2014 Basel - Rolex

[Ryuden]

In this modern world of tech and Internet where WIS congregate to discuss and buy/sell their watches, brands have the upper hand in gathering market information and sentiments of their products...and they don't have to do the leg work of asking various or specific questions, it's all been provided to them by non other than WIS ourselves! How's that for new age...


If there is one model that Rolex could "experiment", the Explorer II is the safest bet I guess....Rolex divers has always been the more "popular" sports model...and the explorer being the "least"... To begin with, the Explorer II has always been at the rear of the pack in terms of "popularity" or resale value...so "upsizing" the case is just Rolex way of testing the "acceptance" of their new 42mm case... Make it, good for them...break it, well it's just an Explorer II...

They surely won't mess with proven and tested models Iike their divers or even their Daytona and Gmt II...

Some argue that the Deepsea is Rolex mistake and messing with their Diver line...to begin with, the Deepsea is not created to replace another model nor its created with reference from any of their pass commercial divers...it's a stand alone model to showcase Rolex extreme engineering capabilities...

Even if the SdC was not brought back, in my opinion, the Deepsea is still not a replacement model for the discon SD...

And with the help of modern tech and Internet, WIS specifically "requested" a return of the SD but in 42mm new case...Rolex answer their prayers but still being "conservative" not wanting to risk something tested and proven... Thus the new 40mm SdC was born...

Afterall, if we base on history, the Sub and the SD has been coexisting with each other all along...so new SdC at 40mm sounds correct after all...

Just not the PRICE.

Cheers.

[pegasi]

Looking at ROLEX's 'upsized' Explorer II (now at 42mm, from 40mm), has it been selling well? Has it gotten more popular and in demand?

That's a good point. That one kind of looks un-Rolex imo. Maybe it is meant as a testing stone but used the wrong model...

[Oceanklassik]

Also don't understand Rolex decision for a 40mm SD. And looking so similar also.

Rather get a Sub which is arguably more iconic, and cheaper too. The only gd thing the 4000m depth rating gives you in real life is 'bragging' rights to other watch lovers.

"4000m"? I think it is 1,220m (4,000ft).

Well, I agree with Ryuden that had the SD4000 be 42mm, it would kill the DSSD and probably also the Subs (dpending also on the price point of course).

I definitely prefer 42mm over 40mm, but part of me actually admire Rolex's persistence in keeping the size humble and bucking the trend...

Looking at ROLEX's 'upsized' Explorer II (now at 42mm, from 40mm), has it been selling well? Has it gotten more popular and in demand?

[cultus68]

Really? A killer combi? The problem is, it is not blue+green but blue+green+orange...

Killer combi..it does kill my interest

IMHO, doesn't match well

[pegasi]

Well, I agree with Ryuden that had the SD4000 be 42mm, it would kill the DSSD and probably also the Subs (dpending also on the price point of course).

I definitely prefer 42mm over 40mm, but part of me actually admire Rolex's persistence in keeping the size humble and bucking the trend...

[adamsmith]

Also don't understand Rolex decision for a 40mm SD. And looking so similar also.

Rather get a Sub which is arguably more iconic, and cheaper too. The only gd thing the 4000m depth rating gives you in real life is 'bragging' rights to other watch lovers.

[Mezz72]

Overkill liao

[pegasi]

Milgauss not as popular. But blue dial with green glass is a killer combi. I'm not surprise it will sell well

Really? A killer combi? The problem is, it is not blue+green but blue+green+orange...

[Mezz72]

Maybe end of day, all will go for black gmt as diver watches now has 4 models n all look similar.

[Imperio]

If sd is 42mm I guess deepsea will have to drop price in order to move fwd the sale which I think rolex had also knew it...
Good move by them

I also feel Sd is 42mm it will kill other brand diving watch

[Ryuden]

I would think that the SdC will be a Dssd killer IF it was introduced as a 42mm rather than 40mm...

At this size...non WIS will decide that getting the SubC will be of a better option compare to paying the extra money (which is a lot) to something much similar in size just without the cyclop...any maybe if they pay closer attention, the difference in the minute markers between both...other than that, hard to justified the extra dough just for a much higher specs...thus I concur with your views about past SDs chasing the back of the Sub...only time will tell once the hype dies down...

Either go 40 or go BIG...and that's where the Dssd will come in...at the price point of the SdC closer to the Dssd,it looks like the Dssd is more bang for the buck...an extreme feat of Rolex engineering with 2 years of RnD pumped into it...it's a totally a different Rolex by itself...

If the SdC was in the 42mm range...could be a different story...

[lsho79]

Milgauss not as popular. But blue dial with green glass is a killer combi. I'm not surprise it will sell well

[Oceanklassik]

It seems to me ROLEX has run out of ideas. I think so are most luxury watch brands. Well, all's been said so I won't repeat. One rather obvious observation is that the DSSD is a 'mistake'. Currently, the Submariner (116610) retails at $11,120 while the DSSD at $15,780. So where does the SD4K lie? Yes as pointed out it may start selling high but history is likely to repeat itself, once the heat fizzles out, it's back to history, like the 16610 and 16600.

I recalled in mid-late 2007, the Submariner (16610) retails at $7,931, while the Seadweller (16600) at $8,1xx. But as the demand for the Sub surpassed the SD, the latter was actually sold lower at a discount around $7,7xx, while the Sub at its retail ($7,931). So I guess we'll just have to see how the SD4K will sell eventually.

As for the DSSD, I'll just have to cross my fingers. The SD4K seems to be the DSSD "killer".

Funny, how come no one discusses the new blue dial, green glass, orange hand Milgauss

[JudeCheung]

To me, its a real disappointment putting the sea dweller up on the 40mm case rather than a 42mm, ppl are commenting on how good it looks but in my opinion, it just looks so similar to a Sub C and its priced at a premium. Yes we may be paying for the specs in the sea dweller but paying a premium for something so similar to another watch with a lower price tag, I dun think so.

[ngokyc]

Love the Pepsi on wg but like the rest ... The price tag can be quite scary