beautiful! Good quality! I like it!
Rolex is a very popular Swiss watch brand, and it is also a brand with "personality" among many Swiss brands. At present, Rolex is an independent watchmaking brand, which is rare among Swiss watch brands. Moreover, Rolex is an open and mysterious brand, even the precious metals for making watch cases are smelted by itself. In fact, there are many information inside the brand that is not open to the public, which is also a kind of protection for the brand. You should know that there are too many "fake watches" of Rolex in the market, but they are exactly the same.
Blue PARACHROM hairspring
Rolex doesn't seem interested in developing the complex functions of watches, but that doesn't mean that it doesn't create. Compared with brands that like to break through the watchmaking process, Rolex prefers to be "pragmatic". The watches currently sold by Rolex have no super-complex functions, and the brand pays more attention to accuracy, reliability and durability, which is consistent with the demands of many ordinary consumers to buy watches, and is also the most important reason why people trust and like Rolex.
The 413 movement consists of only 29 parts (far less than the standard multi-function timepiece)
Rolex is a brand that changes "very slowly". You will find that there is a subtle relationship between the style of the watch and the unchanging style in several years or decades, and many watches are slowly changing, which is more in line with the current fashion, but keeps the characteristics of the original watch. The firm price of Rolex watches in the second-hand market is also a popular point. Many people will consider "preservation" when buying watches, but Rolex is very firm about preservation, especially some popular watches. If properly maintained, the depreciation rate will be very low. And some special watches have attracted much attention in the auction in recent years, which shows people's love for Rolex brand.
In 1971, Explorer II wristwatch
The new Rolex Explorer II wristwatch
has been bothering me for many years. After thinking about it, I think it should be the following reasons:
The king of design: it is always imitated and never surpassed. Rolex Datejust The modern perpetual journal model was introduced by Rolex a few years ago, which was almost no different from Rolex II. Similar design features distinguish Rolex watches from other brands.
grooved bezel, cyclops magnifying glass above the date window and oyster strap: the new Datejust 41 and many other Rolex models * * * enjoy these elements. These design features are the secret of brand success. Rolex sells about 8, watches every year and generates an estimated annual income of $4.39 billion, making it the most successful luxury watch manufacturer.
without convincing design, all these efforts will not bring lasting success to the brand. Take the following test: When you think of Rolex, what unique style elements come to mind? Is it a magnifying glass above the date, a so-called "Mercedes" pointer, a dial with a typical double bar and round time scale or an Oyster bracelet? Or flute border and jubilee bracelet? Rolex watches have many unique attributes. Now let's do the test again. What images do you think of when you think of other watch brands (such as Jaeger-LeCoultre or Omega)? Even big brands with design logos in their collections usually have only one or two clear style elements. Usually, this is just the shape of the shell.
Magnifier is probably the most closely related design element of Rolex watches, and its design purpose is to improve the clarity.
Rolex makes full use of its many distinctive style elements. When observing the watches in Rolex's contemporary collection, people can't help but notice that the design is not very diverse: for example, there are only two different forms of hands; The shape of the shell also changes little. The only difference between the two most successful models, Submariner and GMT-Master II, is the number and other hands on the rotatable bezel. Sea-Dweller is essentially a Submariner without a date amplifier. Deepsea differs from Sea-Dweller only in its size and the wide ring around its dial, which increases its waterproofness. Yacht-Master has exactly the same dial layout, the same hands and the same case; Only digital and rotatable baffles are lifted, and the color schemes of dial and baffle are different. Even Explorer II has the same design features as other models, although it is different by different bezel and different time zone pointer. Add Submariner without date display, and one can reach seven models that differ only in details. All the above models have the same oyster strap, the same Mercedes hands and dials with bar and circular indexes. These seven models are responsible for most sales of Rolex.
interestingly, all these design elements were invented for practical reasons and can be traced back to the 195s. Choose the shape of the Mercedes pointer and use the maximum amount of luminescent materials.
practical reasons (for example, better readability and directionality) also inspired the design of the dial. In 12 hours, there are six circular scales, bar marks at 3, 6 and 9, and a slender triangle at 12. Details first appeared when Submariner came out in 1953. Magnifier is probably the most relevant design element of Rolex, and it is also designed to improve clarity. In 1955, the first GMT-Master had combined this lens with the previously cited design elements.
these features maintain Rolex's image as a professional watch manufacturer (e.g. diver). All the features are combined harmoniously because they all have the same purpose: to optimize readability. This is why Submariner and GMT-Master II are prototypes of the so-called "tool table": they are robust and powerful, and they are designed to ensure that these two advantages are clearly visible. Over the years, quality and price have risen steadily. In order to meet the increasingly strict requirements of professional divers, Rolex introduced the Sea-Dweller with helium valve, and later introduced the 3,9-meter ultra-deep diving Deepsea. This extremely high waterproof performance is reflected in the large-volume design that looks more professional. Rolex relies on time-tested and easily recognizable design elements to act on watches for diving, flying (GMT-Master II), sailing (Yacht-Master) and expedition (Explorer II). If these watches are different from each other, it is only the colors of their dials and bezel. This proved to be very wise, because most brands with iconic models in their portfolios sell well, but rarely succeed in getting a wider collection from them. Sometimes one of these models has additional functions, but the watch is still a diving watch or a pilot's watch. On the other hand, Rolex uses its unique design elements in many different models, thus ensuring that the brand is highly recognized.
interestingly, the gradual development of design is conducive to maintaining value. For example, the Submariner has not changed, but its retail price has risen from time to time. It is usually easy for connoisseurs who choose to sell submarines to find buyers, and several will add value. Of course, this is another secret of Rolex's success. For example, the new rose gold yacht master with rubber strap caused a sensation in 215, because it was Rolex's first such strap.
rolex)Submariner and GMT-Master II are prototypes of the so-called "tool table": they are sturdy and practical, and are designed to ensure that these two qualities are clearly visible.
the second half of the rolex)Oyster series consists of more elegant watches, which are used in less specific fields of activities. All of these have slightly thinner obelisk hands: if the obelisk hands are used on Rolex chronographs, their ends will be slender and pointed. Rolex provides alligator straps for some of its precious metal cases. You can see more changes here. Datejust has the greatest versatility: it can provide radial Arabic or Roman numerals, bar or diamond-encrusted scales, many different dial colors, grooved or curved bezel and oyster or jubilee bracelets. Day-Date and Sky-Dweller are low-key, but the scope is slightly narrow. Oyster perpetual has no date display and many colors to choose from.
models with calibrated bezel, especially Submariner and GMT-Master II, are iconic, so they can only be modified very slowly for a long time. In contrast, more elegant models provide more freedom for fashion changes, versions designed to cater to specific markets or models with bolder colors that may not be sold in large quantities. This enables Rolex to solve the problems related to its success: the "diver" is a very common watch. This will also affect the design, because these models of dials usually have matching colors. Interestingly, due to Oyster Perpetual, which has no date, lower-priced Rolex watches have been found in low-priced Rolex watches since 215. The 39 mm version is enough to accommodate a man's wrist. Rolex also integrates trends here, such as the blue dial.
although they have many variations, the more elegant models can easily be recognized as Rolex watches. This is because all kinds of dials and bezel are usually Rolex. Their features include radial Roman or Arabic numerals, bar or square diamond-encrusted indexes, and grooved or curved bezel. So are oysters, anniversary or presidential metal bracelets. And there are several constants: for example, oyster case, obelisk pointer and date magnifying glass. These functions improve the identifiability.
Rolex has been more successful than any other brand in being loyal to its iconic design, which has remained basically unchanged for 6 years in some models.
Daytona and Yacht-Master II chronographs are general exceptions to the proof rule. Everyone has obelisk hands, but their scales are different from any other model. Daytona is specialized: its scale is shaped like a boat, the color scales on its sub-dial are in sharp contrast, and the most important thing is the unique speedometer scale. It is not through unique design elements, but through the combination of unique details to achieve its iconic and unique state. The newer Yacht-Master II is significantly different from Cosmograph Daytona: the new product has a few seconds of contrast color scale around the sub-dial, but it also has block graduation and screwless buttons with different styles. All in all, it gives people the boldest impression. This model implies its white and blue color matching: after all, as a chronograph for sailing, the ocean is its predetermined activity area.
Rolex retains a lot of clear design features. The brand has always been loyal to unique elements originally inspired by its functions, such as Mercedes hands and date magnifying glasses. These details express the core of the brand as a tool watch manufacturer, while ensuring immediate recognition. Decision makers in Geneva also use these familiar functions in the new model, thus providing a wide enough range of changes for labels. In its more elegant models, Rolex combines the current trends with the addictive colors and dials. However, even if you can choose from multiple options (for example, on the bezel and dial), these changes are well known and unique enough, so you can easily identify these models as Rolex.
this strategy is also evident in Datejust 41, which was launched in 216 and will replace the mature Datejust II in the long run. Rolex borrowed the old case diameter (41 mm) and familiar design features, such as bar scale, grooved or curved bezel and obelisk hands. But novices offer more bracelet choices. Datejust II is only equipped with an oyster strap, but now Rolex offers Datejust 41 with a jubilee model.
on the other hand, the self-winding 3235 movement is absolutely brand-new. Thanks to the new bucket and the efficiency improvement of its timeliness escapement system, this manufacturing movement can accumulate power and store it for 7 hours. Like all Rolex movements, it runs on a sophisticated chronograph. Rolex's certificate of "the highest astronomical clock" issued in 215 confirmed its accuracy. Rolex has passed this certification to define a new standard for watches. Only watches that keep the time within the required tolerance range of -2 to +2 seconds per day can leave the factory. Rolex therefore maintains a stricter tolerance than COSC, which allows between -4 and +6 seconds per day.
Rolex has been more successful than any other brand in sticking to its iconic design, which has remained basically unchanged in some models for 6 years, and at the same time, some new models inspired by existing fashion elements have been introduced. The unambiguous and reliable brand information, coupled with impeccable styles, has formed a unique design, thus maintaining the success of the Rolex watch brand.
this doesn't mean that face value is very important, and the first impression is always the winner.
According to the statistics of Hendry, a century-old watch shop in Chengdu, young people aged 3-4 have accounted for one third of the people who buy Rolex. You know, five years ago, Rolex buyers were more than 9% by middle-aged people over 45.
There is also a sales statistic of Swiss watches in 214. Rolex ranks first with a total sales amount of 4.6 billion in the world, while the second place is only 2.6 billion, which shows how popular Rolex watches are.
Actually, Rolex's gold watch is worth buying. Why? Because of the preservation of value, otherwise, why didn't big brother give the pheasant a watch directly in cash at that time? There is a legend in the street that Rolex is a hard currency other than gold, and its value preservation in pawn shops and auction houses is very high. Now, the price of a brand-new black water ghost calendar is 65,9 yuan, and the green water ghost is 7, yuan. Go and see the second-hand watch market. If the quality is good, it will basically not be in fall in price.
Although Rolex's all-gold watch costs 2, yuan, compared with the all-steel watch and gold of 4,-5, yuan.