Is the era of stealth wealth over?

[RolexPD]

Stealth wealth is wearing $9000 Loro Piana sweaters, not wearing a WG Rolex!

[JRique]

Originally Posted by RolexPD

Stealth wealth is wearing $9000 Loro Piana sweaters, not wearing a WG Rolex!

Nobody cares for Loro Piana overpriced shit, this 9000 sweater cost them 300 to make.

[thesharkfactor]

White gold, yellow gold, I'd have either.

This would be the one for me if I could have one right now..

[0nly5iv3Digits]

"Stealth-wealth" has always been desirable - often synonymous with "old money", I find. These days, however, you have tons of younger people (that borrow money) just to appear wealthy - the so called "flex" culture. These are the types that want "perceived" wealth to be in your face so they "feel" better about themselves.

[fsprow]

Originally Posted by JRique

Nobody cares for Loro Piana overpriced shit, this 9000 sweater cost them 300 to make.

Very helpful comment.

[MILGAUSS88]

Agree with those saying wearing a gold Rolex is not stealth wealth, even if it is white gold.

Here is the deal, gold Rolex sports watches were selling for $25,000 before covid.
Some correction is due.

[Pw92676]

IMO “stealth wealth” was a sales tactic.

[Hollie_Rollie]

Originally Posted by 4 Aussies

I asked our mutual friend, he said it becomes a Chrysler 300!!

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[WilsdorfNDavis]

Originally Posted by Mr. K

Just bought my Mega Millions ticket about 20 minutes ago., I guess I'll have to wait and see....

Did we win?

[WilsdorfNDavis]

There's nothing "stealthy" about any Rolex watch, it's the most recognizable luxury watch in the world.

[Hodog16]

This is an amusing thread haha.

I like white gold for a daily watch because yellow/rose gold is too blingy for me to wear to work.

[BrokenWatch]

Originally Posted by huncho

there was never such an era, it only exists in the small bubble here where people are either WIS or think wearing a white gold day date or pepsi is understated. i don't think the majority of people buying the hype ever cared for white gold

Totally agree! We sometimes buy into the forums’ narrative a bit too much.


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[goldmaes]

Although I agree that “stealth wealth” doesn’t really exist with a Rolex. The reason some people want WG is to not be as in your face about your watch. I have no problem wearing my full WG Daytona to work because the watch isn’t screaming “look at me”. As a matter of fact I don’t think most even notice my watch. By contrast, as much as I love it, I would never wear my YG Sub to work. With 2000+ employees the YG is to blingy for work.

[Scottyboy]

Not for me, I'm not at all interested in a Pink or Yellow gold watch. If and when the time comes I am in the market for a PM piece, White Gold and Platinum will be where I start and finish looking.

[belutak]

Originally Posted by wm82

No one ever wanted anything in white gold. Its the softest of the alloys and looks like crap after a few years of wear. The market is never wrong, thats why 2nd hand values on white gold is always so low.

Not correct, sorry. Smurf looks as good ss ever after several years.

WG jewelery is a different story, ofter rhodium plated which does wear out


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[ndirish2001]

Originally Posted by goldmaes

Although I agree that “stealth wealth” doesn’t really exist with a Rolex. The reason some people want WG is to not be as in your face about your watch. I have no problem wearing my full WG Daytona to work because the watch isn’t screaming “look at me”. As a matter of fact I don’t think most even notice my watch. By contrast, as much as I love it, I would never wear my YG Sub to work. With 2000+ employees the YG is to blingy for work.

I agree. I love the look of yellow and rose gold, but I don’t think I’ll buy one until after I retire. If I wear a white gold or platinum watch at work, no one will notice it. But people will definitely notice if I wore yellow or rose gold.


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[GrailTime]

Originally Posted by amphr1

Seems like no one wants the cookie monster or the first modern pepsi in white gold or yacht master in WG or anything in WG anymore. Do I get the wrong impression?

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My belief is that there is a very small customer base willing to pay $40k for a WG sub or GMT. Even the WG Pepsi drops in value the moment you buy it.

If you can spend $40k on a watch and you get presented with either a Starbucks or a Smurf / Cookie Monster, most would go for the former for 1/4 of the price. The problem is, that it has been near impossible to get a stainless sub. I have seen multiple WG Subs at ADs available for sale.

Those who want full yellow gold already know they have to pay the premium for that look and are willing to pay it. Many want everyone to see they have a full PM watch - the opposite of stealth.

Maybe some generalization there, but just my opinion.

Now if its a Pepsi SS at current market rate of $24k Vs WG Pepsi brand new on Chrono for $37k, then that is a different value proposition where white gold may be the better investment.

[GrailTime]

Originally Posted by the dark knight

No, I think if anything we are at peak stealth wealth era, at least in the cultural zeitgeist. It's just that WG Rolex has always probably been a bad example of this. Succession was a good example. I can't recall a single main character on that show wearing a WG or even gold Rolex. Kendall was wearing the "Submariner" of stealth wealth watches, a steel Nautilus. Some dressy VCs here and there, Cartier, etc.

FWIW, I work and live in the SF Bay Area, this place might be the stealth wealth capital of the world. I've met quite a bit of UHNWI types, I don't recall a single WG Rolex or much Rolex at all. The Apple Watch may be the ultimate stealth wealth watch among these types, TBH.

There were some Rolex on Succession, all be it not WG....





Totally agree with you though. The Apple watch is just as much a "stealth wealth" watch as anything. I have top MDs at my company who wear them. Maybe that is more down to them not being interested in watches though.

[HiDive]

I know there are plenty of fans of precious metals out there and sometimes I like the look of yellow gold but white gold and platinum on a watch don't make sense to me. They are heavy, they are soft and worst of all they look like stainless steel but don't hold up as well. If you want heavy why not use Tungsten and get really heavy, if you want precious metal than use Rhodium and really spend some money. I have owned a two tone Rolex GMT but it just did not make it for me, so it is long gone.

[Cambo]

Originally Posted by HiDive

I know there are plenty of fans of precious metals out there and sometimes I like the look of yellow gold but white gold and platinum on a watch don't make sense to me. They are heavy, they are soft and worst of all they look like stainless steel but don't hold up as well. If you want heavy why not use Tungsten and get really heavy, if you want precious metal than use Rhodium and really spend some money. I have owned a two tone Rolex GMT but it just did not make it for me, so it is long gone.

So you derived all your perceived “cons” of precious metal watches by owning a TT GMT. I guess I should sell ASAP!

[brandrea]

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[Nads786]

Cousin Greg was trying to buy a SD? I always thought it was a Sub.

[Jack T]

Originally Posted by sambb

All Rolex regardless is metal are showy. Everyone knows what it is. If you want subtle then go for a calatrava or patrimony. Or just get a speedmaster and play the role of nice watch but not a status symbol?

Even a hint, a whisper or the vaguest inference that anyone might buy a Rolex to flex is surely going to trigger a few “not me” responses.
Good one!

[BogeyWHV]

Originally Posted by Nads786

Cousin Greg was trying to buy a SD? I always thought it was a Sub.

I remember it being a WG sub, Greg even comments on how heavy it is. Greg was also shocked when he's told the price is 30k.

[Krash]

My wife and I sometimes go into “stealth wealth” mode: Subaru Outback Wilderness and Apple Watches. Other times we take our 540 and are both wearing a Rolex. It depends where we’re going and what we’re doing.


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[Nads786]

Originally Posted by BogeyWHV

I remember it being a WG sub, Greg even comments on how heavy it is. Greg was also shocked when he's told the price is 30k.

It couldn't be a WG Sub right because he was meant to be ripped off. "it has your patina on it."

That line always cracks me up.

[Nav01L]

The thing is that once you’re spending 30k on a watch, you can get on that’s so much more exciting than a Rolex, and I say that as someone who wears a Rolex on most days and loves Rolex every day. But I would have to have assembled a good many more Vacherons, APs, Pateks, Langes, Journes or even Chopard LUCs before I spent 30-40k on a full gold Rolex. That price range just gets you into reach of a whole different world.

[Edfrozen]

Gold was much lower in 2019
No major social media influence
Inflation was running quiet
Social unrest was less
Gold is real money
Even though a gold watch has only $10,000 ( approximately)
in gold value , it represents and is HARD money , real money
White gold or platinum keeps it between you and God

[Nav01L]

Originally Posted by Edfrozen

Gold was much lower in 2019
No major social media influence
Inflation was running quiet
Social unrest was less
Gold is real money
Even though a gold watch has only $10,000 ( approximately)
in gold value , it represents and is HARD money , real money
White gold or platinum keeps it between you and God

Yeah, well only if generation InstaYouTickTok doesn’t pick up on your Sub bezel being blue, the presidential bracelet on your DayDate or the Oysterflex on your Daytona. Folks have become much more literate on these things these days.

[piratfisk]

If so, good. Let the "normies" have their YG & RG. Keep the WG & PT for the intelligensia.

I'm an unabashed WG elitist.