Malaysia Watch Forum
Main Forums => General Discussion - Modern Watches => Topic started by: TheHobbit on September 10, 2012, 06:05:05 PM
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So what are your view on this? Is Rolex a true and serious watchmaker? Would you consider this to be true? What are your view?
It would be great to have a civil discussion on this to add to the vast knowledge base we already have here.
Thank you.
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True? Definitely... I don't see them manufacture anything BUT watches... so i guess that makes them TRUE BLUE watchmakers.
Serious? Erm... I guess so? Since their watches have been designed to withstand harsh conditions and still come out winning.
One thing about Rolex is that they take really turtle steps to updating their collection.
To give more time for their fans to acquire every piece? ;D
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Yes, they only make and sell watches ( i dont think they sell T shirts or perfumes right?)
Serious? well.... they only use in house movements, and several of their models are regarded as classics (being `copied' over and over again, homages, etc). So to me, that sounds like serious business... ;D
What I am not sure if they can still maintain their share of market in the luxury watch business...
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True blue manufactory thru and thru.Prices are not exactly thru the roof IMO relatively speaking
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What about product improvement? Lots of concern about the quality of the clasp and bracelet, with many living with the Rolex clink and clang of the bracelet.
What about complications, current offering includes chronograph, gmt, date and day complications.
What about Rolex models with diamonds? Furry straps? Leopard design dials? Watches for the fashion conscious or unconscious?
What about Rolex introducing larger size watches, perhaps following the current trend of oversize watches?
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Please let me say that Rolex is among the top ten luxuries goods brand in the world. LV being top on the list. It dominates most sporting majors in the world. Its brand goodwill(value) runs into hundreds of millions usd. Its boutiques & service centres are in every major cities. Still very independent managed.
With the facts as there are, of course it is a serious watchmaker!, it be naive to think otherwise.
(as w any products, there b an occasional flaws). Alongside with PP, JLC, AP, VC etc.
Tq.
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Product improvement - Turtle paced
Clasp and Bracelet - Vast improvement now but the previous tuna can clasp and hollow bracelet are tried and tested for decades and are sure to serve for years without problems. And no one can deny that they are comfortable.
Complications - Not Rolex style. The Sky Dweller with annual calendar is their most complicated watch.
Current Offerings - They cover almost all basic complications that are of daily use. I think their mantra is less complications = less things to fail.
Bling Rolex - Well, they are after all first and foremost a business entity so producing bling watches for the rich and famous is just a way to make sure a lucrative niche market is covered. No problems there.
Larger Rolex - So far in the Rolex Sports Line up, they cover almost all from 34mm boy size yachtmaster to 44mm large yachtmasterII and DSSD. So their watches are not growing in size, most iconic pieces are still their original width with some maxi case optical illusion to make them appear bigger.
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Please let me say that Rolex is among the top ten luxuries goods brand in the world. LV being top on the list. It dominates most sporting majors in the world. Its brand goodwill(value) runs into hundreds of millions usd. Its boutiques & service centres are in every major cities. Still very independent managed.
With the facts as there are, of course it is a serious watchmaker!, it be naive to think otherwise.
(as w any products, there b an occasional flaws). Alongside with PP, JLC, AP, VC etc.
Tq.
Would that make lv a serious watchmaker?
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Please let me say that Rolex is among the top ten luxuries goods brand in the world. LV being top on the list.
Would that make lv a serious watchmaker?
Absolutely not in my opinion.
They are in the luxury fashion business... not the luxury watch business.
Brand equity? Yes... LV is up there but in terms of respect as a watchmaker... it will take them some time... and money... ;D
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Product improvement - Turtle paced
Clasp and Bracelet - Vast improvement now but the previous tuna can clasp and hollow bracelet are tried and tested for decades and are sure to serve for years without problems. And no one can deny that they are comfortable.
Complications - Not Rolex style. The Sky Dweller with annual calendar is their most complicated watch.
Current Offerings - They cover almost all basic complications that are of daily use. I think their mantra is less complications = less things to fail.
Bling Rolex - Well, they are after all first and foremost a business entity so producing bling watches for the rich and famous is just a way to make sure a lucrative niche market is covered. No problems there.
Larger Rolex - So far in the Rolex Sports Line up, they cover almost all from 34mm boy size yachtmaster to 44mm large yachtmasterII and DSSD. So their watches are not growing in size, most iconic pieces are still their original width with some maxi case optical illusion to make them appear bigger.
Just a few questiosn, if the product offering is already good or great and needs no improvements or little improvements, where is the greatness? Is it not a past greatness that you are ridding on? As the song goes, what have you done for me lately?
Half empty, half full, does this not border on laziness?
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Hobbit guru, I think you r teasing me. What I meant is that you cannot be on top of the perch by being a 'rojak' company. Naming LV is just to give a depth to the discussion that LVMH can acquire many watchmakers but not Rolex(or maybe not as yet).
As we know, to b worldclass n sustaining your position(living thru recessions & world wars), you require knowledge, skills, culture, etc etc. I always think fashion and the watch industry is ruthless; above all you also need luck. Now Rolex has plenty of those!(or till it runs out).
Thats a junior opinion.
Sm
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Hobbit guru, I think you r teasing me. What I meant is that you cannot be on top of the perch by being a 'rojak' company. Naming LV is just to give a depth to the discussion that LVMH can acquire many watchmakers but not Rolex(or maybe not as yet).
As we know, to b worldclass n sustaining your position(living thru recessions & world wars), you require knowledge, skills, culture, etc etc. I always think fashion and the watch industry is ruthless; above all you also need luck. Now Rolex has plenty of those!(or till it runs out).
Thats a junior opinion.
Sm
Hi sm,
Not teasing at all. I think your arguments are valid. One of the main reasons (to me anyway) is the level of service Rolex offers to its customers. In terms of after sales service, I think it is one of the best, if not the best. It has reach and coverage and service level is pretty much the same everywhere. And being a single (well two) brand, you have service guys who are well trained in he product instead of the multibrand service centers where the service guys end up servicing a number of brands.
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Daytona with leopard spots and bling bling is valid because Aerosmith Tyler loves it.... ;D
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Daytona with leopard spots and bling bling is valid because Aerosmith Tyler loves it.... ;D
Only if it is Liv.........
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Just a few questiosn, if the product offering is already good or great and needs no improvements or little improvements, where is the greatness? Is it not a past greatness that you are ridding on? As the song goes, what have you done for me lately?
Half empty, half full, does this not border on laziness?
In the context of watches, nothing is perfect... there is always something that can be improved...
Greatness lies in the ability get to the top of their game and to stay there...
As to riding on past greatness... ain't this not what ALL if not MOST watchmakers are doing... riding on history?
Lazy? I don't think Rolex is lazy. My friend once told me... why reinvent the wheel? Improve it... that's all that is needed.
Sometimes it takes more work to improve an already impeccable design than to design a new one from scratch... anyone agree?
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Always wonder.... how will the market react if Rolex were to suddenly introduce a drastic new line/series that is completely different from their current lineage....
But to be fair to them, they did make green sexy...twice....!
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What about product improvement? Lots of concern about the quality of the clasp and bracelet, with many living with the Rolex clink and clang of the bracelet.
What about complications, current offering includes chronograph, gmt, date and day complications.
What about Rolex models with diamonds? Furry straps? Leopard design dials? Watches for the fashion conscious or unconscious?
What about Rolex introducing larger size watches, perhaps following the current trend of oversize watches?
The rattling bracelets and clasp are things of the past. As regards complications, don't forget the Sky-Dweller. As regards the big watches, don't forget that the Sub, Sub-date, SD, GMTs were all at 40mm when most other watches were at 34-35mm. The DJ was considered large at 36mm. Hence, when it comes to size, Rolex was never shy to show-off, it's just that these days many other companies are overdoing it.
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if i could only have 1 watch in my collection, it would b a rolex...enuf said
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Like i mentioned before , Rolex always improved on materials such as 904 steel,blue parachrom spring, glide lock clasp, easy link extension , diving to the deepest ocean floor which is not necessary to proof their product quality , etc. They design their watches to out last the testament of time.No matter what you said about this brand, this is the mercedes of watches without doubt.. just my opinion tony
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Rolex all the yrs hv many oem factories supplying parts to them
Bracelet, crystal, hair spring.... But that's the trade secret...
Even luminous...
So they sponsor golf, star... For bcom luxury item!!!
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Are there any true and serious watchmaker in the first place?
The Pateks that most of us can dream to own are practically overpriced pieces...no thanks to the gold, platinum cases, honestly I can't see the finer points/sophistication/complexity of watchmaking in the Calatravas, Gondolo, Nautilus, Aquanaut (even among the chronograph models) . Same goes with AP with their many versions of ROO.
But I still plan to get a Patek and an AP one day...hopefully it won't be one of their `run of the mill' models ;)
Consumerism rules at the end of the day!
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Most serious watchmaker is
SEIKO
Rolex not blue hair spring from breguet
Even now less oem parts already...
Worst is so many bling bling one!!!
I think all good lume also from Japan
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Most serious watchmaker is
SEIKO
Rolex not blue hair spring from breguet
Even now less oem parts already...
Worst is so many bling bling one!!!
I think all good lume also from Japan
The topic is whether Rolex is a true and serious watchmaker. Flooding us with information that SEIKO is the most serious watchmaker unfortunately does not help. BTW, since we are on this topic, what about companies like Citizen, Orient, Sea-Gull and Russian manufacturers like Raketa and Vostok? They are less serious?? Are you sure??
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Rolex never copy but copied by others. Their designs are never out of date especially the Datejust. And they only produce watches and nothing else, so don't think you this Rolex is a true and serious watch maker.
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So what are your view on this? Is Rolex a true and serious watchmaker? Would you consider this to be true? What are your view?
It would be great to have a civil discussion on this to add to the vast knowledge base we already have here.
Thank you.
I think it's probably more interesting if the question is rephrased as 'Rolex - a true and serious watchmaker or just a manufacturer of status symbol". Anyone want to start this discussion??
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now the topic sounds like a statement and i don't think anyone will argue about that...
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I don't know how to benchmark the term "true" or "serious". The scope is too broad.
Maybe Ivan can further clarify on that so we can have a real meaningful discussion.
Regards
Tyler
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Tyler, Enkidu, swleong,
It is a statement to be discussed. Perhaps better to ask, do you think that Rolex is a true and serious watchmaker.
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I'm not watch expert but I like to view thing in these expects...
Coca-cola, not changing thier core formula for many years (of course they have various flavours), are they true and serious soda producer in the world?
Mercedes-Benz, upgrading, reinventing their engines, chasis etc every year, are they true and serious car maker in the world?
Hell yea!!
Some good things are meant to stay where they are as the people like it that way, and some are meant to be upgraded now and then to suit trends and regulations.
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Most serious watchmaker is
SEIKO
Rolex not blue hair spring from breguet
Even now less oem parts already...
Worst is so many bling bling one!!!
I think all good lume also from Japan
The topic is whether Rolex is a true and serious watchmaker. Flooding us with information that SEIKO is the most serious watchmaker unfortunately does not help. BTW, since we are on this topic, what about companies like Citizen, Orient, Sea-Gull and Russian manufacturers like Raketa and Vostok? They are less serious?? Are you sure??
I'm comparing... Serious ? All adjective is measure by relative...
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All watch companies that create their own mechanical movements(although not all lines) are serious watchmakers:
e.g. Patek, Rolex, AP, VC, Lange, Seiko, OP, Montblanc, Tag, Chopard, Damasko, Roger Debuis, Omega, Breitling, Fred Const... etc.....
Not a serious watchmaker(rely on other/conglomerate movements or quartz):
e.g. Tissot, Oris, Ball, Graham, Mido, Longines, U-boat, Louis Erard, Swatch, DKNY, Guess, ... etc....
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Rolex is just not my cup of tea for various reasons but I do respect the brand as an accomplished watchmaker with some iconic pieces troughout its history.
Just because I dont prefer rolex, doesnt mean I have to demean and thrash the brand. Having opinion doesnt not always have to be negative right?
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I normally do not comment on brands that I have no intention to own but since the thread seems to be quite civil despite the potential sensitivities of some owners being brushed the wrong way, I'd like to share my views based on my past ownership of 4 Rolex SS sports models i.e the Sub, Explorer II, SeaDweller and GMT II between 1990-2000. All have since been sold off although they were admirable performers in terms of accuracy, rate, reliability.
Rolex is no doubt a bona fide 'manufacture' of...... tool watches.I do not know what is meant by 'serious'. In the past, they used to outsource their parts from the El Primero movts for the Daytonas to dials, etc but have over the years become more and more vertically integrated by buying over all their suppliers.
If I may add my opinion deviating from the title and also to share why I have shied away from owning any Rolex currently.
Due to the overwhelming demand by WIS & non-WIS, Rolex has been elevated to a cult watch where its is now considered a 'luxury' watch and no longer a tool watch which was its original intended use. Sounds familiar for a few other brands as well ? As a result the prices have been raised almost yearly where you can almost sell a Rolex after several years at close to the original price that you paid for it, depending on the popularity of the model ( inflation not taken into account of course) . Of course that is one of main reasons why it is a favourite as it is considered to be quite a liquid asset. One can thus enjoy wearing a 'hot' watch and selling it off at little loss when one tires of it. Rolex being a commercial entity would be stupid not to capitalise on the popularity of their watches and push the envelope of the price levels. They will continue to raise prices as long as the market supports it.
My opinion of current Rolex's esp. sports models is as follows:
A reliable, tough, hard-wearing tool watch with a fairly accurate in-house movement (depends on your luck as I have heard of movts ranging from +1 sec/day to +10sec/day) that has evolved with small gradual improvements over the decades , not to mention no change in their design. Of coz some may debate its their core DNA.
However I much prefer the older vintage Rolexes which had triple dates with moonphase models but alas they are no longer in the line-up and which has a more classic appeal. Rolex no longer produces complications and for some of us, complication watches are also an attraction as it appeals to our amazement of the technical wizardry involved.
To me every well-made watch by a manufacturer with a history of designing movements, manufacturing most of the critical parts and continuously seeking horological improvements (JLC, deBethune, Urwerk, RM, Grand Seiko, Lange & Sohne, Glashutte, etc comes to my mind) is desirable based on the ultimate design appealing to our individual tastes and budget.
For me every watch has a value based on its quality and materials and there are many excellent watches which I have yet to put my money on becoz their current prices are way higher than my own perceived value. My opinion is that luxury watches have been experiencing a bubble which may one day burst but with China/India and the nouveau rich buying luxury goods it may take awhile yet. I for one do not believe in chasing increasing prices.
Being a luxury item of course, the price will always be far higher than its material/manufacturing/design cost but I would benchmark watches in the same class against each other in terms of materials, complications, technological advancement and arrive at my own perceived value of what a fair value should be.
Note: We can all debate till the cows come home about what a 'manufacture' means but my interpretation is that it is a watch maker that does not just buy an ebauche, does some modification/polishing/re-calibrate or add in a module (worse outsource it to 3rd parties like DD,etc) and put it in a case sourced from an external supplier. Basically a non bona-fide "watchmaker" is only an assembler of parts mostly outsourced, if not all.
As a tool watch, Rolex is an excellent choice but at its current price point, there are many alternatives, as good if not better, to me.
When I pay for a luxury item, it is the emotional factor that is important to me. As we all know luxury watches are beyond telling time, instead they are an extension of your personality something like the luxury car you drive or a bespoke suit you wear. When one uses a luxury item it is partly the exclusivity ( this is of course again relative) that adds value or if you like , the snob appeal which is part of owning luxurious goods besides the inherent quality and refinement of the product.
However when the brand becomes so popular to the point that it is mass produced and owned by a large segment of the product's market, it is no longer deemed a luxury item to me, hence the price vs exclusivity factor is no longer attractive.
No insults to current owners intended..really....
I still love the Explorer I as a basic time-only daily tool watch (not as common as other sports models currently in vogue) but I cannot accept its current price point (movement, case, bracelet that has hardly been improved by both design or materials and yet the price has been increased exponentially) and also its smallish size - my large wrists require 42-44mm in order to be proportional...
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I would say that despite the price increment, Rolex Sport is still considered affordable, especially in the preowned market.
Low maintenance cost (if compared to AP), easy to get spare parts, many rolex watchmakers and high resale value are just some advantages... You can easily bring your full set 16610 to preowned shop and walk away with at least RM12k in cash.... that is liquid...
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Producing about 1million watches annually n if Rolex is not a true and serious watchmaker , who is ?? regards tony.
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Hi hobbit. A true serious watchmaker to me is people like Roger Smith, the independents like Kari, Dufour, late George Daniels, FP Journe, Gruebel Forsey, and the rest. My view on Rolex, very robotic process in making their watches but with great accuracy and finishing. they produce watches which are reliable, accurate, same, share few similar movements in all their models and latest maybe Sky Dweler is a new innovation. I consider them the best brand in watch brands. They have branded themselves well over the last 100 years. Look at their vintage ads on their tool / sports range, explorer I and II, depicting hand wearing Exp I hanging on a cliff, or on volcano, Artic antarctic, their Submariner ads, so wonderful and make u wanna wear one. Rolex is a true marketing genius which produce good reliable robust tough solid cool watches and producing them in a million a year and multiplying that for the past 60 years that means at least 60 million people globally has one Rolex watch and their watches keep value and if these ctiteria define what a true and serious watchmaker is, then Rolex is. I love the crown btw. Good question to the otherwise silly Panerai as fashion brand debate.
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Rolex probably not suitable for young people. Makes them ollk 10 years older. Just my opinion.... :Cheers: :Cheers: :Cheers: :Cheers: :Cheers:
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Or rather make the elderly look younger with the sports model, are you talking about the DJ model?? regards tony..
Rolex probably not suitable for young people. Makes them ollk 10 years older. Just my opinion.... :Cheers: :Cheers: :Cheers: :Cheers: :Cheers:
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i think every watchmaker is a true and serious watchmaker.....otherwise they wont have any business........even Casio is very deadly serious about making watch......oh Q&Q as well....hahahha
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Rolex, the most mysterious brand in the world.
Besides BASEL they dont do anymore press release or marketing events (besides sponsor events).
No visit to the factory, no road map shown to anyone, no indication of whats to come.
Rolex buys lot of their supplier and integrate them into their process.
When James Dowling visited them and wrote, a few engineers took 3-5 years just to re-design the clasp of the current Rolex models to improve them.
Overkill?
I am trying to find a post i did on the innovations by Rolex in this forum some time ago.
So far Seiko is the ONLY brand in the world who does everything 100% in house. Even the oil used is made by them for them.
Does anyone know any other brand that does this?
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Rolex, the most mysterious brand in the world.
Besides BASEL they dont do anymore press release or marketing events (besides sponsor events).
No visit to the factory, no road map shown to anyone, no indication of whats to come.
Rolex buys lot of their supplier and integrate them into their process.
When James Dowling visited them and wrote, a few engineers took 3-5 years just to re-design the clasp of the current Rolex models to improve them.
Overkill?
I am trying to find a post i did on the innovations by Rolex in this forum some time ago.
So far Seiko is the ONLY brand in the world who does everything 100% in house. Even the oil used is made by them for them.
Does anyone know any other brand that does this?
for all we know they already move to china...hehehe....just kidding....
i think this add more value to them, the way they handle their business....make it so top notch secret....make us the fan want more (i am not a fan actually)....
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pete,
let me quote verbatim 'The single most important thing that saved Rolex is that for 70 years, the company had only been run by two managing directors; hans wilsdorf and andre heiniger. They never really had to worry about this quarter's results. They could think long term appeal;Thats a completely different philosophy than another watch house. Even in times of uncertainty, Rolex's greatest policy was never to adopt change for change's sake....Being a private company without any external shareholders, Rolex can better afford to remain aloof to fads than many of its counterparts....Montres Rolex SA is hugely secretive. Rolex always was an outsider company in Switzerland. Their top executives almost never do interviews. Essentially, their philosophy has always been to let the product speak for itself, unquote'
Its is mysterious because of the deliberate attempt to do so.
thank you.
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JLC also made everything under one roof , also made ultra thin movements for PP n Vc earlier on. correct me if I"m wrong. regards tony
Rolex, the most mysterious brand in the world.
Besides BASEL they dont do anymore press release or marketing events (besides sponsor events).
No visit to the factory, no road map shown to anyone, no indication of whats to come.
Rolex buys lot of their supplier and integrate them into their process.
When James Dowling visited them and wrote, a few engineers took 3-5 years just to re-design the clasp of the current Rolex models to improve them.
Overkill?
I am trying to find a post i did on the innovations by Rolex in this forum some time ago.
So far Seiko is the ONLY brand in the world who does everything 100% in house. Even the oil used is made by them for them.
Does anyone know any other brand that does this?
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Tony,
Not everything. Some parts are still sourced from suppliers outside.
Dial/Crystal etc...
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If I start a post n ask
Is Rolex a serious n true money maker
Then sure every1 say yes!!!
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Serious watchmaker - definite yes
Money making - really dont know since it is privately held.
Maybe our other alpha-male members would like to comment?
Tq. Sm
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I think Rolex is dead serious as a watchmaker.
There is more than one occasion Rolex went out their way to make a real watch for real ppl
I counted
1. Milgauss, ref 6541 and 1019: Made for people or scientist who work around strong magnetic field. The modern 116400 is just a dress watch.
2. GMT, ref 6542 and 1675: Made for pilot who need to keep track multiple timezone on transatlantic flight.
3. SeaDweller, ref 1665, 16660 and 16660: Saturation divers (deep dive)
4. Explorer 2, ref 1655: Made for Speleology or commonly known as cave explorer.
If Rolex aim to make a lot of money then making watches for the minority group above should be the last thing on their mind.
So yes back before the 80s I think Rolex is a serious watchmaker. Those watch that I mention above are tough and purposefully built for the environment it require to be in.
Now I'm not so sure.
On the point of "true" ... ... I'll leave it to another post
Regards
Tyler
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Nicely said :thumbsup:
That is why I always prefer the drab and lighter older models (lug holes and all) compared to it's shiny modern brethren.
Watches made were for a purpose and an overkill. A quartz watch that can withstand extreme cold of Everest? No prob.
If it's not tough and tested, it would not be fit to wear the crown.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_04kZGR_ltmE/S8G35Hn9v4I/AAAAAAAAG-I/sleHkB1f1k4/s1600/Peter-Habeler-Rolex-Datejust-Oystequartz.jpg)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_04kZGR_ltmE/Sv0YPcEx8BI/AAAAAAAAFIs/06b_6qf5s6Y/s1600-h/May-1978-Everest-Sir-Edmund-Hillary-and-Messner-Rolex-.jpg)
I think Rolex is dead serious as a watchmaker.
There is more than one occasion Rolex went out their way to make a real watch for real ppl
I counted
1. Milgauss, ref 6541 and 1019: Made for people or scientist who work around strong magnetic field. The modern 116400 is just a dress watch.
2. GMT, ref 6542 and 1675: Made for pilot who need to keep track multiple timezone on transatlantic flight.
3. SeaDweller, ref 1665, 16660 and 16660: Saturation divers (deep dive)
4. Explorer 2, ref 1655: Made for Speleology or commonly known as cave explorer.
If Rolex aim to make a lot of money then making watches for the minority group above should be the last thing on their mind.
So yes back before the 80s I think Rolex is a serious watchmaker. Those watch that I mention above are tough and purposefully built for the environment it require to be in.
Now I'm not so sure.
On the point of "true" ... ... I'll leave it to another post
Regards
Tyler
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Definitely yes. Beside movement, crystal, spring..etc, Rolex has gone one step further, they formulate and cast their own metal for use in cases and bracelets. The Rolex Company has its own foundry within its walls where many of the new and unique alloys they use are created. Rolex makes its own gold in this foundry so new alloys may be utilized and the quality of the gold may be controlled.
The main foundry is now located in Rolex’s 11-story production complex in Plan-les-Ouates, a municipality of Geneva, Switzerland. Built in 2005, this facility is the company’s largest. To illustrate its impressive size, consider the fact that Rolex is the biggest industrial user of gold in Switzerland.
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Rolex never copy but copied by others. Their designs are never out of date especially the Datejust. And they only produce watches and nothing else, so don't think you this Rolex is a true and serious watch maker.
i agree, Rolex, for example the submariner, is one of the most copied, (imitations or homages) watch in the world...for me at least ;)
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:'( if only ... i could afford a rolex ... then it would be the EXPLORERss ... and how so often we city dwellers treated our/new cities like no men's land ... how often we men like to EXPLORER stuffs ... how a new city when we men arrived at one we would then said let's EXPLORE ... master choo strong believed although rolex may not have designed the EXPLORERss for city dwellers ... nevertheless they have motivated master choo to crudely imagined he has one on his wrist every time he needed to do some exploration - exploring and wondering around the 'his-city' hoping one ROLEX-EXPLORER would physically bracelet-ed on his wrist ... so for master choo ... IT IS THE ROLEX-EXPLORER ... 1953-2012...N MAYBE MANY YEARS TO COME...for at least ROLEX is much older than master choo ... in that sense they are truly the true and serious watchmaker ... especially the long lasting 3-6-9 on all the EX-I ... & master choo is still exploring the city and hoping one ROLEX-EXPLORER would physically bracelet-ed on his wrist ...
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Wise words... Master Choo...
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Rolex, a true and serious watch maker? I duno.. I just buy and wear it.. Never thk abt this...
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Masterchoo, hope you can buy one sooner than later.regards tony
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I always like to study the origin of a brand. And how could a brand be sustainable.
Most of the replies here cover the second question- design, quality, technology, focus, management and so on. Being sustainable is so important to a company, especially when we see some good brand is getting weak after a while. In 1969, Seiko produced the world's first commercial quartz wristwatch, the Astron. Omega, being a long-time rival of Rolex, was trying to follow the trend, giving option to have quartz movement for most of their model. Rolex choose the other strategy to make the brand more towards jewellery. Omega won the war in terms of selling figure during 70’. But in long run, Rolex was able to maintain the craftsmanship of handmade mechanical watch while the prestige of brand of Omega was getting chaos.
Rolex is not the only brand for luxury watches in the market. To name a few- Patek Philippe, A Lange & Sohne, Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet, Jaeger-LeCoultre, Cartier, Piaget, Blancpain might be ranked higher than Rolex among critics. To answer the first question: How do Rolex become the most popular brand for luxury watches in the market in the VERY beginning, is not an easy task.
I am still a newbie in the study of watch history; correct me if I am wrong.
Basically, when we are touching any branding issues, it is a process of "inception" (similar to the movie, lol).
But I will not touch much on the “socialized inception” happened in latecomer like most of us, who are influenced by other believer. This is because we do not need many solid reasons to accept “socialized inception” into our brain. Mainly because we are socialized people, we will normally accept what is secured, stable and mostly believed in our society.
I am trying to find the tipping point happened many years ago. In this case, I would like to use Google as a case study.
Before Google, the category for search engine is occupied by the brand, Yahoo. But Yahoo is not focus on its search function; they give you index and advertisement which is distracting us from pure searching. The founders of Google, Larry Page and Sergey Brin bring us “precision searching” – a revolution of practicality.
But Rolex is a relatively new brand when it was founded, at that time precision of watch is already achieved among many watch makers by means of various technology revealed earlier.
In my point of views, Rolex created a revolution of practicality in watch history and market the idea very well. After I have conceived my conjecture, I happened to find the following write-up in press published in 30’, which tell us a thousand words.
Rolex introduces for the first time: the greatest Triumph in Watch-making: ROLEX 'OYSTER'
The Wonder Watch that Defies the Elements. Being hermetically sealed the Rolex 'Oyster' is proof against changes of climate, dust, water, damp, heat, moisture, cold, sand or grease: it can, in consequence, be worn in the sea or bath without injury, nor would arctic or tropical conditions affect the wonderful precision of its beautifully poised movement. The introduction of the Rolex 'Oyster' model marks an unique development in the forward stride of the chronometric science, and perfect timekeeping under all conditions is at last a possibility.
Being durable is so important to a daily worn wrist watch, especially for military usage when time is crucial in the war zone. This could be a revolution of practicality.
But if you are careful enough, Rolex is not the first watch maker introduced water proof watch. IWC created the first water proof case for watch and Hueur also introduce water proof watch earlier. And Omega and Longines has been using relatively good water proof case made by Francis Baumgartner, Paul Perregaux and Georges Peret for years. You might say Rolex pushed the practicality of water proof, dust proof, shock proof and weather proof into higher level. But in my point of view, the other watch maker might have the same problem; they did not market the idea very well. Let’s see what Rolex has done for its better evolution of durable watch.
To complete the process of inception for brand, something has to be done after one has the best and unique idea.
First, after one has done it much better, it needs a good name for a brand, in this case, a sub-brand. Rolex give the new technology a new name: Oyster.
Second, it needs public relationship. Rolex took advantage of the first woman to swim the English Channel, Mercedes Gleitzes, create awareness for the brand in the historical moment. Then she became the mother of modern endorsement. People will only believe in message by an outsider who was believed by themselves.
A huge marketing success! Could it be the tipping point of the most popular luxury watch brand? I guess so.
You may say there are better water proof watch in the market. But the revolution will not happen in the same category again once it happens before. The inception process is done. The idea of the durable luxury watches is Rolex is crystallized in our brain. With or without the real experience of owning a Rolex, we become believers to influent the next one.
As I always say, name of the brand is so important that account for many things. Hans Wilsdorf has done it so well to rename his brand to be Rolex in the beginning, together with a simple logo, a triumph or five stick of matches, which are simple and nice for us to pronounce and remember.
Magic!
For your reference, I added the following list from wikipedia which is also inspiring.
Among the company's innovations are:
The first waterproof wristwatch "Oyster", 1926
The first wristwatch with an automatically changing date on the dial (Rolex Datejust ref.4467, 1945)
The first wristwatch case waterproof to 100 m (330 ft) (Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner ref.6204, 1953)
The first wristwatch to show two time zones at once (Rolex GMT Master ref.6542, 1954)
The first wristwatch with an automatically changing day and date on the dial (Rolex Day-Date, 1956)
The first watchmaker to earn chronometer certification for a wristwatch
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Here's the latest press release from Rolex, just in case you haven't already read it.
http://www.wthejournal.com/en/en-direct/article/Rolex-completes-its-21st-century-facility-in-Bienne