# What makes Rolex watches so special? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 23, 2007, 4:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130 "2007-03-23T04:18:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Waverly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/57b2e6/32.png) [@Waverly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Waverly)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/21 "2007-03-24T02:20:49Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] I stand corrected. Do you have a cite? [/QUOTE] I’m afraid the best cite is going to be a credible description of the selection that doesn’t include the gravity fallacy. The fallacy is simply more popular than the truth by a wide margin - but give the NASA scientists and engineers some credit. Not only did they know their physics, but several of their tests would have included zero G’s anyway. Imai’s Time Capsule, mentioned here ([What watches were worn on or near the moon?](http://home.xnet.com/~cmaddox/moonmovement.html)), contains the most oft cited story of the moonwatch. Oh, also a fallacy: NASA spent millions on a space pen, and unbeknownst to them, the Russians used pencils. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Cymbeline](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_cymbeline/32/9244_2.png) [@Green\_Cymbeline](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Cymbeline)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/22 "2007-03-24T02:52:01Z")
My dad wears a Rolex that he had since about 1970. About 15 years ago, after years of it sitting in a drawer, he got it tuned up and has been wearing it ever since. He loves it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/23 "2007-03-24T03:09:22Z")
[QUOTE=benny73] Many years ago I recall someone saying that one way to tell if it’s a genuine Rolex is by looking at the movement of the second hand. If it moves with a smooth non jerky movement around the dial, it’s likely a Rolex. I think the person said it’s movement was called “inkablock.” [/QUOTE] Well, what they were essentially trying to tell you is that most fake Rolexes (Dubai and Singapore were the places to get such things back when I paid attention) use modern quartz movements which move a second at a time. A mechanical watch (like a Rolex perpetual) will always have a “sweep” second hand, which move in smaller increments. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/24 "2007-03-24T03:11:07Z")
[QUOTE=Johnny L.A.] IIRC Rolexes were originally considered, only Rolex didn’t offer a manual-wind watch. (There was an issue over whether an automatic watch would work in zero-g.) The Omega Speedmaster was offered in a manual-wind version, and so became the ‘issue’ watch. I’ve seen photographs of astronauts wearing Rolex GMTs, and I have a photograph in an airshow booklet showing then-Captain Chuck Yeager wearing a Sub. Apparently Rolex were popular with test pilots back in the '50s and '60s. [/QUOTE] Hey **Johnny** , I gotta say that ever since my [Speedmaster came back](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409151&highlight=omega), I struggle with the debate every morning of wearing the Sub or the Speedy. I think the Speedmaster looks better, but the Sub seems to have better fit and finish and has a bit more weight to it. Nevertheless, they are both classics, and that is probably the most important reason why I like my Rolex: the classic design, good looks, and excellent fit and finish. None of my fellow computer geeks even notice – not that it matters to me. They all wear Casio G-Shock or other sports watches. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/25 "2007-03-24T03:41:44Z")
[QUOTE=minor7flat5] I gotta say that ever since my [Speedmaster came back](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409151&highlight=omega), I struggle with the debate every morning of wearing the Sub or the Speedy. [/QUOTE] I have the same dilemma with my GMT II, my Sub, and my Seikos. I had the Sub serviced last year, including a new dial, hands and bezel. (The original dial and hands were no longer luminescent.) Of course I didn’t get the parts back… which may be an answer to: > [@](#): > > Ellen Cherry]I asked this very question at an upscale jewelry store which sold Rolexes, and was told the pieces and parts for the watches are made on-site at the Rolex factory (wherever that is). They don’t get their parts from suppliers; they make them themselves. This is why they are so expensive, I was told. > > Is there any truth to this? I think it is true that all parts are made in-house; but I don’t think that’s why they’re so expensive. Nowadays Rolex are trading on their reputation. They’re still good watches and I like them, but they’re not ‘all that’. They have a rule that only Rolex parts can go into a Rolex watch, and many (most? all?) parts are supplied on an exchange basis. So I was not allowed under their policy to have the old parts back from the Sub. It’s all part of their fake exclusivity. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/26 "2007-03-24T04:14:28Z")
[QUOTE=minor7flat5] …ever since my [Speedmaster came back](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=409151&highlight=omega), I struggle with the debate every morning of wearing the Sub or the Speedy. I think the Speedmaster looks better, but the Sub seems to have better fit and finish and has a bit more weight to it. [/QUOTE] (more watch namedropping the bling types will never get) Yeah, I love my dad’s old Tissot but I have just three more years until my tenth work anniversary, when I get my Omega. (and here I go, blowing it all to hell by being unable to resist the flashily ironic in fashion) But lately all I’ve worn have been ex-Soviet Vostoks. ---
**Author:** ![janton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/35a633/32.png) [@janton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/janton)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 5:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/27 "2011-11-04T05:01:04Z")
Speaking from hands on ownership, I am blessed to have two Rolex watches being a Submariner as well as a Datejust both in stainless. IF you desire a personal accessory that people will notice, the Rolex watch fits the bill. I’ve actually had people come up to me asking how I liked my Sub when it was partially covered up by my shirt sleeve. The Sub loses 2 seconds per day, while the datejust loses 0-1. The loss or gain can be controlled by how you set the watch down. If I were to purchase this duo today my outlay of cash would be about $11K. They are great watches. However, for between $100-$200 one could buy many timepieces that would serve one well for years. The bummer associated with Rolex watches comes at the time you need to have it cleaned, or “overhauled” every 5 years or so. Presently, to have this service performed by an “authorized” Rolex dealer will set you back $700-$800. Considering everything, if I were to have my watches stolen and reembursed by the insurance company, I most likely would not replace them. I would probably choose the time tested workhorse Seiko 21 J. automatic divers watch. This watch can take anything you’ll ever dish out and will last for years all for less than $150. Orient which is also part of the Seiko group is a great watch who produce their own movements and many models can be putchased for $120 or less. Citizen’s Myota 21 J movement is equal to a Swiss made ETA and just as accurate. I have one that is accurate to 1-2 seconds per day. For pure time keeping, my $27 Timex Easy Reader with Indiglo, 10 year battery, and 5 seconds variance in 2 months totally puts a smile on my face. Please don’t get me wrong. I do enjoy my Rolex watches, but like so many things in life, the greatest thrill was the goal of owning one and not the actual ownership itself. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/28 "2011-11-04T05:24:40Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, what they were essentially trying to tell you is that most fake Rolexes (Dubai and Singapore were the places to get such things back when I paid attention) use modern quartz movements which move a second at a time. > > A mechanical watch (like a Rolex perpetual) will always have a “sweep” second hand, which move in smaller increments. I foolishly bought a fake in Dubai, and the second hand definitely jerked, or at least it did until the entire thing fell apart in my hands about a week later. ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/29 "2011-11-04T05:42:22Z")
It may have taken 4 years, but thank god we finally settled why Rolex watches are special. ---
**Author:** ![anya\_marie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ebca7d/32.png) [@anya\_marie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anya_marie)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 9:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/30 "2011-11-04T09:04:15Z")
I’ve heard somewhere that Rolexes don’t make the same tick-tick-tick that you can hear in other watches. Is that true or just a rumor? ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/31 "2011-11-04T09:34:49Z")
> [@Crotalus](#): > > Middle class? Don’t new ones cost at least $3,000? Well..upper middle class. Doctors. Lawyers. Highly paid corporate guys. A lot of my friends have $3-5k Rolexes, TAGs, Breitlings, Movados, etc. We do well, but we aren’t “rich” rich. [The truly wealthy might wear something like these watches.](http://www.forbes.com/2004/11/30/cx_ns_1201featslide_2.html?thisSpeed=6000) Note that aside from being seveal hundred G, most are a) very tasteful and stylish and b) don’t look like something P-diddy would wear. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/32 "2011-11-04T11:59:23Z")
> [@anya\_marie](#): > > I’ve heard somewhere that Rolexes don’t make the same tick-tick-tick that you can hear in other watches. Is that true or just a rumor? They do tick. But you have to listen closely. My Rolexes are quieter than my other watches. (You still have to listen closely to the other watches as well.) My GMT II ticks faster than my Sub, which ticks faster than my Seikos, which tic faster than my Timex did until it broke or my ‘SandY’. I believe, without doing any research, that the faster ticking indicates finer movements that result in better accuracy – in a mechanical watch, anyway. My quartz Seiko Sports 100 Chronograph ticks once per second and keeps time better than any of the mechanical ones. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/33 "2011-11-04T12:33:49Z")
There have been many threads on this topic. Suffice to say that Rolex is indeed a high-quality watch. However, the (machine made) movements are not special in any way-they have no fancy engraving or gilding (as most expensive watch movements do). If you open one up, what you see resembles any $200-$500 watch movement. Because they are mechanical, any cheap quartz watch will beat them for accuracy. Do they convey and status? I suppose, if you buy one with a solid gold case/band. They are like any luxury good-expensive , so as to demonstrate your ability to have one. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/34 "2011-11-04T13:47:22Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > (more watch namedropping the bling types will never get) Yeah, I love my dad’s old Tissot but I have just three more years until my tenth work anniversary, when I get my Omega. > > (and here I go, blowing it all to hell by being unable to resist the flashily ironic in fashion) But lately all I’ve worn have been ex-Soviet Vostoks. Heh, I have a Vostok Sturmovic green dial military watch. I screw with digital watches, analog quartz battery operated watches and need a mechanical winder or self winder and it was the only one I could find that was under $500 at the time I was shopping for a new watch. Back during the tail end of the cold war it used to raise a few eyebrows on my husbands boats. ---
**Author:** ![Spud](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spud/32/347_2.png) [@Spud](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spud)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/35 "2011-11-04T14:42:18Z")
I’m glad this old thread resurfaced… it reminded me that my Dad bought an expensive watch he was quite proud of when I was a kid. It was extremely thin for the time and had a really funny name. It was a Girard-Perregaux… 18k rose gold band. I just looked it up and it currently is listed on-line for $23k. There is no way he spent that much back in the '70’s (maybe late '60’s). I assume part is due to the rise in gold prices. Last time I saw him he was still wearing it. I’ll see him again at Christmas and should probably let my Mom know to keep an eye on it (he has Alzheimers). ---
**Author:** ![ReticulatingSplines](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e274bd/32.png) [@ReticulatingSplines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ReticulatingSplines)\ **Post date:** [November 4, 2011, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/36 "2011-11-04T20:38:51Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Do they convey and status? I suppose, if you buy one with a solid gold case/band. Yes, that status would be “I’m a used car dealer with a hairy chest.” ---
**Author:** ![UntouchedTakeaway](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d78d45/32.png) [@UntouchedTakeaway](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UntouchedTakeaway)\ **Post date:** [November 5, 2011, 12:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/37 "2011-11-05T12:19:18Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Name recognition. I’ve never even heard of a Henry Winston. (of course, I’m quite far from being a watch connoisseur) I suspect the OP may have meant the noted jeweler _Harry_ Winston. UT ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2011, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/38 "2011-11-07T00:57:58Z")
The bottom line is that Rolex makes very nice looking watch in a sport/dress category they have effectively defined over the years. The watch has a very nicely finished case and bracelet (though some dislike the engineering of the bracelet clasp) on a par with watches at, and even above it’s price range. Where Rolex diverges with it upper tier price competitors is on the level of finish (and some argue the quality) of the automatic movement. In the upper tier watches the movements are entirely hand assembled and are often highly finished. While there are some nice technological aspects to Rolex movements the Rolex movement is effectively assembled on an industrial production line, and there is much less hand finish and individual attention to detail. There are also more exotic metals, advanced production techniques, cutting edge materials (ie silicon springs, gears) and other technological advances in many of these other high end watches vs Rolex whose design is relatively conservative mechanically and aesthetically. Having said this Rolex does a good job assembling these watches. The “rate” or accuracy results of these Rolex movements, when tested, are generally head to head with the hand assembled units that got much more tweaking. Also, Rolex for all it’s lack of movement finish is a time tested and durable movement, and will last a generation or longer with care. So … how does a quite nicely finished watch with a fairly ordinary movement command prices that are probably 2-5 times what you normally expect for what they are delivering? Simple. They are the GOD FUCKING KINGS OF MARKETING. Some say Rolex’s actual business, and where they spend ungodly sums of money, is marketing. They are the Perfect Masters of building maintaining their brand recognition and desirability. The watch has a solid and interesting history, it’s “classic” looking having defined it’s own genre, with and it defines a the wearer as having some disposal income and a better than average economic prospect. In business schools “Rolex” is what is often brought up as one of the premier marketers on the planet. This summation[from another website](http://forums.watchuseek.com/f2/why-rolex-more-expensive-than-other-swiss-brands-19535-4.html)is instructive > [@](#): > > why is rolex more expensive than other swiss brands? > > 1.) Rolex SA is a foundation initiated and originally funded by Hans Wilsdorf and the Aegler family. According to foundation documentation, the Rolex SA company can never be sold, nor traded on any stock market. Rolex donates profits to charitable causes!!! > > 2.) Rolex spends close to 70% of its revenue on advertisement, marketing and protecting its brand and products! > > 3.) Rolex has mastered high end mass production and quality controll and marketing better than any other brand on this planet full stop. > > 4.) Discussing whether Rolex is the best or if it is worth the money is like talking about which is first, the chicken or the egg… it will never end. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [January 4, 2014, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-makes-rolex-watches-so-special/397130/40 "2014-01-04T01:42:24Z")
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