Quote:
Originally Posted by dman
Well, since you are aware what the nouveau riche are into, I assumed you had the pulse of some study. I can assume that you are of the camp that this Panerai/big watch fad will soon pass too? I actually hope it does, since none of the Rolex I had are worth over 3X it's list price only 4 years after it was made. That can only be a good thing for me if that bubble bursts. BTW/ people have been saying that is going to happen for years now, any guess on the actual date? 
Fact for me is that I have been wearing Panerai almost exclusively for three years and have seen only a four or five in the wild in that time, two of those were hideous fakes at that. I see countless Rolex every time I go out in public.
As for the comment that a Rolex Submariner is not a status or wanna be status symbol, we'll just have to agree to disagree since every 30 year old, 30K a year millionaire owns one in the last three cities I have lived in.  |
Right you are. On all counts. I also wear a Panerai, but I've seen many more out in the wild (I guess it depends on your geographical location, because you are correct, they just don't make that many and their AD network is miniscule) where I live. I guess that accounts for the differing opinions here.
As for the Submariner being a status symbol, I DO think it is - I just think that the average guy out there doesn't recognize it as anything special. But my wife pointed out to me that in recent photo shoots, George Clooney is wearing what looks to be a Sub. So, to me, it's just a classic and great watch. But I don't think that many people out there would recognize it as something special - but they would see the Panerai, with its clock-like size, as a flashier watch. And if the thief followed what the rich are currently obsessing over, it would be Panerai before Rolex. Or am I wrong about that? At least where I am, and in the places I go, people with money are really into Panerai before Rolex. And that was my original point - Panerai doesn't "fly under the radar."
I see Rolex everywhere, too. But I'm a watchnut, so I recognize them for what they are. I guess we'll never really settle whether the non-watchnut public would recognize a SS Rolex for what it is. But thanks for an interesting point of view - and don't mistake my relatively worthless opinion for a slam against Rolex. After all, I own a Panerai, but I also own THREE Rolex.