Sunday, April 25, 2021

Is there better choice other than Rolex?

     We can see over the last three decades, Rolex is having certain advantages:
1.     Being recognized easily by majority of people
2.      Enter to Luxury watch category after Patek Philippe,  Vacheron Constantin, Audemars Piguet,  A Lange, Paneria, Richard Mille, FP Journe…
3.       Demand is high so the long term value is there, limited to certain models
4.       It is reliable.
5.       What else? 
So how about its disadvantages
1.      Rolex is Lazy to take a major change in design.
They launch a new sub model with change of colour of dial, material of bezel, design of bracelet.
In 2014 September, Rolex launched the Batman 116710BLNR with Blue black bezel with Oyster bracelet, immediately created a lot of instant demad. By 2018 they introduced the Batgirl 126710BLNR with same blue black bezel with Jubilee Bracelet. Now after three years the Batman Comes back, a same design of Barman 2014 launched under model number 126710BLNR using new movement on oyster bracelet.
So what is the big deal? You’d never know what colour and combination they would introduce in 2022. 
2.       Rolex charges too much on the branding than the quality nowadays comparing with 20 years ago. 
3.       Rolex is a Mass-market product making 800,000 pieces a year. They produce in huge volume per years, equivalent to 3 times of the year production of all Patek Phillippe, Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin, Richard Mille, A Lange, FP Journe…added up together. Seriously a mass production item.
4.       Rolex are being aggressively counterfeited all over the world.
Someone had said in the world 90% of the watches Rolex seen in the street is fakes, I think that is a right statement.
So yours Rolex may be also spotted as an Fake watch in certain people's eyes.
5.       Dress watch SRP price has been triple over the twenty five years starting at US$20,000 now.
Rolex used to make a few pieces of Cellini which were beautifully small and elegant even some of them were made with Onyx and or Lapis on the dial, that was about HK$20,000 back then, but now the entry level of Cellini is HK$150,000 using ordinary printing dial, and nothing special to me. 
6.      Vintage Rolex is tricky
For those who ha been addicted into VR (Vintage Rolex) knows that he has to study a lot on the model breakdown variety and combination of the Rolex dial, case bezel and bracelet you have is matching the S/N of the watch or not? There is a single stain or two on the lume may reduce 15% of the value? If there is hairline scratch on the dial may reduce 30% of the Watch total value. If there is a service dial, 50% the value of that watch value will be gone, or even no one wants to buy from you.
That is before you open the case, after open you may find more surprise? So the real good VR may worth a lot a there are too many Frankenwatch VR on Earth, today you are happy with your VR known to be perfect with correct period. You are lucky.
I am collecting 30 years of Rolex and I feel scary to buy sometimes.. even the trust seller may not be aware the full details and story of his article before selling you, lucky him and unlucky you bought that watch and you may not sleep all the days of the year. In In short, I had talked to myself why Rolex?Well, friend knows me I had almost sold out all my Rolex in 2020, now leave a few pieces which are  what I really like. And I had switching to my old favourite watches.  In fact there are more better choice I should say other than Rolex.  Patek Nautilus Calatrava of the 70, Royal Oaks, Reverso, Cartier Tank Americaine,  Tudor BB58, Panerai, Older Cellini, Vacheron Constantin dress watch…etc. 

I wear what I really like and I don’t need to express to anybody by wearing a Rolex.

HK Snob

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Which are the lucky ones that are being kept on your Rolex collection?

HK Snob said...

Hi
A Sea Dweller 1665 Mk III,
A Pepsi 16710 Full set 1999,
An Explorer II 16750 Black,
A OZ 17000,
A OZ 17013.

I think that is about it.
And except the Sea Dweller is for me, the rest are owned by my family member.