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Apple Watch vs Rolex

r0k

r0k

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Mar 3, 2008
3,612
76
Detroit
This weekend, my uncle was visiting from Maryland and after I spent a few minutes helping my aunt log in to iCloud on her new iPhone, the conversation turned to Apple Watch. About that time I noticed he was wearing a Rolex. So we started to compare features. I mentioned that I had looked at $600-ish diving watches and I'd also looked at $2500+ used Rolex watches before picking up my Apple watch.

For me the bottom line was I don't dive that often and for that much more money, those watches don't notify me of events on my phone. It was then he volunteered that his $5,000 Rolex didn't provide those features either. I let everyone know AW pricing runs from $350 to $17000. I don't think he will run out and buy an Apple watch "Edition" or anything but I thought it was good to hear a comment from a Rolex owner about the shortcomings of their Rolex versus my Apple watch.

The conversation also included speculation on the electronic media (a local Fox station) about how the Apple watch sales results were "disappointing." I let everyone know that AW had actually sold better than iPhone when it first came out and that there are a lot of shallow haters in the press. While it is regrettable Apple decided to bury AW sales in the "other" category in their financial results, it is way too early to call this thing a failure. I went on Amazon and looked for Gear watches. I was thinking of getting the $99 one so I could do a review comparing the two but now I don't think I'll bother. I don't have any personal stuff on my work-issued GS4 and I wouldn't really be able to do much of a review without it. Then there's the fact AW really does compete favorably with Rolex, and not just Pebble or Gear or any of those other wearables people try to compare it to. I'm an Apple user with Macs, iPads, iPhones going back for years so I assumed the reason AW won over Rolex for me was my own loyalty but to have a Rolex owner impressed by my space grey AW gives me anecdotal evidence it really does have appeal in the upscale watch market that Apple is aiming for.
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The simple answer is this. A Rolex is a luxury watch that tells you the time for a price of $5,000 - $25,000. The Apple Watch is a watch that tells you the time while also telling you emails, Uber, phone calls & texts at a price of $350 - $17,000. You can easily change the bands without going to a watch Maker/Jeweler.
 
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This is sort of a blueberry pie versus salmiak licorice drops kind of topic. It's not really one OR the other; both are delicious, in their own way and in the right situation, and depending on the person, you may prefer one above the other, or even exclusively.

Kind of like, "football vs. baseball". Well if you don't enjoy football, maybe it's easy for you to pick baseball. Unless basketball is really what is your thing. You're not going to have any luck convincing football die-hards though that baseball is really where it's at. So why even bother?

So, just enjoy whatever it is you enjoy, and be satisfied with that. :)
 
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It is like comparing an as it collector item Ferrari sports car, with an Airstream RV full loaded with all the new gadget and entertainment, and still can continue improve on more new gadget and entertainment.
They both get from point a to point b, in different style, but Airstream will let you do a lot more while on it.
 
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hovscorpion12 said:
The simple answer is this. A Rolex is a luxury watch that tells you the time for a price of $5,000 - $25,000. The Apple Watch is a watch that tells you the time while also telling you emails, Uber, phone calls & texts at a price of $350 - $17,000. You can easily change the bands without going to a watch Maker/Jeweler.
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The problem is in a few years the Rolex is still valuable and the AW isn't. All the generation 1 people will have to re-buy their watch.

Before you go all crazy. I will get a AW just not before vet 2 or 3.
 
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i own both, I am lucky to have a very expensive Rolex and the Apple Watch. The Rolex is not something that should be compared to the Apple watch. It is a timepiece. The apple watch is a toy with yet to be figured out capabilities.

With that said I wear both frequently, and like it that way :)
 
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I've not got a Rolex (my wife has her mother's Oyster Perpetual, though), but I've got a handful of auto mechanicals among my watch collection.

I'll tell ya, my mechanicals are the least likely to be displaced by an AW. They'll all compete for wrist time, of course, but when I want to disconnect, I'd put on an auto and leave the AW at home.
 
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What's the difference between an Apple Watch and the Rolex?

What the wearer is trying to tell those who see it on their wrist.

It's the same reason why one person buys a "Beats" headset over white Apple ear buds, and it isn't about the sound quality, nor are the watches about knowing what time it is.
 
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Donoban said:
He makes a point. How many of these purchases are simply status symbols. Why buy a Rolex over a Casio? Why drive a Lexus over a Toyota? and so on. Because you're wealthy and want to show off your cash? You want to be associated with a particular stereotype or group?
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I'm by no means wealthy

I buy a lexus because its marginally more expensive then a Toyota, with that i get incredible service and better quality vehicle

I buy a Rolex, for quality, for features which most brands offer for same price, for reliability and for the ability to get a return on my investment should i ever choose to part with it.
 
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I happen to own 2 Rolex watches, a Perpetual DateJust and GMT-Master II. I also own an Apple Sport. I'm a retired mechanical engineer and appreciate the mechanical genius of the Rolex and the high tech genius of the Apple watch. Both have their place in my life style but if i had to choose between the two, it would be the Rolex.
 
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Donoban said:
He makes a point. How many of these purchases are simply status symbols. Why buy a Rolex over a Casio? Why drive a Lexus over a Toyota? and so on. Because you're wealthy and want to show off your cash? You want to be associated with a particular stereotype or group?
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Wow I suppose some people might have that mindset but I see it as more of a decision to go with a product you feel good about because of one or all of aspects of their quality, material, style, price, etc. In fact I think sometimes having a pricier item makes you more a target for theft or price gouging...like driving up in a Benz and they know you can probably afford to pay more. I just don't get people who get all up into what people who have some money decide to spend it on. Sure there's some interesting psychology behind it.
 
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jmikhail490 said:
Rolex is a collectors item that doesn't lose much value if any at all.
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Beware. Past value is no prediction of the future prices. Rolex value is artificially inflated by watch company marketing, much like diamond jewelry by DeBeers marketing. The same thing could happen to Swiss watches that happened to Dutch tulip bulbs. The timekeeping plus precious metal melt down value is decent and non-zero, but nowhere near the current collectors value. If the bunch of grandkids that inherit granpa's Rolex have no use or taste for steam-punk vintage tech, the flood that hits the market will drop the going price like a rock. So the value depends on what stays in fashion.
 
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firewood said:
Beware. Past value is no prediction of the future prices. Rolex value is artificially inflated by watch company marketing, much like diamond jewelry by DeBeers marketing. The same thing could happen to Swiss watches that happened to Dutch tulip bulbs. The timekeeping plus precious metal melt down value is decent and non-zero, but nowhere near the current collectors value. If the bunch of grandkids that inherit granpa's Rolex have no use or taste for steam-punk vintage tech, the flood that hits the market will drop the going price like a rock. So the value depends on what stays in fashion.
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Wow I did not know that at all. That's good to know thanks for the insight I've always just seen Rolex as the ultimate timepiece that would just never lose much value lol but ya learn something new everyday haha
 
jeepik said:
I'm by no means wealthy

I buy a lexus because its marginally more expensive then a Toyota, with that i get incredible service and better quality vehicle

I buy a Rolex, for quality, for features which most brands offer for same price, for reliability and for the ability to get a return on my investment should i ever choose to part with it.
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Why do people pay a million dollar to live in New York? I'd argue its to be around people who can also afford to spend a million dollars to live in New York. You can apply the same reasoning to why other luxury items appeal to people.

All valid reasons for the Lexus and Rolex. It's great you can afford nice things. Let's catch up at the next Lexus golf day and compare rolexes. Lolz.
 
Donoban said:
He makes a point. How many of these purchases are simply status symbols. Why buy a Rolex over a Casio? Why drive a Lexus over a Toyota? and so on. Because you're wealthy and want to show off your cash? You want to be associated with a particular stereotype or group?
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Or it could be that the owner has money and likes to finer things. They may not care what other people think. A casio and a Rolex both tell time but the Rolex is beautiful. Casio is crappy looking.
 
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JerryGarciaBandFan said:
Or it could be that the owner has money and likes to finer things. They may not care what other people think. A casio and a Rolex both tell time but the Rolex is beautiful. Casio is crappy looking.
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Agreed. I don't wear my Submariner to show off, I wear it for the craftsmanship and history. I really prefer people not notice my watch at all. That said, beauty is subjective. I love my Seiko Orange Monster to death but most would consider it Godawful ugly, probably more so than any G-shock.
 
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As mentioned above, it is really a pointless comparison.
I do like my Apple Watch, no doubt, but a piece of jewelry like my Panerai or Rolex it is not.
Whenever I put my finest suit on for something like weddings or stuff like that, I reach for my Panerai, and will continue to do so.
I'm a bit old-fashioned I guess so it is my opinion that a man can wear two, and two only, pieces of jewelry.
A wedding band and a watch.
Everything else is for women and eeh...Northern Californians...
 
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