It’s Time to Learn about Rolex Watches

I thought I knew everything—well, something—well, a little—about Rolex, until I decided to do an article about the company.

It was only then that I found out that what I knew was only what I had been told by others. I had never really taken a look at the company and/or their models.

I am always surprised when I realize that the information I have about a subject, is entirely from the so-called “experts” and not from the source itself.

After going through the Rolex brochures and books, I learned the following:

1. I had no idea how many models they had.

2. Rolex has two models that have two time-zones… (Surprise!!!) One is the Oyster Perpetual Date GMT-Master ll and the other is the Explorer ll. Both have a dual time-zone feature.

3. I can still get the Oyster Perpetual Submariner. (That’s the one with a black dial but without the date on it.) I love this watch, but I thought it was no longer in production.

4. The Oyster Perpetual Date Explorer ll (mentioned above) is a beautiful watch. White face, no numbers, (only dots for the hours) and it has a second time-zone on
it! Where have I been? The outside bezel is marked with 24 hours. This chronometer is one of the cleanest watches I have ever seen. (That sounds a bit much, but it is true; take a look at it!) The Explorer ll has all the markings of (and is) a classic watch that is very easy to fall in love with.

There are at least 14 different models, as follows: (This list does not include the mid-size models.)

5 Men’s, 6 Professional, and 3 Ladies’. All of the mentioned 14 models have mechanical self-winding movements.

I am always asked, “What watch are you wearing today?” Most collectors like to show off watches and talk about them. I like to go to restaurants and sort of show off a watch. If the person next to me notices the watch
I’m wearing, then I start a conversation and hand them a magazine – which I always carry with me.

I once had a “Submariner” on my wrist and noticed that the woman next to me was looking at my watch. I knew she was trying to see the name on the dial. Over the next few minutes I aimed the watch at her so she could see it “Oh!” she said, “A Rolex – I have a Rolex.”

I said that I would show her mine if she showed me hers and we began a conversation. This woman is a watch collector of men’s and ladies’ watches. She is an investment counselor at one of the investment houses in Tampa, FL.

I asked her why she collects watches (because it’s usually men who collect watches). She said that she started collecting when her ex-husband started collecting. Then she said, “What is inside was more important than what is outside,” so she started to investigate the subject for herself.

She has about 10 mechanical watches, but wears the Rolex more frequently than the others because it is the most well-known. (She had on a ladies’ gold and stainless piece.) She likes the watches that are well-known, so that other women (and men) can quickly recognize what watch she is wearing.

I told her I like the not-so-well-known names. She nodded and then went on about her collection. It is a curse when people start talk-ing about their own watch collection and they stop listening to me talking about mine!

In any event the evening went on; we finished our meals and we parted friends.

You will always hear comments when you wear a Rolex watch, (i.e. “Everyone has a Rolex,” – “Anyone can buy a Rolex,” – There is always a Rolex dealer wherever you go,” – “What is so special about a Rolex?” – “My friend has a Rolex,” – “A Rolex looks so big!”). Nonetheless, the other person will always ask you to take it off so that they can see it and/or try it on.

The truth is, Rolex has been around for almost 100 years, and they are a marketing success! They make one of the most impressive cases in the industry.

Rolex does have competition – competition because of their design and competition because they are the leaders year after year.

Why are they the leaders? Because of their products, their support of enterprise and adventure, and because of their corporate philosophies and policies. For any company to maintain the lead and to keep the integrity of their products like Rolex has over the years, takes heroic effort and unyielding dedicationto company policy, which was laid down by its founders.

It also takes a constant vigil on the part of Rolex to protect its copyrights and trademarks. Being an international company with a watch that is recognizable anywhere in the world, you have to be alert at all times One copyright infringement, undetected, could degrade your product and hurt your reputation as well as your future sales and integrity. The entertainment industry is running up against this problem right now, with companies making unauthorized copies of their work.

The amount of effort, time and money that goes into making a product today is fantastic. To have your work copied or “knocked off” as it is called, is theft. The companies who make copies are criminals, and the gray market is also a direct attack on anyone who produces a good product – and wants that good product sold professionally to the customer.

A company like Rolex, as you can imagine, is duty-bound to ensure that you, the customer, (both retailer and end-user) are supported and secure in knowing that your Rolex is a fine watch, and it will still be considered as such in years to come. Rolex has established corporate standards that will stand the test of time.