Help me with the answer

[77T]

Originally Posted by nauticajoe

I just don't see the need why I need to explain to anyone why I own a 10K watch. Then again, I never talk about price when/if someone wants to see my watch.

Good luck fielding the question Paul.


Sent from my iPad2 using Tapatalk

I think Joe is on to something here, Paul. Price isn't the lead.

Perhaps explain the movement, Oyster case design, COSC accuracy and attributes that place it near the top of the Swiss horological pyramid. Find out how many hours are invested in making the watch from raw materials to finished product - astounding when you consider it. Explore the entire value chain including Rolex sponsorship of top-shelf events like regatta's, golf tourney's, equestrian and motorsports competitions.

Then maybe brush up on some other Swiss brands to compare and contrast.

What'dya think?

EDIT: Just saw this [http://www.rolex.com/sites/4/videos/...achrome_VO.mp4] in another thread and it reminded me that there's quite a few videos like it that could bring home the skill and precision of Rolex assembly - impressive, too.

[dalip]

If worth is about $$$$ then it has nothing to do with what the watch represents IMO. It's your own worth that's actually in point here. I'd steer them away from a monetary value perspective as there is no logical reasoning to forking out 10K on a watch. It's an emotional connection which runs way deeper for me.

If someone questions why - and they're not just asking it to be provocative- I'd state that it makes me feel fantastic when I wear it, is a passion of mine and it's where I choose to spend my luxury money (i.e. not invested in my family, home, kid's future etc).

[Andad]

Originally Posted by Grissom

How about comparing it to something they may use, in their (your other) hobby.....like a high end metal detector.....Both do basically the same thing, however, some folks like to get the what they consider to be the very best that they can afford.....

The Minelab GPX-5000 (on the left) which retails for close to $6000.00 versus a White's MXT (on the right) for $700.00

Good one Nathan.

I see what you did.

[boogiebot]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

What makes a stainless steel Rolex, worth $10,000?

very simply put....Demand. if everyone stopped purchasing Rolex tomorrow they would drop their prices pretty quick.

[George Ab]

Paul,

The watch industry is a 27 Billion dollar a year industry which is almost $4 for every human on the planet per year! Let them chew on that factoid. Culturally in the US, we don't value watches. Go to most large cities or even moderate sized cities particularly Europe and you will always pass fine watches in the window. The US is the anomaly from a watch standpoint for the wealthier nations.

One thing that is of interest is traditionally from the 20's through the 50's a quality watch cost about one month of pay. That almost holds today. It is only with modern manufacturing and technological advancements that we have the $10 watch. When you received a watch for a graduation present or retirement gift that was a significant investment based on cost to wages. So we have been buying $5,000 watches (a month of wages) for most of the last century, it is only from the 60's that things changed.

I do not even attempt to justify. It is difficult to put a price on a passion... something you love. Besides it is not like you are trying to convince them of anything, but just to introduce them to your passion. Likely they will think you are nuts... and they may be on to something. That said, I'm with you Paul.. we're crazy.... like a fox.

[Singslinger]

It's all relative. And when it comes to luxury goods, the rules and standards of normal consumption don't apply.

For example, a stainless steel Patek Phillipe Aquanaut costs about US$20,000 and there is a waiting list, a stainless steel Lange & Sohne Lange 1 costs twice that amount - provided you can find one in the resale market because they don't make it any more.

[MoBe]

This is an easy one Paul,just ask any of your fellow members why they have paid for any of the expensive other items of clothing,transportation,housing,recreation etc. that they have aquired and presto bingo you will see how easy it will be for them to provide their own answers.

Psychology is the answer,outsmart them with their own answers.

[tomallen]

It's a mater of where you put your priorities. Some people will spend big dollars on a boat that spends more time in a slip than out on the water and cost a grand or more each time it goes out. some people will drop ten grand at a black jack table and not think twice. Exotic autos, boats, planes, vacations, gambling, a sports event, collecting other items all cost big bucks and in the scheme of things a ten grand watch isn't a big deal. There is basic and public transportation, row boats, staycations, local softball,and Timex watches.

[mmmmp]

Perhaps you could frame a reply comparing Sony BVM monitors to consumer HDTV gear. Sure, they're both high quality HD, full bandwidth displays, however one costs 60K & the other sells less than 5K. Clearly, two very different machines despite the similar functions they perform. Best, Mark-Colorist.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I am not happy with your description of Casio as a cheap watch....it's an excellent watch, with an in-house movt. & as good a pedigree as Rolex in its own right.
I think an apology is due to all the Casio owners here on TRF & I think I am not the only Casio owner here.

Doc, I think he was talking about price and not quality. Casio is a great watch. I don't think he meant any disrespect.




Or did you Paul?

[jets]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

I am not happy with your description of Casio as a cheap watch....it's an excellent watch, with an in-house movt. & as good a pedigree as Rolex in its own right.
I think an apology is due to all the Casio owners here on TRF & I think I am not the only Casio owner here.

Seriously?

My Casio was $132 after importing it from Japan. My Rolex was $9000. The Casio is cheap. What's wrong with cheap? I'm not trying to be a pain but c'mon brother lighten the load...

[jets]

To answer the op;

The reason a SS Rolex can cost $10,000 is because people will pay that price. They know that what they are buying a sophisticated and precisely engineered watch made of the best materials that runs on nothing but you. We also get a squint-free cyclops lense to read the date.

[Veni.Vidi.Rolexi]

My thoughts on this most interesting thread:
1 An average smoker spends us$4000 each year.
2. There are 1,000,000,000 smokers in the world.
3. The recipe for a Rolex includes: A dash of 007, add WW2 patriotism, a twist of historical special ops adventurism, a brace of sporting and movie celebrity endorsements, the first ascent of Mt Everest, and support for exploration and research into our world;and don't forget to stir in toughness, reliability and the ability to hand it on to later generations.
4. Five years of smoking abstinence would mean the ability to buy 2 rolexes - but one would probably need to wait a little longer before handing it to the next generation.
IMHO.
PS: It is not my intention in this response to denigrate smokers - no offense is intended. It was just an example that popped into mind.

[SALTY]

The posts before me lay out many of the thoughts I could have offered in regards to Rolex had I come to this thread sooner.

At your club, one might ponder the following question: What makes gold worth as much as it costs these days? Other than it's ability to conduct electricity and resist corrosion, what can gold really do for you?

At least as far as we know from current information:
It can't cure cancer, give you a buzz, combat indigestion, fight infection, feed or hydrate you (but for its currency value), isn't that strong for its weight, and on and on its weaknesses go.

It does have, however, perceived currency value - especially to those who fear anarchy and total loss of social structure. However, that logic fails because if these was a total loss of social structure we would need water, food, perhaps medicine, shelter and the very, very basics. At that survival level - gold is of less value than a quart of potable water or a can of beans, to say nothing of the means to open the can of beans!

In sum, perceived value is value and, in that regard, Rolex watches are valuable - at least to those who perceive.

Perceive, my friends!

[Java]

For me the answer to the OP question is very simple

There are many things that make the Rolex SS watches great, but that is a different question

What makes them worth that figure is plain and simple

Desirability, supply and demand.