Why New Rolex Watches Can Cost Thousands Less Than Used Ones | WSJ The Economics Of
Rolex is the world’s most popular luxury watch brand, yet it’s not involved in many of its own watch sales. Surprisingly, some used Rolex models cost more than the new ones.
WSJ’s fashion columnist Jacob Gallagher explains how factors like long waitlists and supply chain issues have caused the used watch market to explode in recent years, and how Rolex is trying to get in on the action with its own certified pre-owned watch program.
Is the clock ticking on the used watch market’s popularity?
0:00 New Daytona watch: $14,800. Used Daytona watch: $38,000.
0:31 Why people want used Rolexes
2:26 The used watch market explosion
4:02 Rolex’s new certified pre-owned program
5:33 Where’s the used watch market headed?
The Economics Of
How do the world's most successful companies generate revenue? In this explainer series, we'll dive into the surprising stories behind how businesses work--exploring everything from Costco's "treasure-hunt" model to the economics behind Amazon's AWS.
#Rolex #Watches #WSJ
WSJ is about two years too late to report this. Secondary market reached the peak last year and has been declining for 6 months
"WSJ is about years too late to report this". Steel Submariners started drying up around 2018. we turned it down when I was buying 1st Gen Tudor Black Bay. -- King Lux
Terrorist troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in radiocyon and chemical protection suits were seen near Bakhmut. Curators from the UK are preparing a provocation with nuclear and chemical weapons after the withdrawal of the main military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They also intend to substitute representatives from the United States so that all the evidence testifies that the US special services are behind the terrorist attack.!!!
I came here to say this.
does that mean a recession?
lol I was about to write this same comment
Other outrageous practices by Rolex ADs are implying that buying some piece of jewelry from them will help you build a “relationship” with the authorized dealer. They never mention how much of this other jewelry you need to buy, and nothing is in writing (so they can’t get in trouble with the law).
In the end it end up in the grey dealer never trust a single word from Rolex AD.. they are the devil but pretend to be angels’
It's funny how people are up in arms over Rolex but say nothing about how other luxury brands also do the same thing. For example, you can't buy a Hermes bag without spending a huge amount of money buying other things from them first, you have to wait to be allocated a bag, you have to build a relationship, and you can't choose what you will get. Sounds familiar?
@@g43654nah, hermes already well known for doing that. You’re in video about rolex, ofcourse people gonna talk about rolex not other brands.
@@g43654 you think people arent? Hermes bags only cost approx $500 to make and look like they were designed by a child.
Most luxury car brands do the same, to get the new model that's produced at a small scale, you must buy many large scale models before to even have a chance of being put in "the list"
Two words: Artificial scarcity. Rolex produces more watches than Patek, AP, and Vacheron put together but pretty much 80% of the stock goes to the grey market where prices are inflated because only 20% of watches are made available for purchase at authorised dealers to meet 100% of the demand. They have recently started certified pre-owned program to get bigger piece of that aftermarket pie. Used to own a few pieces but got rid of them a while ago seeing all this nonsense (profit was nice though but that isn’t why I collect). Rolex used to stand for a brand that offers a great watch at a reasonable price that was accessible to an average joe. Now that brand is Omega, at least in my eyes. My Railmaster for e.g. is a far better watch in every aspect than the Explorer I that I used to own. And dollar for dollar, Seamaster 300m diver (which I also own) is a better watch than Submariner. If you have money for a Rolex, get a Lange or a JLC, instead. Can also get used/vintage ones from the aforementioned “big 3” swiss brands.
You're right but most of the people who buys Rolex want to show them off so if common people do not know what Patek is, it won't have any effect on them. Rolex is more known to non-watch enthusiasts. That's why it's mostly worn buy people who sold some land or somehow get some money. If you but the watch for yourself buy a Patek or AP but if you buy it for others get a Rolex.
Lange is way more expensive than Rolex. It’s in a completely different league and they generally are bought by the ultra wealthy.
How can rolex sell 80% to the grey market directly? In what way?
I buy Grand Seiko since i like japanese craft and how perfect they are. GS watch might not look beautiful in picture but in reality when you hold one it is different story. No point in playing Rolex game i have Rolex only for investment(majority of people want Rolex because of this reason) but if you look elsewhere you will find with the same price of certain Rolex you will get more beautifull craftmanship. GS and Omega i love them both.
@@danielsolstrand My friend was a watch dealer. He was known to come into Rolex AD and said i will help buy everything that you cant sell but give me certain model so i can make a quick profit. So after a while the senior manager or something build a relationship with him and start dropping him plenty watches like Sub or GMT ii etc. He used to get out from the store with a big suitcase. Honestly the salesman in the AD worried about flipper so they cant just give the watch to anyone they dont have relationship with. So they usually did a bit of background check. Because they have some protocol they cant sell fast enough. The existence of watch dealer(grey market they can trust) is a plan B for them to make quick sell.
The ADs only sell to their exclusive clients who they know are flipping those Rolex to the grey market- so that means the average consumer cannot purchase a Rolex from the AD. Supply, demand, and AD selective selling. Simple.
look at it from the long term, say you buy a watch every 1-2 years and at some point you will also get the best watches from the AD
You got it. The Hermes Birkin bag of mass produced watches. They will likely make an attempt to move to 'application pieces' like Patek soon.
Terrorist troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in radiocyon and chemical protection suits were seen near Bakhmut. Curators from the UK are preparing a provocation with nuclear and chemical weapons after the withdrawal of the main military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They also intend to substitute representatives from the United States so that all the evidence testifies that the US special services are behind the terrorist attack.!!!
"Rolex wearing. Diamond ring wearing......" 😎
1 million % correct.I think Rolex should have a lottery on their own and force the ADs to sell 50% of their watches to win the lottery from Rolex but just for people that live near that AD. I own 2 Rolex watches one was a gift in 1986 and the other I paid retail and got it because many years ago I helped the managers daughter get a job in a hotel after she graduated but couldn't find a job. So I'm lucky but even I'm saying it's not right.
Need a video on how Rolex do their waitlist and how come there are a lot of full stickers watches that’s out there in the grey markets while most of us cant come to the store and buy it regularly
Artificial scarcity maintains the exclusivity?
It’s similar to tickets for sporting events. Most tickets sell out instantly and people have to buy resale prices.
@@BRBallin1Like sporting events tickets, folks hold back Rolex inventory for resellers that sell for market value. Retail price of tickets and Rolexes are often lower than the true market value.
Bribes can accomplish anything.
The reason why Rolex (and also Patek) have cachet is that they were one of the few Swiss watchmakers to survive the "Quartz crisis" of the 1970s. During that time many venerable Swiss watchmakers went bankrupt or almost bankrupt. Eventually the Swatch Group ended up buying out many brands and consolidated them by using similar movements across different brand names. Rolex proudly remained independent.
Seagull and Seiko are also independent, so why Rolex?
@@Aztec1050 Are you seriously comparing Seagull to Rolex? MADE IN SWITZERLAND. Enough said.
@@capmidnite tell me something special about Switzerland.
@@capmidnite the Swiss back in the old days used to produce low quality watches , much lower quality than English/German watches.
@@Aztec1050 Back in the old days WHEN? 1800s? There's a reason an Omega was chosen as the watch for the Apollo mission.
Waiting list is a false word to use when waiting for Rolex. There is no such thing as a waiting list. You do not move up on the list as people ahead of you get those watches. The list is just to register your interest, when and if the AD sells you the Rolex you want depends on the variety of different factors such as, spending history, potential to buy more stuff other brands and luxurty items and frankly how they like you as a person.
My theory is money laundry; tax avoidance, and money transfer. Smaller amount but easier to transfer across the world, much much easier than classic car.
What an easy and relatively clear example of Supply and Demand to follow.
🎉
It's also a pretty solid lesson in Marketing. If you know anything about watches, when the AD says there's a wait for a Daytona, you don't go gray market - you buy a Zenith El Primero or one of dozens alternatives that are as good or better for the same money.
but are gen z gunna want junk? they want tiny homes and thats it 😂
Just get a Punjabi Design look alike for $100.
I thought it would be because of who wore the watch, but to my surprise, it's just good ole' supply and demand (zzz)
This is a case of consumer behaviour disrupting the actual market they are targeted in. Creating a secondary market of readily available used products in a separate supply chain, where the manufacturer is the second choice of supply, causing the manufacturer to rethink its business model just to meet the excess demand created by themselves through deliberate scarcity to demonstrate value of their product but end up losing it to resellers. 🤔
Thank you for video 😊
Because they can make more money by limiting supply to retail and covertly selling directly to the secondary market?
The funny thing is that Swiss don't have problems getting them. It's exports.
@@CHMichael how do Swiss get them?
The bad side of capitalism.
@@lhliddal the funny thing is that he’s talking nonsense
Supply and demand, like diamonds, the market is manipulated to ensure prices remain high. Defining what the real price is is down to you, know one is forcing you to pay!
The real price is defined by what both parties are willing to agree on. Dont be delusional
Two words: social media. It used to be, if you wore a high status watch you would get a certain amount of “social credit“ limited to the few people you would interact with on a given day. With the advent of social media, that picture of your watch is seen by more people, and becomes a part of your personal brand. Therefore, the amount of “social credit“ utility has increased. This makes them more desirable, increasing their demand and driving up prices. It’s not just for Rolex watches. Luxury items in general have experienced sharp or increases in demand.
When I explain supply and demand I simply tell them to look at Rolex. Prime example of it.
The biggest reason I don't want a Rolex is because wearing it paints a target on your back that says "Please mug me, I have money."
I've talk with a vendor at the rolex store paris and he told me: i use most of my time at managing the reservation and waiting client list than sell watches. it was a 6-month waiting minimum to get just an air king. the stupid thing is "collectionneur" pay a bigger price for the same product and they're happy (and the most just resell after to make a quick buck). this moron keeps the market and the bubble insane.
Rolex certainly distinguishing between they customers. their waiting lists are just something made up to calm you down rather than literally saying "we can't sell you a watch". they sell watches to their really fancy clients. They don't want to sell a watch to someone who worked at Chipotle for 6 months and saved $8,000. Instead of saying “sorry I can't sell you a watch” without being rude to such a customer, “of course! I saved your name on the waiting list. I will give you a call as soon as possible!” means a more makes sense option to company policy.
Bs. The waiting list is for all. I know people buying multiple Rolexes and they don’t work at Chipotle... and guess what, they couldn’t avoid the waiting list either. Unless you’re really important, you’re getting on that waiting list.
You don’t let them know you work in Chipotle and they care pretty much just money
@@kencur9690 Yes, they wait for you most of the time, but if you are a good customer of the boutique or they think that this person is proper to carry our watch, waiting takes a few months; otherwise, they don't even write your name on the waiting list or wait for years. Also, many people just visit boutiques, writhe their names unconsciously, and never come back. They try to eliminate these people from the waiting list to deliver master craftsmen's watches to proper people.
When I bought my OP about 5 or 6 years ago the store had every Rolex model there was in the store. They had the one I bought in all different color dials. I wish I would’ve spent more and bought an Explorer. When I entered store I knew nothing about Rolex I just saw a commercial watching Wimbledon and thought “I am going to buy one.”
True watch enthusiast right here.
@@vantage789 🤣
Managing money is different from accumulating wealth, and the lack of investment education in schools may explain why people struggle to maintain their financial gains. The examples you provided are relevant, and I personally benefited from the market crisis, as I embrace challenging times while others tend to avoid them. Well, at least my advisor does too, jokingly.
Investors should exercise caution with their exposure and exercise caution when considering new investments, particularly during periods of inflation. It is advisable to seek guidance from a professional or trusted advisor in order to navigate this recession and achieve potential high yield
This is superb! Information, as a noob it gets quite difficult to handle all of this and staying informed is a major cause, how do you go about this are you a pro investor?
Through closely monitoring the performance of my portfolio, I have witnessed a remarkable growth of $483k in just the past two quarters. This experience has shed light on why experienced traders are able to generate substantial returns even in lesser-known markets. It is safe to say that this bold decision has been one of the most impactful choices I have made recently.
Wow, that’s stirring! Do you mind connecting me to your advisor please. I desperately need one to diversified my portfolio.
I’ve actually been looking into advisors lately, the news I’ve been seeing in the market hasn’t been so encouraging. who’s the person guiding you?
Interesting. And Very cool! Thanks.
WSJ - there is one reason for the huge drop. It is called interest rate increase. Interest rate revised valuation of all asset, non cash producing assets included. Last time I looked at my explo, it just has given the time, no money.
I once saw a guy selling a 'Rolex' on the street for $3 dollars. One of the numbers telling the time had already fell off and was loose at the bottom. The surprising part was that there were still people buying from him. He had a bag of them.
One time waiting for the city bus I too was offered a rolex cheap, forgot price but anyways I said all I had was 2 dollars for the Bus fare. When the salesman left I noticed his accomplice at a near distance left, I'm fairly sure I was going to get mugged!
Voiceover is excellent, not as squeaky as others on WSJ. Very useful data.
Sort of like the Birkin and Kelly by Hermés, they both go up in value by 100% in the used market. It’s crazy. A basic Togo Leather Birkin 35 costs $12k - $15k at the Hermés store, but it’s $25k - $30k in the used market.
I was thinking the same, although those bags take 2-3 days to make in comparison. Hermes game is in legal hot water atm could change that second hand market overnight
Bubble definition - paying over retail
Yea my Submariner seems to have inflated in value over the last 2-3 years.
Iam so glad I was able to buy Rolex in store after waiting for a year. All sales started because of young buyers full of cryto money. Iam the same and I will buy more models and not for flip but to wear.
Two words: market ing
My dady bought one NKUWAN and he loves it. It had been there for over 10 years when he went out with it.
It is incredible how foolish people are to be willing to pay over MSRP for something that is already overpriced!
My spouse and i are increasing our long term investments in a variety of stocks and exchange traded funds. we have set aside $250k to begin tracking inflation indexed bonds and stocks of companies with strong cash flow but would not hurt to be aware of ways to make short term gains too.
@@thebeautiful_emma thank you so much. i would take a look at him.
True, i think using a brokage advisor for investing is really smart because they produce good returns for their clients. thanks to Mr Morgan Evan Matz
Rolexes are the Chanel Classic Flap / Birkin for men. They’re inordinately expensive, price gouged on the scalper market, and yet somehow ubiquitous, because everyone who wants one has one. They’re so far from their origins as a classic tool watch maker every guy can save up for that it feels like what made them special is gone. The magic is dead. They’re hyper capitalist commodities that don’t stand for anything anymore.
Guy Debord and the Society of the Spectacle.
They're basically a way for insecure men to try to "prove" their worth.
I like how he called wear marks "Personal Details". Manipulation is at an all time high.They are just trying to prolong an obvious bubble.
I thought that was a funny comment too. I’d rather have the wear come from myself rather than the previous owner who I do not know.
Hype, marketing, desirability,demand……..
You can’t buy a new one, limited supply. The Authorized Dealer(AD) won’t sell their inventory to just anyone. You need to have an established relationship with them, bought multiple watches from them before they sell you one of the newer models that are in high demand. You might need to buy a model no one wants in order to buy the model you want. If they dismiss you can go to the ‘grey market’ to buy the model you want, of course at a much higher price than the suggested retail price. This is Ferrari’s business model.
Imna opt out my guy
Even if I had money for buying the rolax watch I rather pass!😂
Here's what you do: You want a Submariner, but you'll have to wait a year or two, and pay $18,000.00 for it. Or you can pay even more than that for some used Rolex.... OR...you can buy an Invicta Pro Diver, get it tomorrow, and pay 60-80 bucks. It looks like a Subby, but a little better. It has a Seiko automatic movement. While the Rolex is water resistant to 300 meters, the Invicta is good to 200, which is still about 3 times deeper than anyone can dive.
Has to do with the waiting game and impatience to immediately have access to own and wear the 'one' which is desired. Very few get on the waiting list as most are 'connections' to retailers a d wholesalers, and they are the ones feeding the pre-owned market as a 'bottleneck' controlling supply. 😮
I went to Bob's Watches and got ripped off BIG TIME from them, sometimes you just can't win? 🤯🤯 Bob's is no where even close to an Authorized Dealer.
In 2016 I walked into an AD & there sat a GMT BLNR. Luck & timing! And that was a Rolex 1st, the 1st with a bi colored Cerachrom Bezel.
I got a feeling the market is going to drop soon, the supply on the used side is just getting out of hand.
It's been tumbling for like 7 months...what a feeling you have predicting the past.
This is why me and James Bond wear Omega
Actual book bond and the early film bonds wear rolex, but to be honest can't hate on Omega
James Bond and I
This is because... re sellers bulk buy on rolex from retail stores at retail price. Then jack up the prices at resale value.
My old TIMEX ⌚ takes a licking and is still ticking 🎉
Yes! Same with my Casio! 👍🏽
Cant be bothered with expensive watches, really. I love the looks and design but I enjoy using my Coros running watch more than even if somebody gives me a Rolex. They both tell the same time anyways. 🥳
A Rolex is a good watch. PP, AP, VC, and GS are great watches and offer much better value. I've only been collecting for 25 years. I started with a G shock and recently acquired a 5131.
the waiting list is just too much . my suggestion is try to order and while waiting for that 5-10 years , do some dollar cost average on gold , stocks , crypto . how about getting a grand seiko , tudor , omega or even panerai :)
Eh just get a new one on the second market. The wait is just not worth the potential discount
And the makers of clone watchs say: tank You
ill stick w my gshock
Nice. You don't worry about scratches or drops.
I recently bought a 7.4 K dollar Rolex Watch,a friend sent a replica, I can't believe the slight variation cost him only 4.2 k dollar ,what a save!
If that was true, i believe your friend was fully ripped off, buying a fake Chinese watch for that much money.
Honestly a rolex is a big purchase, im considering one soon. I actually think waiting a year or 2 isnt so bad for half the price. Especially if its going to worth even more down the road.
My citizen blue angels chronograph syncs to the atomic clock in Colorado daily, adjusts itself for daylight savings, tells the day and date (Perpetual calendar including Leap years up to the year 2099), never requires a battery change because it is solar eco-drive (6 months Sleep mode, if left in dark upon being exposed to light it adjusts itself to the correct time), has a sapphire crystal, easy push button chronograph with 2 clicks, gets me compliments and cost me $250 USD used from a person that bought a nicer Citizen model. Just don't ask me reset it I will hire a rocket scientist for that. ROLEX is a status symbol, even Solid gold ones don't have a lot in gold only 4.5 oz/133 grams. Under $10,000 of gold yet they ask $50k+ retail
Price of the yellow Stella dial oyster perpetual is still hovering around 3-4x retail price… given up on that piece. Absolutely bonkers. On to the next!
For a car, watch, shoes or any other depreciating item… I’d never pay sticker price. I’d go for 20%+ off sticker price. Even worse if it’s a used item.
So basically a shift in demand by people who don't know what to do with their money
It’s all perspective, to someone that work a normal wage job buying a 10-20K watch sounds awful, but people that own there own businesses and that make 20K in 1 single day, spending 1 days work on luxury jewelry that can also increase in value doesn’t sound that bad.
Essentially, the same thing that happened with the used car market a few years ago.
Its market demand that made the issue and lack of production
So the answer is Rolex “can’t make them fast enough” and scalpers 👍. Basically groups with money and connections are cornering the market by buying out dealer stock and moving them to resale markets.
And the resale market could be selling you a stolen watch, a fake Rolex, a franken Rolex, or any combination of the above. The whole idea of an AD network is to guarantee the chain of custody of the item being sold. The ADs have thrown than idea into the trash bin.
It costs Rolex probably under $1,000 to make a Rolex Submariner. MSRP around $10k. The fact that these resale sell for $14k+ is amazing.
I don't understand the crazy prices on stainless steel models. For something like a solid 18k gold day date, or a king Midas, I can understand.
No, rolex sales them at 14K resellers are selling the same model higher for round 32K
@parksoo-kim6908 supply and demand. Nobody could predict the price of toilet paper back in 2021-2022.
Using the price of a fake Chinese watch and say that's how much a Rolex should cost is foolish. Are you telling me that because someone in China is making $2 an hour doing the same job as you, that you should only worth $2 an hour in America?
@@stuartchilongozi2439 The stainless steel submariner does not trade for 32k. Fot that money,you can get the solid gold version. But the stainless steel version is anywhere from 12k-14k on average. A
Having survived the "Quartz movement" of the 70", luxury brands are now facing another "crisis": The smart watch, especially the Apple Watch. Even multi-millionaires like Kevin O'Leary of Shark Tank can be seen wearing a "cheap" Apple Watch. I guess people are just buying these luxury watches for their collection.
Glad I collect Pateks
The only reason is because merchant group hold these stock rolex by borrowing at very low interest rates during the pre-covid years. They basically are now dumping the stock pile of rolex into the market while people are still thinking these industrial junk are good quality investment product.
Make a video called "Why New Rolex Watches Go Straight to the Grey Sites and Dealers." Every Rolex model you can think of is in plenty supply on grey sites...like Jaztime.
My brother left me one from 1981-82 ,all gold he's gone and that watch aint seen the light of day,why because i went to king seiko long ago.
To me it's stupidity. If I had that much money I would buy a watch for that price instead of used. People are buying Rolex and media says recession is hitting hard. How ?
I'm on 4 different list in 2 states at several Rolex ADs... Waiting on a yachtmaster .. I don't do used anything...
The question isn't why the prices are what they are on the secondary market, but rather why Rolex is effectively selling brand new at a discount.
They have decided that their product is values at the MSRP. Fools are paying above and beyond the MSRP.
You guys should talk about the CSGO billion dollar skin market. Similar market dynamics but completely just pixels.
Used to able get used one with discount
I am never satisfied with WSJ videos. I don’t know why! I feel I haven’t learnt anything after watching their videos! Again, I don’t know why!
Some people would want to have this expensive trinket, but at this price it is not a three fans dream coming true.
Rolex Authorised dealers are selling the watches to the grey market themselves, that's why they are not in the shops. ADs have in effect become scalpers. If you buy a Rolex nowadays, you've been had. Hard.
There are KZhead channels of greasy NY jewelry district guys flipping these all day. Hard to understand how they are scarce when it seems most buyers are flippers.
Mazal!
I was gifted a 5513 no date sub from 1990, its last year of production. Its price then was maybe 1500 in today's money, now it's worth 15k. 10x more in 32 years and it's only going up, not that i would sell it. Also this trend isn't unique to rolex but most swiss luxury watches like AP, Patek, Cartier etc.
Classic Adam smith theory! About diamonds and water!
THAT'S CRAZY. GLAD I do not collect Rolex watches. What a waste of time.
My Casio is my Rolex!
I myself would rather have a bad new Rolex, with nobody else’s karma on it 🤑
My Apple Watch SE i bought for $180🥴
Cuz they have more money than sense. Same with sneakers, games etc. At least with things like real estate . necessity comes into play.
This videos leaves out how hard it is to obtain a Rolex form a dealer. Not only is there a wait line but you have to have bought X amount of jewelry and spent X amount of $ there. before you are even placed in that wait line.
Right? I was screaming at how poorly researched this video is
But if you have the money to waste on a watch why would you care, to get a birkin bag you need to do the same.
new costs 14,800 and a year or 10 old one cost double but you get it instantly
I bought a really nice Invicta Speedway, and I have a nice watch and $14,950 in the bank.
I have a silver/silver speedway!
@turbyoulance 1 second ago I was told by an ex AD that and I will use this as an example. Say a Rolex watch is Listed at rrp at an AD's for $10,000. The AD buys it for 68% .In this analogy it is bought for $6,800. So Rolex make a considerable profit on that $6,800 and has to , pay it's staff and pay the electricity bills and advertising and shipment/s, etc, So this $10,000 rrp priced watch is actually made for around a third devoted to parts and labour costs. So it makes about $3,300 profit on each watch and pays NO TAX because it is considered a charity . Now Flipper's are willing to buy that $10,000 watch for $12,000 from n AD and know they can flip it for $16,000 or more on the Grey market. That is ROLEX in a nutshell.
Let's houp that this practices will help Rolexe image to grow, not to blow ☝️
That's supply x demand, this happens with watches, shoes, cars anything really that has more buyers than product availability
It's been like this for at least the last 5 years.
i really want this market to go downnn
artificial demand and price manipulation by dealers/resellers network.
I am on waiting list since 2002.
LoL
Perceived value.
My father wears a Rolex watch. I don’t wear a watch or jewelry now. Every device I own has a front-facing clock, so I can’t imagine ever needing or wanting a watch.
Agree. But it’s not about the time that these watches tell, it is the story behind each and every model that is fascinating to many.
@@michaeldgs i completely agree with you......watches are amazing mechanical devices that one can build a lifetime of memories and experiences with and then pass down to your loved ones. it's not really just about telling the time!
@@jh-il5sb time isn't even real, how can our watches be real?
@@sirus312 how metaphysical
Interesting
by the time they call you up on the list it is as expensive as after market.
Scarcity by design, they have plenty of non desirable watches, they just know how to make certain ones more desirable and they keep their numbers lower.
It's called madness
Rolex are bought by people who don’t normally wear or appreciates fine watches. There are tons of other watch brands that are just as well designed and made, or even better, than Rolex (ask any watch aficionado). Rolex is too commercialized and popular for my taste. Just like Louis Vuitton, there is that stigma of whether it’s real or fake and most people are buying it for the wrong reasons. I bought a Rolex a while ago but sold it after a year for what I paid for simply because the watch wasn’t me.
The economics of an artificially high value and an unlimited production can only mean the price will go down. There are a lot of used Rolex watches around, so maybe they should think about quietly destroying some of their production as other makers are suspected to have done. BTW the idea that these watches take a year to make is laughable......