Rolex

I am a newbie almost on verge of making my 1st luxury watch purchase - the Rolex GMTIIc - and the AD has reserved it for me for a week. Gives me time to cool-off before making the decision to plonk USD8K on a watch and take some time to deconstruct Rolex and overcome the possible buyer dissonance that comes with such purchases. I have a hardworking day-date auto-Oris and an amazing made/bought-in-Japan solar radio wave control Seiko. I was amazed in that it went into sleep mode 1 week before end of Feb and when the watch was awaken 2 weeks later, the date amazing corrected itself accounting for the leap year without any adjustments from my end. That the hands align themselves via radio wave to the atomic clock (I am told accuracy +1s every 1million years) when I am in US, JP, CN and no need for battery change make this my fav and at 5% the cost of a Rolex.

Back to the Rolex - I have been hunting for a watch that's solidly constructed , minimal and cost-effective servicing (my main bug-bear with luxury watchmakers like PP, Lange, VC) and keeps for life. I have somewhat been sold into the Rolex branding and marketing even though I have been told many times it's mass produced (1million watches sold a year) and reason why the sports models are fairly scarce is due to the way Rolex control their distribution - both inventory and pricing. For half the price or less, one could possibly get a Tag Heuer, Omega, Oris etc. of similar solid construct. I also getting a naging feel that I am way over-paying for a piece of metal when I see the prime retail space are taken up by the likes of Rolex and the luxe brands. Perhaps what I am just looking for from this community is a reassurance that I have not been suckered and it's not just about brand, image and marketing. Or perhaps there is something else I am missing out on - I hear a lot about emotional attachment - and how the watch will grow and aged with you. I am trying to reconcile this and the meaning of this obsessive pursuit. This message has been edited by tarantino65 on 2012-02-08 18:47:25 This message has been edited by tarantino65 on 2012-02-08 18:56:25

the Seiko, why do you need a Rolex?  I am not pro or con for getting a Rolex, but you should buy it only if you really like it (and afford it).  If spending $8K is a big deal for you as it is for most people and you feel you may regret it, then you are not ready to buy this watch.  But if it's something you've always wanted, then you already know the answer.  

I see no love, no passion, here, I just read over paying, money, fear, comparison prices...

Maybe later?

Buying a watch right now, with such a way of thinking, will lead you to regret your purchase.

The future mode will turn into past mode ... From " Will I " you will go to " Did I ".

No, forget it, and when you love it, reconsider it, you will find yourself the answers to your questions.

Best,

Nicolas.

This message has been edited by amanico on 2012-02-09 01:14:27

I don't sense the love or passion as well.

You need a Rolex lifestyle for it, a real sport, e.g. Scuba diving, sports car racing, tennis etc. Sounds odd but true.

If not you will just be another coffeeshop taxi driver who bought a gold rolex from his lottery winnings.

In good faith, pls reconsider,

If you are after something that is highly cost effective, accurate and reliable, then go for new technology. Let me put it into car terminology.....if you want reliability and value for money, go Nissan.

1. Buy a used Rolex in good condition
2. Submariner, GMT or Explorer
3. With the original box and papers (and keep them safe)
4. Treat it well
5. Keep it for ten years +

and do appreciate your reading into my situation. You are right that I wanted a better robust watch than what I am getting out of the Seiko/Oris even though they are good watches and workhorse. This has been a pent-up for a number of years and I have done a fair bit of research and readings. The first real watch for any newbie will hold a special place and is always an extremely difficult decision not just in terms of the financial outlay and the need to make a rational decision. The decision parameters are pretty wide-ranging : brands - independent or luxury houses, type - dress or sports, new or pre-owned or vintage, intangibles - brand legacy, connectedness, passion etc.

I went though multiple iterations and I have settled to having a new GMTIIc and have that aged with me as a first watch. Thanks for your suggestion but at this stage, I am not considering Rolex vintage as I don't think I have that level of depth or having that level of passion although I do fully appreciate the reasons for doing so - beauty, unique, fully depreciated and thus hold value - and these are important attributes but not for now (although never say never).

Cheers

 

 

 

as others have said no passion/no love.
A week is not enough time to fully digest and appreciate why anybody would spend this much money on such a timepiece.

I'd pass for now.

Yours,

Andy.

Firstly, a Rolex cannot be compared to a Tag, ORIS or a Seiko.  Grand Seiko for that matter.  One should not jump on the bandwagon to select Rolex as their first luxury watch purchase just because the community thinks Rolex is the watch or have strong affection for it.  You must like it yourself, understand its history, the different models, series, modern vs vintage, do a bit of research you need to.  One buys a Rolex not because it is cheap and affordable, it may not be affordable or cost effective, relatively speaking.  One buys it because he understand what Rolex is all about.  The craze behind it, the joy of wearing the crown on your wrist.  The lifetime it can last you.  I have not met a person complaining about their Rolex.  Pls go figure.  Agree with some strong points shared within this thread.  You dont marry someone just because you think she will most likely be financially independent.  Thats a cheap way of looking at things.  Hope you make the right decision.  Cheers

Baron said it very well. 

However, I sense this is something you want to do but want some re-assurance before spending your money. We've all experienced similar feelings you are now ... may be at different dollar amounts but still the emotional side of it is close enough.

I don't know if your interest in watches goes farther than this purchase but if it does ... you're going to have to get your feet wet at some point and this watch is a very good watch to do it with.  You may not keep it for the rest of your life, but it may just be an introduction into this crazy, you can rationalize anything kind of passion, hobby, interest, etc. watch world that a lot us love.

Baron mentioned a pre-owned watch at a lower price point and that would be something to consider ... not an older piece but more recent, 1-2 years old.

My thoughts? Go for it. Five years from now, the concern of the money will not be an issue and you'll be glad you did it.

If, on the other hand, you are not inclined or interested in this watch thing, then the advice others have given is something to consider.

Best of luck in your decision.

take the plunge with the GMT-IIc and picking up the watch tomorrow. Thank you for taking precious time to pen your advice/views.  whit is quite right that my mind is actually 99% made-up but just needed some re-assurance and a cool-off as should be with any big ticket purchases. 20 years down the road and looking back (and I believe I will still be retaining the watch), I believe I would not have regretted this decision to mark this milestone in my career with this watch and trusting in the numerous testimonies of Rolex being robustly build and solid enough to last one's lifetime which is precisely what I am looking for in a watch at this stage.

My journey with watches may jolly well end here (or may well not as I have been hunting around for a Sinn U1 Black Stealth and possibly in next 1-2 years down the road consider a Dornbluth).

Cheers all,

Q

    

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Enjoy and love your watch.

Maybe we can´t know If it will stay for a very long time with you, I hope it does,

it would be nice if it turns into a heirloom and is passed to one of your dearest,

but as long as it's with you, enjoy it very much.

As I said before, love your watch.

Huge congrats.

René

This message has been edited by renerod on 2012-02-29 07:57:10

i have a passion for these great time pieces and what i have found through out life is that passion does not carry any monetary value, you see we do not work for money, we work for the things that money can buy. we also never really own anything just merely loan them to enjoy while we are alive when we go they have no longer use to us,  my first Rolex was bought over 20 years ago now  it cost me3.5k it has been serviced twice it runs dare i say like a swiss time piece