I don't understand the recent Rolex SS craze/shortage. What am I missing?

Lenny Pepperidge

As I've mentioned previously, I don't buy the Asia (let's be honest, we're talking about China) excuse. The Chinese economy didn't take off two years ago. If this is what is driving it, we'd have seen the effect a decade ago. Plus, the Chinese economy is maturing and the gold rush of the late 00's is over. Throw in that Xi and party have enacted a serious crackdown against conspicuous consumption and materialism (you probably don't want to be a Chinese citizen coming home through customs with a new Rolex in your luggage), and I just don't buy the fact that China is swallowing up all the SS sport watches.

STANDY

Rolex is selling most of the SS sports models in China is nothing but a right load of old Codswallup.

Rolex is trying to get rid of the millions of DateJust watches that they are stuck with after the Chineses government banned giving of watches as gifts for - er um helping do stuff

Fatcat

They was a trick of course 😀))

instead of having empty places they are full of not for sale .

different way same result

Fabrice M

It makes their product more “special” and “focus”.

Fabrice M

I understand that it would seem that way. my point is that it doesn’t’ come from marketing, but rather a philosophical decision not to grow past a certain point. There are advantages in restraint, especially in the luxury market. Other companies such as Hermès, have followed the same “restraint” route.

Fabrice M

Maybe it’s more of a European thing, in America it’s hard to understand that a company would not want to be bigger, and richer... But remember that those companies Rolex, Hermès, etc.., are private companies and don’t have to answer to stockholders, and in Rolex case, they don’t even have to make a profit...

Fabrice M

I understand that it would seem that way. my point is that it doesn’t’ come from marketing, but rather a philosophical decision not to grow past a certain point. There are advantages in restraint, especially in the luxury market. Other companies such as Hermès, have followed the same “restraint” route. Maybe it’s more of a European thing, in America it’s hard to understand that a company would not want to be bigger, and richer... But remember that those companies Rolex, Hermès, etc.., are private companies and don’t have to answer to stockholders, and in Rolex case, they don’t even have to make a profit...

NickC

I was flying out of Heathrow Terminal 5 yesterday where they have a boutique. Absolutely no gents models other than Datejusts. No Day Dates and absolutely no sports models. Womens models were Datejusts again but they had some in gold or diamond encrusted.
A British Airways pilot walked in and asked if they had any sports models anywhere and was told no.

Davidt

Seeing as I can't find any ADs with new stock I then had a look around some pawn shops/resellers.

Unfortunately none struck the right balance between condition and price but I can see myself swaying towards a later 14060m (I know the pics below are date models but no one had a no date).

Cozmopak

I fear that those people purchasing Rolexes as “solid investments” may be sorely disappointed in the future. A solid investment is a total market index fund, not a single watch. But to each his own.