re: Need help deciding on a classic mid to high-end watch:

quote:

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For some reason when I first meet someone with a big rolex I don't particularly trust them.

In my mind why would any good business person send that kind of money on a watch?

I guess I shouldn't stereotype people like that.

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The first thing that struck me was "big Rolex" since the vast majority of Rolex are not large in the modern sense but even Rolex has succumbed to the trends and make larger than their traditional 36-40mm sizes.

I see Rolex kinda like a 911 as both have the douche moniker attached to them but they are both well made and iconic. Rolex is the most polarizing brand inside and outside the watch community, though Grand Seiko pushes that in the watch community.

Rolex simply makes a damn fine upper-mid level sports watch. They do have a level of price premium due to the name but that repays the owner is resale which only a couple of other brands can match. Rolex also has the largest number of iconic watches in their current catalog and frankly just about everything they make in the Oyster line is iconic. Much like the 911 their design changes are evolutionary vs revolutionary and the newest Submariner has strong DNA ties to the first.

Rolex is also one of the most in-house made watches. While for nearly 100 years of watchmaking the Swiss watch manufacturers almost all used subcontractors to build make cases, dials, hands, hair springs, dial etc the move over the last 20 years has been to make as much as possible in-house as it has become prestigious within the watch community to do that. Along with Grand Seiko, Rolex is the most in-house vertically integrated watch company in the world. In general, the more you know about Rolex the more one has to appreciate them.

There is an old theme that people that like watches go through 3 stages with Rolex appreciation and Jack Forster probably explains it better than anyone:

Jack's article

Most people judge people every day on a number of things. When I see a Rolex (especially a stainless one) I assume they like iconic well made items just like when I see someone in a 911, but sometimes they turn out to be a jackhole but that happens just as often when they are wearing a Walmart Casio and driving a F150.

In the end, the vast majority of people could care less and likely not notice what if any watch you have on your wrist.