A lot of Rolexes on the table..

[anglykos]

Yesterday (in Athens) I was invited to a dinner by a well known newspaper, which was attended by professionals from all walks of life. I would stress all walks of life because it was not a gathering of the rich and famous - although with regard to the former there were some.

Well, you know how it is: you're seated next to some unknown individual and you just can't help but look at what they're sporting on their wrist. Usual movement... I was wearing my GMT. I look at the guy on my right and what do you know - a GMTII black bezel. Guy on his right is also wearing an identical GMTII. A glance around the table of eight and I am not joking - 4 GMT's in total (1xPepsi, 2xblack, 1xrootbeer), 2 Subs and one TT DJ. That's almost 88% market share...it certainly broke the ice between us and it became a little Rolex convention in itself...

I know for a fact that many Greeks are really fond of Rolex and I am sure that the few Greek speaking members here will testify to this. Based on my own findings here in Greece one in 10 white collar workers own one or have owned one in the past. I was just wondering, seeing as we have friends all around the globe, what's the Rolex official or unofficial 'market share' in your respective countries? Or at least in your working/social environment?

Have a great weekend all !

Manos

ps: at some point along came a PR executive from a well-know car company wearing a vintage gold Daytona. This finished me off....That's it...I'm ready to flip

[Tarheel]

I'm an attorney in the southern United States, and I would say about 30% of the lawyers I know own a Rolex. And another 30% have other nice watches (Omega in particular, as well as Breitling). A few of the more senior partners (maybe 2 or 3%) will sport Vacheron Constantin's or Patek Philippe's that are so beautiful you just stare at them through the whole meeting.

[CoopJr]

And only 1 other guy has a Rolex, a SS DJ. His wife was a sales person at an AD and got it for him at her discount

I don't think most of my coworkers even know what a Rolex is. But my inlaws are Greek (from Thessaloniki) and when I said I was getting a Rolex, my mother in law got a huge grin

[Skutt50]

I make my ways in Sweden.

I have come across but a handfull of Rolex owners during the, let's say, past 10 years.

Rolex is well known here, but in my vicinity rather scarse.

The persons I can remember are:

One realestate agent: DayDate, very worn but functional.
One Civil engineer: TT datejust. Appr: 10 years old.
A fellow worker: SS datejust some 10 years old, seldom worn. (Aftermarket dial with diamonds)
My ex wife's onkel: TT datejust about 20 years old. (Found on the roof of his house. Yes it's true. Legally obtained after some time at the police station since no report of loss and no trace possible.)

[DoxaDavid]

Interesting..In my social circle of 7 guys I would consider close friends, 5 wear Rolexes plus me, that's 75%! None wealthy, all hard working upper middle class by effort.

There are 2 ExpII's(one black, one white), 1 TT Bluesy Sub, 2 SS Sub's and me. (TT Bluesy Sub, TT Daytona & GMTIIc).

The two non Role' guys could care less.

Of Role' owners, there are; one accountant, one jewelery manufacture rep, one furniture repair company owner, one VP of a candy company, one ER doctor and me, auto dealer owner/sales guru extraordinare!

[Numismatist]

Almost all the people that have coin collections I appraise have Rolexes; although, usually not the sport models. I tend to see DD and DJ alot.

[travellingbrit]

Lots of my business buddies wear Rolex - and it's always a kick in a business meeting to see the glances as introductions are made - I swear within 5 mins of a meeting kicking off, all watches and wearers have been evaluated.....love it....

[StanGMT]

This an interesting thread in that it highlights to me something that I'd never really thought about. I've worn my Pepsi SS GMT daily for forty years - virtually all my adult life. I am now retired, but I started my working life (in 1968) as a nuclear (submarine) reactor physicist and then moved into engineering, as a Chartered Engineer, managing large construction projects. I then moved into general management at senior level. During a career spanning 40 years I have interacted with people at all levels, from site managers to the Chief Executives and Chairmen of some large multinational corporations. I have also been at many functions, over the years, attended by the (British) aristocracy.

Yet - and here is my point - although I have always appreciated 'good' watches and have always had half an eye on what people wear, I don't recall ever encountering another Rolex wearer! I simply do not know personally anyone else who wears a Rolex, or who is in the least bit bothered about what watch they wear. In any gathering that I have attended I have been the only person that I have been aware of the has been wearing a half-decent watch!! In my experience, most people - even the leaders of major organisations - just seem to wear Citizens, Longines or even Casio quartz watches. I do suspect that many people, particularly the aristocracy, regard wearing a Rolex as being a bit vulgar - real wealth doesn't need to be flaunted.

As I say, I had never really thought about this until reading this thread. I would be interested to know what others' experiences are.

Stan.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Nice Rolex spotting!

At my work, I recently spotted:

A DJ 116234, silver dial with diamonds, Oyster bracelet, on a ladies' wrist!

A Sub 5513 (which I commented on and the owner was kind to show me).

A DJ 16620, white dial, Roman numerals, Oyster bracelet, again a woman wearing it.

[BiG JeEzY]

Originally Posted by SPACE-DWELLER

Nice Rolex spotting!

At my work, I recently spotted:

A DJ 116234, silver dial with diamonds, Oyster bracelet, on a ladies' wrist!

A Sub 5513 (which I commented on and the owner was kind to show me).

A DJ 16620, white dial, Roman numerals, Oyster bracelet, again a woman wearing it.

I think a full size DJ looks beautiful on a woman's wrist. My sister tried on my Explorer II white dial before, it looks great on her. I have never seen a 5513 out in the wild before, that's amazing!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by BiG JeEzY

I think a full size DJ looks beautiful on a woman's wrist. My sister tried on my Explorer II white dial before, its looks great on her. I have never seen a 5513 out in the wild before, that's amazing!

I agree 100 %. A men's Rolex watch looks great on any female wrist!

I recognised the 5513 immediately and just couldn't help myself commenting (gratulating, actually) on it. He took the watch off and handed it to me. It felt quite light, but everything was untouched on the watch, including the original Tritium dial with Tr. hands.

[Otto]

And it sometimes seems every other person is wearing a Rolex; at least in the metro Tokyo area. Seriously, the Japanese seem to have an infatuation with Rolex watches; and it seems to be true for all ages, including the young and trendy.

[Terry Newton]

I work around a lot of old money. When I was a therapist at Betty Ford Center I saw several President Rolex models with diamonds and others. I worked with a lot of horrendously wealthy alcoholics and drug addicts that one could not even begin to touch their wealth. A lot of the star power that went there had nice watches of different varieties. Where I live now touts a population of 6,500 in the Winter that grows to 45,000 in the Summer. If you type in Bay Harbor, Michigan you will see the kind of new wealth that lives in the area. The old money ridicules the noveau rich. The old money that live here; i.e. Ford's, Fischer's, Annheiser Busch family, Proctor & Gamble family, Wriggley chewing gum family, etc. do not show off money. They even drive cars that are used and many of them you could not tell they have a dime. Like someone said above; "Real wealth does not need to flaunt it". But, when you look at their real estate holdings, they have homes in multiple areas of the country and world. They are not shacks either. So I guess the old money show off their wealth in other areas that are not outwardly visible to many. Only when you get to know them and realize all of their many addresses is their real demonstration of wealth. To me it is a fine mechanical time piece that has a heartbeat and I find that fascinating.

Terry Newton

[tandrup]

I met with a potential client yesterday and asked him after the meeting whether it was a Daytona he was wearing? He was pretty surprised that I recognized it - and said that I was the first person ever to recognize it. Turned out it was a WG 116519 on a black leather strap and with a Meteorite dial. It looked really great - he said that his wife had bought it for his birthday.

We had a long chat after the meeting about Rolex - one of those occasions where you meet someone that shares your interest and you just connect immediately. Let's see if we will be able to do some business together...

[timackerman]

I don't have any friends that wear Rolex.

But then again not many people my age splurge on watches like Rolex

[Wisher]

I too live in Tokyo and have become bored spotting Rolex's "in the wild", so to speak. Black Subs are so, well, ho hum, here. Although in Tokyo alone there are hundreds of watch stores with thousands of watches from all makes around, I have hardly spotted any other "biggie" brands in the wild such as PP, Breguet, JLC.

Now that it has warmed up and we can begin to wear short-sleeve clothes, offical "watch spotting season" is just around the corner. The trains provide the best viewing, I think.

[frostie]

Well i live in northern greece and most of the rolexes that i see are fake. I 've seen some people though with the real deal but i don't know why i see fakes all the time.

[Trurolexer]

I think is because...ROLEX IS THE BEST & THE FAMOUS BRAND IN THE WORLD!!!

[mickeydainish]

I have only met a few Rollies in the wild....and I always notice a persons watch... gr8 way to meet and break the ice I find.

One on a customers wrist (clothing business owner) when I was an apprentice, it was a diamond studded YG DJ.. My cousin wears a vintage DJ (director of a small company)... and more recently I noticed an engineer at work (just started a new job) wears a 16610 sub.

The latter is a real daily beater as he has worn it everyday since buying it new in around '87. It has so much character with a scratched chrystal, chipped bezel insert, faded dial due to water damage years ago and a very worn bracelet and clasp.... needless to say... I think it is the most gorgeous watch in the world!!! (and I lust after it daily... hence the recent joining of TRF!!)

:-)

[sherwin]

singapore seems to have plenty of rollies too... and some you can tell is using money loaned to purchase it... part of the profiling that asians do to get ahead.

perth on the other hand is few and far between. rarely see them in perth, and those who wear usually buy theirs from abroad

[dayhiker]

I have noticed numerous wearers over the years. You have to be looking intentionally. I think the lady wearers are easiest to spot as they are more exposed. I did not wear mine to work for years because of my position as a buyer. When you spend millions of the corporation's dollars you don't want to be suspected of accepting gifts from vendors. Now I am much closer to retirement, my watch has aged into vintage status & I have decided to wear it to work. Guess what, nobody noticed. They just think it is a Seiko or Armitron. The style has been copied so much that it is nothing special. Some of my factories customers have high end watches. I also see them quite often in a tourist town nearby, Blowing Rock, North Carolina.