Have Rolex Had To Change 'The Rolex Way'?

[GolfPunk]

The Daytona could be here next month?............


.............Rolex enthusiasts have been begging for a ceramic SS Daytona for years, and the trend for Rolex introducing new watches is usually PM, TT then Steel.

All of a sudden, following a severe downward trend in the Chinese luxury market (and China in general), have Rolex by-passed their normal route, possibly due to a general drop in Swiss watch sales, and missed out giving ceramic bezels to the White Gold, Yellow Gold, Two Tone and Rose Gold on full Bracelet.

They've listened to us and fast tracked a steel Daytona. Who knows, they may have already produced thousands of them and may ship them to AD's in the next month or so, if they are in need of a fast up turn in watch sales?

[tkerrmd]

well it certainly is not the "usual" way things trickle down in Rolex

but I am happy for everyone that they don't have to do the PM complaining again like the hurricane that happened when the BLRO came out in white gold

good for Rolex for making a great upgrade more available

that said, the mystic and wait lists of yesteryear for the coveted Daytona may start again

and the availability of the watch may not be so great!!

[ceconomakis]

Good statements but the Chinese slowdown is only within the past year, but I believe that in order to design, research, and produce the new Daytona, Rolex started years ago.
Thus the market was stable and growing then.

[Paul_81]

Think i am missing something here are the daytona's ready to roll just sat waiting?? I really don't get it show the watch and sell it same day? ?

[slipperman]

I believe the ceramic bezel on the Daytona did debut on precious metal models a couple of years ago.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by slipperman

I believe the ceramic bezel on the Daytona did debut on precious metal models a couple of years ago.

It was 2011 on Rose Gold Daytonas on leather strap and 2013 in platinum

[mastersub]

Originally Posted by ceconomakis

Good statements but the Chinese slowdown is only within the past year, but I believe that in order to design, research, and produce the new Daytona, Rolex started years ago.
Thus the market was stable and growing then.

I think they keep the good stuff in their back pockets for when they really need it. When times are good, they milk their current designs for all they're worth. Then when times are bad, they release the hot designs to spur sales.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by mastersub

I think they keep the good stuff in their back pockets for when they really need it. When times are good, they milk their current designs for all they're worth. Then when times are bad, they release the hot designs to spur sales.

Thanks, nail on the head...that is the exact point of this post....so in theory, the ceramic Daytonas could only be 1 month or so from the AD's.

[capote]

But has anything changed except the bezel on the Daytona? The GMT-c blue/black was out fast after Basel.

[strafer_kid]

Hope Rolex role this out reasonably quickly in anticipation that it will move well, and that they do not string things out by drip feeding ADs. I think long waiting times etc will spoil what looks like a winner for them!

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by capote

But has anything changed except the bezel on the Daytona? The GMT-c blue/black was out fast after Basel.

Just the bezel, the way the bezel fits on the case and a slight dial change.

[henry333]

Maybe it's easier to sell the SS with the new bezel. Only 2 color ..usually low on stock at dealer. For the gold they need to get all the old stock out before hand and we all know pm sells a lot slower. And pm have a lot more color and different metals (white,gold,RG)

[GolfPunk]

I honestly think this will be May and not the usual Autumn distribution.

[mater]

The wait at an AD won't go away .. they would sabotage the appeal of the watch for many and do brand damage.

This is a long term play/game.

[77T]

Methinks the weakness in TT demand caused them to skip doing a TT Daytona-C and go directly to SS Daytona-C.

Good for everyone except those lone wolves who wanted a TT Daytona-C

[T. Ferguson]

I really doubt they have become slaves to our whims, lol, otherwise it probably would have also gone up a millimeter or two. OK, so it hit the SS model before the TT, but it was still introduced on the PM Daytona first.

Yeah, we've been wanting this but hey, even a broken watch is right twice a day.

Rolex will continue to do what Rolex does.

[GB-man]

Ace up the sleeve for a ebb in global demand. Seeing as it was such a small change I'm really hoping for an Sdc rollout but won't be holding my breath. I'm really hoping to get mine before October so I can rock it at my wedding.

Time will tell.

[GolfPunk]

exciting times

[dera]

Rolex is by far the smartest and greediest non-profit charitable organization in the world.

[bobabreath]

SS Daytona has been a limited production model. If Rolex floods the market with new ceramic SS Daytonas, then we know it is because they need the cash bump. If the ceramic Daytona remains limited, then it's just one of those incremental Rolex updates.

I can see Rolex making more dial choices for SS Daytona and colored ceramic bezels for PM models if they want to continue reeling in hordes of $$$.

[dera]

Originally Posted by bobabreath

SS Daytona has been a limited production model. If Rolex floods the market with new ceramic SS Daytonas, then we know it is because they need the cash bump. If the ceramic Daytona remains limited, then it's just one of those incremental Rolex updates.

I can see Rolex making more dial choices for SS Daytona and colored ceramic bezels for PM models if they want to continue reeling in hordes of $$$.

Rolex doesn't need any cash bumps, it doesn't operate like a for-profit business would.

I'd expect the supply to be similar to SS Daytona - not limited, but low.

[ref1655]

could you define/clarify 'the Rolex Way' as I am unfamiliar with the term & its attributes. years ago there was the 'HP Way' which pertained to the employee atmosphere at Hewlett-Packard...it ended during Carly Fiorina's tenure as CEO.

[GolfPunk]

Originally Posted by ref1655

could you define/clarify 'the Rolex Way' as I am unfamiliar with the term & its attributes. years ago there was the 'HP Way' which pertained to the employee atmosphere at Hewlett-Packard...it ended during Carly Fiorina's tenure as CEO.

'The Rolex Way' comment is a play on their tag line for the new magazines (currently 5 issues), and their usual way of filtering big changes on models down through the metals....Platinum, Gold, Two Tone then steel.

They've by-passed some gold models and two tone and gone straight to the steel model on this one

[Dilinger]

Originally Posted by capote

But has anything changed except the bezel on the Daytona? The GMT-c blue/black was out fast after Basel.

Exactly...

What did Rolex actually needed to design for years?

Porsche needs a few years to design a new model and Rolex need years for a bezel ??? LOL

The ceramic bezel that they already launched on RG and Platona?

Come on guys. They just changed the bezel.
That was really impressive but not overwhelming not a breakthrough.
IT WAS IMPRESSIVE THAT THEY FOUND THE GUTS TO DO IT.

99% of the watch is the same.

Let's be realistic.

[AK797]

I did joke about the China collapse etc as this year we have had a lot of requests granted all of a sudden, and I do think they could have introduced the SS a year or two earlier as the last, the plat was 2013, but as to trickling down thru the PMs I don't think it applies to the Daytona so much. As has often be said the gold polished bezel and smaller feel/size has meant it is the first choice for many women with means as well as with men and so sales have more of a jewellery component to them and thus a ceramic bezel may not have helped much with sales whereas with SS it is thru the roof.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Dilinger

Come on guys. They just changed the bezel.

Let's be realistic.

Indeed, let us be realistic.

They changed the bezel and the dials.

For Rolex, that's massive.

The SS Daytona used to be the "ghetto" model, for lack of a better term, with it's barely legible dials.

Today, the SS model stands head and shoulders with the PM models.

[Dilinger]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

They changed the bezel and the dials.



For Rolex, that's massive.



Let's be realistic.

Not they did not change the dials at all.
They just changed the color of the subdials in the white dial version and the color of the PM's versions.

I don't care so much what is massive for Rolex.
I care what is massive for me and although I love the updated version, I will not call it a massive update.

Perception is an individual characteristic.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Dilinger

Perception is an individual characteristic.

A change from illegible to legible to me is important and significant.

It is the difference between wanting a Daytona and not wanting a Daytona.

Now, I'll leave you alone with your dysthymia.

[Dilinger]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

A change from illegible to legible to me is important and significant.



It is the difference between wanting a Daytona and not wanting a Daytona.



Now, I'll leave you alone with your dysthymia.

A change from illegible to legible is important.
But this is not the case here. It is a step towards it, but definitely not drastically enough.

Dysthymia..?
I suggest you learn to pick up words more wisely or not at all.

[Nidal]

Originally Posted by GolfPunk

The Daytona could be here next month?............


.............Rolex enthusiasts have been begging for a ceramic SS Daytona for years, and the trend for Rolex introducing new watches is usually PM, TT then Steel.

All of a sudden, following a severe downward trend in the Chinese luxury market (and China in general), have Rolex by-passed their normal route, possibly due to a general drop in Swiss watch sales, and missed out giving ceramic bezels to the White Gold, Yellow Gold, Two Tone and Rose Gold on full Bracelet.

They've listened to us and fast tracked a steel Daytona. Who knows, they may have already produced thousands of them and may ship them to AD's in the next month or so, if they are in need of a fast up turn in watch sales?

This is the best well written statement made in a while. I congratulate you. I cannot agree more


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