In the meantime, there are other interesting brands to put our hard-earned money on...
On Monday I discovered the new Zenith El Primero Chronomaster Sport and smiled. Yes, it looks very much like a Daytona with the white dial and ceramic etc etc.... but, given the fact the El Primero movement was the first automatic movement in a Daytona I feel Zenith can pull it off.
There are already a few side by side photos and the Zenith just looks so fresh, funky and elegant all at the same time.
Rolex couldn't be arsed to cater for the masses by supplying what they produce, so up steps Zenith to sweep the cards off the table.
They are already calling it the Zentona 🤦
Rolex couldn't be arsed to cater for the masses by supplying what they produce, so up steps Zenith to sweep the cards off the
If we assume for argument's sake that Zenith was intentionally seeking to be as Daytona-like as possible:
-> it's odd that Zenith went with the split-second bezel rather than a tachy bezel; or
-> they went with a split-second bezel to not be too obvious in their intent?
Could just be that any chronograph with a black bezel and similar movement geometry (and so hand location) will look similar, and it's only because of Zenith's past is there any particular correlation noted.
This video on the Hermes Birkin bag, IMO, explains Rolex Steel Sports watch availability.
Hermes and Rolex are using the same model, namely,
"You can't just walk into Hermes and get one. While there used to be a waitlist, nowadays, all you can do is hope to be important enough, or spend enough, to be offered a Birkin bag"
Agree that Rolex is probably using the Hermes Brikin Bag method to great success, difference is, you can buy pretty much any other Hermes item on line or in a store, the same can not be said for Rolex.
You can buy pretty much any Cellini or precious metal Rolex on-line or in a store. Sorry, I fail to see the distinction.
You can buy pretty much any Cellini or precious metal Rolex on-line or in a store. Sorry, I fail to see the distinction.
Oliver Muller’s article about PP’s 5711 over at SJX presents a good rationale for why a brand would intentionally want to limit supply and increase demand: brand equity.
To paraphrase my takeaway, by building brand equity now, Rolex (or any other brand) can bank on being able to capture increased revenue due to the brand equity in the future by charging more than what would make sense for inflation and/or new tech.
https://watchesbysjx.com/2021/01/patek-philippe-nautilus-5711-1a-steel-discontinued.html
If we need proof that Rolex benefits from the demand for its brand outstripping its regulated supply, as well as benefiting from the spectacle of the grey market, we need only note that Rolex is in fact doing it.
... watches are just a commodity and to that extent are basically worthless: if you need to tell time, look at your phone.
What is valuable is the Rolex brand, not the Rolex watches; and the brand value increases by having a segment of their business be this type of cultural phenomenon (for better and worse).
Nike does the same thing with its commodities: the bulk of its profits are from everyday dad shoes no one raises an eye about; but for the collectible shoe segment, with billion-dollar grey market sub-industries built around it, Nike purposefully makes far fewer pairs than demanded, and reaps the brand rewards.
The value of Rolex or Nike are not in the commodities they produce - they’re in their brands, and they are doing exactly what increases the value of their brand, all things considered.
These being as far as I can tell the business facts, it helps me to not take it personal, or incorrectly feel as though Rolex is being somehow dumb.
I have seen two PM models in AD's in the last ten months and no Cellini examples save an early 00s' example in the estate section...online, yes, but in-person it's still a dice toss, at least in my region.
I have seen two PM models in AD's in the last ten months and no Cellini examples save an early 00s' example in the estate section...online, yes, but in-person it's still a dice toss, at least in my region.
