I got a 6.5 inch wrist and honestly I do not like the way watches larger than 37mm diameter (without diving bezel) respectively 40mm (with diving bezel) too large and overbearing. My Lug to Lug sweet spot is
Big watches are like tramp stamps on females. Those who have it swear by it, those who don’t are like “ehhh, nah”. I tried so hard to like the BB S&G GMT but it looks dumb. So does any watch above 14-14.5mm thickness. 41mm dials on my 18.5cm wrist looks dumb and childish - regardless of the brand.
Adding 36/37mm sizes is more unisex and inclusive. A lot of women don't want a "lady" watch in rose gold and diamonds. It's mother's day and Omega is trying to advertise hideous girlie crap to me. A lot of women own the BB58. Tudor is wise to bring in the 54 and the Pelagos 39. I hope more brands follow.
Interesting how watch enthusiasts are a majority men. Why do you think women in general aren’t as likely to get into watches? Do you think it’s because the industry has never catered to women in terms of horology and instead marketed to them more as jewelry? Edit: even if it was that they marketed women’s watches as jewelry, it’s not like women don’t like jewelry. And yes, I know all mechanical watches are basically jewelry, but I hope you catch my drift.
If I had to guess I would say because men were the ones who needed the time in the workforce and on the battlefield. It’s been marketed mainly to men for a century now. For women it will almost always be looks over function, like high heels and sleeveless dresses in the cold.
Regarding Rolex, a luxury ITEM and a luxury BUYING EXPERIENCE are two different things, that are inextricably linked. To me, a luxury buying experience includes: - Timely delivery (meaning no long waits) - Excellent customer service (which includes attention to the customer's needs, being treated with respect, and having great product knowledge) - Top-notch quality product (durability, attention to detail, top tier materials and design) Rolex fails its customers (and prospective customers) on the buying experience. It's a part of the value chain they need to fix before all this negative sentiment starts to affect their dominant market position and overall brand.
Actually, Rolex also fail their customers on the not-so-top-notch quality due to the newest and problematic 32X movements they've fitted in their latest watches.
Yup, after dealing with Rolex pimps ahem "authorised dealers" went with Tag Link, Grand Seiko Snowflake and Omega Speedmaster for my daily usage. The experience with Rolex is anything but luxury. Lexus is one brand in my opinion that could teach everyone on how to create a consistent luxurious environment and treatment of its customers.
the audio and visuals and clearly spoken qualities of your channel are amazing. everytime I try to watch a watch review from someone else less known, I have to stop and check if you make a review of it
I went to a Rolex dealership yesterday to buy my father a watch. THE most condescending experience and the entire process was pointless. You can't buy anything. Instead of being treated as a valued customer they make you feel like you can't buy one cause you're not a dealer spending millions with them. A very greedy cheap move by a company that is supposed to represent class. Felt more like pimp culture in there. For me at least if they don't want to sell me a watch or put me on a fair wait-list then I am never trying to spend any money with them again.
I virtually cancelled Rolex from my holy grail list because of these reports about how they treat their customers, especially that you're paring 4-5 digits for their overrated products.
@@Mpayne1472 Grand Seiko is orders of magnitude more hand built and finished than Rolex watches yet we can walk into their boutiques and buy almost any watch currently in production. Why can't Rolex do the same when their watches are 99% machine built?
Always glad to see Citizen get some well deserved love, both as their own brand & as a group. For me, the big shocker isn’t that they’re quietly leading the industry in innovation. The big shocker for me is that we don’t realise until we’re asked to actually think about it.
@@deepsleeprelaxtravel4909 Citizen hasn’t succumbed to the same profiteering Seiko has. Most of their Seiko-equivalent models are still well under $1k.
The amount of education about Horology that Teddy provides through his videos is amazing. Also, looking forward to your take on The Twelve by Christopher Ward.
On the Citizen, I agree it is underrated. One particular watch that is value for money but overlooked even in Japan is the NB1050-59x series. A Rolex Oyster Perpetual/Grand Seiko looks with a great 9xxx movement, 10bar, sapphire crystal, on a decent bracelet for under USD500 is phenomenal. Double that price and you get the NB1060 series which essential is the same watch with a domed sapphire crystal and better finished dial. The NB1050 just seems like such a bargain for so much watch.
There's also The Citizen which uses a lot of LJP movements and can easily rival many GS, the 0200 for example. They also have the best solar, Ecodrive, which if I'm not mistake even Tag Heuer is using in a watch. I can't say enough good things about Citizen.
@@Nefville somehow I feel Citizen (and perhaps Orient Star) are not marketing themselves right. But then again, why do need to when more brands are using your movements inside than Seiko or ETA.
I have the blue dial one (59L), and to be honest I have slightly mixed feelings about it. I agree that in terms of value for money it’s almost unbeatable, and really incredibly well finished for the price. However there is one thing about the watch that is annoyingly prominent: with the projecting male end links of the bracelet the effective lug to lug dimension of the watch is over 50 mm. I hate to say it, but this almost ruins the watch for me… It feels way larger on the wrist than the 38 mm diameter would suggest.
Good series. I like nato straps. Not only for comfort and utility, but to "wear down" the watch and keep a low profile. I live in a dangerous city where they can mug anywhere. It's better to keep a low profile.
I like your “wear down” concept. I’m newly retired to a rural area where ostentatious display is frowned upon. I like having some of my better pieces on a NATO as people do think it’s less of a watch due to the strap. Plus I like NATO straps for ease of change and they are just comfortable. I have a new Marathon GSAR with a nice Marathon branded rubber strap that smells like vanilla. Unfortunately, I get an allergic reaction from this lovely looking strap. NATO for the win.
I bought the wife a $6k Bvlgari and they served champagne. After 4yrs of visiting Rolex AD stores I found an actual Rolex 31mm Datejust for sale at retail. They served a bottle of water for a $10k watch, lol.
To me (and to many people), the actual "bagde of honour" is being a watch-lover and not falling into the Rolex-hype-trap. Update: it is so enlightening to read the two reactions. The first one is vague and paternalistic; the second one is funny, but totally missing the point. First, if «learning the game» means contributing to a hype which makes prices hugely inflate and triggers horrid commercial practices, no thank you: I do not acknowledge this brand as status symbol, I am just pushed away from it. Second, the point is not being able to afford something or not; it is to willingly pay way more than retail price for it. I would instead simply get a better, higher-level watch (and there is plenty of them, as we all know). That said, we are all free to do whatever we want with our money.
@@redfvserh1537 That type of comment is exactly why I avoid Rolex. I don't want to be associated with people who make those statements. When I wear my JLC Dress watch people don't tell me "Wow, that is expensive!" they tell me "Wow, that is beautiful!" and that's what I am personally going for. And quite frankly, if you are trying to make a statement about your income, a Rolex is ultimately a pretty cheap thing to do it with. Genuinely rich people spend more on their living room floor than one would pay for your average submariner.
In the past, Rolex was on the level of Longines, Omega, Heuer or Breitling. When it became popular, they have increased the prices. It has become a status symbol, desired by anyone with a spare $10k. When it started being perceived as an investment and the demand increased the public image of a mid-tier luxury item available for any client that wants one, was gone. Rolex still didn’t addressed it. Their most popular models are tool watches. Which they turned into bling items. This is how Rolex has become high-end luxury. Rolex is not for watch enthusiasts, it is for people looking for a luxury item. When a watch enthusiasts spots a Rolex on a wrist, the first idea is: I wonder how much more above retail it costed. Second: I could get an IWC, add an Omega and a Breitling for this. When a regular person spots a Rolex, they think: this guy’s loaded, I wonder if he’s a millionaire. And because there is a lot more regular people, than watch enthusiasts, that is what Rolex flex is meant to accomplish.
100% agree with the Citizen one. I'm early in my watch collecting, first was a Seiko SRPD79 and was quickly overlooking Quartz tech. I saw the Accutron and needed one, then a Titanium Citizen Eco Drive, then Bulova Curv. Think I'm ready to get back to mechanical but can now focus on more "luxury" mech. watches rather than sub $1k ones since my watch collecting is a little diverse already.
Cmon buddy. We both know you have to be upgraded to get on the wish list. That implies your existence has been formally recognized by at least one actual decision maker any more than China recognizes Tawian. 😅
I know Nato's aren't often seen as classy or high quality, I prefer them overall though. While I like a bracelet for sheer visual punch, getting the perfect sizing is a gamble for my wrists. Leather doesn't always feel as comfortable for me. But a simple nato? I can always find the perfect fit, they breathe really nicely, and I get to go for a little color experimentation when I feel like it.
@@rudimussrodeln putting a clasp on the nato band would make it no longer a nato band. The whole idea with the simple and robust design of them is to make sure that watch stays on your wrist with as much redundancy as possible for failure points (like spring bars and attachements)
I like the bracelet with some watches, they simply look better on it. But fitting a bracelet is sometimes a real pain. Leather for me is always a valid alternative for a dress, field or edc watch. Nato for divers, field and edc. Now I’m wearing my Casio Duro on a nato and I love it.
Rolex waitlists at 0:52. There was a Rolex AD I knew who actually had watches ready to sell. These were at retail prices (no markups), with discounts, and no one was refused a model of they had it in stock. The dealer also could order the watch and have it in a reasonable time (as far as Rolex goes). They always kept certain models out of the display in the back room. The Daytona, Presidential, and platinum models were kept in back. You just had to ask and could see them and walk out of the store with the watch that day. This was around 2018.
I was seriously planning to buy a Rolex OP when the new colored ones first came out a couple of years ago. An email to a dealer where I previously purchased a Sub and Explorer brought a don't call us, we'll call you type of response. So, I looked around, did my homework and bought both a new Grand Seiko quartz SBGV243 and a few months later a new GS Spring Drive SBGA375 from a local dealer. Both of them together cost less than an OP was going for used. How do I feel about Rolex and Rolex dealers? I'll bet you can guess that it's a VERY BIG thumbs down! You are right! Bridges have been burned by their greed!
I have to say, having a 7.75" wrist, I find the 42mm size the best overall for not too small, not too big when I want to be more understated. I have a 40mm or two and some very small digitals so I do go small sometimes, but once you get below a certain size it's hard to even wear the watch sometimes, and having to constantly replace straps/bracelets is annoying, I call it the Big Wrist Tax.
7.5” chiming in with an amen. I rock a 41 with a 48 lug to lug most days and that’s the small end of what I can pull off. Much smaller than that and I find the watch head starts to rotate towards the outside of my wrist and becomes unreadable.
@@therenaissancetinker2972 Your smallest watch you can pull off, is basically the limit for the biggest that I can pull off. I envy people in the 6.5" - 6.75" range who have the widest variety of pickings.
I went to a launch and got one, and I hated it. I LOVE the concept, but for the premium they charged they could have delivered a better watch. There are plenty of plastic watches that are awesome quality, and the moonswatch is just trash. If the moonswatch was even the quality of a $30 Casio I would probably have the entire collection at this point.
If it werent for the omega writing on the strap, no one would even look at it. Shit is built like a fucking $18 alibaba special. $300 gets you a nice Seiko/Citizen or even Tissot
I wear my more expensive watches on a NATO strap for that exact reason: so everyone assumes its some cheap watch. Used to get a lot of unwanted attention when I left them on the bracelet.
I think most have a similar opinion. Its a cool idea but execution on both release and the watch itself is beyond piss poor. The quality is just too poor.
I'm wearing a timex easy reader with expansion band 😏 no wait list and it didn't cost as much as a down payment on a house like some rolex watches do. And I think pagani mission to Mars is better than the moon swatch.
I think its good that there is a resurgence of 36mm size for men’s watches cause it caters to those with small wrists, but I do agree that hopefully it isn’t an overcorrection. Watch brands should find a good balance to this sizing trend.
I think that, potentially, more people with average to above average sized wrists might change their mind if they were to try on and wear, over time, 33mm to 35mm watches.
Well done! Thank you. Can you please do an entire video about nato straps…the differing styles, colors, materials, etc.? Also, recommend certain brands for quality and price? Thank you.
I’m very broad and have thick arms and a 7.75” to 8” wrist. A 36mm watch simply isn’t an option for me. Many 39mm watches still look undersized on me. My Formex Essence 43 is really the perfect size. I don’t mind more watches in smaller case size, so long as it doesn’t erode the options available in the 40mm to 44mm range.
I used to be in the bracelet camp until I started buying watches. I quickly realized that while aesthetically they are more pleasing in reality they can be a bit of pain. Between sizing them when you get the watch, cleaning them, having to adjust them as the seasons change, etc. Where as with a strap you pull the watch out of the box and put it on no watch kit required. And on natos I do like them but I've moved away from them in recent years. And when you buy one get some extra spring bars to go with it. Yes it designed to keep the watch on the wrist in the event of a spring bar failure. But 9/10 its the Nato that will cause said spring bar failure. And good luck finding that spring bar when it happens. Ask me how I know.
My problem with the Moonswatch thing is the fact that you have to go to a boutique or go second-hand to buy one. The CEO of Swatch said he wanted customers to have the boutique experience. Couple problems with that, first off many of the boutiques have limited selection and you're competing with the flippers. I can understand wanting the 'boutique experience' when buying a Speedmaster or Rolex or Patek, as that is, for most people, a large financial commitment and something you're going to take some time with. But for a ~$240 watch, I want to go online and select the one I want and buy it, like I just did with my G-shock.
I totally agree. I would love to have one but there isn't a boutique anywhere close to me and when I did inquire further from a distant location, they were sold out and had no idea when they were getting more. The re-sellers are buying them all up.
The price point of a MoonSwatch is ridiculous. Printing "Omega" on the dial doesn't change the fact that it's cheaply produced junk which deserves every bit as much scorn as MVMT or the like.
Nato Straps When Done Property: Understated, Military looking, Black- Brown- Greens, Rugged, High quality hardware... they look amazing... like the Citizen Diver watch w/ red facing, next to the Benchmade knife, in your video. That one is 🔥. Nice reacting video.
I waited in line for a moonswatch and hated it. The quality was trash, it did feel like a happy meal to. For the price they could have absolutely produced something that wasn’t awful and still been a really cool homage to the speedmaster.
Love these videos. Full discloser, I totally ripped off your format for a video I put up today... but it's audio not watches. Well done to your channel. You've made me a better RU-vidr because of it.
Rolex waitlists are not real. When Joe Average puts his name on one of those said lists, his name goes into the bin the moment he leaves the store. Whether this is fun can be debated.
NATO straps are THE watch strap for summer. NATO straps mean you can change the look of your watch in seconds and on the fly. A Breton NATO in summer is amazing. I have a NATO on my Tudor BB GMT, and it looks fantastic. Of course, you have to choose the right colours.
How do you know if you're on an actual Rolex waitlist or they just put your name and number in the trash and forgot about you? I gave my name and number to a certified Rolex AD over two years ago and never heard from them. Do I try again? How long should I expect to wait?
I went to an AD recently....was wearing my Hulk...told the salesperson my old AD lost their AD status and was interested in developing a new relationship and which models I was interested in....tried on a few models I was interested in and rejected them (for example.....36mm Explorer....way too small and my wrist is 6.5")....in other words....I would not buy just any Rolex model they would offer me.....told her about my other models owned by knowing the reference #. She mentioned that she could tell almost immediately I was not a flipper (apparently that is something they get a ton of and try to elucidate) and to keep touching base via email every 2 months or so...we'll see. There are so many great watches out there...if I get a call, great...if not, no biggie.
Nato straps absolutely rock. I find them incredibly comfortable and great for everyday wear. Dress down a blingy watch and takes attention away from it... I have loads of straps and my favourites are mostly natos
Totally agree about nato, rubber even leather straps. It definitely takes attention off bling bracelets on watches. I know people will say you should be able to wear a watch without changing from a bracelet. The Cities near me are not the nicest and I’d never wear a full bracelet watch at any time whilst visiting those places. But with a nato fitted I do wear my Omega without worry.
There should not be any drama to purchase a watch if I have the means. Waitlists and kissing the ass of an AD? There is nothing exclusive about them. Screw Rolex. I was a Rolex owner for 30 years. Sold mine last year at market peak -- haven't looked back. As for the Moonswatch, they screwed up not making online sales available.
Moonswatch? They screwed up charging $270 for a cereal box watch. You know a watch is piss poor quality when a chinese factory can churn out a higher quality watch for less than half the price.
For true dress watches 35-37mm is a good size, proportionally smaller bezels with larger dial space.......I tried the Patek 6119 on it just felt too large at 39mm......the older 5119 at 36mm and 5196 at 37mm were perfect.
I find it incomprehensible that not only people are willing to wait for years to get a mass produced watch, but also they think it's FUN. Come on guys, this isn't a limited edition, handcrafted piece of art we're talking about here. Life is short, enjoy while you can
Yeah that one was the hottest take of all, but I feel the person who wrote that was likely joking. The only way a waiting list would be anywhere near “fun” is if the waiting list was no longer than 18 months and you were guaranteed the watch at the end of said waiting period.
I would love a Rolex at MSRP or even used at a good price but their current pricing is just too hard to get into them. If you can buy at MSRP I would say it's almost a good investment though (ugg)
I think there is a common misconception that price = rarity, which as we all know here isn't the case. Rolex make c 1m watches a year. If they were making 50 a year I'd understand there is going to be somewhat of a wait...
@@66racer The advantage of being able to buy Rolex at MSRP is you’re almost guaranteed not to lose money if you fall out of love with the watch (but only with popular models).
I absolutely love nato straps for their flexibility and low key vibe. As for the Moon Swatch, I have not yet seen one in person but I think for $260 there are many other cool non-plastic watches I can get from sources such as Long Island Watch Co.
Personally I just got my moonswatch and I love it as a everyday watch. I was never initially interested in a omega but now I’m looking forward to owning a speed master one day. I also immediately threw a nato on the moonswatch it’s super comfortable.
I hated the Mooswatch because we were all lied to by the Omega management.Told it would be available on line and they lied. Never released in Tasmania .Only sold to flipper's. Caused me to cancel my order for the 600m Planet Ocean and that is a $6,500 watch. I have never trusted OMEGA since. It's a s simple as that.
In regards to the Rolex waitlist. GETTING the watch at the end of 18 months was fun. The waiting part… eh, not so much. Don’t get me wrong. I love the watch. And deep down, there’s a part of me that does enjoy the perceived “exclusivity”. But overall, the experience dampened my desire to pursue another Rolex in the near future.
Your balanced and reasonable views are very much appreciated. I'm not sure why so many people seem so attached to making comparisons - different watches bring different things, whether they're inexpensive or luxury. And superlatives like "the best" don't really seem useful.
same i get triggered when people say GS shits on Rolex or vice versa. Such nonsense to spew. I own neither but i can tell u that it is utter ridiculous to say one is miles better than the other.
Wait lists would be fun if it was fair --- dealers sometimes "lie" when they tell you you're on a wait list. Other preferred customers bypass the lists altogether. It creates a lot of brand hate ... I can't think that's good for the longterm health of the brand - eventually, people aren't going to want to wear their watches because of the negative unfair tarnish associated with them
The only ones who thought rolex waitlist are fun and getting the call is an honor are the insecure people who thinks wearing a rolex makes them special. Real watch collectors are too proud to play the AD games.
There is no doubt that a NATO strap definitely dresses down a watch, sometimes that’s exactly what you want. sometimes the dress shoes have to come off and you have to put on a pair of hiking boots or sneakers. A leather NATO strap being your hiking boots and a nylon strap being your sneakers. if you want to take a nice watch on an adventure or just be low-key, the utilitarian NATO strap is the best option. A NATO strap with handsome hardware and an appropriate overall length for your sized wrist doesn’t have to look cheap.
As far as the moon swatch goes, I really like the concept and the design and I’d certainly buy it… however, it’s expensive and I heard it’s not well built with pushers falling off (per Adrian) and color leeching off onto peoples skin. That combination - the relatively high cost and low build quality - is a turnoff. Am i mistaken?
I walked into the Rolex in Bahamas and greeted the sales person and asked is there any watch i can purchase and walk out with today? all she had was a diamond crusted ladies day date, no waitlist!
I’m so turned off by Rolex. For years I would visit a Rolex store when traveling only to give them my information and never hear from them. I’ve been in dozens of stores. Now I avoid them. I’m not interested anymore.
@@thetruthhurts7500the “game” is buying ugly shitters until you get the privilege of buying something good, lol. No thanks. I don’t need 10 date justs.
Or don’t play any games, buy an Omega (or any other of dozen comparable brands) and tell everyone about your experience. It is time for Rolex to acknowledge, that a brand without customers is nothing.
The cyclop is there to help make the date more legible, not necessarily to make the watch iconic. There are other watch brands that use cyclops; some put the magnification cyclop on the underside of the crystal. What makes Rolex iconic, or easily recognisable, is IMO the oyster case in combination with the bracelet.
I could not agree more with the "NATO straps are ugly" opinion. For me, they will always make a watch look cheaper. But as Teddy said, they were originally made to be effective, not fancy. I would only wear NATO strap for outdoor activities and with a watch dedicated for rough activities. However, everybody has its own perception of beauty and trends are always going to change.
Making a watch look cheaper is not necessarily a bad thing imo. If you live in a dangerous city or if you're travelling or even if you just want to be low key, having a reliable watch that nobody looks at can be a plus.
@@badassmanale I can relate and totally agree with you in that sense. That's why I am happy to have a couple Fossil and a Timex Ironman in my box, haha. But yes, if you keep low profile, definitey don't go metal!
Exactly, 'NATO' straps are godsend to dress down a watch, esp. expensive one to an untrained eye. I've been robbed at knife-point where they took my wallet (the most expensive thing in it were all the documents I had to replace afterwards, not sure if there was more than €100 in cash there), my sunglasses ('cheapo' Ray-bans w/ prescription glasses, good luck selling that) and my phone (fully locked, can sell it only for parts)... But they left the Breitling Avenger Blackbird on my wrist which I wear only with a NATO strap.
The problem with NATO straps is that most brands do not respect the minimum for the auxiliary strap (140mm at least) It's very difficult to find a proper NATO strap that keeps the buckle in the middle of the wristback. Most keep the main strap extremely large and the auxiliar too short, and that's a shame.
i don’t understand the issue some larger wristed people have when the demand for sub 40mm watches is just people with smaller wrists wanting to be included and considered - no one is simultaneously asking to take away the larger watches, just provide some smaller options, especially in the more affordable end of the spectrum
The way Rolex is conducting business has been great for the alternative to Rolex manufacturers. Omega for example. Got tired of the games waiting for an Explorer-2, so I picked up a Omega Seamaster Professional, and loving it. And Teddy, what is "Experimentive" ? Lol...
@@thetruthhurts7500 Actually no... Already have a couple Rolex and was a bit of a fan boy. Not anymore, and I'm actually excited about other brands. So thank you Rolex and bye bye 👋
Walk into a jewelry store in Zurich and you can get any normal Rolex Or order it short term with a Swiss address. It's really a export bubble Rolex likes to maintain.
13:39 Though not for everybody, one must remember NATO/ZULU straps were not conceived as a fashion statement. They were manufactured to do a job by the UK ministry of defense (MOD). As a scuba diver, emergency, first responder, and someone who spends quite a bit of time as a crewmember on an aircraft, they just work.
Anyone who thinks the waitlist is cool is a complete tool. Period. Waitlists for anything you can afford is silly. If you can afford it, you should own it. That’s the only “waitlist” that should exist.
Very nice video and enjoy this format. Keep 'em coming! One quibble: I wish you'd differentiated between Nato straps and nylon straps. Your photos were heavily nylon one-piece straps, and a Nato is a bit different. I agree with your observation that no matter the type, nylon straps "dress down" a watch. All the best.
Sorry Teddy but I’m not an elitist and I don’t want to watch over $1200. Most of my watches are in the $500 range. I own the moon swatch, and within two weeks the pusher broke. All it was was a very tiny bump into my door knob, which I’ve done 1000 times with all of my other watches, OK, maybe not 1000 times but you get my point, and it broke. Looking at it it’s completely cheap resin.
I'm a big fan of Nato straps. My beater watch is a simple Lorus field watch on a cheap jungle green Nato. When labouring outside etc it's more comfortable than a leather strap or metal bracelet. I have bought a few higher quality Nato's made of the seatbelt type material in grey, blue/grey, and also a regimental. I find these a great way to change the look of a Seiko or my Recon 5 flieger. In all the years wearing them I have had absolutely no one comment on them so it is safe to say they slip under the radar.
I'm currently on a waitlist for my 1st Rolex, it's only been 4 months and i'm currently still waiting. In my position not knowing if i'll end up with a Rolex or if these lists even exist, i genuinely don't see any fun in that whatsoever.
Check in with em every once in a while, try on some exhibitions, buy some jewelry for your significant other or mom for Mother’s Day, it’ll be here in no time. They get the watches, it’s just whether or not they think of you when it comes in.
You and a million other people want the same watch, companies prefer to serve their customers that have a buying history versus any random tom, dick, and Harry walking in for a Rolex. Go buy some jewelry from them and you'll get your piece.
There is no list. The AD has the watch already..They take care of their top tier customers first. This is true at every AD...Eventually (but not always) your turn may come. Learn the game son..
Being perfectly aware, that I’m some random guy from the internet, I strongly advise to consider other brands. Zenith, IWC, Breitling or Omega for a chronograph. VC, JLC, Grand Seiko or Cartier for a dress watch. Tudor, Grand Seiko, Blancpain or Omega for a diver. Almost everything mentioned for GMT. I would check also Chopard, Longines, Breguet, Ulysse Nardin, GP, Oris and Rado. Maybe we should not support a brand, that doesn’t respect the customers and forces us to jump through various hoops, just so we will be allowed to spend our hard earned money on their watches. That is my take.
A very timely video, as I just got the call and collected my Rolex today. I have to agree, the waitlist and the call makes collecting the piece extra special. The whole moment from the time I got the call till the moment I walked out of the AD with my Explorer 2 on my wrist, I was full of excitement. However, what I disagree is the whole purchasing game that you'd have to play with most ADs to even be considered to be put on a waitlist. I'm fortunate enough to have a close SA that lets me skip all those stupid games, albeit I do have to wait a bit. But it is something I am willing to wait, since I'm not in a rush to purchase the piece or looking to sell it ever.
Sure rolex has a more robust build than GS, but imo the date just only beats out my 62gs in regards to the clasp. But honestly the aesthetics, materials, and finishing is much higher on the GS.
Is a Rolex really exclusive when I see more people wearing one on the street compared to Cartier or Omega? I would argue there’s nothing exclusive about it.
I would be happy to wait for a rolex but usually the "list" is based on how much you have spent with the AD and if your sales person likes you or not. That is not fun.
If we don't look at different form of wrists and just at the size it's pretty much just math... A 36mm watch on a 6.5" wrist is the same size proportion as a 44mm on my 8" wrists... I already have problems finding fitting watches with the trend being watches getting smaller and smaller.
Yes! I had wanted one in the beginning but couldn’t get one. Then I watched reviews and videos and saw how crappy quality they were. Glad I dodged that bullet.
I had to laugh at the comment of the moonswatch collector who said that moonswatch haters were elitist. If you think about their comment,they were elitist for making such a comment. They looked down their " elitist" nose at all haters of the moonswatch and lumped them in the same group. I hated the M/S because I didn't want to pay over $200 for cheap plastic that I know will break and won't last(If you think about it, plastic is great in the mechanical world for saving weight,but not for durability.) . If Richmont's price level rivaled that of Casio on the M/S , then I probably would've considered it.
I don't get mad when brands come out with 44+ mm watches, but it scares me greatly when people attack 36mm watches like if they don't, it makes them question their masculinity or something.
Moonswatch… the hate was earned for the distribution model, not elitism. It’s about them going for $2,000 when at $240 it’s already overpriced. If you could order online and just wait. Way less people would hate them.
I have Nato strap on this vintage Rolex, I prefer bracelet but since usually on boats, and like to have bracelet on the loose side, a strenuous movement with watch slipped up to wrist can break pin, have lost 2 watches into water. Nato band needs to break 2 pins.
In Singapore there was a long queue to grab the MoonSwatch. My personal opinion: 1. If you're a Swatch Collector, this is a big win 2. If you love (and want) the original Moon Watch thinking the MoonSwatch will work for you... It won't (and unfortunately I know people who do get the watch for this reason). 3. If you like the general aesthetic of the Moon Watch but do not want to spend the money on it, there are very good alternatives that's not the MoonSwatch.
if you've held the moon watch in your hand, you'd know how shit it is. it's worse than 99% of those "cheap chinese watches". if you don't hate an omega logo on a piece of industrial waste, something's wrong with you. natos aren't ugly. they however do make your watch a bit more "ugly" or out of proportion. the double pass fabric underneath a sports watch is effectively making that watch a 16/17/18mm thick monster.
Precisely, that clown in the video defending it should get off his high horse. He must be a very naïve simp. I like a $15 Casio but despise the moonswatch, call me an elitist then.
As a rolex customer that actually have been fortunate to buy a few from the AD, I can agree with how it feels to actually get the call and to own something not anyone can get. Feels even more special to me that I also haven't spent extra money on other watches to get that opportunity. I would not mind to have them readily available to anyone, it would make it a lot easier to buy one obviously, but at the same time because it's a luxury product I think people are getting ahead of themselves when they almost talk as if we have a right to buy their watches, and people get angry at the brand for the damand problem. That comes off a bit ridiculous sounding to me.
I agree. Ppl feel so entitled that because they can afford a Rolex that they have the right to buy one. It’s a privilege to be able to buy luxury watches. Luxury by definition is suppose to be exclusive. Whether by price, quantity, name, ect. I don’t see ppl who cannot afford Porsche or any high end cars complain about how hard it is to get due to pricing or waitlist.
As the author of the hot take… this is exactly it. I’ve been lucky enough to buy two new from my AD. One I walked in, expressed interest and got on the spot. The next I had to wait…. 6-8 weeks for. I can see where if you were on the wrong end of it and weren’t able to get one it would be frustrating, but the “exclusivity” piece of it just makes it a little more special.
The frusyration is not supply and demand, but many buyers are not wearing their watch, but flipping it for profit. You can see any watch available on the grey market NOT the AD so there is NO REAL shortage. The solution is to buy another brand until the artificial scarcity goes away.
you missed to show the submariner on a bond nato strap. It's stunning. Also, for people that don't like nato straps, try using a premium "seat belt" glossy type of nato strap. It's next level elegance.
About automatic chronographs being too expensive: they are. Take a good quartz one and spend the same amount on an even better Qualität 3 Hand dress watch. Might be another Video subject: Omega Speedmaster = Bulova LP + Junghans XYZ...
Love Grand Seiko but can they please do something about micro adjustment on their straps. It drives me mad and causes me to only consider the titanium case and strap GS.
8.1’ wrists here and I absolutely enjoy a 36mm. I even have a couple smaller timepieces that I wear on occasion. Maybe it’s because my first mechanical was a (small by modern standards) Elgin A-11 and truly treasure that thing. I also have larger watches, such as a modern Speedmaster, and I enjoy those too. In fact, maybe it’s the diversity of designs and sizes that appeals to me as a collector. I’ve been tying hard to pick up a purple Aquaterra (not easy), which only comes in a relatively small case. That said, even if it were available in 39 mm, I think I still would’ve gone with the smaller size.
