Rolex is in trouble. Apple is taking over

[Jack T]

Originally Posted by suux88

I automatically judge people who wear Apple Watch

Everyone judges everyone on everything.

When people use the phrase “I don’t judge...” or “Don’t judge me” it usually means judging in a way that would be perceived as unfavorable.

[Jack T]

Originally Posted by Maxy

The difference between 1971 and now is very clear. That time b the watches were time keeping instruments. Quartz were better watches but in same category. Then mechanical watches slowly moved to luxury segment to differ itself from cheaper quartz watch and over last 20 years it's transformed completely into luxury instrument. Yes Apple watch will sell but it has more chance to kill all sub $500 quartz watches. The luxury market will not be as impacted as the regular market got impacted during Quartz crises.

I don’t disagree, but among the luxury brands there isn’t all that much differentiation anymore. In the process I won’t be surprised to see maybe a dozen in the top 30 of the mechanical, higher end category disappear over the next 5 to 10 years.

[thenewrick]

Totally different products that just happen to be worn on the wrist. Tool watch vs jewelry; different purposes entirely

[Me4u2night]

Originally Posted by Shadow Puppets

I enjoy my Apple Watch for what it is... a gimmicky fitness accompaniment. Totally understand why they’re so popular, but they’ll never replace the feeling of owning a true piece.

I actually feel that Apple Watch may be helping the younger generation get “into” watches.

Agree 100%. I have an Apple Watch and love it for what it is, an extension of my phone on my wrist. It gets used during activities like running, working out, which is what I always intended it to be. But it will never replace any of my timepieces.

[shaunylw]

If anything the Apple Watch will drive new buyers to Rolex. The Apple Watch has grabbed a lot of buyers that never wore watches prior to buying an Apple Watch, potentially opening them up to more luxury Watch brands. The Apple Watch is fine for the purposes it serves.


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[101031-28]

Do not own an Apple watch. Never have, never will. I enjoy wearing my Rolex watches way too much. And frankly, I hate the design!

[PureCoconut]

lol no

[Lu..]

The article is way off...Rolex is not going anywhere.............a mechanical watch can't track my activities and how well I sleep.......in this time of AWs, Garmins & Fitbits, I never seen anybody with a luxury watch when I go cycling..so far...........it's like clothing...I don't wear a suit when I go cycling.......proper accessories are essential for specific events......and for those times when I'm BBQ, attending weddings, or traveling on business...an AW just won't do.....

[RJG]

Apple is such a popular brand right now - they should sell Rolex watches.
Talk about a frenzy. People would be foaming at the mouth for one...more than us old school Rolex fans already do. It would be riots in the streets. Grown men crying. Chaos.

[Roddypeepa]

Originally Posted by Lemieux66

Apple watches are disposable consumer products which will end up in landfill eventually - Rolex watches are beautiful pieces of craftsmanship to keep for generations. No contest!

This.

I’ve got 2 Rolex, one omega, one tag and an Apple Watch. All serve a purpose. Only a few make you feel like, ‘wow’ that makes me smile when I see the dial


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[cvo]

I would not run a 1/2 marathon with a Rolex. I use my Apple Watch as a tool. Rolex has no worries, Rolex watches are not disposable tech tools.

[zengineer]

Is there someone or even thousands out there who started wearing one of those gadgets and likes it...and therefore loses interest in buying a new Rolex every few years? Yes, I'm sure there are. But enough to make a big impact ...I doubt it.

Let's say demand, if every Rolex was in every AD, is 1.3 million Rolex watches and Supply is 1.0 million. If demand plummets to 900,000 then Rolex will just make 750,000 for a while. They've seen what works and nobody at the top is going to suddenly not be able to make the yacht payment if that happens.

Full disclosure, I did not read the article because I count on an OP to frame the topic and I just have very little interest in the whole world of smart watches. I do not feel the need to be that connected. As Joe Walsh put it..."Just leave a message, maybe I'll call"

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[irate.alien]

this is actually a pretty good article and points out several things Rolex has done successfully that Apple has actually copied in their marketing. E.g., turning a watch into an "experience" or a brand rather than something to tell time with. Look at the old ads for the Rolex Explorer, for example. "Wear this watch as you climb the Matterhorn!" Where Rolex falls short is engagement with their customer. But we, the customers, are doing that basically on their behalf on forums like this. That puts Rolex in a different place from other Swiss (and German) watchmakers. Omegaforums, for example, is for the ISest of WISes.

The retail model also led to one of the worst customer interactions of any industry. The sales model feels extremely transactional, in many cases, and most brands don’t build long-term relationships with their clients apart from sending them newsletters. There is very little interaction and personal follow-up. Hence, fortunes are spent in advertising to get one transaction and there the connection with the consumer ends.

Just the simple fact that your Apple or Samsung phone/watch bugs you to update every couple of days keeps you engaged. We deal with Rolex every 7-10 years for a service. Our main POC is an AD or gray market dealer. My local Omega Boutique is a 5 minute walk away, and I get emails from them inviting me for this or that, but do I ever go? No. I asked Omega to dig up an extract of archives for my vintage Speedie (for which I was gladly going to pay) and after two months they cancelled the order without ever telling me. Walk into an Apple store, on the other hand, and you're instantly cool. The best of the watch stores manage to pull this off. For example, walk into Wempe on a slow day and you can have a lovely time.

You have to look at it from the perspective of a non "watch person" who doesn't know that a forum like this even exists. Once they've ruled out a "Rolex" because its prices is beyond their reach or it's unavailable, how will they choose between Omega, IWC, JLC, Glashutte Original, Zenith, Grand Seiko etc.? "Why should I wear something on my wrist I can't read my email off and that doesn't track my health?" That's not a semantic question, it's a challenge to watch companies.

[sambb]

anyone wear both?

[drfrankenstein]

Read the comments here first and then read the article -

I don't want to say the article is spot on because no one can predict the future but it's pretty compelling evidence, some anecdotal and some not.

I have no doubt that as tech watches grow market share, increase functionality (optical glucose monitoring could be a game changer) and make our lives better there will be a greater obsolescence to mechanical watches - just because I will never stop wearing a mechanical watch doesn't mean they have a long term future.

[Bozack90]

Originally Posted by teck21

This may be because people in old moneyed countries (generally the west), so to speak are increasingly eschewing ostentatious displays of wealth.

Newly rich societies on the other hand have experienced far shorter periods and not yet sustained economic growth, and the culture of displaying one’s membership in a moneyed elite is still very much in vogue.


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possibly, I just chalked it up to a reprioritization of spending, away from "stuff" and more towards experiences

[Time4aRolex]

Originally Posted by sambb

anyone wear both?

Yes. Rolex on my left hand. iWatch on my right.

Works well for me.

[zengineer]

Once the chip is imbedded we won't need the iWatch

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[bosch88]

With the new 14.5 iOS coming supposedly tomorrow, which allows easier unlocking of my iPhone while wearing a mask (with an Apple Watch on), I may be double fisting it... haha

[Limey-]

Garmin are killing apple with young professionals . Apple is an old persons smart tech . Apple is to Rolex like KIA is to a Augusta 109 power.

[brandog]

Hmmm would I rather buy a watch that becomes obsolete in a few years, isn't serviceable or hold any value and will inevitably stop working.. or buy a watch that will outlast me and double in value after purchase. Tough one.

[airchitect]

Don’t want to sound like a jerk but I cringe when I see smart watches. Not fit bits and the like, but smart watches. To me it takes a special sort of dumb to shell out that kind of coin for a mini iPhone screen for your wrist that WILL be outdated in 3-4yrs and need replacement. Btw I believe I’ve calculated the daily cost of wear to be closely aligned to a Rolex..... makes it all even more silly.


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[boogiebot]

Originally Posted by airchitect

Don’t want to sound like a jerk but I cringe when I see smart watches. Not fit bits and the like, but smart watches. To me it takes a special sort of dumb to shell out that kind of coin for a mini iPhone screen for your wrist that WILL be outdated in 3-4yrs and need replacement. Btw I believe I’ve calculated the daily cost of wear to be closely aligned to a Rolex..... makes it all even more silly.


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I’m not a fan of these smart watches either. I will admit though that they do some cool things. The article did make some points about how these watches appeal to a new generation and I think that was the point.


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[Slackergirl]

I think Apple watches more likely to put a dent in fashion watches like Michael Kors

[jimmytamp]

Originally Posted by Liga

Have a read about Apple's take over of the industry


https://amp.scmp.com/magazines/style...piece-heritage

IMHO, this is not even a discussion worth everybody’s time. Lols


https://www.instagram.com/fliegerb777/

[Francist]

Rolex on my left, xiaomi mi-band on right.

[Master_Grogu]

Originally Posted by Limey-

Garmin are killing apple with young professionals . Apple is an old persons smart tech . Apple is to Rolex like KIA is to a Augusta 109 power.

Is this a troll ?

AAPL is the leader of wearable devices, with growing shipment each year. Don’t think for a second that a few contrarians around you wearing the competition is any indication of what happens worldwide to Apple

[Eric-London]

Originally Posted by samson66

Yeah all those Rolex watches sitting and collecting dust in the display cases. Their days are numbered for sure.

lol

[Qwarktastic]

One is a disposable piece of integrated electronics that will be obsolete inside a decade, the other a piece of mechanical jewelry that will last generations if cared for. Don't think they ever had their eyes on each other business-wise.

Apple and Rolex do have many similarities as brands though, both very domineering/controlling and both are notoriously secretive.

[Krash]

Originally Posted by airchitect

Don’t want to sound like a jerk but I cringe when I see smart watches. Not fit bits and the like, but smart watches. To me it takes a special sort of dumb to shell out that kind of coin for a mini iPhone screen for your wrist that WILL be outdated in 3-4yrs and need replacement. Btw I believe I’ve calculated the daily cost of wear to be closely aligned to a Rolex..... makes it all even more silly.


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I had heart surgery 6 months ago to repair a defective valve. The operation went well, but for a few weeks after the operation, I had problems with AFIB. At one point, it was so bad that I had to be rushed back to the hospital. I’m all better now, actually better than ever, but my Submariner and Speedmaster can’t do this.




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