So, whats with all the Rolex/metal clasp loving,

[Tieberion]

To start, I own two real deal Rolex, one from family, one as a gift after retiring from work. Their OK, but even younger I never really cared for them. Ok, im probably biased as my two favorite brands are Breitling and Bremont. And of course I'm a genuine leather guy on the wrist. Even back in Combat in Somalia in 93 I wore my watch with a leather strap vs some of the stuff the other guys had.

So that brings us to the point of this post. Every site, WhatsApp chat, Telegram show, your bombarded with Rolex clones. Is it just because it's an age old name that's associated with a "high society" watch? Although I do admit, with modern technology and machining, wow, unless your an expert or paid $29.99 to a guy in a trench coat on the corner, they are really good these days. But then I think, wow, the factories must try to be discreet, and only have X a.ount of time, employees, and materials. So if 80% of that is whorEx, err, Rolex, then that only leaves 20% of the time for the rest of us, making them harder to find, waiting on a custom order, or not easy to replace/refund for a bad ticker.

Thanks for reading, I await the tar and feathering from Rolex Fans!

 

[Jossé]

To start, I own two real deal Rolex, one from family, one as a gift after retiring from work. Their OK, but even younger I never really cared for them. Ok, im probably biased as my two favorite brands are Breitling and Bremont. And of course I'm a genuine leather guy on the wrist. Even back in Combat in Somalia in 93 I wore my watch with a leather strap vs some of the stuff the other guys had.

So that brings us to the point of this post. Every site, WhatsApp chat, Telegram show, your bombarded with Rolex clones. Is it just because it's an age old name that's associated with a "high society" watch? Although I do admit, with modern technology and machining, wow, unless your an expert or paid $29.99 to a guy in a trench coat on the corner, they are really good these days. But then I think, wow, the factories must try to be discreet, and only have X a.ount of time, employees, and materials. So if 80% of that is whorEx, err, Rolex, then that only leaves 20% of the time for the rest of us, making them harder to find, waiting on a custom order, or not easy to replace/refund for a bad ticker.

Thanks for reading, I await the tar and feathering from Rolex Fans!

Rolex is the most and best replicated brand, it’s as simple as that Market demand.

 

[mclarendude]

You sort of answered your own question. It has always been a premium status symbol.

Covid doubled or tripled the hype for the status symbol when people decided they weren't taking their money with them if they died and then Rolex dialed down production numbers to cause a shortage that then drove price and demand up. This gave people FOMO etc etc.

At the end of the day, Rolex is not a luxury brand. It's a premium brand, just like Omega, Breitling, etc...

Regarding metal/leather. To each their own. But it would be sort of stupid to wear a Submariner daily on a leather strap. Like going to work as a salvage diver while wearing suspenders and elastic shirt stays that hold on to your legs.

 

[Tieberion]

You sort of answered your own question. It has always been a premium status symbol.

Covid doubled or tripled the hype for the status symbol when people decided they weren't taking their money with them if they died and then Rolex dialed down production numbers to cause a shortage that then drove price and demand up. This gave people FOMO etc etc.

At the end of the day, Rolex is not a luxury brand. It's a premium brand, just like Omega, Breitling, etc...

Regarding metal/leather. To each their own. But it would be sort of stupid to wear a Submariner daily on a leather strap. Like going to work as a salvage diver while wearing suspenders and elastic shirt stays that hold on to your legs.

Ah, thy decided to pull a De Beers. Sorry, the supply has dried up, /closes door to huge factory behind them quickly. Haven't followed Rolex, I knew Covid beat the heck out of China, both in population loss, and just totally messing up the supply chain/sending a lot of small business bankrupt, and even some people I knew left the cities for farm/field/government infrastructure jobs as that was the best guaranteed pay for a bit after Covid.

 

[mclarendude]

To be fair, Rolex has always been the top watch replicated since I've been in the game.

But, now it has taken over a big share of the rep market.

Rep makers now make what is in demand, not what they want to make. IE (Planet Oceans, SMP Chronos, weird watches they used to rep that no one cared about etc).

 

[Rx4Time]

I miss the variety we used to enjoy. Like every other industry, the non / less profitable models continue to be trimmed from the production line.

 

[abat]

Rolex is the most and best replicated brand, it’s as simple as that Market demand.

Exactly!

 

[Dave2302]

I await the tar and feathering from Rolex Fans!

OK, not that I'm particularly a Rolex Fanboy, all watches really

 

[zinduna]

To start, I own two real deal Rolex, one from family, one as a gift after retiring from work. Their OK, but even younger I never really cared for them. Ok, im probably biased as my two favorite brands are Breitling and Bremont. And of course I'm a genuine leather guy on the wrist. Even back in Combat in Somalia in 93 I wore my watch with a leather strap vs some of the stuff the other guys had.

So that brings us to the point of this post. Every site, WhatsApp chat, Telegram show, your bombarded with Rolex clones. Is it just because it's an age old name that's associated with a "high society" watch? Although I do admit, with modern technology and machining, wow, unless your an expert or paid $29.99 to a guy in a trench coat on the corner, they are really good these days. But then I think, wow, the factories must try to be discreet, and only have X a.ount of time, employees, and materials. So if 80% of that is whorEx, err, Rolex, then that only leaves 20% of the time for the rest of us, making them harder to find, waiting on a custom order, or not easy to replace/refund for a bad ticker.

Thanks for reading, I await the tar and feathering from Rolex Fans!

Welcome to the forum.

Focus on the fact that we're living in an age when reps are close to indistinguishable from gens (on the wrist). If demand for Rolex models has driven the market to new heights, so be it; lots of smaller brands have risen on the same tide. I don't collect Rolex or pay attention to the brand, and like you, I enjoy a leather strap. My advice is to tune out Rolex, get to know other brands (there is plenty to choose from), try them out, and when you find a watch you love, upgrade to a gen strap to elevate the feel 100%. Good luck!

 

[Tieberion]

Yeah noticing that trying to find a reputable, less than popular Breitling Rep.a few SEALs I worked with over the years wore them, not sure if they were reps/real, as they had separate, military supplied Diving equipment. A couple ended up getting burned to the point of blisters with the metal bracelets, especially if they wore them when they were just dropped off waiting a few weeks for a mission/transfer to another area.
Wore my Rolex once in early August on a 16 hour drive, had a nice burn/weird tan from my arm (wear on my left) facing the window/sun. I do have a cheap? Made watch that was a wear around, or FFS cant even rember the name, it's buried in its box in my drawer. Was supposed to be a replica sort of, of a Soviet Watch/Rolex, but later learned the company had been sold to China and it was made there lol. *CCCP Watch!!* Been sitting here for 10 minutes with a blank look trying to remember that name lol.

I miss the variety we used to enjoy. Like every other industry, the non / less profitable models continue to be trimmed from the production line.

Yup. Noticed even here on the member Replica Sales board, most Rolex sit a bit unless it's a rare at a great price, whereas most Breitlings are sold within minutes of posting.