Originally Posted by
SkepticalOne
I'm wondering if you've had a chance to spend any time wearing or riding with the items you're likening to Rolex - a comparison that I think is misinformed.
I'll agree with you that it's misinformed but, amusingly, I think that it's actually an apt comparison for other reasons.
Back in the day, Rolex built their reputation by being the makers of no-nonsense tool watches - reliable, robust movements in tank-like cases, they'd keep ticking no matter what you threw at them. Whether it was a diving watch 100m under the surface or a chronograph at the track, getting banged up in the pits and while keeping accurate lap times, they just worked. No one bought a Rolex for status - they bought them because they were the right tool for the job. The perception of Rolex as a luxury brand came later and, even now, it's primarily held by those that are looking in from the outside.