Rolex

Posted on other forum to get two views ;-)


From time to time people ask me - "If I should get a watch and I have to choose between a Rolex and a Panerai which one should I get?"

Well easy question - Get the Rolex ;-)

If life just was that easy - it would be a boring life as well. I can only stress that you should buy what you want and not buy what other people say you should buy.

Take control over your life and make your own decision.
That is to put it on the point - It can some times be nice to hear pro and cons for different watches that are on ones which list.

Most often I hear about the pro and cons for a Panerai or a Rolex. And I don't think anyone have anything "negative" to say about these two watches - there are both good watches and easy to sell again if you regret it and want to try another watch.

But if you ask me for my opinion - I would say get the Rolex.
The Rolex is and will always be a classic, its tough, its accurate, in-house movement, its quality, it is good good quality for the money, it looks good, and its easy to sell again and people will know you like quality. A sure buy.

But.....

The Rolex is also a little to easy to select. Like the old saying nobody get fired for buying IBM (from the good old days).

The Panerai is more "Fun" - it has some other qualities that is unique to that Brand.
The quality is not as good as Rolex, it is high priced for the "ETA" models, the in-house models is even higher priced, many special editions, the community is special, the secondhand price for the limited models are high. But the watch is more FUN!!

The difference between Panerai and Rolex is like buying cars.

The ROLEX is a Volvo, Audi, Mercedes, Saab, etc - high price and high quality. You will get value for money even if the price is high.

The PANERAI is a Alfa, a Fiat 500, a Morgan, a Lotus Super Seven, a Defender (Land Rover) - High price - but fun cars you can enjoy at a different level.


So if you have the opportunity to have have two cars - etc. like one for you to have fun with and one for the daily work of driving the kids to school, etc. That is optimal.

The boring "Audi"














The fun "Alfa"















Let me hear the comments !!!!

Keep them comming......

it is easier to accumulate watches than cars...and most people here would not be able to chose ONE watch only ;-)

        Cheers

                  Jeff

Even if I made a wise compromise with the A 5 3.0 TDI...

while my Dream Car would be an Aston ...

Best,

Nicolas

I see you coming ;-)

do you think so?

Best,

Nicolas

First of all I wouldn't compare Rolex to Volvo, but more to Mercedes Benz; quality, but quite an obvious choice (safe and sure, but people could easily mistake you for being a show off). Don't know if Panerai is such a fun watch either; thinking of the origins of Panerai it was no fun intended. I guess if you want a fun watch there is plenty of cheaper stuff around. Rolex, as much as Panerai make high quality watches and as far as I know tough and reliable. They are both watches you can wear as dress and at more outdoor activities. But I know what you mean and I would rather compare brands as Rolex, Omega, Panerai and maybe even Tag Heuer to brands as JLC, Patek, Vacheron and Lange. The first of course the watches to live with on a daily basis (just wear them and they will become even nicer with the scratches and dents) and the latter more dressy watches you probably don't want to get scratched at all.

Just my thoughts.

Best,

Starman

Hi Jan J, Good question... but I think many people will not understand where you are coming from. Cars are like Horology... many think a good watch is ... what their friends wear.... those that know.. might think it is something else. But as you say.... you have to be yourself. Those that know ... Know ... and those that do not know..... Just Do not Know. It is the same with cars as it is with watches. Life is a learning curve, and when we get past the marketing hype and try and test everything, we are wiser people... trouble is we are also too old, to make the most of our proven knowledge. From your post... I understand where you are coming from... and you are on the right track. Of course anybody who knows ... knows an Audi is a better car than a Mercedes... but those that have had neither, think a Mercedes is better than an Audi. Those that have had both realize that a Mercedes is what you drive if you want to say " I am successful. " An Audi is a car you drive when you are successful and you just want the best and most reliable car on the block. Ignorance is a wonderful sales assistant. Having said that I have a Mercedes CLK 350 ... I have it as a fun car.... as it is one of the few convertibles available in my country that has 4 seats. On the other hand, a Volvo.... T70 from memory... is one of the best cars I have ever driven.... and getting 900 klms out of 3/4 of a tank of fuel on Autobahns at an average speed of around 130-140 with a full load is even more amazing. So to get back to your very informed question.... if a Rolex is the watch you would have if you were serious.... and I add that, a Rolex is probably the only watch on the market that is worth the money they ask.... and a Panerai is the watch you have for fun.... What are my cars to match this choice comparison? Well I would say a Toyota 4wd Ute for the serious stuff.... you know.... like Nuclear Wars, Armageddon and all that stuff ........ and a Mercedes CLK 350 for getting the wind in your hair, weekend picnics... picking the kid up from school, or trying to pick up the kids pretty school teacher from school.... you know all that fun stuff. I have lived a fair share of my life and I think we should make a list of those things that work... and those that do not work. Might be a good new post for another day... but hay.... if the chips are down and the big black cloud is coming and you want reliability ... what would you grab on your way out of town. I would grab my Rolex, my Toyota Ute, my Ruger .357 Mag and my Piper aircraft... because all these things are things that I have found you can... bet and stake your life on. If I wanted to have fun or enjoy myself .. I would take my Breguet 5817 Marine, my MercedesCLK, my engraved CZ 9mm, semi auto, and forget about flying in case the weather turned real bad. So Jan J..... for me, it is the Toyota Ute for the serious stuff and the Mercedes CLK 350 for trying to pick up the pretty school teacher. Congratulations on a great post testing an interesting angle on our priorities. Kindest regards, Jack P.S. Ute is a vehicle not common in Europe... but it is the white mini truck in the back of this photo. P>S> Again.... Sorry there is no punctuation in this post.... but this site is not compatible with Safari yet.

This message has been edited by justpen on 2009-08-20 06:02:14

Hi Jack

Some very great thoughts on cars and watches.

I always learned a Rolex is like a tractor, good old Fendt (German quality) or even better a good 4x4 (take the Toyota Landcruiser 100 series). You can take her everywhere without any problems and hazzle.

I compare Rolex a little with Omega having almost the same qualities.

Other watches as PP, AP etc are more "dress watches" also when they are sold as sportswatches. Nice to have and wear, but many times I keep mine in the safe, just to see and wear on very fex occasions.

I personally mainly wear a Turn-O'graph or a Explorer and for fun sometimes a AP Royal Oak, Zenith, Seiko or Omegas or similar Sports/dress watch.

 

Best regards

Hans

P.S. We dont call them Utes, or utilities but rather "Pick-Up" in Europe (would be Truck in US). We have the cars, but normally a private person would not own them but rather have a full blown 4x4. In many cases the Ute is more a OZ thing (to my finding, having lived in Melbourne from 1998 to 2000)

P.P.S Driving just one car at the moment, a fuel guzzling Ford V6 (for Denmark 10km/liter is low) I would also go for the Audi, probably a 2,7 or 3,0 litres Diesel engine. Just to see +1000km range left after a pitstop is great. Today I see max 600km..

Hi Jan

My Rolex would be an Audi A6 3,0tdi Avant Quattro, a car that is expensive (but keeps its price),  well built, good quality, durable, long lifetime no hazzle car, that with the engine, the fourwheeldrive, the big boot would be able to do whatever job is needed.

My Rolex would be the the GMTII or the Sub

 

BR Hans

P.S. Not having the car yet... Due to Danish taxation ;-)