Is The Quality Of Rolex Watches Slipping?

[Rolex Freak]

Hello Friends,

Would you say that over time (the last 20-30 years) has the quality of the Rolex brand been slipping? I seem to hear a lot of people complaining or stating that they are having issues with their watches. Just wondered what the general consensus has to say, especially from those WIS that have owned a Rolex for awhile. Or do you feel the opposite, that Rolex has improved over the years. I know Rolex produces a lot of watches every year, but I would think that's to keep up with the demand for the brand. Therefore, if there are more around, it would only makes sense that the number of issues would increase at the same rate. Your thoughts?

[marcinthemiddle]

Sandro, I think that no matter how stringent QC is with a company, or how technically flawless the product, you will find 'complainers'... Just my .02

[Rolex Freak]

Originally Posted by marcinthemiddle

Sandro, I think that no matter how stringent QC is with a company, or how technically flawless the product, you will find 'complainers'... Just my .02

Good point.

[Rolesor]

Originally Posted by marcinthemiddle

Sandro, I think that no matter how stringent QC is with a company, or how technically flawless the product, you will find 'complainers'... Just my .02

I agree!

[RedBaronF2001]

Originally Posted by marcinthemiddle

Sandro, I think that no matter how stringent QC is with a company, or how technically flawless the product, you will find 'complainers'... Just my .02

Not only that, but for every complainer on the web there are countless other Rolex owners who don't read nor post to the forums and are likely very satisfied.

The web has become the de facto place to lodge a complaint about anything. I see much more whining than praising on forums.

[tgoose1]

Rolex quality has absolutely improved over the time I've been an owner going back to the early 70's. A fine product then, only better now in terms of materials and manufacturing techniques.

[Sixxgrand1]

Originally Posted by RedBaronF2001

......... a complaint about anything. I see much more whining than praising on forums.

I am thinking that is it just me but I have to ask..

If a brand new Rolex has dust where there should not be dust? Do all agree that we are whining and complaining when our grail $10K Daytona has a nice chuck of something on the inside of the crystal - and saddened we post a thread wondering if it is just our bad luck? to be born a whiner and complainer?

If a brand new Rolex has obvious misalignment of the cyclops or hour marker? should we all bury our heads in the sand and look the other way - all the while posting praise about the watch?

Said another way should we praise a Rolex when we buy one with no flaws? Not much to comment on a thread with that topic really other then perhaps.."for the amount of cash I just dropped - it had better be perfect.."

Hey I am not bashing Rolex. I adore my Rolex yet do not ignore the 'fact' that they have room to improve. I can only suppose that other Rolex owners also share the respect for the brand while keeping our expectations high. Ideally - Rolex should have an Inbox for Customer Feedback. That would eliminate threads like this to a large degree IMHO..

Thanks.

[RedBaronF2001]

Originally Posted by Sixxgrand1

I am thinking that is it just me but I have to ask..

If a brand new Rolex has dust where there should not be dust? Do all agree that we are whining and complaining when our grail $10K Daytona has a nice chuck of something on the inside of the crystal - and saddened we post a thread wondering if it is just our bad luck? to be born a whiner and complainer?

That's a fair statement, but how enjoyable would these forums be if its sole purpose was to post about flaws?

I failed to make my point of the fact that there are more satisfied customers out there with "flawless" Rolexes than there are folks with flawed ones. Of the flawed ones there are only a handful that will post here (or elsewhere).

If you base your assumption that there are more flaws these days with Rolexes on the fact that there are more posts than usual (of late) on flaws then you are likely wrong. More folks have access to the internet these days and more folks are posting.

I, for one, feel like Rolex quality has improved over the years especially given the technical improvements they've offered.

[Rolex Freak]

I, for one, feel like Rolex quality has improved over the years especially given the technical improvements they've offered.[/QUOTE]

[padi56]

Well IMHO its now mainly with the obsession of many to finely expect there watches with a powerful magnifying lupes etc.While Rolex is a massed produced item yes you will have the odd little flaw.Like the bezel triangle not lining up to within a cats whisker of the 12 o'clock marker on watches like the sub.But lining up to the triangle has no barring on the function of the time lapse bezel.Now around 15 years ago you just bought a Rolex watch and would doubt if they were microscopical inspected then.

[Gerardus]

Improved imho.

[expy2]

Also, we didn't have forums to moan and bitch on ten or fifteen years ago! I think problems are screamed from the roof tops (which i can understand, i have had problems myself and it is frustrating) and this makes them seems worse/more frequent than they actually are. Like it or not, with modern machinery/technology – cnc etc. – our watches are far better than they once were. Fact.

Mind you, I'm sure my old sekio never had any... and so it goes on.

[L-16610]

It is improved, I don't get it why some people would be in doubt

It is better every time they do an update

Without doubt !!!!!

[esm]

I will say no because I believe that a larger production thesedays probably contributes to this very issue.
I'm sure there is a percentage of faults Rolex is working on against and I hope they keep up the good work.

[ffighter556]

I honestly think that I have found a flaw in every Rolex I've ever owned. It use to bother me but I just learned to live with it.

Dust under crystal
Bezel wabbles on some and not others
Lettering on the dial, black showing through the white
Sharp areas on clasp were they missed the bevel
Markers on dial little off
Date cyclopse not lining up

[L-16610]

Originally Posted by ffighter556

I honestly think that I have found a flaw in every Rolex I've ever owned. It use to bother me but I just learned to live with it.

Dust under crystal
Bezel wabbles on some and not others
Lettering on the dial, black showing through the white
Sharp areas on clasp were they missed the bevel
Markers on dial little off
Date cyclopse not lining up

too cheap for perfection I guess

Buy a 50 or 100K Patek and you won't have these flaws

But a 5000 euro rolex is a damn good watch

[kkwn98]

Originally Posted by L-16610

too cheap for perfection I guess

Buy a 50 or 100K Patek and you won't have these flaws

But a 5000 euro rolex is a damn good watch

You'd be surprised.

[snowbird]

Originally Posted by L-16610

Buy a 50 or 100K Patek and you won't have these flaws

Is that really true? I'm not sure price is correlated with quality in the sense of lack of defects/problems.

I've never owned a Patek, but from the limited sample of Patek owners I've talked with, if anything they seem to have more quality problems than Rolex even for the non-complicated models.

I'm curious to hear thoughts/experience on this.

[Tools]

Rolex is far better today than it ever has been..

However, consumers are now combing over their watches with 10x loupes and whine over any scratch, speck of dust, or machine mark........ This goes well beyond reasonable expectations for a consumer product..

[Michael M.]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex is far better today than it ever has been..

However, consumers are now combing over their watches with 10x loupes and whine over any scratch, speck of dust, or machine mark........ This goes well beyond reasonable expectations for a consumer product..

I agree Larry

[Yeahnah]

Originally Posted by Tools

Rolex is far better today than it ever has been..

However, consumers are now combing over their watches with 10x loupes and whine over any scratch, speck of dust, or machine mark........ This goes well beyond reasonable expectations for a consumer product..

x2

My first Rolex, GMT Master purchased new in 1981 is one of the classics. It used to need a shake to start after a time change or reset, always ran 5 minutes fast no matter what, the bracelet can almost do a u turn, but I didn't care, it was a Rolex GMT. Sturdy, well made and had the look.
The subsequents and various different model Rolex's I've owned (5) have all been progressively better finished and more refined. The most recent, a Milguass, is superb
That original GMT Master is owned by a good friend and it's still the same with it's little "habits" but, it's still going strong and still looks great, which is to me the strength of Rolex. (imho)

[slevin kelevra]

My 2009 Sub ND has been back to Rolex 3 times in a year for accuracy issues. Now I know to some this is not a big deal but the watch was not performing within COSC specs. Having to return a watch once is bad enough but acceptable but 3 times in a year is very frustrating and not acceptable in my eyes.

Its now at the stage where in a year I think I have had my watch for roughly 8 months and the rest of the time its been at Rolex.

My 2ps worth is that people make allowances for Rolex when they really should not. If you bought any other luxury product would you accept the same imperfections?

[Rona]

Should lemon-law apply to Rolex watch? It would be nice.

[Rolex Freak]

And since we are on the topic of perfection, you can buy a 100 dollar item that is flawless. Just because we pay thousands doesn't mean it has to be perfection. What we pay for an item or product has no bearing on the degree of perfection. I sell real estate for a living. Do you think that just because you buy a house for a million dollars that's it's any more perfect than that of half a million. That would be an unrealistic expectation of anything or anyone. Rolex included.

[Singslinger]

I think quality has improved, especially with the use of better materials. I've not had a single quality issue with any of my Rolexes - all have lived up to my expectations.

[alexoSUBTT]

Originally Posted by slevin kelevra

My 2009 Sub ND has been back to Rolex 3 times in a year for accuracy issues. Now I know to some this is not a big deal but the watch was not performing within COSC specs. Having to return a watch once is bad enough but acceptable but 3 times in a year is very frustrating and not acceptable in my eyes.

Its now at the stage where in a year I think I have had my watch for roughly 8 months and the rest of the time its been at Rolex.

My 2ps worth is that people make allowances for Rolex when they really should not. If you bought any other luxury product would you accept the same imperfections?

All luxury items are the same... you should as a rule calculate 5% of value in depreciation each year...Its basic economics... and I own a e350 4matic 2006 it was in the shop a total of 2 months last year... maintenance is maintenance... people do not buy rolex for the quality of the watch or the precision of the time... In reality it all comes to this ( when people see it they know its 5000K and up... when you got a gold one holy shit that guy dropped 20k , hes somebody... thats it... have a nice day enjoy the status your rolex gives you :)!

[Sixxgrand1]

Originally Posted by alexoSUBTT

... people do not buy rolex for the quality of the watch or the precision of the time... In reality it all comes to this ( when people see it they know its 5000K and up... when you got a gold one holy shit that guy dropped 20k , hes somebody... thats it... have a nice day enjoy the status your rolex gives you :)!

Hence my comment in an earlier thread:
"Maybe Rolex should come out with a model called the AirBling with no movement, no hands, nothing but the Rolex crown on a blank dial - it doesn't even need to tell time because it is a Rolex!!"

[Rolex Freak]

Originally Posted by Sixxgrand1

Hence my comment in an earlier thread:
"Maybe Rolex should come out with a model called the AirBling with no movement, no hands, nothing but the Rolex crown on a blank dial - it doesn't even need to tell time because it is a Rolex!!"

Damn, I'd buy one of those.

[Badfish179]

They are "good enough" for me!

[karmatp]

That is why I never take a 10X loop to any watches. If I don't see it with the naked eye, it's good enough for me.

I can say that I did look over my Sub C pretty close when I got home and I cant find a single issue, and the overall quality seems much better than my older subs.