Rolex

This is a really nice watch that I look forward to seeing in person, especially the YG/black dial combo.

Yes, in a vacuum, it's nice.  But when compared to other existing products on the market like a Lange Saxonia or Lange 1815 or a Vacheron Constantin Patrimony or Vacheron Constantin Traditionelle, you can get much higher quality watches from a much higher brand for a very similar price.

A basic Lange 1815 is now $10K USD more than this 1908, as of last week. And I would definitely pick the Lange 1815 over this Rolex. But I find the dial and overall aesthetic of the Rolex 1908 to be much nicer than the Lange Saxonia, VC Patrimony, VC Traditionnelle, and Patek 6911 (which some have mentioned elsewhere for comparison). That's based solely upon the photos, though. Gotta see it in person, which is 80% of the fun!

Ahh, right, Lange had that price increase recently.

I hope it eventually trickles down to the rest of the lines

I get the controversy on many Omegas, though (and tend to dislike display backs on Omegas). I'm keeping an open mind about this one for now.

A silly title i typed.
Rolex is highly recognized.
But i could not understand the way Rolex do not want us to see a movement.
Working horses, no lust to decorate a movement, be doing wat is doing for decades.
For water resistance it is cheaper to use closed oystered backs.

Is this the moment Rolex want the open case back enthusiasts to look happy?
I would for sure more happy.
Tudor made the step to open case backs all ready, so it would be interesting when Rolex go all the way.
A white golden Yacht Master with an open case back?
With Porsche nobody could imagine they came up with a 5 doors SUV, now multi door Porsches are very popular.

Is it a screw down crown? Since it's an automatic, a screw down crown would not interfere with winding.

First open case back Rolex I’ve seen. Pretty cool 

(Image 1stdibs.com)

The prince is the only one.
Not my taste, but the 1908 is round and the watch i hoped for Rolex came up on one day.

Sure a brand must do wat they want, but to get me, a brand better can look at PP and make me happy.
I always loved PP making pristine watches, and now i can also look at Rolex.
But i need more to see from Rolex. One round watch with an open case back is not enough.

Would I still rather have a 38mm VC Traditionnelle? Yes. But kudos to Rolex for entering the arena with a very attractive and thin dress watch that’s not a Cellini and that can potentially evolve into a line of multiple complicated offerings.

I agree that for the money I'd rather have a Lange Saxonia... but I already have a Lange Saxonia!

I think that will make this new line of dress watches competitive with other brands and appealing to those in the market

But it needs smaller case. A 36-37 mm will be perfect for this kind of watch.

10 year service intervals, etc.

If we look only at anglage (a historically recent obsession, and one that misses a lot about horology), then we lose what's interesting about this watch.

I'd like to believe this "just because it's Rolex," but the 32xx movements undermined my confidence in that regard. Both of my watches with 32xx movements went back prematurely. I've had better luck with what are now vintage Rolex movements. I'm sure the 1908 will be a daily for some people so we'll probably get data soon about this.

I hear you on the 31xx being tanks.

Without the "superlative chronometer" text... And maybe traditional quarter hours on the subdial.

The more interesting question for me is, why would this succeed where Cellini failed? In a vacuum, I find the Cellini moon phase a undeniably attractive watch...

Movement-wise, prefer a manual or micro rotor for the display back.

but, don't think it will ever get to ordinary folks like me ☹️