It’s real simple... Tudor is the new Rolex

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

The Rotor Self-Winding text (also used by Rolex at one point) was also to distinguish from the older 'bumper' self-winding movement, which was also in use around the 1940s-50s. Rolex got in trouble more than once for claiming to have invented the self-winding movement.

That little ad is a cool find. I hadn't seen that.

[WatchGuy1966]

Originally Posted by MTBer

I also don't understand the point of advertising "Rotor Self-Winding" on the dial...might have been an interesting point of differentiation back when manual wind watches were the norm, but nowadays it seems as antiquated...

Would you make the same argument against "Perpetual" in "Oyster Perpetual"? It's really exactly the same as "Rotor Self-Winding".

[Psijason]

Originally Posted by mattomatic

it's been interesting reading all of the comments. It's obvious that everyone has different motives when buying a watch.

Personally, it's for the pure love of watches and what they mean to me. Wearing a piece with a rich history (modern or vintage) and feeling connected to the past, while knowing that this watch will be around much longer than i will is what makes these watches special - they actually humble me as a person. I feel connected in some weird way.

I own a few rolex's which i love, but i know that a tudor is in my future. It has nothing to do with price point or brand recognition, and everything to do with the love of watches. For those who truly love rolex watches and their history, it's impossible to ignore tudor. Tudor is essentially a part of rolex's d.n.a. And vice versa.

This passion is much more fun when it's about your own personal relationship with these watches and not the outside perception. I feel like those who buy watches for status are missing out on what makes this hobby so fascinating.

As a certified watch dork, i am much more likely to make a comment if you're wearing a tudor vs a rolex. Why? Because i know you're wearing it for the love of watches and not to be recognized, and i think that's !#$%&*@ cool! :)

+1

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by Mattomatic

...As a certified watch dork, I am MUCH more likely to make a comment if you're wearing a Tudor vs a Rolex. Why? Because I know you're wearing it for the love of watches and not to be recognized, and I think that's !#$%&*@ cool! :)

Totally. I say a guy at an ice cream parlor wearing a Tudor Ranger on the leather bund strap the other day, and I very nearly commented to a stranger about their watch for the first time. I kind of wish I did strike up conversation with the guy about watches.

[MTBer]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

The Rotor Self-Winding text (also used by Rolex at one point) was also to distinguish from the older 'bumper' self-winding movement, which was also in use around the 1940s-50s. Rolex got in trouble more than once for claiming to have invented the self-winding movement.

Very cool find indeed! It's always interesting to learn the history behind why certain marketing and design decisions came to be.

Originally Posted by WatchGuy1966

Would you make the same argument against "Perpetual" in "Oyster Perpetual"? It's really exactly the same as "Rotor Self-Winding".

Eh, many companies still print 'automatic' or some derivative thereof on the dial, so I think I can give Rolex a pass for the "Oyster Perpetual" text because it's really just their way of saying "waterproof[ish] automatic".

In light of the old announcement that OldExpatBeast posted of Rolex apologizing for their marketing claims, I would say "officially certified" is the more egregious example of unnecessary marketing text because it's made entirely redundant by the word "Chronometer", whereas it now makes sense to me why Tudor wanted to call attention to the method by which their watches were self-winding, i.e., by rotor as opposed to the bumper style movement. At this point though, a Rolex dial wouldn't seem like a Rolex anymore if any of the text were omitted.

It's too bad this kind of minutiae isn't more available to the public and promoted by the brand, because it honestly gave me an appreciation for Tudor's history.

[DylanFox]

Originally Posted by c41006

I had that same “Rolex or nothing” mentality for a while. You should take a closer look at Tudor in the future. They make some really nice watches.

It’s a knock off Rolex, i’d rather purchase a Breitling.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by DylanFox

It’s a knock off Rolex, i’d rather purchase a Breitling.

Yeah, you’re a real Rolex expert, owning one for all of a month. I think you’re due for some Rolex/Tudor history research.

[c41006]

Originally Posted by DylanFox

It’s a knock off Rolex, i’d rather purchase a Breitling.

You recently stated on another thread that you haven’t looked into them. You should. Especially before calling them “a knock off Rolex”

[WS9D]

Originally Posted by DylanFox

It’s a knock off Rolex, i’d rather purchase a Breitling.

SMH :slappingforehead: emoji....

Go read up on the brand. Not to knock breitling owners, but a tudor is worlds ahead....

Never mind, I just noticed the "banned" under your username...

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

Exactly. Buying a Rolex used to be like going out and buying a nice Gibson guitar. They were well made tools that, while being pricier than much of the competition, weren't made primarily as status symbols.

As I've mentioned before, I worry a bit that Rolex will one day struggle like Harley Davidson and Gibson are struggling today, because they'll be seen by the younger generations as overpriced must-buys for middle aged+ guys in suburbia.

Rolls Royce started out as known for reliability.

Then they became Luxo barges.

Interest few today.

But they remain alive.

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by WJGESQ

Rolls Royce started out as known for reliability.

Then they became Luxo barges.

Interest few today.

But they remain alive.

I worry about the same fate with Porsche. They're still making amazing sports cars, but the majority of their money now comes from parent-mobiles. Are kids right now going to think Porsche is cool in another 25 years, when it was the little truck their mom was driving them to the mall in?? Not so cool and dangerous anymore.

[WJGESQ]

Well --there is always a tipping point and once the notion of value vanishes, all bets are off. Tesla will render ferrari and lambo pointless soon. And it wouldn't be hard to envision a day where the watch game again becomes susceptible to the....way of the future...way of the future.

[floris]

Don't agree at all. Tudors are ugly even tough the price range might be good I'd still have no desire whatsoever to own a Tudor

[kwiklot]

Originally Posted by floris

Don't agree at all. Tudors are ugly even tough the price range might be good I'd still have no desire whatsoever to own a Tudor

Well as a fellow austinite I must disagree, i thought much the same until i went and saw the black bats in person, price range or not it's still a good watch.

[Phrank]

My question is who says Tudor has to be the next, "Rolex"?

Why not Grand Seiko or Omega?

From what I've read about Grand Seiko, it's a seriously well thought out, superbly engineered and finished timepiece, with a movement and if I recall spring drive that rivals Rolex and others in terms of performance and tech?

[josephvman]

You should be quiet while the adults are talking.

Originally Posted by DylanFox

It’s a knock off Rolex, i’d rather purchase a Breitling.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Ks6pd

SMH :slappingforehead: emoji....

Go read up on the brand. Not to knock breitling owners, but a tudor is worlds ahead....

Never mind, I just noticed the "banned" under your username...

Ahem....Breitling invented the modern chronograph. Breitling is a Horological historical giant.

[WS9D]

Originally Posted by Mystro

Ahem....Breitling invented the modern chronograph. Breitling is a Horological historical giant.

That's great, but they're not the same company today they were then....all i said is in the modern era, i'd chose tudor over breitling, and for someone to call tudor as knock off rolex as in the post i quoted, is a bit ridiculous....As I said in my post, not to knock breitling owners....If this was early 1900s, id prob chose them over many other brands. It's 2018. I find their current offerings meh....it's my opinion and im entitled to it and others will agree.

If they come out with something ground breaking basel 2019, i'll be in line to buy....I'm not knocking the brand and their heritage, I'm comparing current offerings.

[Soultime]

Originally Posted by WJGESQ

....... Tesla will render ferrari and lambo pointless soon.

Personally, I can't fully agree with that, although I do get your point.

I think the competition will catch up with Tesla's (amazing) technology, but put it in a more desirable package.
And Tesla has a number of negative issues currently,...... financial/production/build quality etc which I don't think the more established motor manufacturers will have.

Also, of the people I.know who like performance cars, most don't have any great desire to own a Tesla. They admire them, but they don't want to own one.

It may be different in other parts of the world/demographic groups - but this is just my experience.

Back on topic, I would never have looked at Tudor until I came on this forum. I have always been a one watch man. Rolex for the last 15 years (Omega prior) - but I am seriously thinking of getting a Tudor as a 2nd watch at the moment. Just not sure which one.
I know for a fact there are waiting lists locally for the Tudor GMT due to Rolex supply issues.

[Mystro]

Originally Posted by Ks6pd

That's great, but they're not the same company today they were then....all i said is in the modern era, i'd chose tudor over breitling, and for someone to call tudor as knock off rolex as in the post i quoted, is a bit ridiculous....As I said in my post, not to knock breitling owners....If this was early 1900s, id prob chose them over many other brands. It's 2018. I find their current offerings meh....it's my opinion and im entitled to it and others will agree.

If they come out with something ground breaking basel 2019, i'll be in line to buy....I'm not knocking the brand and their heritage, I'm comparing current offerings.

It was such a golden time to add a little Breitling history for those that don’t know much about the brand. Breitling is sometimes the red headed step child on the Rolex forum so a bit of historical facts keeps the newbies well rounded with horilogical history and brand lineage. I do the same with Omega.

[WJGESQ]

Originally Posted by Soultime

Personally, I can't fully agree with that, although I do get your point.

I think the competition will catch up with Tesla's (amazing) technology, but put it in a more desirable package.
And Tesla has a number of negative issues currently,...... financial/production/build quality etc which I don't think the more established motor manufacturers will have.

Also, of the people I.know who like performance cars, most don't have any great desire to own a Tesla. They admire them, but they don't want to own one.

It may be different in other parts of the world/demographic groups - but this is just my experience.

Back on topic, I would never have looked at Tudor until I came on this forum. I have always been a one watch man. Rolex for the last 15 years (Omega prior) - but I am seriously thinking of getting a Tudor as a 2nd watch at the moment. Just not sure which one.
I know for a fact there are waiting lists locally for the Tudor GMT due to Rolex supply issues.

Surprised Tesla open sourced the patents. The "cool factor" remains high and the loyalty factor is up there with Apple. I doubt the next generation will be that interested in watches. Most could care less. They expect more functionality that what old school watches can deliver. Who knows for sure--but my guess is that the market for 10-35k watches will dwindle with time. I used to drool over various exotic car brands--but the advent of the new roadster from Tesla makes maserati/ferrari/lambo yesterday's news.

[Oscarpapa]

Originally Posted by douglasf13

I don't think the OP was talking about branding. We're just talking about how Rolex has gone to upmarket jewelry, whereas Tudor is filling the old Rolex space of slightly more reasonably priced, tool watches.

x1

[Ped22]

Having read the whole thread, it seems the people that are “I’m all Rolex or nothing” are generally new to the game and don’t have much knowledge of the history of horology or either brands..

I admit, I’m new to the Rolex/Tudor world and haven’t been lucky enough to afford either of the brands until very recently but even still it’s obvious people have different motives for buying their Rolex... some for history and horlogy others just so they can say they own a Rolex. The latter makes me want a Tudor more...

[timlaw]

I love rolex - I have owned several and my favourite watch in my collection is my coke 16710

but I love tudor as well - I have a heritage chrono, a black bay and a prince date chrono as well

just picked up a tudor GMT on Nato strap and am very pleased with that as well

its not a crime to like and enjoy both brands

[watchmework]

So simple, yet 325 posts later

[RHIII]

Originally Posted by AK797

No this is a demand bubble, when demand falls off then we will know what Rolex's strategy is regarding supply and price. At the moment their strategy has been to watch and do nothing, other than try and stop flippers, until they see some sustained market changes.

I definitely agree, although...lately my curiosity has heightened with the thought...WHAT is the end game strategy here....also what are the 'milestones' to gauge overarching direction? I would submit at some point Rolex has to do something...to 'right the ship' so to say....I know there are MULTIPLE schools of thought on this and SO MANY threads, but who knows...I think the easiest most direct way would be more governances on ADs...you will never stop people from selling or trading watches they buy...that is an exercise in futility - you can do whatever you wish with your property...but you might be able to govern sales practices...maybe....who knows...a price increase wont fix anything -- just continue the secondary inflation...the only strategy I could think of that could shift the market would be to flood it with inventory...and I am not sure they are ready for that....

I hate it for people just getting into this hobby as I know it is frustrating...but you just have to hang in there...and/or look at some of the other great manufacturers out there...as far as the Tudor 'thing' goes...I think that strategically this helps Rolex highlight the brand for sure and try to make it more of a 'player' in the watch world overall...is it the 'new' Rolex...nah...

I guess we'll see....from a business perspective this is quite interesting to watch...no pun intended...

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by floris

Don't agree at all. Tudors are ugly even tough the price range might be good I'd still have no desire whatsoever to own a Tudor

I pretty much feel the opposite. I've owned 4 Rolex watches, and only one
Tudor, but, since the 6-digit Rolex series came on board, I generally prefer new Tudor designs. Now, if we're talking used/vintage, then it just depends on the watch, but, if looking new, I prefer more Tudor models these days.

[kirksingleton]

I don’t think I would ever wear a Tudor. I would rather have a breitling or Pam

[Innocenti]

For a while I've really wanted to buy a new Rolex.
but in all honesty they don't currently make a watch that i like enough to buy.
(if they made the explorer2 39 or 40mm then yeah maybe).

Rolex now strikes me as an aspirational brand , so the wearer can make a statement.
An instagram watch to photograph next to a trendy cup of coffee or against the wheel of a sports car.

The tudor 58 really resonated with me so much so that i paid 50% deposit and am first on the list at the AD.
if they reduced the size of the pelagos to the size of the 58 ,,, i'd buy one of those too.

don't get me wrong, i love rolex watches, just nothing they are currently making.
I will wait patiently for the planets to perfectly align and for Rolex to make a new watch i love,, and also something they will let me buy.

im not a vip nor do i accept the concept of vip.

[Cloudchaser]

Originally Posted by DylanFox

It’s a knock off Rolex, i’d rather purchase a Breitling.

Hurry up and go get your Breitling...and then you can hang out in the Breitling forum rather than the Rolex/TUDOR forum.