Rolex As A Status Symbol

[codecow]

Originally Posted by rb3404

I live in the Bay Area and a Rolex is not a Veblen good. Many middle class people have them and it's no different than any LV bag out there. Nowhere status here, and certainly not a luxury item. Seriously, can't really say that about an item that's produced in millions every year. No one has ever commented on any Rolex I have owned, but I do for my Patek or 911 GT3.

Really?

I haven’t seen many Rolex in the wild here and often they’re old Datejusts on women, but I have never seen anyone wearing a Patek other than myself or someone at work, which isn’t a random. I have seen a Royal Oak once and that’s about it.

Overall I agree with you that I’d consider something like a panda Daytona to be more like a Hermes quota bag which is also only artificially scarce. LV is literally everywhere.

Not including people at watch stores and watch or jewelry events where you can find almost anything.

In the wild despite wearing some rare stuff the only non watch folks who have commented on a piece commented on PM Rolex.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

Originally Posted by thegrandseirolexguy

…it’s still a desirable, Veblen bauble…

Beautiful alliteration.

[AK797]

Its funny how perspectives change, while on the forum you can get blasé about Rolexes and think everyone must have them, but then I've been away from the forum for a few months and then when someone notices your Rolex and you chat to them about it then it does seem like a luxury product again, one that people aspire to and covet and are proud of.

[GVAZQUEZ]

Originally Posted by Mr Ben

The issue for me is they used to be a status symbol in a positive way and I don’t think they are now.

When it’s in a National Geographic spread on a climber, a diver, a pilot, it’s a symbol of someone who wants the best and appreciates quality and precision. This is positive.

When it’s plastered all over Instagram half hidden by tattoos and outshone by bleached white teeth freshly purchased from Turkey by talentless influencers, it’s hard to see much of a positive association with that.

I’d much rather go back to the old days.

At times, I do consider buying a VC overseas, IWC Ingenieur, Grand Seiko or similar as something I could wear and enjoy while most people don’t have a clue what it is and there’s no negative connotations.

As it is, I just keep it under my sleeve.

What do you mean half hidden by tattoos? So if someone has tattoos and clean teeth they can’t rock a Rolex? Just curious on your comment…


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[douglasf13]

Being someone who doesn’t care to signal status with a Rolex, vintage Tudors fill a cool niche to me. I can still enjoy the history and design language of the company, but, on the odd occasion that someone asks if it’s a Rolex, I can say “nope.”

[Kevin Rohrer]

Originally Posted by brandrea

IMHO, Rolex has built its brand around being an aspirational purchase … the “I’ve made it” symbol of success.

^^This^^

[TheVision]

Talking about status, just wrapped out last episode of "White Lotus" which is basically a show portraying super wealthy folks visiting high end luxury resorts (with their own baggage of mental probs).

I know TV shows uses props but several characters wore Rolex ....Saxon wore Milgauss in several shots, Tim (the wealthy dad) wore gold tone day date 40 and same for his wife, ladies DD. I know in the restaurant business, Rolex is very well known and almost any chef who make it big buy a Rolex with their 1st paycheck .

[espanol]

Originally Posted by GVAZQUEZ

What do you mean half hidden by tattoos? So if someone has tattoos and clean teeth they can’t rock a Rolex? Just curious on your comment…


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Mr. Ben was likely alluding to the new class of “flexers.” Those that place entirely too much emphasis on outward appearance and online social standing via followers and clicks. Their goal is to peacock as much as possible; 10k lumen teeth, ink all around, muscles, tight clothes, etc. The watch most commonly found on this subset of folks is undoubtedly Rolex.

Do they often have tattoos? Yes
Do they often have artificial teeth via veneers? Yes
Does that impact the way you view tattoos, veneers and even Rolex? Well that’s up to personal opinion

[DonLee]

"status symbol" depends on what crowd you are in. In HK, a popstar who makes millions a year, was in the entertainment news because he wore a gold daytona on a strap at his concert afterparty. People were talking about... oh that's an expensive watch, wow, what a flex, a status trophy. In my head I'm like thinking... that's less than 1% of his annual salary. His sold-out stadium shows are a flex. Not his Rolex. It's no big deal for someone to wear that given how much money he makes. Meanwhile, I'm wearing a watch worth 2-3x that, and people usually don't notice, because it's a Patek, and not a Rolex. However, when I'm in a room full of watch lovers, my watch stands out, and nobody bats an eye to the Rolex. Other circles, even a Panerai is like a status symbol.

[DonLee]

Originally Posted by TheVision

I know in the restaurant business, Rolex is very well known and almost any chef who make it big buy a Rolex with their 1st paycheck .

Hell no would "any chef" would buy a Rolex with their 1st paycheck...

and besides, for sure they wouldn't have made it big already if it's their 1st paycheck

[douglasf13]

Originally Posted by DonLee

"status symbol" depends on what crowd you are in. In HK, a popstar who makes millions a year, was in the entertainment news because he wore a gold daytona on a strap at his concert afterparty. People were talking about... oh that's an expensive watch, wow, what a flex, a status trophy. In my head I'm like thinking... that's less than 1% of his annual salary. His sold-out stadium shows are a flex. Not his Rolex. It's no big deal for someone to wear that given how much money he makes. Meanwhile, I'm wearing a watch worth 2-3x that, and people usually don't notice, because it's a Patek, and not a Rolex. However, when I'm in a room full of watch lovers, my watch stands out, and nobody bats an eye to the Rolex. Other circles, even a Panerai is like a status symbol.

Status symbol hype often has as much to do with how hard the thing is to get, rather than being solely based on price. A popster wearing a hyped pair of sneakers can afford them easily, but it’s signaling their taste and ability to acquire them. Probably similar with the Daytona.

FWIW, I’m nearly the exact opposite. I like buying unusual, inside baseball things that few want. lol