Investigating the Quality of Rolex Watches

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Rolex watches are expensive due to their high-quality materials, such as a superior grade of stainless steel and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. The craftsmanship involved in making these watches adds significant value, although some argue that the actual material costs are minimal compared to the retail price. While Rolexes are seen as status symbols and can hold their value well, opinions vary on whether they are a good investment compared to less expensive, high-quality alternatives. Many participants in the discussion highlight the practicality of cheaper watches that offer similar functionality without the hefty price tag. Ultimately, the value of a Rolex is subjective and often tied to personal preferences regarding luxury and status.
Cyrus
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I was at the mall the other day and I walked past the watch store. I always wanted to know what makes a Rolex so expensive. I know they are made out of real gold and diamonds, but there are some nice rolex watches that are all steel with none of the bling. But those are equally expensive, why? I talked to the guy and he explained that the price varies because of the grade of the steel alloy. He said the Rolex uses a 900 series alloy, which is higher grade than medical instruments, basically it will never corrode. Also, he said the watch face is made from sapphire. The only two things that could possibly scratch it is another sapphire, or a diamond. That is pretty cool. I saw this watch in a magazine so I wanted to know how much it costs:

http://northatlantictime.com/catalog/images/rolex%20-%20daytone2.jpg

Its an amazing watch, but costs $10k. I don't have $10k for a watch, but the question is, if you did have that kind of money, is a Rolex a good investment? Or is it like Bose audio, way over priced for what you're getting?


Anyways...damn that's a cool watch......If every member on PF donates a mere 1 dollar, I can buy it. Come on guys...dont be cheap.
 
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About ten years ago I busted my watch while on the way out the door to catch a plane to a jobsite. I had to stop at Radio Shack on the way to the airport, and while there I spotted a Rolex look-alike for about twenty bucks, so I bought it. It was such a good immitation that I had a factory manager make a bet with me calling on my "Rolex watch" as collateral. He was completely fooled! He sure would have been surprised if he had won the bet! :biggrin:

The watch looks almost as good today as the day that I bought it. It's been such a nice watch that I never bought another one.
 
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I think that Rolex are handmade, and very precise, so that adds to the value. Also there's a lot of bravado in having one. They're status symbols, plain and simple.
 
You can get electronic watches that will do everything that one will, and not put your life at risk if you are seen wearing it in a public place. Rolexes are mugging-bait.
 
Is a Rolex overpriced? Of course, you could spend 10 dollars and get a more accurate digital watch.
Is a Rolex a good investment? Probably. no other watch holds its value like a Rolex.
Is a Rolex like Bose? No. Bose audio sounds much better at all wavelengths unless you are listening to a rhythmic tick tick sound.
 
turbo-1 said:
You can get electronic watches that will do everything that one will, and not put your life at risk if you are seen wearing it in a public place. Rolexes are mugging-bait.

Sure, but I am asking are they worth the high price they command in terms of material? I think this rolex looks awesome because its not flashy.
 
Cyrus said:
Sure, but I am asking are they worth the high price they command in terms of material?
No way. The value of the stainless steel in the case is miniscule, as is the value of the synthetic sapphire.
 
turbo-1 said:
No way. The value of the stainless steel in the case is miniscule, as is the value of the synthetic sapphire.

How much do they cost? Also, the strap is also high grade stainless.
 
Of course they aren't worth the materials. Or even half the workmanship.
 
  • #10
Of course they are worth the materials. If someone will pay it.
 
  • #11
Basically, they allow rich Republican types to think that they can be adventurous because of the cool watch they wear. Notice how Rolex ads always talk about being an adventurer, or a pilot, etc.
 
  • #12
If you want a really nice-looking, durable accurate watch with luminous markings that are really bright and easy to read at night, I suggest a Luminox Captain's Field watch. I have had one for many years. It's great for an active person, since the case is relatively thin and smooth and doesn't snag on stuff like my diver's watch did. The dial markers and hand markers are little luminous tubes filled with tritium gas. I have used mine to illuminate the keyhole on the front door when I've gotten home late and hadn't left a light on.

http://www.scubawatches.com/ProductInfo.aspx,,productid,,1570
 
  • #13
Dive watches and actual aviation watches are always cool.
 
  • #14
binzing said:
Basically, they allow rich Republican types to think that they can be adventurous because of the cool watch they wear. Notice how Rolex ads always talk about being an adventurer, or a pilot, etc.

:smile: Why are rich people automatically 'republican types'. Good thing we are not stereotyping here.
 
  • #15
binzing said:
Dive watches and actual aviation watches are always cool.

Rolex is famous because they were one of the first dive watches in the world back in the 50s.
 
  • #16
I didn't say rich people=repub. types. I said "rich repub. types" as opposed to the "rich green or democrat types"
 
  • #17
Well, they've gotten far to high on their hog.
 
  • #18
Cyrus said:
How much do they cost? Also, the strap is also high grade stainless.
High-grade stainless is just an alloy of steel. It may contain chromium, nickel, vanadium, etc, but it is not expensive. And for comparison, I can buy a boule of synthetic sapphire for just a few bucks. I facet stones as a hobby, and although nice natural faceting rough is very expensive, the synthetic stuff is cheap enough to use in costume jewelry, and the labor spent in faceting the stone is FAR more expensive than the material.
 
  • #19
binzing said:
Well, they've gotten far to high on their hog.

Meh, I don't really care about who buys what. I just care about the quality of a rolex.
 
  • #20
I was a dive instructor, and the first thing dive instructors all do before putting on their wetsuit is remove their expensive dive watch and replace it with a cheap casio digital.

I do have a nice Victorinox watch that looks just like that one but only cost $200 - it was a present otherwise I would still have my casio calcualtor watch like a true nerd!
 
  • #21
turbo-1 said:
High-grade stainless is just an alloy of steel. It may contain chromium, nickel, vanadium, etc, but it is not expensive. And for comparison, I can buy a boule of synthetic sapphire for just a few bucks. I facet stones as a hobby, and although nice natural faceting rough is very expensive, the synthetic stuff is cheap enough to use in costume jewelry, and the labor spent in faceting the stone is FAR more expensive than the material.

What would you say the cost of the raw material and labor for a rolex is, roughly?
 
  • #22
Cyrus said:
What would you say the cost of the raw material and labor for a rolex is, roughly?
I can't tell you that, but I assume that the labor, precision tooling, etc, is at least 100x the cost of the materials. Other companies make very accurate high-quality watches with equivalent materials (or even with gold alloys or platinum) that don't cost $10,000.
 
  • #23
mgb_phys said:
I was a dive instructor, and the first thing dive instructors all do before putting on their wetsuit is remove their expensive dive watch and replace it with a cheap casio digital.

I do have a nice Victorinox watch that looks just like that one but only cost $200 - it was a present otherwise I would still have my casio calcualtor watch like a true nerd!
My dive watch was a French-made Rovelli that I bought way back in the 1960s. I like it, but the case tends to snag on stuff when I've got my left had in tight places (mechanic work, etc), so it spends all its time in my dresser and the Luminox with its thinner smoother case gets used every day.
 
  • #24
Well, its a good thing you good folks will donate till it hurts for my rolex fund. :biggrin:
 
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  • #25
Thing is, craftsmanship used to matter when making watches, but with digital technology, fine watches are now nothing but jewelry.
 
  • #26
A Rolex is like buying an expensive suit or expensive car. Sure, it looks nice, but in the end you spent 10x-100x the money on something a cheaper object could do easily.

Do you REALLY need that Porsche? Or that $4000 suit? No.

Honestly, what is going to scratch up the face of you watch, anyway? And why not just buy another one for $10 afterwards, instead of spending $10k on one?

If you value spending money on useless crap, then go ahead. Personally I'd take that $10k and go skydiving. I've always wanted to try it.
 
  • #27
Rolex are crap. If someone gave me a "Rollie" for a present, I'd throw it on the ground at their feet and say "what am I supposed to do with this piece of ****?!"

The only watch for me:
http://www.finestwatches.com/patek-philippe-12364.html

please note: they take Visa :biggrin:
 
  • #28
Chi Meson said:
Rolex are crap. If someone gave me a "Rollie" for a present, I'd throw it on the ground at their feet and say "what am I supposed to do with this piece of ****?!"

The only watch for me:
http://www.finestwatches.com/patek-philippe-12364.html

please note: they take Visa :biggrin:

There you go, Cyrus. For $38,300 you get a one-year warranty ( it had better last more than one year, for crying out loud!), and the description lists "Style: Complicated."
 
  • #29
Here's a cool watch
http://www.pocketcalculatorshow.com/graphics/calcwatch15.jpg"

edit: nevermind, stupid link doesn't work and it was a dumb joke anyway
 
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  • #30
lisab said:
There you go, Cyrus. For $38,300 you get a one-year warranty ( it had better last more than one year, for crying out loud!), and the description lists "Style: Complicated."

It gets better, because its mechanical, it has to be servied every 5 years. They take it appart and oil the inside and put it all back together, for $350 bucks.

However, my goal is not to sit back and say 'oh boy that's expensive' - I know it is. I wanted to see if it was worth the bang for the buck though. You get what you pay for, I wanted to see if this was one of those cases.
 
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  • #31
how much does a piece of canvas and some pigment cost? Is a Picasso a good investment?
 
  • #32
Cyrus said:
I wanted to see if it was worth the bang for the buck though. You get what you pay for, I wanted to see if this was one of those cases.
Nope! Like Ivan said, you're paying for an expensive piece of jewelry. My Luminox is very rugged and is probably more accurate than a Rolex. At $140, it was more expensive than I would have liked but it's been a wonderful watch and I love the bright luminous dial.

I'd be unhappy if it were lost or stolen, but $140 wouldn't bust the budget and I'd run out and buy another one right away.
 
  • #33
lisab said:
T and the description lists "Style: Complicated."

I love that! ALso: $38,000 +$300! What made them say "No, just $38,000 won't cover the margin. How about $38,299.99 ?
 
  • #34
It all depends on your budget and if you think it's a good inversion.
 
  • #35
I paid about $200 for a Citizen Calibre 8700, on sale at a closing jewelry store.

http://poze.cauti.ro/images/produse/cat_370/210x210/Ceasuri_Citizen_Calibre_8700__BL8000_54A_380238_1.jpg

It looks a lot like the Rolex Cryus linked, but is solar-powered and will never need to be opened or serviced. My last Citizen watch lasted me eight years, and I only got rid of it because of the accumulated tiny scratches.

- Warren
 
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  • #36
Cyrus said:
Its an amazing watch, but costs $10k. I don't have $10k for a watch, but the question is, if you did have that kind of money, is a Rolex a good investment? Or is it like Bose audio, way over priced for what you're getting?
Dunno, I have a Fossil that looks pretty much the same and I'm quite happy with it. But I do love my Bose audio upgrade for my car ($300, iirc). Lot cheaper than a Rolex.
 
  • #37
I don't think you can compare a fossil to a rolex, even in terms of looks. Kenneth Cole has nice watches that run under $150 bucks (same price range as a fossil), and look much, much, better. I bought a fossil back in high school. The fake gold started to rub off on it. I would never buy another fossil again, there junk.

Im going to try and sell it on ebay for $20 bucks. (I think I bought it back in high school for $100)
 
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  • #38
  • #39
Poop-Loops said:
Honestly, what is going to scratch up the face of you watch, anyway?
I could give you a rather long list. I think my record was about a week before I scratched the face of a watch.

And why not just buy another one for $10 afterwards, instead of spending $10k on one?
Better yet, I just stopped wearing watches. The only time it's annoying not to have a watch is on a plane when I'm wondering how late we are and if I'm going to make my connection when I can't turn on any of the other gadgets that have a clock in them...but then I remember there's nothing I can do about it anyway, and will know by the time I'm getting off the plane and need to run for my connection.

My experience so far is that watches over $100 and under $10 break the fastest. The ones around $20-$50 have survived the most abuse from me.

I don't see why anyone would need a Rolex. I don't even know what all those extra dials are for, let alone why a stainless steel watch should cost $10,000.
 
  • #40
Cyrus, if you want a fake Rolex, you can get one in stainless steel with a quartz movement for around $20. The second hands do not sweep like the real deal, but the movement may be more accurate. Warning: if you dress nice and flash a fake Rolex, you're likely to get mugged just as quickly as if the watch was real. Going clubbing wearing fake bling can get your skull caved in just like wearing the real stuff.
 
  • #41
turbo-1 said:
Cyrus, if you want a fake Rolex, you can get one in stainless steel with a quartz movement for around $20. The second hands do not sweep like the real deal, but the movement may be more accurate. Warning: if you dress nice and flash a fake Rolex, you're likely to get mugged just as quickly as if the watch was real. Going clubbing wearing fake bling can get your skull caved in just like wearing the real stuff.

Nah, Id rather buy a $125 buck watch from Kenneth Cole. I bought my first suit, so I need a watch, some black leather shoes, and white collar shirts (I don't have any black dress shoes, white collar shirts, or even watch).

http://www.kennethcole.com/scripts/shop/product.asp?pid=10237&cc=KMESS&title=&pw=thumbnail&var=0&srchtype=&srcharg=&size=0

This ones pretty nice. I like things that are simple and not flashy.

Im not going to throw away $20 bucks on a fake rolex though. Dont worry, some of the clubs I've been to the people have the money to wear a real rolex, or two, on each wrist.

Odd little side story, I went out to a different place to some bars because my friends wanted to this past weekend. This was a normal bar, meaning the people were just casual. I noticed that at these places the people drink a LOT more and they want to fight CONSTANTLY. This is why I go to upper end Bars/clubs. The people are nice, they dress nice, and they are nice to talk to. It seemed like there was a fight almost every 10 mins going on at this other bar, and people were getting so drunk they couldn't stand straight. I told my friends, this is why I only go to upper end bars/clubs. I don't want to deal with people fighting around me. I don't drink when I go out, so it only costs me the price of cover charge for the night, even though the drinks are mad expensive there.
 
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  • #42
Cyrus said:
(I don't have any black dress shoes, white collar shirts, or even watch).

This is very surprising from the guy who tried to school us all in fashion sense not long ago... :rolleyes:

- Warren
 
  • #43
They did not fit, I gave them away. What does that have to do with knowing how to dress?

I have to have my collar shirts custom made becuase I am tall and thin. American clothes are for short and wide people. Now that I can afford to have them made, I will.
 
  • #44
Cyrus said:
They did not fit, I gave them away. What does that have to do with knowing how to dress?

All right, all right. I thought you were saying you have never owned a pair of black dress shoes... which would make you quite a dork.

- Warren
 
  • #45
Cyrus said:
American clothes are for short and wide people.

God, isn't that the truth? I'm 6' tall and 175 lbs, with a 31" waist, and I often end up buying size small shirts at generic department stores, because that's the only size that won't make me look like I'm wearing a damned garbage bag. I essentially HAVE to shop at higher-end stores like Nordstrom because they carry European-fit clothing that actually looks proper on me.

I recently bought a very nice new dress shirt, still pinned up on cardboard, because the neck and sleeve measurements were correct. I took it across the country with me to a conference, opened it up, and discovered that, while the neck and sleeves fit, the body of the shirt was literally three times bigger than my body. It looked like a damned moo-moo. I could pull the shirt from the nipples until my arms were almost fully extended. I can't even imagine the sort of human being that would actually FIT that kind of shirt. I wasted $80 on it, and was pretty pissed off.

Apparently they've given up on the old S, M, L, XL concept, and have introduced new categories like "MO," for the morbidly obese.

- Warren
 
  • #46
chroot said:
God, isn't that the truth? I'm 6' tall and 175 lbs, with a 31" waist, and I often end up buying size small shirts at generic department stores, because that's the only size that won't make me look like I'm wearing a damned garbage bag. I essentially HAVE to shop at higher-end stores like Nordstrom because they carry European-fit clothing that actually looks proper on me.

I recently bought a very nice new dress shirt, still pinned up on cardboard, because the neck and sleeve measurements were correct. I took it across the country with me to a conference, opened it up, and discovered that, while the neck and sleeves fit, the body of the shirt was literally three times bigger than my body. It looked like a damned moo-moo. I could pull the shirt from the nipples until my arms were almost fully extended. I can't even imagine the sort of human being that would actually FIT that kind of shirt. I wasted $80 on it, and was pretty pissed off.

Apparently they've given up on the old S, M, L, XL concept, and have introduced new categories like "MO," for the morbidly obese.

- Warren

Warren, two words. HUGO BOSS. They WILL have shirts that are european cuts. I.e. long and slender. It was literally the ONLY place that had my size.
 
  • #47
Cyrus said:
Warren, two words. HUGO BOSS.

We've had this discussion... I own a Hugo Boss suit.

Oh, you mean the actual store. Yeah, I went into the one in the San Francisco city center, but they're trying too damn hard. Almost everything they have has some fluorescent yellow or orange accent on it, and it's all $140. Even their ugly T-shirts will run you $75. *cough* rip-off *cough*

- Warren
 
  • #48
I agree with going Kenneth Cole, my favorite watch is a Kenneth Cole, and it's not one of my more expensive ones that I never wear (all gifts).
 
  • #49
chroot said:
We've had this discussion... I own a Hugo Boss suit.

- Warren

So do I, now. (Its all black) :biggrin: <Boy, being a paid grad student is nice, eh?>

But their collar shirts fit perfectly as well! There damn expensive, but they FIT.

I can spend $150 on a HB shirt that fits, or $80 on one from Nordstroms that looks bad on me and sits in my closet. Which is money better spent?

As for the colors, yeah. Its a cutting edge store that's why. Its runway stuff. But if you look for the more conservative things, like a white shirt, or a simple stripe shirt, it will fit perfectly well. Plus, the guy said he could taylor the collar shirts for me further for free if I want. That in itself costs around $50 bucks.

Side: Do you know any good places for dress shoes warren? Ones with real soles that you take to a cobler?
 
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  • #50
I have horrible luck with watches, I would always buy cheap ones and they were usually destroyed within months. Then one day I was in Coast Mountain Sports and they had a really nice ladies swiss military brand watch that was regular 200 bucks on for 90 so I bought it and have been wearing it for 2 years now. I love that watch.
 

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