Attraction or Value?

[Soulo]

Out of 100%, how much would you say that your Rolex purchase is made out of attraction and how much out of value?

As I browse several different brands, I see watches that are more visually pleasing than Rolex, but of course when spending several thousands, you want your value to remain as well.

FYI, I currently own a Rolex 118238 and 124060 and are currently in the market for an addition to my collection.

[omar-rye]

Originally Posted by Soulo

As I browse several different brands, I see watches that are more visually pleasing than Rolex, but of course when spending several thousands, you want your value to remain as well.

Like what?

[Belinus]

Interesting question. I look at other watches but at the moment only considering purchasing Rolex. I’d say 80% or more is attraction to the watches but the value retention means it feels a less risky purchase if I decide the watch isn’t for me. For the money, the only watches I would consider over a Rolex would be a dress watch such as a Reverso

[Kevzep]

I buy my watches because I like them and want to wear them.
My DSSD is a daily, I have Omega, TAG, Seiko (1980's) and wear all of them depending on the occasion.
Since I wear them the value is not as important to me as it might be for a collector.

[BDII]

Value retention is an undeniable part of it at this point. The love for the watches came first, but the value retention made spending the money a lot less painful.

50/50 at this point for me.

What’s not to love about a Rolex? Love the look, the feel, the history and the functionality. I also like anything that holds value.

[CarlOver]

I understand the OPs point. There are plenty of good looking watches. If purchased to make the owner happy, then great. If you don’t like it and have to sell at 50% of MSRP, then you take the bath. If you don’t go into the purchase thinking about selling it at some point and keeping it for the long run, then it’s not an issue.

[fishingbear]

I buy what I want to wear. Rolex is a picture of function and beauty to me. And I love the fact that my watches are tough as nails.

[Tim Plains]

Value and resale is irrelevant to me. I would have still bought mine if it was worthless the moment I walked out of the store. Same goes for my other watches.

[Harry-57]

I own a number of watches from a number of brands. I buy them because I like them. Looks are subjective. My favouriteset watch in the whole world is a Heuer.

[Soulo]

And of course beauty is in the eyes of the beholder so I do not mean that every other watch brand looks "better" than Rolex but that I have come across other brands that have some models that offer more visual pleasantries (in my opinion) than Rolex but the lack of them holding value makes me shy away.

[Soulo]

Originally Posted by CarlOver

I understand the OPs point. There are plenty of good looking watches. If purchased to make the owner happy, then great. If you don’t like it and have to sell at 50% of MSRP, then you take the bath. If you don’t go into the purchase thinking about selling it at some point and keeping it for the long run, then it’s not an issue.

Bigno, glad that you understood my train of thought. I'm just curious if any of the other members here feel like on certain purchases that they may have sacrificed a certain level of attraction in exchange for value.

[Big Tex Rolex]

100% attraction.

I plan on dying with every watch (luxury watch) I’ve ever purchased.

[MeteorR]

All about attraction. I never consider values when buying luxury goods

[Calatrava r]

LOL. I understood the value question as "value for the money", that is, does the quality justify the price, and not as "value retention."

[Soulo]

Originally Posted by Tim Plains

Value and resale is irrelevant to me. I would have still bought mine if it was worthless the moment I walked out of the store. Same goes for my other watches.

Must be nice to live so freely lol.

For me, when spending several thousand and up on anything, monetary value always plays a part in the purchase.

[Brucehbrown]

Mostly attraction. I would go broke buying and selling watches as investments.

[Dave O]

100% for the attraction. I am a watch lover first and foremost. I do not view watches as investments, just as I don't view buying a car an investment. I have no intent in ever selling any of my watches. But if I do, I'll get what I can get just as if I were to sell one of my cars.

I have 5 Rolex's, 2 Tudor's, an Omega Seamaster and a Breitling Navitimer. The moment I walked out the door with the Seamaster and Navitimer I lost money. But I don't care as I never plan to sell them and the Navitimer (mint green dial) is one of my top one or two favorites regardless of the fact that I lost money the moment I bought it. If you aren't buying watches for the love of them, then you might as well just invest your money in something else. Just my opinion for what it is worth.

[Zuger]

I need at least 51% attraction in order to make a purchase.

[PenDelicate]

For me, buying a watch is all about the identity.

The identity of the watch.

That's what I want to own.

I'm not really a watch-enthusiast. If you put a hundred watches on a table in front of a watch-enthusiast and ask him to pick one, he'll be able to sort them into quality, durability, case-aesthetics, movement, value, wear, etc. and will pick the one that scores best on all categories.

For me, I'd just look for the Rolex. It's the only watch-maker I'm interested in. If I want a Rolex Sub, then nothing else will do. No Patek. No FPJ. Not even a Tudor Sub. Because it's the identity of the Rolex Sub that I want.

So when you ask what percentage is attraction and what is value, this means I'd be hypothetically choosing a watch with greater value-retention than the watch I'm more attracted to. But ... the reason I'm attracted to a watch is its identity. So there's no way I'd choose a different watch for any other reason, let alone value-retention. And if this meant that I could never have the watch I wanted, then so be it.

[Mr Ben]

Originally Posted by Harry-57

I own a number of watches from a number of brands. I buy them because I like them. Looks are subjective. My favouriteset watch in the whole world is a Heuer.

Interesting. Which Heuer is the one that grabs you over the Rolexes?

[puma1552]

Originally Posted by Soulo

Bigno, glad that you understood my train of thought. I'm just curious if any of the other members here feel like on certain purchases that they may have sacrificed a certain level of attraction in exchange for value.

If anything, as someone looking to buy an identical pair of 36mm Datejusts sans dial (steel/jubilee/smooth, one black dial one silver dial), I'm probably sacrificing value/resale for attraction.

These are genuinely the best looking Rolexes to me, and it's a bonus that they are models I can both afford and hopefully attain having no purchase history.

However, while I don't particularly care about the resale for myself as these are a purchase for life, it would be nice for them to retain at least several thousand in value each so that if my newborn son, who will eventually inherit them, doesn't care for them, then he can at least still sell them for a nice chunk of change. I'm not sure how well a steel Datejust retains value, but I know it's probably on the lower end of the spectrum considering all the other more collectible models Rolex sells.

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

LOL. I understood the value question as "value for the money", that is, does the quality justify the price, and not as "value retention."

So did I at first; "value" should be replaced with "resale" for the purposes of this thread.

[Mr Ben]

I would only base the choice of a particular model to buy based on attractiveness.

Value retention just changes how much I’m willing to pay for it/ where I’d buy it/ whether it’s pre-owned or not. Current Rolex values just mean it’s one of the few watches I’d happily buy brand new at full retail price or even at a small premium on the secondary.

I’ll still happily buy Omega/ Tudor etc but pre-owned and as lightly used as possible with a healthy chunk off retail.

[Kreyzhorse]

Rolex is well made and does keep some, all or more than it's original value. I bought my Air King 05 because I think it's a very attractive dial, which I'll also admit, that isn't for everyone.

I bought my because it was the only Rolex that I really wanted. Residual value wasn't really a factor as I don't plan on selling it. When I'm dead, it ain't gonna be my problem.

[DLRIDES]

80% attraction, 20% value

[seabreeze60]

At MSRP you can’t go wrong with a Rolex. I own a newer 36mm Explorer and purchased primarily because the AD had a last minute cancellation and I was there.

The weird part of Rolex for me is that I really liked the 34mm models, got lots of wrist time, but were just too small. All ultimately sold.

I moved on to 40mm Rolexes and loved the look and size but got much less wrist time. It seems that I tended to bang up larger watches and were just a little heavier than I wanted to wear all day long.

With 36mm they are still a little small, but wear well, are lighter, comfortable and look wonderful with long sleeve shirts. As they say, the classic.

What I have learned is that I am a lifelong fan of Rolex regardless of size, style or model.

Bottom line, 50-50. Overall the best value IMHO.

[Callmepeshy]

I only buy for ‘attraction’, as I wear all of mine regularly - both Rolex and others. However the way I look at it is… I’m going to buy it anyway because I like it, and it doesn’t hurt that it’s not a bad purchase from a value point of view.

That being said, my other favourite is Longines which I understand loses me money the second I pay for it. But so do many other purchases and life is too short to worry about it sometimes!

[VictorGMT]

70% attraction 30% value.

But the value retention potential allows me to indulge my attraction.

[Soulo]

Originally Posted by Zuger

I need at least 51% attraction in order to make a purchase.

I respect your honesty.

Often times, I see where people want a particular Rolex but then settle for what an AD may have available.

And other times, I see where some people say, "its growing on me".

I dont see why anyone would make large purchases like that unless they were buying because of the value retention.

[Soulo]

Originally Posted by BDII

Value retention is an undeniable part of it at this point. The love for the watches came first, but the value retention made spending the money a lot less painful.

50/50 at this point for me.

What’s not to love about a Rolex? Love the look, the feel, the history and the functionality. I also like anything that holds value.

I respect your honesty!

[omar-rye]

I'm still interested to hear what watches in the price range of retail Rolex look more pleasing to you