Many people think that Rolex is the best watch in the World. It's not, TAG Heurer is. So why do so many men like this watch?
What I know:
Rolex became popular with the men who worked in the oil fields. They didn't spend a lot of money until they went home or on vacation.
Rolex was a watch they could afford, and pawn, if they spent too much money. They knew that they could pay for the pawn shop fees when they went back to work.
How do I know this? A very long time ago my husband owned a pawn shop. We had to ship the watches that were redeemed, (COD, collect on delivery), all over the World.
The Styles:
My husband once owned a gold Celler Classic. He bought it when gold was selling for $35.00 CAD, per oz. It cost him $400.00 CAD. He had to sell it after my father died, and he bought my step brother's shares, in the family business. By then the United States lifted their ban on gold, and the price of gold soared to over $500.00 CAD, per oz. Luckily my husband sold his watch for $1500.00, (it would have been worth more if it was a self winding watch).
The Celler Styles:
Cellissima, Cestello, Classic, Danaos, Orchid and Quarts.
The Classic has to be wound, manually. You can choose a white face or black face, my husbands was white. The numbers are roman numerals and they and the hands are made of gold. This watch has a quartz movement, and is waterproof.
My son owns a chrome Oyster Sea Dweller 4000. He bought it when he was in Athens, Greece. In the Hilton Hotel, there is a small Rolex Shop. He bought his watch for $150.00 CAD. He still owns the watch, but replace the strap with a chrome one. I believe this watch would sell for over $1000.00, used.
The face of the watch is black. At 12, 15, 30 and 45 minutes there is a white slash. Where the other numbers should be are white dots. The hands are made of chrome. Next to the 15 minutes slash, is a small window where you can see the date.
My son has his PAD certificate in diving, (this means he can teach diving), and he can wear his watch if he doesn't dive deeper than 1220 metres.
The Oyster Styles:
Air King, Cosmographic, Explorer, Date, Daytona, Day Date, Datejust, GMT Master II, Lady Oyster, Oyster Perpetual, Sea Dweller 4000 and Yacht Master.
The most important thing is what is inside these watches. In the main spring, every Oyster watch has an automatic winding rotor, (they call it the perpetual rotor), and that means every time you move your wrist, you are winding your watch. There are 3 rings that go back and forth, (two clockwise, and one counter clockwise. The one on the top has small diamonds on it. The chronometer only swings back and forth, in a half circle.
They make this styles is gold, silver or chrome. Each will have a different number on the back.
You can choose to have a leather strap or a metal strap. My husbands was gold, and my son had a leather strap, (and as I said has replaced it with a chrome one).
Where Can You Buy Rolex Watches?
You can buy them in Countries in Asia, Australia, North & South America, and some countries in Africa.
The Cities I know that you can by them in are:
Athens, (Greece), Bangkok, (Thailand), Brussels, (Belgium), Buenos Aires, (Argentina), Caracas,(Venezuela ), Cologne, (Germany), Dallas, (USA), Hong Kong, (China), Johannesburg, (South Africa), London, (England), Los Angeles/Beverly Hills, (USA), Madrid, (Spain), Manila, (Philippines), Melbourne, (Australia), Mexico City, (Mexico), Milan, (Italy), Mumbai, (India),New York, (USA),Paris, (France),Sao Paulo,(Brazil), Seoul, (South Korea), Singapore, Taipei, , (Taiwan), Tokyo, (Japan), and Toronto,(Canada).
I'm sure there are more cities, but these are the ones I can remember seeing them.
The Company:
Rolex was established in 1905, in Geneva, Switzerland. They employ 3,000 people who make the watches.
If you have problems, please don't take you watch to a local Jewellery Store, to repair it. Rolex would like you to send it to the closest Service Centre. The are in:
Beverly Hills and Dallas, service Canada, Mexico, South America and the USA. Geneva services the Countries in Europe and Africa. In Asia you will find them in Jakarta, (Indonesia), Manila, (Philippines) and Kuala Lumpur, (Malaysia).
To contact Rolex Headquarters:
Rolex S.A.
P.O. B. Box 430,
1211 Geneva, 24,
Switzerland.
Tel.: +41 22 302 22 00
Fax: +41 22 300 22 55
Beware:
There are a lot of Rolex knock-offs being sold around the World. They even have numbers on the back. If you want to buy a knock off watch that's fine. If you want a real Rolex, buy if from a Rolex Store.
My Final Thoughts:
Would I want to own a Rolex? No, but I'd love to buy a gold one for my Husband.
My son loves his, and so did my husband, and if you can afford to buy one, I do recommend you do.
Thank you for reading my review.
©LL2004
