Ask Men: The Argument Against Rolex Watches

[rvan]

http://www.askmen.com/fashion/trends...x-watches.html

Interesting points but I feel like they could be aimed at almost any luxury high-end swiss watch brand. The reason I like Rolexes has really nothing to do with the branding, the hype or ads or even the fact that their designs are timeless. It's just the way you feel when you hold one in your hand that makes them worthy or your wrist. Everyone has their own reasons for owning one, and i'm sure most of them have nothing to do with the fact that rappers wear them.

[doubleviking]

That sounds like what most "30k Milli" magazine editors who can't afford one would say. He must have been shot down buy a gal who noticed his Frog Skin Swatch.

[rvan]

Originally Posted by doubleviking

That sounds like what most "30k Milli" magazine editors who can't afford one would say. He must have been shot down buy a gal who noticed his Frog Skin Swatch.

Haha good one. If you ever read Ask Men it seems to be the most hated fashion blog, alot of the articles are full of comments calling the author an idiot.

[mikefrmnj]

LOL guess I'm a douche. It looks like I got a lot of company. So many inaccuracies. The writer comes off like one of those kids in school that would hate anything mainstream ie. music, clothes etc.
I would like to meet him in public and knock him out of his Birkenstocks LOL.

[mikefrmnj]

Originally Posted by doubleviking

That sounds like what most "30k Milli" magazine editors who can't afford one would say. He must have been shot down buy a gal who noticed his Frog Skin Swatch.

[Tools]

It's a laughable article bringing up the half baked myths of those who truly do NOT know watches..

I expect the whole point of such an article is to generate comment and get a number of responses... Even his last paragraph is false..... Sir Hillary took off his Explorer and put on the Smith when he got there to be able to proclaim the British Smith Company was there, a completely different twist than his statement seems to be saying......... and Rolex has never submitted any watch of any type to NASA for testing..

It's pretty apparent that absolutely zero research was done for this hatchet job.....

[Fiery]

It was fun to read that article. Especially since I think it's right in many points. But ... what the author forgets is that some points that he makes looking bad are actually the appeal of the brand. For example, why would a watch brand be about innovation? Sure, there're more innovative brands, but for some guys being "true to its roots" and manufacturing a "proven design" (both in terms of looks and construction) for a long time without major changes could actually be a positive thing.

As for "Rolex movements are over-hyped" ... so what? Omega overhypes the moon watch, the James Bond connection and the coaxial movement; Tag overhypes the F1 contribution; Breitling overhypes the aviation connections and the all-COSC model lineup, etc. Something that is so unique as making all movements in house should have the same right to be overhyped, just as moon watch or other connections.

This article reminded me a bit like the Mercedes vs. BMW argument. Mercedes is often criticised as being less innovative as BMW (e.g. engines, transmissions, design), but for a whole lot of happy buyers a more conservative design, a more conservative approach to innovations and technology could actually be appealing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not here to defend Rolex and Mercedes, especially since I never owned a Rolex (I wear Breitlings most of the time), and I never owned a Mercedes (I drive a BMW actually). But even considering the fact that I can truly appreciate the old-fashioned (classic) look of e.g. the Submariner, I would also appreciate a bit more innovations going into the construction of the Submariner. Hence I'm glad Rolex shifting from non-SEL to SEL, flimsy bracelet+clasp to GlideLock, etc. On the other hand, I would be sad to see the 50-year-old designs (e.g. Submariner) to disappear "as an innovation".

[NewYorker]

That article is hysterical!

I think AskMen appeals to a very, shall we say, below the mean IQ type of audience. They even go so far to suggest that Patek is a more plebian brand when in fact Carla was telling Nick to trade up, not trade to something more subtle.

I get a guilty pleasure reading these laddish things, but anything designed to appeal to the masses like this is going to be plain wrong. Rolex to me has always stood for quality and exclusivity. Personally, I feel that they are fairly priced for their craftsmanship, history, durability, and their image. Nothing is quite like a Rolex...negative statements to the contrary represents jealousy and nothing more.

[Brushpup]

Originally Posted by NewYorker

That article is hysterical!

I think AskMen appeals to a very, shall we say, below the mean IQ type of audience. They even go so far to suggest that Patek is a more plebian brand when in fact Carla was telling Nick to trade up, not trade to something more subtle.

I get a guilty pleasure reading these laddish things, but anything designed to appeal to the masses like this is going to be plain wrong. Rolex to me has always stood for quality and exclusivity. Personally, I feel that they are fairly priced for their craftsmanship, history, durability, and their image. Nothing is quite like a Rolex...negative statements to the contrary represents jealousy and nothing more.

I hear ya NY and will add that these are, probably the same men who's wives think informative reading is People magazine.

He is the douche.

[Bimmernate]

I woke up from my nap to that. Im going back to sleep.

[SLS]

Yawn

[TempoKing]

I am not a rapper...

[zseriessub]

wow. Love their last point. You shouldn't wear a Rolex because of what other people will think of you. Let's all fall in line now and make sure we are "accepted" by the general public, Ask Men said so...

[SSD]

The argument for Rolex: Because YOU want one. Others' opinions in general, and this one's in particular, should be irrelevant. At least it is to me.

[Watchdog]

The irony!

AskMen is the same site that had the Rolex Submariner as the #1 ranked watch in a top-ten article.

[els4]

The fact that it was on AskMen.com says it all.

[marfaboy]

I got bored and quit reading that stupid Ask.Men article, particularly after I saw the Lucy Pinder photo gallery on Page Two.....

[Rolex116520]

Originally Posted by TempoKing

I am not a rapper...

I'm not overweight , my golf is more then lousy .... Ok I'm white , but blame my parents for that (my father never wore a Rolex , my mum did because I made her buy one )

[bradiowausa]

This guy pisses me off



What this guy says is

Let's evaluate his arguments

Rolex movements are over-hyped

Gene Stone in "The Watch" writes that the 3135 is "perhaps the most accurate, robust, and serviceable automatic on the planet; the only mass-produced automatic with an overcoil hairspring, a significant contributor to good accuracy across positions and states of wind." He lists it as the greatest automatic movement. Furthermore, Mr. Stone is not by any means a strictly Rolex enthusiast, in fact, when I read his book I had the impression that he wasn't fair to Rolex in many of his rankings (Just my hunch).

Plus, with the massive production of 3135 movements, there will be no shortage is parts when it comes to service our watches decades from today.

Rolex watches look stale

Look, everyone knows that Rolex is slow to change. This is a good thing, if Rolex were to change with every style fad, then watches bought during the fad will become outdated. Patek Phillippe is slow to change for similiar reasons, when you make a great product there is no reason to change at a whim. If anything, IMHO, Rolex should change even more slowly. I hold alot of value in my watches being similiar to what they were 30 years ago.

Oh, by the way, this brand hasn’t released a truly new model in over a decade that's ridiculous, what about the milgauss, the deepsea, the yactmaster II.

Rolex stories are nothing but a myth



Rolex watches are for seniors or rappers

Probably the most ridiculous thing that this guy says. And if Rolex just made iced GMT Masters and Yellow-Gold Day-Dates, this argument may have some merit.

Rolex watches are for posers

Young men that don a Rolex are perceived as self-absorbed, insecure and image-obsessed by those around them. Essentially, you just look like a douche. Be confident enough in yourself and in your sense of style that you don’t need to be wearing a veritable calling card of the nouveau riche.

I'll just let this jerk speak for himself on this one.

[escudoturbo]

If he's worried about accuracy buy a £15 Seiko with a Japanese quartz movement [Stolen from that documentary i know]
If he is worried about the cost of a new (or vintage - that he completely forgot) Rolex try buy one of those 'cheaper but better' watch and see how much its worth in 5,10,20 years.
Man that guy is a c**k

[jayong]

The writer completely misses the point that many, many Rolex enthusiasts (at least on TRF) buy the watch(es) for their own enjoyment, not to project an image to others or to try to emulate icons they can never be (ie. rappers, athletes, arctic explorers, and rich old farts).

The fact is that in the month or so since I've had my GMT IIc (my first Rolex, BTW), I have had exactly one person anywhere notice and comment on my very expensive new watch. It doesn't matter the least bit to me that others don't notice my watch, and I don't love my watch any less - just feeling its weight on my wrist and glancing at the beautiful thing countless times a day makes me quite happy :)

Jay

[michael69]

What other independent brand offers luxury, high-end pieces (i.e. with partial or totally gold bracelet) that are also at least 100m waterproof at the price of Rolex eh?

that's reason I chose one anyway!

[alphamale2012]

Nothing wrong with being a rapper lol

[snow_rocks]

I have never felt so close and attached to my Rolexes (is that the correct plural for Rolex, article didn't cover that)
than I do NOW.

Thank You for that article,

FOR I LUV MY ROLEXES!

[boa2]

Originally Posted by michael69

What other independent brand offers luxury, high-end pieces (i.e. with partial or totally gold bracelet) that are also at least 100m waterproof at the price of Rolex eh?

that's reason I chose one anyway!

Audemars Piguet. Well, you asked.

[Timber Loftis]

Ask Men Dot Com. It's like Maxim, except not as refined.

[michael69]

Originally Posted by boa2

Audemars Piguet. Well, you asked.

Yes, but for similar spec they do tend to be more expensive don't they?

[JoeSiR]

The Tara Reid one was good though....

[boa2]

Originally Posted by michael69

Yes, but for similar spec they do tend to be more expensive don't they?

A SS Royal Oak Offshore can be had--discounted, of course--for a little more than a SS Daytona. Ulysse Nardin also makes a number of 100m+ watches in the Rolex price range.

Your point is well taken, though.

[Spare201]

Ask Men needs to stop the "hate". Watches aren't about insecurity. Granted there are people who can make anything look "douchey"