UK - is it acceptable to wear a full gold Rolex?

[Wilco68]

Well at least you haven’t got a full YG piece, which by & large over here I think most people would consider crass & a very out of date look on a bloke.

Full Everose in the UK is probably not far behind, but being a more ‘modern’ colour it may get away with it - just…

White Gold DayDate? 110% acceptable. Wear it & never look back!!

[Andad]

If you drive a 911 the watch you wear is your least concern.

[subprimero]

If you're concerned about being too flashy, trade in the RG GMT for a WG GMT. WG watches are not generally recognized for what they are.

[RotorSelfWinding]

Wear what makes you happy. Yeah, there are robberies in London. If you’re concerned, insure the watch. Rolex watches are special, but they’re also abundant and replaceable.

[Easy E]

Originally Posted by Andad

If you drive a 911 the watch you wear is your least concern.

Right? Wear the watch.

[77T]

The topic itself isn’t political, but there’s an underlying Dickensian current when one contemplates the subtext. Especially the juxtaposition of a Rolex of any type played against vivid scenes of poverty that would raise a question.

I suppose the trope about the “optics” of yellow gold (or rose gold for that matter) being conspicuous consumption?

My Rolex-based answer is wear WG or Pt if one is concerned with optics.

Considering price alone, an RM in carbon fiber is twice as expensive, has a dial resembling spawn of a dystopian society, yet “keeps pretty good time”.

Yep…carbon fiber is the new Yellow Gold. Steer clear of that…


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[Andad]

Originally Posted by 77T

The topic itself isn’t political, but there’s an underlying Dickensian current when one contemplates the subtext. Especially the juxtaposition of a Rolex of any type played against vivid scenes of poverty that would raise a question.

I suppose the trope about the “optics” of yellow gold (or rose gold for that matter) being conspicuous consumption?

My Rolex-based answer is wear WG or Pt if one is concerned with optics.

Considering price alone, an RM in carbon fiber is twice as expensive, has a dial resembling spawn of a dystopian society, yet “keeps pretty good time”.

Yep…carbon fiber is the new Yellow Gold. Steer clear of that…


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Hi Paul,

Can you translate this into Scottish?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Andad

Hi Paul,

Can you translate this into Scottish?

Whilst I may - I might say Rabbie Burns laid it down alongside the lilt better than I. And better still added some more perfect analogies:

It’s nearing Peter’s waking hour and he may add the better sobriquet in his way.

But here’s Rabbie B’s best epistle…

While winds frae off Ben-Lomond blaw,
And bar the doors wi’ driving snaw,
And hing us owre the ingle,
I set me down, to pass the time,
And spin a verse or twa o’ rhyme,
In hamely, westlin jingle.
While frosty winds blaw in the drift,
Ben to the chimla lug,
I grudge a wee the Great-folk’s gift,
That live sae bien an’ snug:
I tent less, and want less
Their roomy fire-side;
But hanker and canker,
To see their cursed pride.

It’s hardly in a body’s pow’r,
To keep, at times, frae being sour,
To see how things are shar’d;
How best o’ chiels are whyles in want,
While Coofs on countless thousands rant,
And ken na how to wair ’t:
But Davie lad, ne’er fash your head,
Tho’ we hae little gear,
We’re fit to win our daily bread,
As lang ’s we’re hale and fier:
‘Mair spier na, nor fear na,’
Auld age ne’er mind a feg;
The last o’t, the warst o’t,
Is only but to beg.

To lye in kilns and barns at e’en,
When banes are craz’d, and bluid is thin,
Is, doubtless, great distress!
Yet then content could make us blest;
Ev’n then, sometimes we’d snatch a taste
Of truest happiness.
The honest heart that’s free frae a’
Intended fraud or guile,
However Fortune kick the ba’,
Has ay some cause to smile:
And mind still, you’ll find still,
A comfort this nae sma’;
Nae mair then, we’ll care then,
Nae farther we can fa’.

What tho’, like Commoners of air,
We wander out, we know not where,
But either house or hal’?
Yet Nature’s charms, the hills and woods,
The sweeping vales, and foaming floods,
Are free alike to all.
In days when Daisies deck the ground,
And Blackbirds whistle clear,
With honest joy, our hearts will bound,
To see the coming year:
On braes when we please then,
We’ll sit and sowth a tune;
Syne rhyme till ’t, we’ll time till ’t,
And sing ’t when we hae done.

It ’s no in titles nor in rank;
It ’s no in wealth like Lon’on Bank,
To purchase peace and rest;
It ’s no in makin muckle, mair:
It ’s no in books; it’s no in Lear,
To make us truly blest:
If Happiness hae not her seat
And center in the breast,
We may be wise, or rich, or great,
But never can be blest:
Nae treasures, nor pleasures
Could make us happy lang;
The heart ay ’s the part ay,
That makes us right or wrang.

Think ye, that sic as you and I,
Wha drudge and drive thro’ wet and dry,
Wi’ never-ceasing toil;
Think ye, are we less blest than they,
Wha scarcely tent us in their way,
As hardly worth their while?
Alas! how aft, in haughty mood,
God’s creatures they oppress!
Or else, neglecting a’ that’s guid,
They riot in excess!
Baith careless, and fearless,
Of either Heaven or Hell;
Esteeming, and deeming,
It a’ an idle tale!

Then lest us chearfu’ acquiesce;
Nor make our scanty Pleasures less,
By pining at our state:
And, ev’n should Misfortunes come,
I, here wha sit, hae met wi’ some,
An ’s thankfu’ for them yet.
They gie the wit of Age to Youth;
They let us ken oursel;
They make us see the naked truth,
The real guid and ill.
Tho’ losses, and crosses,
Be lessons right severe,
There’s Wit there, ye’ll get there,
Ye’ll find nae other where.

But tent me, Davie, Ace o’ Hearts!
(To say aught less wad wrang the cartes,
And flatt’ry I detest)
This life has joys for you and I;
And joys that riches ne’er could buy;
And joys the very best.
There ’s a’ the Pleasures o’ the Heart,
The Lover and the Frien’;
Ye hae your Meg, your dearest part,
And I my darling Jean!
It warms me, it charms me,
To mention but her name:
It heats me, it beets me,
And sets me a’ on flame!

O, all ye Pow’rs who rule above!
O Thou, whose very self art love!
Thou know’st my words sincere!
The life blood streaming thro’ my heart,
Or my more dear Immortal part,
Is not more fondly dear!
When heart-corroding care and grief
Deprive my soul of rest,
Her dear idea brings relief,
And solace to my breast.
Thou Being, Allseeing,
O hear my fervent pray’r!
Still take her, and make her,
Thy most peculiar care!

All hail! ye tender feelings dear!
The smile of love, the friendly tear,
The sympathetic glow!
Long since, this world’s thorny ways
Had number’d out my weary days,
Had it not been for you!
Fate still has blest me with a friend,
In ev’ry care and ill;
And oft a more endearing band,
A tye more tender still.
It lightens, it brightens,
The tenebrific scene,
To meet with, and greet with.
My Davie or my Jean!

O, how that Name inspires my style!
The words come skelpin’, rank and file,
Amaist before I ken!
The ready measure rins as fine,
As Phoebus and the famous Nine
Were glowran owre my pen.
My spavet Pegasus will limp,
Till ance he ’s fairly het;
And then he’ll hilch, and stilt, and jimp,
And rin an unco fit:
But least then, the beast then,
Should rue this hasty ride,
I’ll light now, and dight now,
His sweaty, wizen’d hide.


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[Andad]

Much better thanks.

Now I understand.

[hambone1983]

no one expects a beautiful woman to wear disguises or frumpy clothes, or a a CEO or successful person to not look the part. No one thinks an intellectual shouldn't speak with erudition. Why should someone who has presumably paid his 40% in taxes be considered crass for wearing an elegant watch? I've never understood this thinking

[Mr Ben]

I think it’s mostly fashion and partly perception of others. When Rolex brought in oysterflex, I wondered if this was partly the reason - allowing the wearer to have a “less obvious” gold watch.

Personally, I think white gold is absolutely fine. But that’s partly because it looks like steel. Rose gold, I’m less sure - probably just ok. The only men I know that wear full yellow gold watches are of the older generation and bought them 40-50 years ago. Or they’re not actually yellow gold - they’re fake.

Ladies can get away with anything.

[tramplejericho]

Originally Posted by Mr Ben

I think it’s mostly fashion and partly perception of others. When Rolex brought in oysterflex, I wondered if this was partly the reason - allowing the wearer to have a “less obvious” gold watch.

Personally, I think white gold is absolutely fine. But that’s partly because it looks like steel. Rose gold, I’m less sure - probably just ok. The only men I know that wear full yellow gold watches are of the older generation and bought them 40-50 years ago. Or they’re not actually yellow gold - they’re fake.

Ladies can get away with anything.

I agree on why they introduced Oysterflex absolutely to sell more PM watches much higher margin. I had a Yacht-master Rose before the GMT and wore it everyday, kind of regret selling it but it’s my plan to add it back to the collection one day.

PM watches are all dropping fast, most are under retail in the grey market, wondering whether the conspicuous consumption point above in hard times is the reason the market for them is so depressed. That alongside the lack of COVID cash and higher interest rates of course.


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[Mercmanr]

I'm in the UK and if I wasn't worried about getting robbed, I'd wear my full rose Daytona everyday without fail. As it is, it only comes out on special occasions, but I love it. If I seen someone out wearing a full gold rolex, I'd go and say what a lovely watch. Wear it and be proud, fuck what other people think

[Mountain66]

As a fellow Brit, I can say that we have a cultural reluctance towards brash and ostentatious displays of wealth. Subtlety is more the British style. Having said that, white gold is probably the most subtle PM, so I really wouldn’t worry!

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by tramplejericho

I’ve been thinking about this and I know fashions have a lot to do with it but, I have 2 full gold watches, a white gold DayDate (blue dial) and a Rootbeer full Rose gold GMT.

The question is, is it socially acceptable to wear a solid gold Rolex in the UK? Or is it just to ostentatious unless you’re a footballer or a music/movie star!?

I wear the GMT at home, on holiday (mostly because people would think it is fake) and locally as I live in a rural part of the country. But if I go anywhere else or in a work situation I’ll wear the DayDate because it can pass as steel, or my Milgauss. I mean I wouldn’t wear any of them in London but that’s not what this post is about.

My question is, I’ve done well in my career but I’m far from wealthy at 43, and I have just chosen to pursue a passion and invest in watches over the years and arrived at this point….

But is wearing a visibly all gold Rolex watch socially acceptable particularly in the UK?

Thought this might generate a debate, I LOVE wearing my watch, but there is always a niggle of “should I wear this or is it just too flashy” I’d love to know what people think, those who have them, have had them, or don’t have them!


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You'll get (and have got) a lot of answers from our North American friends saying wear what you like etc. What they can't appreciate is that culturally its very different over here and many of us do consider such things, and such things are noticed.

WIth the exception of said footballers, the old adage "less is more" still rings true. Having said that, it can sometimes not be what you wear but how you wear it.

You can be a "flash git" with a SS Submariner or reserved and classy with a yellow gold Day Date, and it sounds very much like you fit into the latter

At the end of the day, what you wear should be about how you, the wearer, feels about it.

I'll happily wear my WG Daytona in most situations where its safe to do so. But its white gold and it doesn't advertise what it is.

I would be more considered with everose in a know my audience kind of way and full yellow just isn't my thing at all.

[learningtofly]

Originally Posted by Mountain66

As a fellow Brit, I can say that we have a cultural reluctance towards brash and ostentatious displays of wealth. Subtlety is more the British style. Having said that, white gold is probably the most subtle PM, so I really wouldn’t worry!

Agree with this on the whole. The culture here is very different to that in the US.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by Andad

If you drive a 911 the watch you wear is your least concern.

Not if its an air cooled 911

[jamesbondOO7]

I wear my YG DayDate without any question but I would not want to be seen (even dead) in a 911. And yet I am in the perfect age group for one and retired at 67. But I was very comfortable driving my Rolls-Royce in Geneva.

[Harry-57]

Situational awareness is all. I instruct my Butler to select a watch for me to wear that is appropriate for the engagement I will be attending.

[shammad10]

I am quite selective where I wear my more expensive watches, such as AP etc. More about the company I am with, I don't particularly want friends and colleagues/associates to know that I've spent likely their annual take home pay on a watch.
Maybe it's me being insecure, but I think that would change people's perception of me.

[nighthawk77]

I know what you mean OP - I’m reluctant to even wear my Datejust to the office as it feels a bit flash!

No one likes a show off, but it doesn’t sound like that’s you. As long as you are aware of your surroundings and the people you’re with then you’re fine to rock the full gold.

[justdate]

I was a sales & trading grad on the trading floor at an investment bank aged 22, so by far the most junior guy on the desk and with plenty of egos about, when I bought my first full gold rolex. Blew my £13k savings on a 116718LN from watchfinder in the royal exchange (that’s all they cost back then!). Picked it up at lunch and brought back to office and wore it from then on. Turned a few heads and got a couple comments, but more amused than anything.

I’ve been wearing full gold watches ever since. The way I see it I didn’t steal the watch or do anything illegal to get the money to pay for them, so I have all the right in the world to wear them, regardless of my station in life. Anyone who disagrees with that is just being a pretentious… twit.

Contrary to the received wisdom on here though, people do notice stuff - be it a flash watch, car, house, your accent, or whatever random thing. I have had a lot of people - work colleagues, friends, parents from school, etc etc come up and compliment my watch (normally after they had a drink!). But they do notice stuff, that’s human nature, but guess what - if they don’t like you wearing it, that’s THEIR problem. So just be true to you and do the things you love.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by Krash

I’m finishing up my first novel...

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Congratulations. I plan to read a book all the way through some day too.

[Wilco68]

Originally Posted by learningtofly

Agree with this on the whole. The culture here is very different to that in the US.

Also in agreement. As per my previous post, & what a couple of others have similarly implied since (for a bloke in the UK):- these days full YG would largely be a ‘don’t do it’, full RG would probably be a ‘very questionable’, & full WG will be a ‘top man, very nice watch’.

Saying that, perhaps what a Rolex is made of isn’t a consideration for a lot of people who aren’t into watches. They just see it’s a Rolex & think ‘flash twat’ anyway!!

[Abaco24]

Originally Posted by Krash

I recently retired at 60. I was a technology executive. Relatively speaking, I did well.

I’m still young and healthy. I believe I have many years ahead of me.

One thing though…I really regret not splurging more on nice things. I could have driven around in Porsche 911s if I wanted to. My wife and I could have flown first class more than we did. We could have stayed at the 5 star hotels instead of the 3 or 4 star hotels.

I look back over the last couple decades and feel as if I was unnecessarily cheap.

I never wore a solid gold watch either. I wish I did and maybe I will in the future.

You only live once!


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I'm right there with you OP! Now booking more trips, buying lux watches, and enjoying what time I have left. Turning 60 was a mind-bender, for me anyway. I want to leave my girls something fun (Rolex) that will hopefully retain its value easier than our stock market! They can always sell them, or pass them down to my grandkids, who haven't arrived yet! I have a 2020 SUB 116613LB "Bluesy" and a 2023 126283RBR - MOP with Diamond Bezel on the way from the AD. You bought them for YOU alone, and your tastes, so wear them with pride.

[TikTok]

A Janner here. I rarely see any lux watch out in the wild. Theres a healthy trade at my AD thats for sure but I’ve not seen any out there. Maybe it’s because I don't go to posh restaurants or the like. I’m a local lad who grew up on the rough side of town and still have my old friends and frequent the places I knew as a kid.
I wear my watches whenever I feel like but generally keep them covered. My friends know I have a few and can’t understand why I spent so much but they just let me get on with it.
Saying all that, I still cover up when I’m away. I’m not taking any chances.
I don't live in a posh house (think Coronation St) or drive a flash car and my watches are my only real extravagance.
To the OP, wear them but be sensible.

[Bulldog1963]

You know I just walked into my AD last week and unexpectedly walked out with a full gold sub Blusey. $40,000 later I have a beautiful watch but my motivation was wacky. I thought by buying this I would be in a better position with my AD on future watches. Buy a full gold to get a Batgirl at retail. Long story short I love the full gold. I’m 60 and retired so I wear it daily. I even get enjoyment from wearing it around the house. I bought it for me.

There’s a lady who shows all that glitters is Gold.

[Mr Ben]

Originally Posted by TikTok

A Janner here. I rarely see any lux watch out in the wild. Theres a healthy trade at my AD thats for sure but I’ve not seen any out there. Maybe it’s because I don't go to posh restaurants or the like. I’m a local lad who grew up on the rough side of town and still have my old friends and frequent the places I knew as a kid.
I wear my watches whenever I feel like but generally keep them covered. My friends know I have a few and can’t understand why I spent so much but they just let me get on with it.
Saying all that, I still cover up when I’m away. I’m not taking any chances.
I don't live in a posh house (think Coronation St) or drive a flash car and my watches are my only real extravagance.
To the OP, wear them but be sensible.

I can’t believe you were the first person to think of that username!

[TikTok]

Originally Posted by Mr Ben

I can’t believe you were the first person to think of that username!

Neither can I.
Just hope it doesn’t get associated with the video app.

[codecow]

Originally Posted by Krash

I recently retired at 60. I was a technology executive. Relatively speaking, I did well.

I’m still young and healthy. I believe I have many years ahead of me.

One thing though…I really regret not splurging more on nice things. I could have driven around in Porsche 911s if I wanted to. My wife and I could have flown first class more than we did. We could have stayed at the 5 star hotels instead of the 3 or 4 star hotels.

I look back over the last couple decades and feel as if I was unnecessarily cheap.

I never wore a solid gold watch either. I wish I did and maybe I will in the future.

You only live once!


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I drove the 911s.

I wear the full gold watches.

I only fly first or business.

I only stay in the best hotels unless they’re not available.

Eat at Michelin star restaurants.

Drink the best alcohol.

Go to the best events, concerts, sports, lectures, whatever!

Just do all the things, we’re all going to die. If you have the ability to do something and you want to do it; I say, do it. Too many of my friends practiced delayed gratification and died during the delay. Screw that!

Now for the OP, I’d say it depends on the situation and environment. The UK in my experience is not as celebratory of people’s success and is more of dragging people down to the same level. However if you happen to hang out with world beaters there, won’t matter.