rolex watches...really?

**frorider** · 12-30-2012, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Most Rolex's to a watchdork = clueless rube with more money than brains.

Yet again I agree with CJ.

These days it makes more sense for me to wear my metal case Suunto full-time, but if I wanted a clean and simple watch I'd go for a white face bell & ross 126.

**assman** · 12-30-2012, 09:26 AM

I guess it's what ever you are in to. A girlfriend bought me a sweet Movado a few years ago. I love the watch but I personally would not have spent $1200-$1500 for it.

Other things, I have no problem spending money on. If watches are what moves you, enjoy.

Shit, people say to me "you have how many pairs of skis?" or, "Why do you need two cars?"

**Meadow Skipper** · 12-30-2012, 09:31 AM

That Bell & Ross 126 is nice-looking, but if I win the lottery I'm headed to the IWC store. Maybe then to the Omega store.

Hamilton Khaki King for my daily driver. Old Ebel 1911 for dress-up.

**skiATL** · 12-30-2012, 09:53 AM

get a suunto

**XXX-er** · 12-30-2012, 10:19 AM

I hope the sunnto is better than the watch I had 10 years ago which was too big and not remotely water proof

Depending on if you get the titanium or not the Casio pathfinder does temp/compass/solar power /sets the time exactly by satelite/everything I need and isn't too big

For around 200$ which is as much as I am willing to spend on a watch, expensive watches have always been a dissapointment IMO except for my 45$ timex ironman which I rocked until the buttons got hard to push ...wearing out

**Todds** · 12-30-2012, 11:50 AM

When I was a teenager I worked at a high end stereo store. The owner had a real gold Rolex. The top sales guy had one also. A few of the other guys had fake ones. It impressed the customers. One day a customer walked in flashing his steel/gold Rolex. The owner took me to the back and put a gold Rolex on me and told me to grab my skateboard , go out front and flash the watch. Then they sent me out to get everyone coffee. The customer's jaw dropped. He stopped flashing his watch. I still remember how heavy that watch was.

**Cono Este** · 12-30-2012, 11:52 AM

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Most Rolex's to a watchdork = clueless rube with more money than brains.

This is true. Ive known some hard core collectors, and they hate them. They tell me to buy Patek Phillipe, but 15k is out of my range and probably yours. That being said, My explorer has taken some serious abuse, and one day will be a cool gift to my son. I also have a nice omega dynamic i picked up for a grand about 10 yrs ago, probably more now, but for 2k, half the price of a rolex id buy another omega in a heartbeat. You only need one, they last a life time if you get a self winding watch serviced every 5-10 yrs depending on the brand.

**Hombre215** · 12-30-2012, 12:01 PM

Depending on your price range, a few suggestions:

Sub $500: Hamilton & Tissot. Both swiss ETA mechanical movements on most watches. Hamilton Khaki King is my daily wear. If you're going on the lower end, Orient (Japanese mechanical) and Seiko make good looking, reliable watches.

$500-$1000: Christopher Ward is really nice and generally in this price range. You can also find a few MeisterSinger models in that price range, which are interesting watches b/c they are single hand mechanical movements.

$1000-$1500: Frederique Constant makes great watches in this range that feature in house movements, rare for this price point. You can probably find a few vintage Omegas or Breitlings (maybe) in this price range if you really look.

If you're interested in Rolex's go here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/207673/

Those people know their stuff, and you can generally find great deals on vintage pieces (both Rolex and Tudor - I personally prefer the vintage Snowflake Tudor over many Rolex watches)

**bl2000** · 12-30-2012, 12:19 PM

^^^^^^ Yes, fake Rolexes work as well and look as good as the real thing. The second hand can sweep different than the real thing but that's not an obvious give away. Got mine from a street vendor in Bangkok. I didn't like how the color of the face matched the strap, or something, and he unscrewed the different pieces from a few different watches in his, umh, "display case", and I had a custom Rolex(r).

**stuckathuntermtn** · 12-30-2012, 01:19 PM

Some Rolexes are really nice. Like not too flashy and overstated. Just simple and beautiful.
That said, so are a lot of other Swiss watches. Look at the Swiss Army Infantry. It comes it a mechanical too. I think it's about $500.

**Tippster** · 12-30-2012, 03:07 PM

My next large watch purchase, if ever, will be a Doxa.

**Ski to Be** · 12-30-2012, 03:38 PM

Originally Posted by XXX-er

I hope the sunnto is better than the watch I had 10 years ago which was too big and not remotely water proof

I have the Suunto Core and it has been bulletproof until the main function button quit working after 3 years. I sent it back to Suunto to repair and they sent me a brand new watch back

You buy a Rolex as a status piece of Jewelry not as just a timepiece. I think that market especially in this day and age of class warfare is shrinking considerably. My dad has one and he told me he spends over a grand to service it every 4 years or so. I don't know if he was told that by the dealer so they could take his money every few years or if it really needs it. I was playing poker a few weeks ago at the casino and this crazy loose asian dude had the Fred Flintstone style gold nugget Rolex to match his gold nugget jewelry he was wearing. He kept asking me what time it was because he couldn't see the hands on his watch. That kind of tells you all you need to know about the demographic ( with a few exceptions)

**Cono Este** · 12-30-2012, 03:47 PM

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

That Bell & Ross 126 is nice-looking, but if I win the lottery I'm headed to the IWC store. Maybe then to the Omega store.

Hamilton Khaki King for my daily driver. Old Ebel 1911 for dress-up.

No way! I'll take you to the Frank Muller store and you will thank me later with my own!

**Art Shirk** · 12-30-2012, 03:55 PM

Originally Posted by Hugh Conway

Most Rolex's to a watchdork = clueless rube with more money than brains.

So untrue. Easy to believe though, since many morons buy them.

edit: after a re-read, this looks like a knock on morons, not rolex's. Anyone knocking rolex found an easy target but have never owned one or done the research.

**mtngirl79** · 12-30-2012, 03:59 PM

I'm thinking I would have to be pretty rich spend thousands of dollars on a watch...

http://www.google.com/webhp?source=s...w=1366&bih=643

even the "preowned" ones are over 1000 dollars!

How much gear, how many ski trips, how nice of a car, house, boat, how many toys does one have to have to find the need to spend that much money on a watch? Or do people value a fancy watch more than more useful toys? They don't even have altimeters or any other useful functions...

**Ski to Be** · 12-30-2012, 04:02 PM

While we are on this and it seems like there are watch experts on here. Is there a type of movement that is significantly better and why? When you buy a multi thousand dollar watch are you paying for the name? design? movement? materials and what would the ratio be as it applies to cost? I ask because it seems I've had Seiko's that kept as good a time as my TAG Heuer.

**Cono Este** · 12-30-2012, 04:04 PM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

While we are on this and it seems like there are watch experts on here. Is there a type of movement that is significantly better and why? When you buy a multi thousand dollar watch are you paying for the name? design? movement? materials and what would the ratio be as it applies to cost? I ask because it seems I've had Seiko's that kept as good a time as my TAG Heuer.

Why buy a Porsche when you can have a Volkswagon? The pussy is one reason.

Hugh Conway · 12-30-2012, 05:48 PM

Originally Posted by commonlaw

So untrue. Easy to believe though, since many morons buy them.

edit: after a re-read, this looks like a knock on morons, not rolex's. Anyone knocking rolex found an easy target but have never owned one or done the research.

I'm not really knocking them only talking about the perception of the brand among a certain segment i.e it's more impressive to those that aren't interested in watches than it is to some of those who are interested in watches (unless it's a vintage one) - and to my mind expensive watches are all about perception.

With the crackdown on corruption in China there'll perhaps be some seriously good deals on watches out there in the near future

**Meadow Skipper** · 12-30-2012, 05:53 PM

Originally Posted by Cono Este

No way! I'll take you to the Frank Muller store and you will thank me later with my own!

What? Seriously? You mad bro?

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

While we are on this and it seems like there are watch experts on here. Is there a type of movement that is significantly better and why? When you buy a multi thousand dollar watch are you paying for the name? design? movement? materials and what would the ratio be as it applies to cost? I ask because it seems I've had Seiko's that kept as good a time as my TAG Heuer.

The best (most accurate) timekeepers are quartz. Everything else is workmanship, aesthetics, materials, and cachet.

**Benny Profane** · 12-30-2012, 06:19 PM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

While we are on this and it seems like there are watch experts on here. Is there a type of movement that is significantly better and why? When you buy a multi thousand dollar watch are you paying for the name? design? movement? materials and what would the ratio be as it applies to cost? I ask because it seems I've had Seiko's that kept as good a time as my TAG Heuer.

Right. I had a Seiko I bought in 1981 and kept for fifteen years, and kept perfect time throughout that period. I was working in photo darkrooms a lot then, too, around water and chemicals. Nice looking watch.

What the hell happened to that damn thing? Probably lost it.

That said, I'd love to own one of the classic Rolex watches still out there, like the Datejust. Very understated. Very classy. But, I won't. My Swiss Army is just fine at 125 from Sierra Trading Post.

**assman** · 12-30-2012, 06:31 PM

Originally Posted by Hombre215

Depending on your price range, a few suggestions:

Sub $500: Hamilton & Tissot. Both swiss ETA mechanical movements on most watches. Hamilton Khaki King is my daily wear. If you're going on the lower end, Orient (Japanese mechanical) and Seiko make good looking, reliable watches.

$500-$1000: Christopher Ward is really nice and generally in this price range. You can also find a few MeisterSinger models in that price range, which are interesting watches b/c they are single hand mechanical movements.

$1000-$1500: Frederique Constant makes great watches in this range that feature in house movements, rare for this price point. You can probably find a few vintage Omegas or Breitlings (maybe) in this price range if you really look.

If you're interested in Rolex's go here: http://www.network54.com/Forum/207673/

Those people know their stuff, and you can generally find great deals on vintage pieces (both Rolex and Tudor - I personally prefer the vintage Snowflake Tudor over many Rolex watches)

Hombre likes his watches. My dad was a watch guy.

**XXX-er** · 12-30-2012, 08:26 PM

Originally Posted by mtngirl79

How much gear, how many ski trips, how nice of a car, house, boat, how many toys does one have to have to find the need to spend that much money on a watch? Or do people value a fancy watch more than more useful toys? They don't even have altimeters or any other useful functions...

^^^ the obvious question

**keipow** · 12-30-2012, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by Ski to Be

While we are on this and it seems like there are watch experts on here. Is there a type of movement that is significantly better and why? When you buy a multi thousand dollar watch are you paying for the name? design? movement? materials and what would the ratio be as it applies to cost? I ask because it seems I've had Seiko's that kept as good a time as my TAG Heuer.

Movement means nothing in the age of quartz digital watches with built-in radio clock receivers. If you work where there is no radio clock transmitter (mariners, pilots, and mining), buy one with GPS time receivers like the new Seiko.

personally, for outdoor sports, i'd just buy something with an altimeter/barometer/thermometer. for daily wear, an orient or a seiko. for feel good luxury, an omega. for ultra-0.1%, buy a breguet.

i like the mechanical/automatic watches because i think running without a battery is cool, but you can do better with that money if you want to be practical.

i don't like rolex's blingy style, so would never get one, but the low-key, practical rolexes (read: no diamond/gold/jeweled faces) are good watches.