Wow, marketing brilliance...

[Onlytime]

Yes, this is another BLRO thread...and yes I am a Rolex and TRF NEWB.

I have to give credit where credit is due, and I give Rolex a ton of credit for releasing the BLRO in SS, even if it comes on a jubilee. In terms of consumer goods, this release is right up there with any marketing strategy in recent memory. Rolex took an iconic piece and poked the bear while only offering it in WG. Sure, those who could afford the WG BLRO were thrilled, however this decision had the masses in an uproar for 4 long years. Had many people begging for a BLRO in SS, and WHAM now we have one. We may never know if Rolex intended it this way before they released the WG BLRO 4 years ago, but the demand and buildup for the SS Pepsi was 4 years in the making. I believe Rolex knew what they were doing on this one, and imo this strategy will pay huge dividends for them.

[173rdabn]

Fully agree, beautiful and somewhat more affordable. The Jubilee is a nod to the GMTs of the past and really looks good.

[joe100]

I used to say the Explorer 14270 was the perfect rolex, it still is but the 126710 is more perfect!

[Speed]

They've just cheezed off anyone who bought a WG Pepsi. Would be interesting to quantify the PO factor in $... but at the end of the day whatever the impact, it was clearly a don't care for Rolex.

[RolexNorth]

Nobody should really be surprised by this. They've already done it with the likes of the Yachtmaster 2 SS, and the Skydweller SS last year.

Perhaps it will be the DayDate next year.

[locutus49]

SS Smurf?

Originally Posted by RolexNorth

Nobody should really be surprised by this. They've already done it with the likes of the Yachtmaster 2 SS, and the Skydweller SS last year.

Perhaps it will be the DayDate next year.

[jrs146]

Rolex didn’t release the BLRO just to build demand for the PepsiC 4 years later. Please.


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[SconnieBT]

Originally Posted by RolexNorth

Nobody should really be surprised by this. They've already done it with the likes of the Yachtmaster 2 SS, and the Skydweller SS last year.

Perhaps it will be the DayDate next year.

That would be great... Sign me up


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[Al1969]

If the Ceramic Daytona is any indication and ongoing AD “lists”. This model may be discontinued before people can actually own it.

[MARGARITATIME]

If they ever do a SS Smurf I am in whenever I can get one available. Would probably be never so would have to go used/TS and pay a premium. I am on the list for the Pepsi, but that will take a few years or more.

[fskywalker]

Originally Posted by Onlytime

Yes, this is another BLRO thread...and yes I am a Rolex and TRF NEWB.



I have to give credit where credit is due, and I give Rolex a ton of credit for releasing the BLRO in SS, even if it comes on a jubilee. In terms of consumer goods, this release is right up there with any marketing strategy in recent memory. Rolex took an iconic piece and poked the bear while only offering it in WG. Sure, those who could afford the WG BLRO were thrilled, however this decision had the masses in an uproar for 4 long years. Had many people begging for a BLRO in SS, and WHAM now we have one. We may never know if Rolex intended it this way before they released the WG BLRO 4 years ago, but the demand and buildup for the SS Pepsi was 4 years in the making. I believe Rolex knew what they were doing on this one, and imo this strategy will pay huge dividends for them.

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[No SUBctitute]

Originally Posted by jrs146

Rolex didn’t release the BLRO just to build demand for the PepsiC 4 years later. Please.

Agreed. If the WG BLRO had done as well as Rolex wanted it to do, we may very well be seeing right now a WG Coke instead of a SS Pepsi. And then in another four years maybe a SS Pepsi and another four years after that a SS Coke. Rolex isn't stupid, it wanted to cash in on the lust for a SS Coke or Pepsi.

By the way, AD told me yesterday that they were warned in writing last Fall about a slowdown in professional models, but Rolex didn't indicate it was a permanent thing (as the "CONFIRMATION" thread on TRF contended). He also said that when they had professional models to sell, that the professional models were bigger sellers than the Datejusts and other "dress" watches, in contrast to some here which contend Datejusts are the real Rolex money makers. I don't know what the truth it, but I sure am curious. Would any Rolex lurkers like to chime in?

[BreezyMan]

Rolex has found a way to do red ceramic which is the hardest color to make, they failed at 9 out of 10 bezels for the white gold model. They finally have it down after years of r and d, the Batman was thier first foray into colored ceramic. We will see much more in the future

[oldman2005]

With the reduced production and very high demand for this SS BLRO, looks like only a few lucky ones will have a chance to own this beautiful watch. Good luck guys!

[KrismanX]

Damn, an SS Smurf would totally top my cake..

[henrylee]

Originally Posted by MARGARITATIME

If they ever do a SS Smurf I am in whenever I can get one available. Would probably be never so would have to go used/TS and pay a premium. I am on the list for the Pepsi, but that will take a few years or more.

Keep saying never, it just might happen. People kept saying another SS Pepsi would never happen and look what happened! All that negativity made it happen.

[richter]

Originally Posted by BreezyMan

Rolex has found a way to do red ceramic which is the hardest color to make, they failed at 9 out of 10 bezels for the white gold model. They finally have it down after years of r and d, the Batman was thier first foray into colored ceramic. We will see much more in the future

In my opinion, Rolex still hasn't figured out how to do red ceramic. The pepsi is purple and red instead of blue and red.

[Stevec14]

Originally Posted by BreezyMan

Rolex has found a way to do red ceramic which is the hardest color to make, they failed at 9 out of 10 bezels for the white gold model. They finally have it down after years of r and d, the Batman was thier first foray into colored ceramic. We will see much more in the future

From the pics I have seen, I think it’s the same colour as the WG bezel, although happy to be proved wrong. I also suspect that give the difficultly of getting from blue to red (or vice versa), a coke may be some way away.

Indeed whilst it’s not my personal cup of tea, it makes the job they did on the BLNR bezel pretty amazing IMO.

[engin33r]

Hold the credit part yet... we don't know yet if rolex is going to make this watch available for the masses (read: deliberate under supply). It's already happening with popular sports models. Expect ss pepsi to sell well above msrp.

[amh]

Originally Posted by Speed

They've just cheezed off anyone who bought a WG Pepsi. Would be interesting to quantify the PO factor in $... but at the end of the day whatever the impact, it was clearly a don't care for Rolex.

I don't think so. Those who bought the earlier WG version are likely very happy with their purchase.

It just wasn't a particularly popular model, that's all.

[Speed]

Originally Posted by amh

I don't think so. Those who bought the earlier WG version are likely very happy with their purchase.



It just wasn't a particularly popular model, that's all.

I’m sure they like the watch...but if exclusivity was something of a motivation to buy - and let’s be honest - for some it was...it must be a slight burn.

[Onlytime]

[QUOTE=No SUBctitute;8417677]Agreed. If the WG BLRO had done as well as Rolex wanted it to do, we may very well be seeing right now a WG Coke instead of a SS Pepsi. And then in another four years maybe a SS Pepsi and another four years after that a SS Coke. Rolex isn't stupid, it wanted to cash in on the lust for a SS Coke or Pepsi.

Was the WG BLRO a slow mover?? DUH...of course it was...but it gave every AD, blogger, watch forum, grey dealer, etc. an opportunity to field the question "when will Rolex make this in SS?". This hype machine has been building since the day the WG BLRO was announced, was it not? I believe this was intentional and it was in the making for quite some time.

Again, marketing brilliance....

[Jack Cassidy]

Brilliance? I would not go even near A+.

The strong +97% prediction in this forum was that it would never happen as it would ruin the WG exclusivity.

There are currently many post with WG BLRO owners who feel the exclusivity of their watch is ruined. Some will sell and some will change brands with their next purchase. Some will just never ever buy Rolex WG again - also looking at the SkyDweller history. Read the current threads.

Is that true brilliance?

If Rolex makes an SS Smurf I am also out of Rolex WG forever - maybe even the brand as I would be extremely offended.

Brilliance? I will call it cold calculated business cynicism.

[Onlytime]

There's the conundrum...If you are going off of the opinions on TRF, the WG BLRO was definitely a slow mover, right? So go ahead and weigh the people who are REALLY jumping ship to a new brand vs. the hundreds of thousands of PepsiC models that will be sold over the next _______ years.

Did Rolex hurt some fee fees by releasing the SS Pepsi, sure, no doubt.
I find it humorous you would be offended if Rolex conducted their business in ANY manner. When you bought your Smurf, did Rolex hand you a contract saying that they promise to never release this iteration in SS? I have never heard of something so ridiculous.