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
