Why post such rubbish here?

Last edited by Alexandre Orlov (2011-01-26 00:02:47)

Ah! The Beautiful People!

I've had an Oyster Perpetual Datejust since 1971, after college. Price was about $190. Since then repairs have approximated about 15 times that amount. I wouldn't get another one. My wife's bought in 1998, stopped working within days of purchase in Switzerland. Much ceremony in NY at the Rolex Bldg., to get the interior replaced. Also repairs adding up over the years. My Datejust has been in the shop for over a month after dying.

Rolex is a company that spends more on marketing than on the goods. But that is true for a lot of the better known Swiss makers. The price goes up every year, with the certainty of a Swiss railroad clock. That's just part of the Swiss shtick. I do like the design of the Oyster Datejust, and it  is fairly rugged, and not a dress watch. So much of the choice of watches is personal aesthetics. But these are mass produced mechanical pieces. I think of them sort of like fine art prints. Some Lichtenstein prints are worth more than others for various reasons. However, you may prefer Warhol to Lichtenstein, or neither.

I think the analogy to a BMW is a good one as regards Rolex.  I actually had some interest in a 1950's Panerai with Rolex movement, until I found out it would not be an automatic movement. The prices were astronomical on these so called collectible pieces.

I drive a Swiss Longines gold watch, with manual movement for dress use. The watch is ca. 1950's. Runs perfectly. Never any problems.

Tudor is a Rolex under the Tudor name to the best of my knowledge. More fairly priced than Rolex.

Normal use on my Rolex. I look the look of the stainless stell Oyster Perpetual Datejust. As to the insides, I suspect they are not much different from a $500 Swiss watch. None of this is esoteric. They probably junk inside.

Seems like the posters have got Rolex' number. Overpriced Swiss luxury goods, riding on heavy promotion and marketing. I like mine, it's just that I realize it's a mass produced mediocre product. I was told that Breguet is the only handmade watch of the top Swiss makers.

As I understand it the Swatch brand was Swiss' answer to Far East competition. It became an enormously successful venture, relying on plastic moving parts. The creator died last year, but was so successful that Swatch bought up a number of the traditional Swiss makers.