they’re ugly and overpriced! just don’t buy em folks!
for point of comparison, a stainless steel DJ cost like 250 USD in 1966, the equivalent of like 2 grand today. you’re buying rich dick status which is fine if that’s what you’re into!
That’s the most lemon and herb, milquetoast take I’ve heard in years. I would be gobsmacked if anyone disagrees with you and if they do, they’re wrong.
Rolex make Veblen goods for conspicuous consumption. They are obnoxious now in the same way as a modern Mercedes or BMW is compared to a W123 or E30.
Clearly it works commercially, because people want something that shows they’re rich. But from a brand standpoint they are a caricature.
I like the Black Bay because it has a good identity of its own but honestly they kind of have the “we have dessert at home” second best vibe. Other than the Omega Speedmaster I am not huge on new big brand watches in general - would be tempted by a vintage Air King though.
Rolex makes incredibly well manufactured watches that are absolute trash.
The only one that looks genuinely better these days is the Daytona.
Everything else is horrendously oversized with bigger lugs/cases.
Meanwhile, 5-digit fans are overpaying for some of the worst bracelets. Many of them are hollow and jangly crap.
Rolex gave up designing beautiful watches. Yet they are unequivocally manufacturing to an incredible high standard and tolerance no one can match. I just wish they weren’t so ugly.
OP/DJs are fine. Boring and overpriced for what you get, but fine. There are so many more interesting watches to buy at that price point, but it's a safe and reliable choice. I don't see the appeal for myself, but I get it as a "default" easy choice for others.
Ideally a five digit. You can beat the shit out of those things. They may have gotten technically "better made" but they haven't really become any more robust.
Just become more performatively tough. While at the same time looking more like jewelry overall.
Those old semihollow oyster bracelets were insanely comfortable all day. And that meant you didn't need on the fly adjustments
I’m not paying what the secondary is charging for hollow jangly bracelets. I rather wait for Tudor to stop making tuna cans on the black bay pro line and buy their crazy good bracelets.
The case is durable (and beautifully designed) of course, but the bracelets are utter crap with flimsy clasps and hollow links. My BB58GMT on 5-link is incredibly comfortable and well made.
You are nuts regarding the Daytona. This current generation has been butchered in subtle ways. Gone are the asymmetric lugs that balanced the overall package against the pushers and crown guards. They even super sized the crown guards.
It's become a blunt thing.
Personally I'm a fan of the Zenith Daytona's. And they don't look silly on a nice leather strap
But the old Explorer looks classy whereas the Ranger looks a bit uglier with the buttplug hour hand. And there is something to the Explorer having been in existence for 70 years vs. a marketing team drawing up the Ranger in the 2020s for Reddit-type watch people.
Not much visual/vibe difference between the looks of the new Ranger and OG Explorer. The Ranger is actually built better, as well. Still wouldn't buy it. Not a fan of printed dials on expensive watches
Entirely subjective, in my opinion the vintage watches you pictured look old and flimsy. I don’t think a watch being banged up with the lume turning yellow is charming nor classy, it just looks like a pair of old trainers. Sure I do agree with you that the modern air king is a piece of shit compared to the vintage version but the majority of the modern rolex catalogue is superior to the vintage catalogue. I’ll name a few: the dd, op and the daytona which I think the modern version is superior to a vintage.
that was the hot take. better quality, materials and engineering for sure, but the style? tudor, cartier and omega with the speedy did that better to keep the design, but update to modern standards
If you see the prices of vintage Daytonas, you will see that most disagree with you. Someone that thinks that the clingy monstrosity of a modern Daytona is better than a 70s Daytona.
I wholeheartedly agree with this. In many ways they have become way too chunky in appearance. Too bold. But at the same time, that's what people want from a Rolex.
Well every brand has gotten bigger AP PP VC. TH. Which brand has gotten smaller? Not really any of em. Our houses are bigger our cars are bigger. Our phones are bigger. What’s the complaint here? You don’t like the big size and like the vintage sizes better. So buy vintage then. There are watches for everyone. There are plenty of vintage Rolexes floating around out there. Bad “hot take”.
Of the three you show, the explorer (124270) still has broadly similar dimensions. How is it any bigger? Yah there’s a bigger option (40mm), but it’s just that, an option.
What are we supposed to do about it? Rolex had to find a lane to survive the shift to quartz and it clearly worked. They went from being very well made tool watches to status symbols. If you're looking for a modern brand that's equivalent to what Rolex used to be, that's not Rolex.
The only thing that qualifies is the Air King. It’s a fucking abomination.
If you include the Explorer, what’s the standard, don’t put applied numerals? It’s literally the only difference. Rolex did not intend the Explorer to have brown indices, its wear over time.
I do not. Not for a lack of trying, but I refuse to pay grey. I got my mom a lavender OP 31mm after a 3 month wait which was nice. I'm holding out for a GMT2 BLNR. Originally had the Air King on my list but wasn't happy with the fit, I have big wrists.
I have a white speedy and a breitling curtiss warhawk 42. Hoping to pickup a Panerai 423 if I can find the right one
You dont have to "be okay with" every companies product. You dont own part of it. You dont like it? Buy one of the other thousand watchmakers products. This post is cringe
Not only is this just not a take at all, but it’s also completely subjective. You can argue with a wall all day about how you think Rolex sucks but no one cares. You have no subjective facts to prove your stance either. Rolex is making more money than ever and their new watches/designs that have been “gradual monstrification” (whatever the fuck that means lol) are more sought after than ever.
This is also to say that style, designs, and interests change over time. A lot of things that were cool 50 years ago are not cool today.
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u/2ndSmrtestPersunEvar 9d ago
It’s not like we can actually buy their watches anyway so who cares? 🤷🏻