Rolex, a true and serious watchmaker

[TheHobbit]

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.

[hanz079]

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? 

[pexus]

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...

What I am not sure if they can still maintain their share of market in the luxury watch business...

[besview]

True blue manufactory thru and thru.Prices are not exactly thru the roof IMO relatively speaking

[TheHobbit]

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?

[sm]

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.

[hanz079]

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.

[TheHobbit]

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?

[hanz079]

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... 

[TheHobbit]

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?

[sm]

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

[TheHobbit]

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.

[pexus]

Daytona with leopard spots and bling bling is valid because Aerosmith Tyler loves it....

[TheHobbit]

Daytona with leopard spots and bling bling is valid because Aerosmith Tyler loves it....

Only if it is Liv.........

[hanz079]

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?

[pexus]

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....! 

[Enkidu]

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.

[ckcspice]

if i could only have 1 watch in my collection, it would b a rolex...enuf said

[tonykpk]

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

[chrisyen]

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!!!

[Plankton-IkanBilis]

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!

[chrisyen]

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

[Enkidu]

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??

[okayterry]

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.

[Enkidu]

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??