do you think rolex is losing its appeal?

[lthg25]

Brands like IWC and Pam

Brands like IWC and Pam has indeed done a much better job in marketing then Rolex. Pam came out of no where and is no popular now.

Marketing of Rolex has indeed not targeting the young. Look at Tag and the stars who are wearing them.

[Ray_Watches]

Target young working adults who are ambitious
Target Adults who are Successful
Target Seniors who have done it all

Keep Rolex as the exclusive watch it has been and hope it will still be...
There are way too many adults "late 20's to 30's" aspiring to own a crown...
So no lack of demand here i think...

[Randonneur]

I had owned many other brands of watches for the last 20-30 years. Among all brands, Rolex is the most reliable and accurate. People would be sidetracked along the way, ultimately, Rolex would be the destination.

[Oceanklassik]

I had owned many other brands of watches for the last 20-30 years. Among all brands, Rolex is the most reliable and accurate. People would be sidetracked along the way, ultimately, Rolex would be the destination.

[Randonneur]

Thanks. This is very encouraging.

[Xing Ka Xiao]

i am 26 and this is my 1st real watch,A Rolex DJ.Hard earned $,heart-wretching price BUT no regret.

ULTIMATELY,it will ALWAYS be a ROLEX.
Be it now or by then..
So y not?

[Taipan]

Rolex be the Holy Grail of watches

There are perhaps even many more like-minded watch fans out there who also feel that Rolex will always be the standard by which other watches are judged. There is no doubt that it has reached iconic status and appeal. Not unlike Mercedes Benz, there is also a certain keen symbolism of finesse, prestige and eminence about it. It is an object to be adored everywhere!

[Vedder007]

Just curious, would anyone know what percentage of the 850k watches that Rolex produces a year are:

- Professional Models
- General Models

For a 1000 Rolexes produced, how many SS Daytonas are there?

[lthg25]

No doubt about the Brand

There is no doubt there always will be Rolex lovers out there especially when i am in a Rolex forum, who many are rolex owner. So many will defend the brand.

I am a Rolex owner as well and do like the Rolex brand. Think about this, where was PAM 10 years ago? Where was IWC? Pam and IWC may not have come up so quickly if Rolex was as appealing. Rolex did lose a pool of people which would have been loyal to the brand.

Rolex may not be losing its appeal but others have caught up quite a few bit. To some it is already not automatically the number choice any more.

[wrxy]

just randomly asked my fren this question during dinner "if u tio 4d first prize tml what watch would u get...instantly he said "an AP or maybe one of those JLC watches"...then i replied "those abit expensive how abt something cheaper"...straight away...he awnsered "PAM"...

yes rolex has been a brand solid enuff to not have to do massive marketing, being classy and having the incredible ability to hold its value...that i agree and they certainly do not have to make the brand affordable enough for the mass (exclusivity)...but being able to afford is one thing, the desire to own one is another...i just dun see that desire in people of my generation anymore...

[Ray_Watches]

As long as Rolex can hold its resale value and appreciate over time, it will do well...

[zidaneong]

just randomly asked my fren this question during dinner "if u tio 4d first prize tml what watch would u get...instantly he said "an AP or maybe one of those JLC watches"...then i replied "those abit expensive how abt something cheaper"...straight away...he awnsered "PAM"...

yes rolex has been a brand solid enuff to not have to do massive marketing, being classy and having the incredible ability to hold its value...that i agree and they certainly do not have to make the brand affordable enough for the mass (exclusivity)...but being able to afford is one thing, the desire to own one is another...i just dun see that desire in people of my generation anymore...

If kena 4d, i will buy Rolex for sure.

[Taipan]

Rolex marketing...

Brands like IWC and Pam has indeed done a much better job in marketing then Rolex. Pam came out of no where and is no popular now. Marketing of Rolex has indeed not targeting the young. Look at Tag and the stars who are wearing them.

To up its appeal, Rolex has always been marketing itself more subtly. It is sure that many will remember those Rolex adverts in magazines like Time (which is not a horology publication) and Readers' Digest :

Here is Roger Federer in his element :

[stektan]

Rolex marketing

In fact, i read somewhere that among all the watch brands, Rolex spent the most on marketing! Then again, they probably make the most sales among all the watch brands.

[unregistered]

Its an interesting place to be, debating the appeal of Rolex on a forum which is already called the Rolex Owners Club. There most certainly will be an amount of ingrained biasness in the answers put forth.

As a participant in the 20~30 age group and one who has owned a plethora of watches, from PAMs to Omega's (no Rolexes yet, I know a blasphemy to admit here), Rolexes for me, are too small unfortunately to pull off. But that is a conundrum and an attractive selling point as well which I shall detour into later on. Rolex still has an insufferably stuffy image amongst this generation of folks. Panerai's have the versatility of being classy (Radiomirs and Base models) and yet extremely sporty depending on the strap one decides to wear. Omegas I will argue quite strongly are just as technologically impressive as Rolex, and in one respect, with the Omega Speedmaster Pro 3570series, moonwatch, best Rolex in that department, as well as many other watches.

However, tastes do change with age. As people mature and do get more affluent, along with the changes in their lifestyles and their surroundings, their desires for the finer things in life mature. I currently am going through a stage where I am eschewing wearing my larger pieces in my collection and instead am wearing a lot more regularly my classier, simpler and smaller watches. I prefer the lines, the simplicity of the dials and the lack of a tonne of metal on the arm. I am even considering picking up either a Submariner or Yachtmaster in the coming year to finally try the Rolex charm, though at 40mm, they are quite small for my built.

One thing though to get back on topic regarding appeal is the effect of replicas on the Rolex image. Rolex due to its immense popularity is one of the most replicated watches around. How often have we been on an MRT, seen someone whom we judge as not potentially being affluent enough (I know judging a book by its cover is wrong, but we all do it at some level) and realise that they're wearing what appears to be a genuine Rolex datejust etc. I'm lucky being in the banks that I can supplement my watch hobby quite easily, but I have been asked on occasion with some of my other watches if they are replicas because of my age and the diversity of the collection I once had. It is that impression of Rolexes, especially for the younger folk, that turns them off the Rolex route. Rather instead picking up watches from less popular brands like Audemars Piguet, Blancpain, Panerai which are extremely well engineered watches as well, but are more known within the "community" and as such appreciated better as well.