank you so much
Given me a bit more hope for my visit on Saturday to Fraser Hart.
Let’s see how it goes I’ll definitely explain the situation I’m in.
The standard steel/ gold and blue dial I am after
Mate of mine just picked up a new GMT II “root beer”, no problem. Very nice it is too. Although two-tone is a little too flashy for my tastes, it was seemingly easy to get hold of.Given me a bit more hope for my visit on Saturday to Fraser Hart.
Let’s see how it goes I’ll definitely explain the situation I’m in.
The standard steel/ gold and blue dial I am after
dvs_dave said:
Why are people getting angry with Rolex for not ramping up supply to meet demand? It’s an enviable position for any business to be in and it should be nurtured. Mindless expansion and short term profits are not a sound or sustainable business model. Rolex ramping up supply would completely kill the product exclusively and desirability, and consequently the long term prospects of the business.
Look at the numerous higher end fashion brands (and luxury watches are fashion brands) out there that have done that and are now crashing and burning. Michael Kors being a fine example of this.
Then why isn't there a starved supply on the Datejust or other previous metal models? Simply because they skew their production to these models as they give the best markup as opposed to stainless steel or sports models. Having a wait for a particular model is fine, "yes sir we will speak to Rolex and order it and it will be in 2-3 months". No issues with that. Being refused the chance to even purchase due to scarcity, or given some guff about 5 year waiting lists really is rubbish. The only people befitting from that are the grey market dealers with 100% markup on sought after sports models. Look at the numerous higher end fashion brands (and luxury watches are fashion brands) out there that have done that and are now crashing and burning. Michael Kors being a fine example of this.
RichTT said:
Then why isn't there a starved supply on the Datejust or other previous metal models? Simply because they skew their production to these models as they give the best markup as opposed to stainless steel or sports models. Having a wait for a particular model is fine, "yes sir we will speak to Rolex and order it and it will be in 2-3 months". No issues with that. Being refused the chance to even purchase due to scarcity, or given some guff about 5 year waiting lists really is rubbish. The only people befitting from that are the grey market dealers with 100% markup on sought after sports models.
Nobody wants a datejust, that’s why you can easily get them.Although the accusatory tone toward Rolex I don't understand. Just because everyone wants all steel professionals right now is not Rolex’s fault, nor does it mean Rolex is in any way obliged to increase the supply of them. I suspect the supply level is the same as it’s always been, and Rolex just wants to have a balance of their products out there, rather than loads more of one particular style, hurting exclusivity. So it’s up to them what they decide to make and in what quantities. And as a private organisation they are perfectly entitled to do so, regardless of the whining coming from those now trying to jump on the bandwagon but finding they can’t.
It's artificial manipulation of the market.
It does nothing to help the customer.
Following your logic it would make sense for Ford to reduce production of their cars to make them more exclusive. Or easyJet to limit seats by halving the number of flights so they can charge more. Why doesn't every business out there just stop producing as much if it's such a wonderful idea?
Rolex is a more than $5billion a year company producing near enough 1,000,000 watches. Hardly exclusive.
It does nothing to help the customer.
Following your logic it would make sense for Ford to reduce production of their cars to make them more exclusive. Or easyJet to limit seats by halving the number of flights so they can charge more. Why doesn't every business out there just stop producing as much if it's such a wonderful idea?
Rolex is a more than $5billion a year company producing near enough 1,000,000 watches. Hardly exclusive.
Edited by lostkiwi on Friday 17th May 06:57
The Surveyor said:
OP, they've just opened a huge Rolex shop in the Dubai Mall, use some of your cash for a weekend shopping trip to somewhere you will have plenty of choice, rather than limiting your choice to what the local dealer can get.
Make buying your Rolex really memorable.
It's been open well over a year and doesn't have any SS sports models eitherMake buying your Rolex really memorable.
The Surveyor said:
OP, they've just opened a huge Rolex shop in the Dubai Mall, use some of your cash for a weekend shopping trip to somewhere you will have plenty of choice, rather than limiting your choice to what the local dealer can get.
Make buying your Rolex really memorable.
Plenty of choice , but not the models in demand in Europe though.Make buying your Rolex really memorable.
The same Rolex dealer has a branch in the Al Naseem hotel , his sports watch stock consisted of one bi metal YM , this was in April.
Jules360 said:
The Surveyor said:
OP, they've just opened a huge Rolex shop in the Dubai Mall, use some of your cash for a weekend shopping trip to somewhere you will have plenty of choice, rather than limiting your choice to what the local dealer can get.
Make buying your Rolex really memorable.
It's been open well over a year and doesn't have any SS sports models eitherMake buying your Rolex really memorable.
It’s amazing that some posters in this thread think this SS Rolex supply issue is only in Britain. Numerous threads here and on other forums suggest it’s a worldwide issue.
I bought my used SS Daytona nearly six years ago from Miltons in Chester. About a year old, a few hundred under list. It’s only since then that prices have gone a bit silly, so Rolex would be very silly to spend heavily on such a , so far, short term increase in demand.
If I was making, say, audiophile interconnects at two per day, £500 each, only me in the business, and I sold each one as soon as it was packed and advertised, I’d not only be happy, I’d be putting the price up by quite a chunk. Rolex haven’t put the prices up by much at all, but nobody mentions that fact in the slagging offs of them.
I bought my used SS Daytona nearly six years ago from Miltons in Chester. About a year old, a few hundred under list. It’s only since then that prices have gone a bit silly, so Rolex would be very silly to spend heavily on such a , so far, short term increase in demand.
If I was making, say, audiophile interconnects at two per day, £500 each, only me in the business, and I sold each one as soon as it was packed and advertised, I’d not only be happy, I’d be putting the price up by quite a chunk. Rolex haven’t put the prices up by much at all, but nobody mentions that fact in the slagging offs of them.
I think Rolex are in a position whether by design and/or market forces that they cannot just raise production to meet the demand if they did that the demand would disappear overnight as it's artificial demand driven by current value of a S/S sports watch in the grey/secondary market.
It's a real chicken and egg situation but not one that they can solve (or even want to solve) without crashing the value of these watches and therefore hurting their brand and they won't do that.
It's a real chicken and egg situation but not one that they can solve (or even want to solve) without crashing the value of these watches and therefore hurting their brand and they won't do that.
Rolex could likely sort the issue within a matter of weeks and chooses not to do so. I made a tidy sum selling a Sea-dweller 43 two years ago, so I've directly benefitted, but from the point of view of a normal potential customer I think it’s childish and cynical and I’d be inclined to look elsewhere if and when I am in the market for an expensive watch again.
In the meantime I have had a Ward Trident 600 for 4 years which is actually a lot more resilient than the Rolexes I have had which used to pick up a lot of marks on the bezel insert and chip their crystals rather easily, at repeated great expense!
In the meantime I have had a Ward Trident 600 for 4 years which is actually a lot more resilient than the Rolexes I have had which used to pick up a lot of marks on the bezel insert and chip their crystals rather easily, at repeated great expense!
paulguitar said:
In the meantime I have had a Ward Trident 600 for 4 years which is actually a lot more resilient than the Rolexes I have had which used to pick up a lot of marks on the bezel insert and chip their crystals rather easily, at repeated great expense!
It's a shame the accuracy on the Ward movement is poor, they look a decent watch but I'd struggle losing/gaining a minute every three days.Zoon said:
paulguitar said:
In the meantime I have had a Ward Trident 600 for 4 years which is actually a lot more resilient than the Rolexes I have had which used to pick up a lot of marks on the bezel insert and chip their crystals rather easily, at repeated great expense!
It's a shame the accuracy on the Ward movement is poor, they look a decent watch but I'd struggle losing/gaining a minute every three days.Zoon said:
paulguitar said:
Mine's as accurate as my Rolexes. The ETA movement is pretty well proven, I think.
+/- 20 seconds a day, my Rolex is 2I think it is down to how well regulated it is. The Rolexes are indeed chronometer rated, standard Ward Trident is not, but mine has performed, since new, as well as any of my Rolexes and Breitlings did, and a lot better than my Girard Perregaux.
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