Osnabrueck

Or at least, that's what their marketing firm would have you believe. Actually, Breitling is held in generally high regard amongst wristwatch cognoscenti. In parituclar, their Navitimers have become very popular show-off watches (almost too popular, some would argue).

Few brands, however, can lay claim to blazing so many trails as Rolex did in the mid 20th century. You really can't discount the role they played in the development of the modern wristwatch.

And just to think - Less than 100 years ago, no self-respecting man would be caught dead with a wristwatch on their arm!

Curb Zone

 

Centurion

The Navimeter and the Emergency series are Breitlings flagships, I beleive even Richard Branson rocks an Emergency, I don't know the exact model though.
The questions that is buzzing through my head right now is "why does Rolex deserv to use a crown as their symbol?" What exactly have they done for the world of wrist watches?

Osnabrueck

There's many watch brands that achieved a slew of milestones between the 1930s and 1970s. Some of them are now relatively obscure, like Fortis or Mido, and many others, like Omega and Rolex, are still well-regarded and are still thriving today.

So I guess the answer to your question has more to do with how Rolex has managed and marketed their brand than anything they've achieved in particular.

But Rolex is not bereft of hourlogical significance. For instance, they are purportedly the first watchmaker to produce a full 360º rotating automatic movement in the 1930s - a design which is fundamentally still present today. They were also on the forefront in the development of the modern diving watch. The Submariner is still widely considered the grandfather of all true divers. Also they are the largest "independent" producer of watch movements. The Rolex 3035 is quite possibly the most reliable and sturdy mass-produced movement out there.

Hypersonic

...Sorry Josh ....I was very tired when I wrote those comments ....I completely misread everything

Osnabrueck

And if one Tourbillon simply isn't enough for the horological maniac in you, how about two of them?

The Breguet Double Tourbillon comes in platinum with production limited to 20 pieces a year. Asking price? A mere $350,000.

Hypersonic

That is an incredible watch Josh ....Breguet invented the Tourbillon.


I love Blancpain.

NevadaJack

Are you sure you want to stand on that statement...

The crown is their Trademark so I imagine someone thought they were King of the Hill. Saying "why do they deserve to use a crown as their symbol" is like saying "why does MB deserve to use a Three Pointed Star as it's symbol."

Rolex is the most copied watch in the world and as such if they have done anything it is promote the "take off" market. If you want to discuss $50K watches that's fine but don't short shriff a Rolex. Mine is now 16 years old and to use the term..."Runs like a Swiss watch." And it looks good too...:-)

Michael

I decided to come back here and post something that I found in reference to Rolex. I know some of you have indicated that Rolex is not the best, but I beg to differ at times on certain opinoins depending on what is said. Either way just thought most of you may find this interesting.

History/Tradition – one of the things I respect most about Rolex is the place they hold in watch history. They virtually invented the modern day wristwatch, the water resistant case, and the self-winding mechanism among other innovations and contributions. They also produce more COSC certified watches then any other watch maker, and have done so for many years.

In House Movements – Rolex is one of the FEW watch houses that produces their own movements (most other brands of mechanical watches buy movements made by other companies). In fact, Rolex meticulously controls the production of nearly every last part, in every last component that are used in their watches. It’s one of the reasons why their watches cost more, and one of the things that makes Rolex so special.

Resale – You never know when a financial disaster will hit. The nice thing about buying a Rolex is, they can be sold quickly and at minimal loss.

Aesthetics – this plays a role in any watch I buy, and I’ve always liked the Rolex sport watch look and feel.

Brand Name Recognition – believe it or not, this a neutral point for me. In my experience, painfully few people notice or even care what kind of watch you’re wearing. Of those that do, for every person that says, “Hey cool you’re wearing a Rolex!” there’s someone that thinks, “oh, you’re wearing a Rolex….you must be one of THOSE kinds of people.” In the end, all the watches I buy and wear are because I like them. I don’t really care one way or the other what others think. I think you’re always better off when you buy things based on what it means to you, and irrespective of what others think.

As a Rolex Collector, here are a few other questions I’m often asked or hear:

Are Rolex Watches Entirely Hand Made? Rolex produces in excess of 800,000 watches per year. Unless they have the entire People’s Republic of China on their payroll, considerable automation is no doubt utilized in their production processes. I don’t see this as a negative because Rolex personnel supervise, inspect, and test every Rolex watch produced.

Does it take a year to produce a Rolex watch? I don’t see how this could be the case, given their production of over 800,000 watches per year. I’m sure more time is taken in quality assurance, testing, and re-testing than most other watches. But a year? C’mon. Besides…why would taking an entire year to make a watch be considered a good thing? Would your Dad have been happy if it took you 3 months to mow the lawn?

Do The Profits From Rolex Watches Go To Charity? Yes they do. The short, uncomplicated explanation is that when Hans Wilsdorf (Rolex’s founder) died, a foundation was created that controls what is now Rolex. The foundations funnels much of the profits generated by Rolex into various charitable endeavors. Given that Rolex isn’t a publicly held company, exact numbers aren’t known, but it’s clear they generate huge sums of money for worthy charities. Now doesn’t that make you feel better about buying a Rolex? Just tell people the watch your wearing it isn’t an overpriced bauble…it’s a charitable contribution! Just don’t go trying to write off your next Rolex purchase on your income taxes….

Are Rolex Watches “The Best?” The short answer is “no.” In fact many wouldn’t even consider Rolex a top tier brand. In the world of high horology, names like Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin, and A. Lange & Sohne are brand names spoken with hushed reverence for being the true upper echelon of fine mechanical watch making. Examples of watches from these brands can easily reach nearly six figures and above. Suddenly $4000.00 for a stainless Submariner isn’t so bad….

Are Rolex Watches a “good investment?” Will I make money on my Rolex? As I said above, one of the nice things about buying a Rolex is, they can be sold quickly and at minimal loss. But in most cases, as with any mass produced product that is purchased new and resold, you’re likely to lose a little money at the time of resale. Only the stainless steel Rolex Daytona models seem to be the exception, due to supply (woefully low) and demand (staggeringly high) considerations. Of the other Rolex models, the stainless steel 16610 date Submariner seems to be the safest bet in terms of minimal loss at resale. Given that Rolex increases the retail price of their watches 1-2 time per year, if you hold on to your Rolex for at least 10 years, you’ve got a pretty good shot at recouping most of your initial investment at the time of resale. That makes Rolex watches a better investment choice than most other watch brands, but a long shot away from being considered a “good investment.”


More here: - ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Osnabrueck

I'm almost given pause by a guy who actually collects new Rolexs. It's almost like meeting somebody who has a two new Jaguars in their garage.

I'll just let his photo do the talking:



But in any case, much of what he stated is more or less correct. It's folly, however, to credit Rolex alone for "inventing" innovations like waterproof cases and automatic movements. These innovations were incremental, and were brought along at different stages by numerous individuals in the watchmaking community.

As for resales, there's plenty of prestige watches out there that will hold their value just like a Rolex. It all depends on the make and model, but for the most part, watches done in "classic style" hold their worth very well.

For instance, an Omega Speedmaster "moon watch" chronograph is a classic from the 60s whose look is baked in time; resales are very strong for models in good condition. However, watches that are periodically updated, like the Omega Seamster professional, are prone to feel dated and lose resale over time.

So, it just goes from model to model. Today's Breitling Emergency probably won't fetch much money ten years from now, but a Breitling Navitimer probably will.

Centurion

Nice to see that there are people on GCZ with lots of knowledge about watches. I've just become a watch fan and have moderate knowledge right now. Still learning though.

Here is a very good watch site which I have the latest weeks been using as a source of knowledge.
- ONLY REGISTERED AND ACTIVATED USERS CAN SEE ALL LINKS - CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Plus pictures of my watch I bought a two weeks ago. The next watch I'll buy will probably be a used seamaster but that's not until one or two years when I've got the dough.

Curb Zone