Why Do You Wear A Rolex?

[Dylan1471]

All the points so far have hit the mark for my personal reasons for purchasing a watch that other people might consider an unneeded "luxury". It all boils down to two reasons for all of us really...we have the means to purchase this watch and are watch nuts

[fat-sam]

i had always wanted a rolex, even as a pre-teen, partly because of the name and partly a strange facination i'd had with horology since my first word 'clock'- my mum and dad used to place me in front of a cuckoo clock where i would sit hapily for hours waiting for the hour to chime!
when i got my rolex- an engagement present from 'the wife' i was over the moon,
however i had found out that rolex was not the best watch maker in the world and i started longing for a patek, lange, JLC until someone explained that i have my whole life to collect watches. while this site certainly made me appreciate my rolex again- it also helped me see, that at 26, there is no rush to get my 'JLC grand master memovex'- a house might be a more sensible priority!

with regard to rolex being an affordable luxury it depends- as i dont earn much, i chose to buy a vespa, watches, clothes and holidays instead of cars and cigerettes. once you commit to a lifestyle, it is harder to go back on your decision. i belong to the 'want it now' generation! i may regret spending money like its going out of fashion, my wife certainly hopes i grow up some time soon, but i see that life is for living and as long as it doesnt hurt those who dont deserve it- Do whatever you want!

[oldbreadstinks]

before i brought my current rolex i don't even think i was wearing any watches for like 8-10 years, it was my friend who convinced me that if i were to buy a pre-owned one , i would be able to sell it off for the same price when i'm tired of it plus i was looking for a bracelet or something like that to wear, something shiny and TT DJ with a white dial+10 diamonds fitted the bill.
Hence on the year 2006 , i brought the piece of "jewellery" people refer to as a rolex

Originally Posted by mikey

I think I should have said the reason I got a Rolex is for its craftsmanship......Thanks

while Mikey's viewpoints isn't what i consider morally correct neither is throwing money at online gambling site(even if it is your money, thats not how morals work), i agree with him fully on the effects a rolex/car has on other people especially women, people tend to notice the ones that appear more well off, you maybe dining in fine resturants everyday spending thousands and me? maybe i'm just living on 2 slices of bread a day but if you're wearing a casio and i'm wearing a rolex, its natural instinct that makes people want to talk to me more. women don't judge you by your personality when they're deciding whether they want to talk to you.

with his type of thinking i would say mikey's closer to my age than most of you guys . and if i'm not wrong most of you people here are old enough to be our parents 40+? (or in JJ's case gramps maybe?50+?) i find his views very honest and refreshing , at least they let me know what and how he thinks instead of what he wants me to think.

[steve-o]

I bought my first Rolex in the late 80's. I was in my first squadron flying F-14s and big watches were what we wore.
I bought it in HK on leave. Everyone else had bought $20 copy watches. I spent $1750 for a GMT Master. Awesome watch. Never regretted it one bit!!!

I now have a TT YM, a step up, but as I near retirement, I like to treat myself once in a while. I also like what the watch says about you. Sort of like meeting someone and noticing scuffed shoes or dirty nails in the business world...not a good thing.

My TT YM is a very professional watch IMHO.

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by danielrm26

I also find it interesting when people associate nice things with "waste". Especiallly when I don't drink (never been drunk, actually), don't smoke, and don't spend money on T.V. or DVDs, etc.

As someone mentioned above, it really is a matter of where your priorities are. That being said, I get my perspective from the the fact that I am aware that I am dying. And when I say *I'm* dying, I mean we all are.

I'm in my 30's and feel it's time to *live* -- not to prepare to live at some point in the future. I do have some money going toward retirement, of course, but I prefer to spend my money on improving my life. As such, I intend to surround myself with quality. Wearing a Rolex is simply one manifestation of this.

[jac67]

Why do I wear a Rolex?

Quite simply, I can't afford a Patek Philippe, so I slum it with a Rolex.


John.

[henry2703]

ha ha... can't be that you can't afford a patek philippe.... it is really how much of your current lifestyle or savings you want to part with.

more importantly, i find a rolex, more robust, and more suited for everyday wear, be it ruggard or office....

if i wear a patek, i'll be so careful with it, people will think that it is my watch bring me out for a walk...

[Spark]

I wear a Rolex because I am lucky enough to be able to and by lucky I mean lucky I have a quite average income.
I have quite a few watches, most are vintage pieces with some form of history behind the model or make.
I enjoy wearing a vintage Rolex to of course tell the time as is its purpose, but tell the time with a watch using a mechanical movement, which still amazes me how it all works.
It is an Oyster watch with a Perpetual movement 2 historic Rolex contributions to watchmaking history even though Rolex were not the first automatic movement manufacturer they with out doubt made it what it is today.
My Explorer II 1655 wouldn't get another glance from anybody not in the know as to what it was, neither would my Patek Philippe, Tudor or Longines as most people have not even heard of them, but I know what they stand for to me.
Just my tuppence worth (2 cents).

[fslover]

Because it's a Rolex !!!!

[Rockrolex]

Ever since this thread started, I've been trying to figure out why I wear a Rolex. I have had to admit to myself part of it is the cachet of the brand. Rolex has done an excellent marketing job and I have fallen for it. But it's become more than that since I started wearing and collecting them. Now I wear Rolex because I love the way they look and I love their durability and reliability. Knowing that I never have to change the battery to keep it running accurately, knowing that I don't have to baby it and if I accidently hit it against a door jamb or table nothing will faze it, knowing I can wear it in the water while swimming, all those things contribute to answer the question: Why I wear a Rolex.

I do own and wear other high end watches, but nothing seems to compare to Rolex.

[Prince]

Because I want to and I can.

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by Prince

Because I want to and I can.

Well, that too, Allan.

[Mark]

Watches kind of grew on me a few years ago. I guess the primary reason I wear Rolex is the beautiful style they have.

1. I love the way they look.
2. I enjoy compliments from others.

[Prince]

Originally Posted by Mark

1. I love the way they look.
2. I enjoy compliments from others.

Sounds good. Add those to my original reason as well.

Thanks, Mark!

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Rockrolex

...but nothing seems to compare to Rolex.

That just about sums it up, Ed!!

[TNRonin]

Mikey, thanks for the honest answer. If you guys think women don't size you up by what you wear or drive, you are seriously lying to yourself. One of the main things a woman wants to know is if a potential life partner can provide for her and the family. They judge on that, right or wrong.

No, it doesn't actually mean you are what you drive or what watch you wear, I know. that.

When I read leopardprey's first post I felt he hit it dead on for me. I have wanted a Rolex for 20 plus years, and while talking to a customer at a gun show I asked him why he bought his watch. What he said sealed it for me. "If I don't buy it now WHEN will I buy it?" I honestly believe my son or daughter will get the watch when I pass away.

[tag_addict]

Because I have the money to, and because I worked hard for that money.

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by TNRonin

Mikey, thanks for the honest answer. If you guys think women don't size you up by what you wear or drive, you are seriously lying to yourself. One of the main things a woman wants to know is if a potential life partner can provide for her and the family. They judge on that, right or wrong.

No, it doesn't actually mean you are what you drive or what watch you wear, I know. that.

When I read leopardprey's first post I felt he hit it dead on for me. I have wanted a Rolex for 20 plus years, and while talking to a customer at a gun show I asked him why he bought his watch. What he said sealed it for me. "If I don't buy it now WHEN will I buy it?" I honestly believe my son or daughter will get the watch when I pass away.

I am so glad I did not get a wife like that ... When we got married I had a Timex and a very old Toyota and a bank balance of 0,after I paid for the liquor for the wedding.... I was also 30 years old.That was after 11 years of studying and 3 dgrees later,my reward was a bank balance of 0 ...

Oh and I bought a Rolex,before an expensive car .... It just retains its value,so much better.Case proven when I traded my beloved GMT for the Blue TT Sub ...

[fairline45]

I wear my new YM Platinum because I wanted it for a long time and I am happy to have achieved it. I like it better when people don't know that it is a Rolex because then their views of you change.

[AndrewG]

Originally Posted by mikey

Seagoer, yes and no. Some of women personalities put up red flags. The others are real cool and call me oftenl. I am just not ready to settle down yet.

No offense but I wouldn't date a woman who was shallow enough to judge me by my hardware...
I wear a Rolex because it keeps good time, looks great and has the same tradition of quality behind it as, say, my Gibson and Martin guitars.

[STB]

I bought a Rolex, because when I did the math on my spendings on Timex, Casio, Nokia, etc....for the next 15 years, the Rolex came out cheaper!

It's a Rolex....I have bragging rights too.

[Gaijin]

I bought it to get chicks.

[CitationDriver]

I purchased my Pepsi GMT for the exact reason it was designed. In my job we are constantly using GMT for all of our paperwork so it was a perfect match for me. I figure I will wear this watch everyday for the next 25 years so amortized over that time it is relatively inexpensive. Plus how sweet is the Pepsi GMT!!!

[nudie]

Mikey & KansaiVet's comments are the most honest.

[rolexfan21]

simple answer:
Because i want a good watch.

Its a reasonable price too. Not too pricey (like some audemars piguet) but you can get a good rolex for about 6-8 grand. which is not too bad imho.

[warbird]

This is a great thread. I'll relate the story I told my wife when I was driving to my AD a few weeks ago to buy my subdate.

Back when I was a young sparky in college, I stood in financial aid lines with 60% of the rest of the private university I attended. It was the 80s. Wall Street, "greed is good" etc. I came from a lower class working family who struggled to get by.

They wanted a better future for their kid so off I went to a great university. While I was there, I saw tons rich kids driving BMWs and Benzes and wearing rolex and cartier watches.

Twenty years, two degrees, a wife and two kids later, through hard work, great breaks and many blessings, I have achieved a level of prosperity in corporate America I couldn't have dreamed of. I'm the one now who is driving the AMG and sporting the rolex.

When I look at my rolex, I'm reminded of where I came from, what I've been blessed to accomplish, and the life I've created for my family.

A side benefit through the process of comparing Rolex to IWC, Omega and others, I found that Rolex is one darn fine timepiece too!

[Solar]

Originally Posted by leopardprey

History
Tradition
Good looking Watch
Well made watch
One of the fine things in life I can own, and always have with me
Can be used as a cash substitute anywhere in the world
Always wanted one

I think Chad has it all here............

Chris

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Solar

I think Chad has it all here............

Chris

He left out...

"Chicks dig it."

[vh_bu98]

I wanted a high quality time piece that had name recognition and maintained its value, so I can pass it down to my kids when ever I have them.

[pol]

First post here...great forum you guys have. My answer is simple. My father wore them...therefore I do. Growing up its all he ever wore, he had two and it wasn't that I thought they were really great high end watches, or even that they were that good of quality (I was just a small kid), it was just that they were his watches and I was sure that someday they would be mine and I would wear them...and now they are. Of course now I know about their quality and other outstanding attributes, which is just icing on the cake. But the real reason I wear them, is because he did. Sort of sappy, but its the truth. Anyway, great forum, I will enjoy looking around.