Rolex making bigger watches, a Practical reason!

[TheVTCGuy]

So, it all started with the DJ II a few years ago, at 41 MM, it went (slightly) above the "norm" of 40MM for sport models. Then, came the DSSD, I am not even sure, is that 42? 44? Then, there was the new EX II, 42MM, and the new Sky Dweller at 42 as well. Now, some of you would say they are following an (some also say Undesirable) industry trend for bigger watches, but I have another reason: The population is getting older.

If anyone read my thread a while ago, (does anyone ever read any of my threads? ) they will see that I discussed one of the reasons I was not wearing my Daytona any more, and considering buying the EX II was it was easier to read the time. Maybe it is the simpler dial, maybe it is the extra 2 MM, but whatever the reason, I can clearly read the time on my EX II without having to put on my glasses. On the Daytona, my arms were just not long enough to see the dial clearly and even WITH glasses you could forget about using the subdials; ( I must have looked pretty funny, when trying to use the chrono feature putting on two, or even three pairs of reading glasses for extra magnification). With my EX II.... " I can see clearly now.... " Anyway, the answer to all this is simple, I am old.

As a race, we humans are living longer then ever in our existance. They didn't need reading glasses in ancient Rome, everyone died before their eyes went bad! Well, in the 21st century, things have changed, and our average age is decades older then it was just a few hundred years ago. So, it's simple! More and more of us need reading glasses!

Rolex is not dumb, they want to cater to their main customer, who is now older, with worse eyesight; making a larger (easier to read) watch just makes sense! I submit, this is one reason they came out with the EX II 42, AND made the new Sky-Dweller 42 as well; it just makes good marketing! So to all those that have a distain for larger-watches, I respect your opinion, but I believe the 42 and even 44 watches are here to stay, and as we get older, maybe even bigger. It wouldn't suprise me to see a 42 GMT and Sub within the next few years.

[itchy243mhz]

You know Paul, I think you are really on to something here, I fit that profile exactly!! Why do we need a date on the dial when it is all a blur.

[zlin08033]

Paul: I have read a lot of your interesting threads Couldn't agree with you more. I also haven't worn my Daytona (actually any of my Rolexes) for a while since I fell to the dark side, for "Simple" and "Easy to read" reason, IMHO Panerai is "better", also their lum last all night...

[ecsub44]

People have been getting older since Rolex started making watches. On some level, there are more older people today buying Rolex (living longer and making more watches).

I think watches are getting bigger because that's what people want. Rolex doesn't really set trends...they make watches that people want to buy.

More or less.

[moviefreak]

what about Lasik....

[capote]

Its just fashion, and I think Rolex is behind the curve. JLC and AP both introduced smaller watches this year for example.

[SUPERDOC]

I'm not so sure that Rolex is really anticipating a flood of presbyopes to carry their sales...

Probably not the key demographic they are after...

and really - If you can't read your wrist watch - most people might change their glasses, rather than their watch..

[horseco]

Originally Posted by SUPERDOC

I'm not so sure that Rolex is really anticipating a flood of presbyopes to carry their sales...

Probably not the key demographic they are after...

and really - If you can't read your wrist watch - most people might change their glasses, rather than their watch..

Funny, but true...

[karmatp]

I don't see many older folks spending their retirement money on $8,000 watches. I think Rolex is just behind on the latest trend, which I don't see ending any time soon.

I personally think 40-42mm is perfect for a sport watch. I have owned many Panerai's over the years and actually find myself preferring a little smaller watch these days. I hope they stay in the 40-42mm range for their sport watches and don't get silly like IWC and start making 46-48mm sport watches.

[Paul Raposo]

Originally Posted by karmatp

I think Rolex is just behind on the latest trend, which I don't see ending any time soon.

Unfortunately so. I was wearing one of my Bulova rectangular hand winds a few weeks ago, and someone asked why I was wearing a "girls" watch.

[Cru Jones]

And there you have it....bigger Rolexes for aging eyes....Rolex is still a tool watch after all.

[FX44]

Originally Posted by karmatp

i don't see many older folks spending their retirement money on $8,000 watches. I think rolex is just behind on the latest trend, which i don't see ending any time soon.

I personally think 40-42mm is perfect for a sport watch. I have owned many panerai's over the years and actually find myself preferring a little smaller watch these days. I hope they stay in the 40-42mm range for their sport watches and don't get silly like iwc and start making 46-48mm sport watches.

+1

[mkw]

People have always gotten " older" , and yes, there are lots of boomers in the presbyopic Rolex buyer demographic, but they are definately getting " larger ", too.

I look at our famliy pics from the 50's - all the generations were ,by today's standards , " skinny", the adult men at parties all looked , with the rare chubby guy excepted, like they weighed 150-160 lbs at the most. The "tiny" 30 -32 mm watches they wore look proportional. So I guess today's 42-45 mm watches are just similarly proportionate.

[Dr. Robert]

Soon we will all be like Flava Flav....wearing an alarm clock around our necks so we can see the time......yeah boy!

[dr3ziz]

i think its more of keeping up with the market Paul,,
i for instance never thought of acquiring a rolex till i saw (soon to be)my DJ II , and now very soon getting my second rolex.... so you see bigger sizes opened a new market segment to Rolex .

[boogiebot]

[QUOTE=karmatp;3153993

I personally think 40-42mm is perfect for a sport watch. I have owned many Panerai's over the years and actually find myself preferring a little smaller watch these days. I hope they stay in the 40-42mm range for their sport watches and don't get silly like IWC and start making 46-48mm sport watches.[/QUOTE]

totally agree. for me 40-42 seems like the perfect size for my wrist.

[Speedster]

Originally Posted by capote

Its just fashion, and I think Rolex is behind the curve. JLC and AP both introduced smaller watches this year for example.

Originally Posted by karmatp

I don't see many older folks spending their retirement money on $8,000 watches. I think Rolex is just behind on the latest trend, which I don't see ending any time soon.

I personally think 40-42mm is perfect for a sport watch. I have owned many Panerai's over the years and actually find myself preferring a little smaller watch these days. I hope they stay in the 40-42mm range for their sport watches and don't get silly like IWC and start making 46-48mm sport watches.

I agree with these posts. A lot of the "classic" watches that were in the 36-38mm range look kind of undersized these days. It's probably fashion as much as anything.

OTOH, I've been wearing a 44mm Panerai and it's a bit chunky to wear with a buttoned cuff shirt. The 40-42mm range seems like a sweet spot.

[snowbird]

It's plausible, and larger watches are certainly easier to read. I would guess it's more driven by the general trend in the business to larger watches though, which seem to me to be most popular among younger people who can read a smaller watch just fine.

[capote]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Soon we will all be like Flava Flav....wearing an alarm clock around our necks so we can see the time......yeah boy!

Dr. Robert, I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the Sky-Dweller, the Rainbow Daytona and the over-sized watches. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Soon we will all be like Flava Flav....wearing an alarm clock around our necks so we can see the time......yeah boy!

I actually hope the Sub and GMT don't get any bigger. I have a couple of slightly larger watches, but I still prefer the 40mm size.

[Kingair]

40 / 42 mm is fine as size for a Rolex.
Otherwise there is still Panerai if you want a big watch !
my .02

[horseco]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

Soon we will all be like Flava Flav....wearing an alarm clock around our necks so we can see the time......yeah boy!

[JustABreathAway]

Actually, I think it may also be due to people getting larger - much larger. As I physician, I can tell you that obesity and morbid obesity are ubiquitous in modern day America, and I think populations the world over are catching up to us.

Here's something shocking: In 50-year-old anesthesia texts, prior to political correctness, it was plainly stated that adult males should never weigh more than 100 kgs and adult females never more than 80 kgs. I routinely see people shattering those guideline limits from 50 years ago.

[Tridor]

If the Rolex 42mm is proportional to modern human physiology, then why can't the watch be proportional to itself? Looking at the latest Subs, for example, the bracelet is too narrow for the wider/shorter lugs. If Rolex is going to "supersize" its watches, then at least do it proportionally. Just my rant for the day ... signed a 36mm DD fan and a 40mm Sub/GMT fan.

[usbzoso]

sorry paul i am not buying this theory

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by usbzoso

sorry paul i am not buying this theory

..............maybe Paul is vain & doesn't like to wear his glasses?

[Ristretto]

40mm is the maximum size I'd like to have a Rolex in, I tried the Exp2 its nice but doesn't look as good as the daytona on my wrist.

My other 2 watches are 42mm.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by capote

Dr. Robert, I want you to get up right now, sit up, go to your windows, open them and stick your head out and yell - 'I'm as mad as hell and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Things have got to change. But first, you've gotta get mad!... You've got to say, 'I'm as mad as hell, and I'm not going to take this anymore!' Then we'll figure out what to do about the Sky-Dweller, the Rainbow Daytona and the over-sized watches. But first get up out of your chairs, open the window, stick your head out, and yell, and say it: "I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

oh boy, Daniel, it's not worth the stress........I have a prescription for you.....smoke 2 joints in the morning, smoke 2 joints at night, smoke 2 joints in the afternoon & you will feel alright.

[Dr. Robert]

Originally Posted by horseco

Flava Flav, the patron saint of watches, gotta love him

[Perdu]

I think Rolex watches are getting bigger because people are getting fatter - at least in the west.