All this Rolex talk, for several pages now.
Please don't take this as an inconsiderate post, but... what is the appeal to you personally for the love of Rolex?
My rant:
My perspective is that they were quite innovative up until the early 70's, and after that, they began a significant marketing scheme that paid off greatly. These last few years, they have gone above and beyond by playing up their name through that long-running marketing ploy to make people who don't know much about watches to believe that Rolex is the apex. With limited reservations and sales, that has only added to the "hype", but where's the mojo to back up all that hype?
Meanwhile, their movements are not particularly spectacular, and their designs are well-copied (and created/imitated by other brands that now do it better), but they really don't have a need to do anything imaginative.
The Submariner at release was amazing. So, too, was the unverifiable guarantee of the Rolex Sea-Dweller... funny in a way, because of how ridiculous the impossibility is of verifying its promises with depth resistance. Again, a GREAT marketing ploy. Since then, what innovations have come from Rolex, either in physical design, or in the movement itself that has outshined its competition?
Rolex makes amazing watches, when compared to other watches in the sub-$2000 range. However, how much advantage is there based on price for their brand compared to almost any other watch at the same price range?
Personally, I am not intrigued by Rolex not ONLY because of the snooty and snotty people I know that have a Rolex and think they're "elite"... it also is a question of how it is a better watch at any price they sell it for, compared to other competitors.
Yes, Rolex is a well-known name. There is a really high resale value (but I buy watches for myself, and don't care about resale value). For an investment, I don't get why a watch would be a smart investment versus other things in this world. You'd have to not wear it to keep it mint and more sellable anyway. I like to wear my watches, and take as much care to them as possible. But, wear and tear will degrade its value regardless. Thus... the "resale value" issue becomes a non-issue for me. I simply don't care. In terms of originality of design, I have no clue why anyone thinks Rolex has an upper hand in any way in that area, because they haven't done anything particularly innovative with their design in 30+ years. But then, there's also the movement, or the way they polish/design the metal choice they use... but that's been the same for a long time as well. They don't have open-back cases because even Rolex admits that their movements aren't particularly attractive... which ALSO means that Rolex doesn't need to spend the time and effort to make these components look nice.
Thus, Rolex, to me, has the upper hand ONLY in name brand and showing off to others that you are "elite". But for me, I love watches due to all the more technical and stylistic elements that are put into its creation. I always look at a Rolex and wonder what they have done to push the field of horology further in the last few decades.
This all seems like I am bashing Rolex lovers. I'm not really doing that, because if you're a watch lover and can talk about watches, then I'm fine with someone appreciating what Rolex has to offer. I only get annoyed when people like to post on social media with a his/hers Rolex double shot and say, "Couples night out" as if that is supposed to impress. But this is the WORST of what Rolex has to offer. Or, for example, I have a limited edition watch that is more impressive my boss' Rolex, but he doesn't know what's on my wrist. He has it as a status symbol, and I almost want to laugh at how much he doesn't realize I have something special on my wrist, yet he doesn't even look at it or regard is as anything more than a simple Casio due to not being a watch lover. This doesn't upset me. It just makes me understand something about HIM. I learn immediately that he is concerned about image and having elite status, so he has a Rolex. If he doesn't notice what's on MY wrist, then I know that he is materialistic and wants to show status, but does not have an answer to the reasoning behind ownership of that watch.
This is why I make this long post... I want to hear why other people on this thread love Rolex so much. I want to understand it from the perspective of people who may actually know more about watches than those that fall into the Hype Train.
That's the primary reason I ask the question at the beginning of the post.
