Rolex

In prior posts, I noted my respect for the Rolex brand but argued that it would be a bad idea to start a Rolex forum here, largely because it would attract the wrong sort.  I confess I am having second thoughts about that.  Many of the people on this site, who are into horology for all the right reasons, respect Rolex almost as much as (if not more than) any other brand, and seem quite eager to participate when someone raises a Rolex question on this page.  So, for those who are reading this (and who care), what do you think:  in principle, would a Rolex forum be a good idea or a bad one?

all we need is a passionate moderator who will make him/her self know and we can rock n roll.

Thanks for posting the thought we all have on the tip of our tongue.

Bill

It has nothing to do with respecting Rolex or not, the brand just does not belong here,
for the very strong reason you mentioned yourself.
If a brand like Cartier, with it's outstanding CPCP collection, great history and strong models,
is not even getting a forum here, why the #&@% Rolex.
Geo

. . . a Purists Rolex forum would be constrained by the emphasis on propriety and form that is evident elsewhere on these pages?   Curiously, Art

of course one can give it a try, but then there is no way back.
The quality of these forums should go up, not down.
Sorry to be negative about these plans.
Geo

Dear friends,

When ThePuristS was started (and PuristSPro is a sibling), our community was driven by the mutual spirit of discussion and education of / by / for our peers. It's a one-for-all and all-for-one thing.

One of the guiding principles was that we would only have brand forums that PuristS could add value to, rather than make up the numbers. So, we did not have many famous brand names e.g. Seiko, Rolex, IWC etc that already had established and rather good fora all over the Internet.

Absence from PuristS websites does NOT imply a lesser brand.......just a lesser need for yet another forum that we could not improve on delivering "Passion. Opinion. Information."

Indeed, there is some truth in missing out brand forums because we need knowledgeable and good moderators who can deal with those brands in PuristS' style. One example is Cartier that has one of the oldest continuous histories in wristwatch production and their jewelery "ain't too shabby" either  

It would be an extremely brave person who would dare to become the moderator for Cartier brand. The weight of the prior art is sufficient to deter any "volunteer"......trust me  -  I know.....I almost did a couple of years ago until the current Mrs MTF reminded me of that.........

Now, if we could afford to pay an expert to be moderator as a real job, it may be a different thing.......... 

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2007-11-20 07:44:36

We already have a Panerai forum,which is a good thing, as it allows some true lovers to express their opininon and their passion.
I think that the same could be done for some brands as CARTIER ( Ididn't think about this brand , but the one who thought about it is right),
or IWC, too, and WHY NOT, Rolex.
Rolex is a true brand, with a big past, a past which was shared with some other brands...Let's not forget that the Cali 3646 Panerai was, in fact, a Rolex case with a Rolex movement.
BUT, and it's difficult for me to say it with the rights words, as my Borat English ...you know..., but let's try, ...
I think that the most important thing, as MTF perfectly said it, is to continue and protect the spirit of this place.
With Rolex, it may be difficult, if you refer to other dedicated fora where it looks like permanent war...
BUT, and this is my last BUT, educated people can express themselves in an educated way, even when the matter is as passionnate as Rolex,( OR PANERAI) can be, isnt'it???
Just my 2 French Francs...
Nicolas

Art Made this comment:

"a Purists Rolex forum would be constrained by the emphasis on propriety and form that is evident elsewhere on these pages?"

And along the same line, amanico said this:

"BUT, and this is my last BUT, educated people can express themselves in an educated way, even when the matter is as passionnate as Rolex,( OR PANERAI) can be, isnt'it???"

These points may be valid, but in my view they might be a bit of "wishful thinking."  If this state can be achieved (and IMO that is a very big "if") then it would require a mountain of time for whoever would moderate the forum.  It's not the current members that would worry me.

As much as I respect Rolex watches for what they are, there tend to be some very "over the top" people on the Rolex forums I have been on in the past.  I don't think what having a Rolex forum would add to this site would be worth the trouble.

Just my $0.02 Canadian.

Cheers, Al

I am having a little trouble getting my head around the subject in pragmatic way.

I have to admit that when I see someone prancing around in a very loud rolex it too am apprehensive of that person and it validates the negative.

Having said that, I like many on this forum wore a rolex for 15 years day and night and bashed up and down without regard and it always worked.  So I think the product is good and I hope that no one here will claim otherwise with out substantiating it.

However, if had been educated by some one who knew the brand I would have had the opportunity back then to get some really nice vintage Rolex watch that have the pedigree that any watch lover would envy.  Is this an opportunity start a new with some guidance on some the watches like the Milgauss.  The vintage Daytona's are completely out of reach.  You also only need to look at the latest auction results and see the the brand really offers some good value over time.

It is a shame that we can't focus on getting good information (if it thereto be had) rather that the dis-information about the brand.  I think that those genuinely who are interested in the brand will participate in the debate; the others simply won't come to the club.  This our chance to make a difference in this challenge.

I still would love to hear some bad things about the brand, the quality of their products and their history rather that just simple disliking the wearers of rolex.

My 0.04 cents as I had two bites at the apple.

Bill

Rolex forum.  I could argue there might be too many forums already.  If this place is about the art and technology of watches...it doesn't matter who makes the watch...and you don't need a specific forum to ask a question about a specific watch.  Yes, Rolex has a rich history...but how many times can you compare a Sub to a Sub...and who cares how much a PN Daytona sold for last week...and how many times will Rolex enthusiasts/newbies clutter things with links to ebay and questions such as "is this a good price" or "is this a fake?"

The watch world is already at a hype tipping point.  Not only would I reject the idea of a Rolex forum here, I can think of several forums for other brands that would be good candidates for elimination.

 

John Ireland 

 

Simply use the edit option and just pick the forum(s) you want to see.

home.watchprosite.com

you will also have a one click view to see all post in that selection.

home.watchprosite.com

Rather than eliminate the choice for others who may want forum x or y take advantage of the selectivity choice.

I agree after a while there are to many choices of fora; that's why there is a custom choice to get the 5 or six you most frequent.

you can always click here

home.watchprosite.com


and get a global view across all fora or use the home page for across all fora.

getting so cluttered.  if everything is "special" in the end nothing is special.  Perhaps grouping watch companies by size would be more focused.  Large companies such as Rolex and Seiko and Omega would have similarities of scale and purpose. Small companies such as Patek and Vacheron would be in very a different group.  And the very small boutique houses would be another still.  Three forums for three types of watches, plus (perhaps) a vintage forum (coverall all makes) though even that seems just another way to divide enthusiasts instead of bringing them together.

The "brand" fan club forums become too much awe and back slapping and fawning over every new model, and for me that reduces the quality of the information and discussion. 

And let me bury in this post...as often happens in discussions...a question about Patek.  What exactly designates a Calatrava?  I see the name attached to lots of Pateks...but the only time I have seen it defined is when a dealer mentioned the Calatrava crown as if it was specific to that model.  In my days of infatuation with the name Patek, I picked one up and it had all the style and look I wanted (35mm case, broad hands, center seconds), yet it never felt that special on the wrist and after a few hours I would take it off and put on something I liked more.  Now the Patek has become my "wall clock"...it hangs on a push pin over my desk...I enjoy looking at it, and it seems quite happy there as well. 

 

 

 

And they have all been pretty well behaved (so far).

Many of our members own, or have owned, Rolex and some collect vintage Rolexes. So the interest is definitely there.

Now that I'm able to personalize the brands menu and use the MyView feature I never see the brands I'm not interested in (which btw is the majority of the brands in the list).

Further; Panerai were introduced fairly recently and to my knowledge there hasn't been an issue with the "great unwashed" polluting the rest of the site.

. . . their clannishness and devotion are inexplicable, but at least they're good sports.  I think Al's and Geo's point is that Rolex fans have a reputation for taking an "us-vs-them" attitude towards the rest of the community, and I have no reason to doubt them, especially as it seems they have considerable experience with other Rolex forums.  I can't argue with the experience of Al and Geo, but I like to  think that there's at least a possibility that a civil Rolex forum can find fertile ground here - and I'm a pessimist by nature!  Cordially, Art

By your very name and nature, sir!   By your name and nature........

tee hee

MTF

. . . assuredly so, MTF . . . most cordially, Art

Based on a couple of comments from above:

"The "brand" fan club forums become too much awe and back slapping and fawning over every new model, and for me that reduces the quality of the information and discussion.  "

Indeed! Isn't this a decription of the many OP discussions? eg: "Look at my Pam xxx BEAST!" followed by "ooos" and 'aaahhs". repeat Ad Nauseum

I like the aesthetics of Panerai (well, the vintage style, a friend has a Kampfschwimmer (sp?)) but what horological significance do they have aside from a tenuous link back to an arm of the Italian Navy? A rhetorical question, yes.

In the end, let the traffic on the site decide. There is surely no issue in sharing your vintage Rolex on the more general fora. Nor should there be any issue in asking Rolex related questions on them. If it becomes popular, perhaps it deserves it's own forum.

BDLJ

 

Dear All,

 

The PuristS motto is Passion. Opinion. Information … All of these could of course be manifest in a Rolex Forum. One of the enjoyable aspects of this hobby is to have our eyes opened and our preconceived ideas rearranged. I have previously had only a passing interest in Rolex, but would enjoy having my horizons broadened.

 

What we are concerned about are the polarising opinions that some can have about Rolex watches and Rolex wearers. It is possible that we may “attract the wrong crowd”, but I think that applying the PuristS ideals to discussions on this brand is still possible. Of course the Moderator of this future forum is not going to have an enviable task, but Passion and Opinion in the right environment can be beneficial for us all.

 

With current exchange rates, A$0.02 is worth a little more.

 

Regards

 

Andrew

show their vintage rolexes.

Here's what I think.  Lots of people here own Rolexes, and (as past posts reveal) people have at least as many intelligent things to say about the brand as they have to say about, say, Panerai.  In fact, given the vintage Rolex market, a Rolex forum could easily become the most popular destination on this site -- and popular among people we respect, not the great unwashed.

The one concern people have expressed -- and I shared this concern once -- is that a Rolex forum will attract unpleasant people who like watches primarily as status symbols rather than as technological achievements, or who post moronic "which bezel?" questions.  I think that concern is overstated; for the most part, those people will still probably hang out on the other website, not here.  And even if a few of them wander over here, so what?  Why let them exercise a heckler's veto over something that many of us would enjoy having? 

Anyway, it is a bit odd to have a website devoted to luxury men's watches that conspicuously excludes the most popular luxury watch brand simply because it IS the most popular luxury watch brand.  Just my increasingly devalued two cents.

For those of you in the U.S., happy Thanksgiving!  To those of you elsewhere, happy Thursday!

- Jon

'Gentlemen'

Now for those of you that read my ravings, and have not heard the story about those wrong types, like the ones that drive Ferraris and wear those flashy Rolexs..... I will tell you the story.

A man had driven his red Ferrari to the village and as he parked on the side of the road and got out of his car, a truck drove by so close that it ripped the door off his Ferrari.

The Police were driving past from the other direction and stopped. As the Policeman approached the man he was hysterical screaming out "My Beautiful red Ferrari, My beautiful Ferrari....Get that maniac...he has wrecked my beautiful Ferrari."

One of the Policeman said to the man " Sir please calm down...you are in shock....that truck ripped your arm off'. You must be still"

The man had not noticed and looked at his arms and saw that one had been torn off at the shoulder.

"My Rolex, My beautiful Gold Rolex...My Rolex..!"

Now that is true Passion...

And this is my Opinion.

I am surprised at some of the comments about the wrong types, people Oohing and Aarrng, and inferences to possible questions that seem beneath this forum's intellect.

In fact, with respect to all, I do not know how a forum can purport to be about passion, opinion and information and shut out  possibly the world’s most all-round successful brand. It's a bit like sticking our head in the sand.

As for cluttering the site....nobody has to click on the Rolex link, or any other link on the site.

Of the roughly 20 brands featured on our header, I am aware of them all and  yet when I log on I go to the one or two brands that I am attracted to and rarely check the rest....but I always click on Horological Meandering and get pleasure out of the conversation of others enjoying their lust .....Even when they are drooling over a watch that does nothing for me.

I see plenty of watches on this site that I would not have if you gave them to me, but I respect the individuals that see beauty in them and relate to their pleasure as it is a constant reminder that we are all different....all different yet all logged on, and communicating together, because we have a common interest....so bring on the Rolex and maybe we might all be enlightened by those wrong types wearing those unpopular watches.

We might get the Information.

Well.... I have to go ...it is going to be a beautiful sunny day tomorrow ...I just have  to polish my Rolex collection.... as I want to get maximum  flash for my cash.

Kindest regards to all,

Jack....with a "Smily Face"

PS I dont know where the smiley faces are to insert...so I will use text. 

 

Jack,

To make a smiley face, just type   :  -  )   without the spaces and the system will do the rest

Regarding your comments, please note that we COULD have a Rolex discussion or forum; it's NOT ruled out as a "policy".

The main discussion here is revolving about, "What added value that 'yet another' Rolex forum could contribute to the catholic quantum of Internet passion, opinion or information? All that can be said, is already being said, on other dedicated websites for Rolex.

Regards,

MTF

Last I checked, the relevant forums for those two brands in the rival website are much more highly populated than their counterparts here.  The question isn't quantity, but quality.  And that's what we have over the rival website.  The same would probably be true of Rolex as well, particularly given the depth of knowledge (and interest) here about vintage models.

Dear Chromatic Fugue,

I may have no rebuttal to your kind observations about our other fora.

Mayhaps, we are a little intimidated by Big Green? They don't seem keen to have their insides bared for the world to see. We have never seen the inside of Rolex - both metaphorically and in reality, for both the watches and the Manufacture, have we? Not from Rolex themselves.

They squirrel away in their big black building.....punching out 850,000 watches a year like....er...clockwork

They've only had 3 CEOs since inception (102 years)......how intriguing as a case study in successor planning.

1905: Company is founded as Wilsdorf & Davis in London, ENGLAND 
1908: The Rolex brand name is introduced.
1919: Company moves to Switzerland.
1926: Introduction of Oyster model, the world's first waterproof, airtight wristwatch.
1931: Introduction of the Perpetual model, the first waterproof, self-winding wristwatch.
1960: Founder Hans Wilsdorf dies.
1963: André Heiniger is appointed as company's CEO.
1988: Introduction of Oyster Chronograph Chronometer.
1992: Introduction of Oyster Perpetual Yacht Master; Patrick Heiniger is appointed CEO.
1995: Opening of new company headquarters.

Spooky, huh? Scary too....and they want to keep it that way, for the mystique.

Can we expect any help or support? That is vital for PuristS to get it right - Information, Opinion and Passion..... All for One and One for All.

Regards,

MTF

This message has been edited by MTF on 2007-11-25 07:50:15

The fact that Rolex aren't keen to have their insides bared for all the world to see would make it THAT MUCH MORE INTERESTING to have a forum in which people actually care about the insides of these watches and are willing to take the cases off their vintage models so we can see the evolution of these movements over the decades.  (Daytona, anyone?)  These are spectacularly accurate and durable movements, and it's anomalous that a website devoted to horology has neglected them so utterly.

So, who has seen inside the Panerai factory or the Omega factory..?

 

A Rolex forum to represent this important brand is a positive idea.

 

Rolex has interesting history, innovations, usage by pros or various variants no less then some other companies. Rolex has lots of interesting points that many would like to know about and discuss.

 

I think the main point is that a Rolex forum will attract many new posters and that may change the balance between that specific forum and the other forums.

 

But this is why we have moderators, isn’t it?  J

 

Happy thanks giving

Tzachi

 

comments of  "All that can be said, is already being said, on other dedicated websites for Rolex."

 I take your point, but it is worth noting that after looking at several sites I decided to make and "Tag" this site in my Favourite File.....because I have found that the knowledge, discussion and comment by members here is of a very high quality devoted more to the heritage, history and inner workings rather than aesthetic appearance of watches.

I am sure I am like a lot of members who, late at night when the days work is done, enjoy to Log On to Purists pro and relax by reading what is going on around the world in the lives and minds of like minded people.

After visiting this site for many months, and having gained an insite into the character and different expertise of individual members.....for me it would be the thoughts and opinions of these members of this site that I would enjoy reading.

Kindest regards to all,

Jack

 

 

Jack, .......and well done with the smiley face - don't go hog wild with them now! 

I was trying to be "diplomatic" but since you persisted, I'll write the same sentence with certain words highlighted (tee hee).  I promise this is the "last" that I will write on this current thread......

"All that can be said , is already being said, on other dedicated websites for Rolex."

Best regards,

MTF