The state of Rolex Subs -more common than Seiko?

[Bearxj86]

Gentlemen,

Please feel free to challenge me. This is my 2nd trip to Japan in 2 years. Most folks that understand Japan also know they have an incredibly robust grey market.

Anyway, 5 days in and I have seen over 30 rolexes on wrists, the majority are ceramic subs followed by datejusts, one hulk, one bluesy, one root beer. A pair of AP 44mm rose gold royal oak offshores on rubber and some smaller aquanauts on women.

This is about 2-3 more than last year and of course the majority of these are on Chinese tourists in the popular spots.

What does this mean? Rolex is still a fine timepiece and extremely beautiful and coveted. However seeing a ceramic steel sub literally everywhere and many on some rather loud and obnoxious Chinese tourists has made me want to not own one (yes seeing a 44mm royal oak on a small Asian wrist is also quite a trip) This is a personal reaction and i’m Chinese so don’t be saying I am racist lol. I actually felt pretty good leaving my collection behind and sticking with my grand seiko snowflake for the trip which I can say I have not seen another yet.

Did not see a ceramic Daytona yet which is a somewhat good sign

What does this mean for us collectors? Will the rarer pieces get even more coveted because the basic sub is becoming commoditized?

[Navarino]

I'd say in LA by far the most common luxury watch I see on other men is a Sub. Not saying I see them everywhere, but it's the most common among the luxury watches I take notice to.

A lot of times they aren't the current 6 digit ceramic reference -- I've spotted plenty of 5 digits Subs out and about.

[pkincy]

Must be a young guy or new guy thing. I suppose it is a good watch, but lusting after a Dive watch never appealed to me. Haven't dive computers been the thing for many years?
So isn't it a pretty worthless "tool?"

I do like the colors and contrast of the Bluesy but don't expect to ever get one due to the size and thickness.

[superstarmar]

I wear what I want for me not for anyone else .
What others wear does not dictate my collection or
taste/preference regarding my watches ...
All this means is that more people have good taste .

[s.m.b.]

Originally Posted by superstarmar

I wear what I want for me not for anyone else .
What others wear does not dictate my collection or
taste/preference regarding my watches ...
All this means is that more people have good taste .

[mr_gray]

i think there is more interest in specific watches (rolex, AP etc) more than a general increase in interest in watches (that has happened but i think that is separate to current demand levels).

i do think a watch like the pepsi is a great indicator of what happens. i mean that watch has always appealed to most. with current demand levels that has meant huge price increases.

so specific models are already impacted and maybe forever (hulk, daytona, gmt) but i think rarer watches that people are into for movements etc won't move at all.

my 2 cents.

(also, i love seeing fancy watches on people, but as per OP, sometimes it doesn't make you want the watch more. sometimes it does. my main issue is envy because i often see a sub and think it looks a lot better on other people than it does me).

[hbk75]

that is why i started switching over to seiko sumo.

[Dawg2]

Originally Posted by pkincy

Must be a young guy or new guy thing. I suppose it is a good watch, but lusting after a Dive watch never appealed to me. Haven't dive computers been the thing for many years?
So isn't it a pretty worthless "tool?"

I do like the colors and contrast of the Bluesy but don't expect to ever get one due to the size and thickness.

No. I always dive with a mechanical watch, regardless of a computer.

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[DLCU2]

If seeing the same watch on other people bothers you, just sell your sub and/or other Rolexes and enjoy your Seiko.

I personally don’t wear watches for other people, I wear it for myself. Life is to short to get bothered by things like this. Cheers!

Originally Posted by bearxj86

Gentlemen,

Please feel free to challenge me. This is my 2nd trip to Japan in 2 years. Most folks that understand Japan also know they have an incredibly robust grey market.

Anyway, 5 days in and I have seen over 30 rolexes on wrists, the majority are ceramic subs followed by datejusts, one hulk, one bluesy, one root beer. A pair of AP 44mm rose gold royal oak offshores on rubber and some smaller aquanauts on women.

This is about 2-3 more than last year and of course the majority of these are on Chinese tourists in the popular spots.

What does this mean? Rolex is still a fine timepiece and extremely beautiful and coveted. However seeing a ceramic steel sub literally everywhere and many on some rather loud and obnoxious Chinese tourists has made me want to not own one (yes seeing a 44mm royal oak on a small Asian wrist is also quite a trip) This is a personal reaction and i’m Chinese so don’t be saying I am racist lol. I actually felt pretty good leaving my collection behind and sticking with my grand seiko snowflake for the trip which I can say I have not seen another yet.

Did not see a ceramic Daytona yet which is a somewhat good sign

What does this mean for us collectors? Will the rarer pieces get even more coveted because the basic sub is becoming commoditized?

[hawkeye43]

You mean to tell me the majority of the Rolexes you saw were Subs and Datejusts. It’s almost like like they are the flagship models.....

[Bearxj86]

Originally Posted by hawkeye43

You mean to tell me the majority of the Rolexes you saw were Subs and Datejusts. It’s almost like like they are the flagship models.....

True...I just saw a Mk4 dial red sub today and it made my day :)

[APPRF]

If I get on a bus and see everyone wearing Rolex I will still not wear a Grand Seiko instead of me Rolex.

[thesharkfactor]

The Submariner is the most copied watch in the world and the copies are made in China. I wonder how many real Submariners you actually saw on your visit, we’ll never know.
Fact is, it’s a very attractive and desirable watch that appeals to everyone.

[LandWatch]

Does it matter if you like it? I really couldn’t care less which watches other people wear, just as I don’t care what cars they drive, what jeans they buy etc!

[DLCU2]

Originally Posted by HighlandWatch

Does it matter if you like it? I really couldn’t care less which watches other people wear, just as I don’t care what cars they drive, what jeans they buy etc!

Op is way overthinking with this hobby...

[brandrea]

The Submariner is a popular reference and jumping off point for many people who buy Rolex. I see that as meaning it’s a great watch.

[docmarioce]

Rolex sub is the most iconic watch made and has always been relatively inexpensive when compared to other high end Swiss watches. Besides is a very handsome watch, robust, and masculine. Is my favorite watch of all in regards to the looks. I prefer it over any PM or TT Rolex or any other watch or brand. Is the watch I never get tired looking at it. All those attributes make the watch probably the most desirable watch on earth. Unfortunately many people own one but if you bypass that it definitely is a beautiful watch. If you don't then do like me and get a bloated sub aka SD43 more rare and very similar to the sub. I did and cannot be happier.

[Chester01]

Originally Posted by bearxj86

Gentlemen,

Please feel free to challenge me. This is my 2nd trip to Japan in 2 years. Most folks that understand Japan also know they have an incredibly robust grey market.

Anyway, 5 days in and I have seen over 30 rolexes on wrists, the majority are ceramic subs followed by datejusts, one hulk, one bluesy, one root beer. A pair of AP 44mm rose gold royal oak offshores on rubber and some smaller aquanauts on women.

This is about 2-3 more than last year and of course the majority of these are on Chinese tourists in the popular spots.

What does this mean? Rolex is still a fine timepiece and extremely beautiful and coveted. However seeing a ceramic steel sub literally everywhere and many on some rather loud and obnoxious Chinese tourists has made me want to not own one (yes seeing a 44mm royal oak on a small Asian wrist is also quite a trip) This is a personal reaction and i’m Chinese so don’t be saying I am racist lol. I actually felt pretty good leaving my collection behind and sticking with my grand seiko snowflake for the trip which I can say I have not seen another yet.

Did not see a ceramic Daytona yet which is a somewhat good sign

What does this mean for us collectors? Will the rarer pieces get even more coveted because the basic sub is becoming commoditized?

Classic cognitive bias. Half of the world lives on less than $2.50 per day. 80% live in these than 10 bucks per day. Wealthy folks tend to hang around other wealthy folks, get out a little more lol. I live in jersey and in some areas, sure seems like everyone got em. Get out to the more rural (yes there are rural areas) then take a look. Wealthy people tend not to spend much time with folks outside their SES.

[jb335]

Originally Posted by mr_gray

my main issue is envy because i often see a sub and think it looks a lot better on other people than it does me).

Haha!! I think the same thing when I see a Sub C on someone else. Why does it look better on them? Lol

We are always just more critical and harder on ourselves.


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[Muxi]

Originally Posted by APPRF

If I get on a bus and see everyone wearing Rolex I will still not wear a Grand Seiko instead of me Rolex.

True, and I’ve been trying very hard to like GS sports models but they’re all so big

[904VT]

I think Seiko's could be a lot more common overall. We would need to look at the entire country and get a better representation of the population. Also, can't overlook the fact that Seiko are way less likely for you to notice on a wrist to get a proper count. Now if you're talking only Grand Seiko, then my input would be different.

I do think Rolex ought to make a rule that allocation items are only sold to residents of said region or country where that AD is located.

I love the 6 digit Sub no matter what, it's amazing!

[jsausley]

I haven't seen a Submariner in the wild in about a month but I've seen dozens of Seikos.

Location, location, location.

[RyanJ]

Yep all about location. Seiko should be easier to find as they are cheap. Grand Seiko is harder to find as they make a limited number with that branding when compared to Seiko and Rolex.

I see Rolex and Patek every day at work.

I also see a Grand Seiko as I have been wearing the "snowflake" model recently and love it.

Rolex seems common because we see the same "Incoming" posts with the same models of watches all the time. However, we are a tiny piece of the overall market.

[oldman2005]

Rolex is like a Louis Vuitton hand bag which every fine secretary or mother has at least one. Rolex makes around 1 million watches annually so they're very popular.

During lunch at a Chinese restaurant I observed that the waitress was sporting a 5-digit black sub and a customer was wearing a newer black sub...I was the only one wearing a Seiko turtle diver.

[jimbones43]

Why would you let other people wearing a certain watch dictate what you like or desire?

[RyanJ]

Originally Posted by jimbones43

Why would you let other people wearing a certain watch dictate what you like or desire?

Same reason why many people buy a watch with Rolex on the dial.

The appearance of status and the fear of missing out. The Rolex brand is built on this. Rolex marketing doesn't focus on how good the watch is. It focuses on the luxury, the status, the elite who wear it, etc.

Not blaming Rolex. That is good marketing.

[chazadams]

I am confused about the nature of this post.....this is a mass produced watch. Not too unlike driving a mass produced luxury car. Why would you not expect to see these on others people's wrists?

[MinMay]

Daytona has always been the least production sport watch while submariner being the most every year. Datejust is their #1 but it’s not a sport watch.

So it shouldn’t be surprising to see submariner more than a Daytona.

At the end of the day who cares. If people want status then maybe they need to share the # from their bank account. Now that’s status :). Anyone can buy a Rolex from their life saving.

[Etschell]

Yes there are more Rolex than seiko. A facepalm could not be big enough to describe the original thought.

[~JJ]

I just can’t understand caring about what someone else wears and letting it guide my choices. YMMV.