Rolex accused of getting many parts from china

I do not see a disconnect at all. Rolex demand outweighs production which equals demand and pricing. I do think paying 50% premium for a SS watch on the gray market is stupid, but then again if that is what you really want then go for it. Its the ultimate free market. The reason my story has relevance is that Rolex are good watches, and are well made, regardless if made in China or Switzerland... the actual product remains high quality. the cachet ... well that can ebb and flow. My Patek, is very nice, beautiful to me, but to the regular person, no body has any idea what it is. and what is more, to appreciate the fine honing of the bridges, and gears you have to magnify it under a microscope to appreciate the finishing. It is amazing when you look at it. if it was done at Plan Des Ouates or in Shenzen does not really matter to me, as its got the Stern family seal of approval, and the quality standard behind it. That it cost 2.5 times more than a new Daytona? nobody would believe that. its one of those things if you know you know. I would say however that my Rolex's are far more robust than my Patek's ... and many other of my higher end watches.... kinda like a Porsche 997 / 991 may not be the most exotic, but it will out live and perform a 250 SWB, and be far easier to live with... its it as desirable and exotic, no, but for the majority of people they would take the 911 over a 65 year old car.

 

Having lived in Switzerland - albeit a long while ago, Its not like its a fairy tale place... they have poor quality things/ people just like everywhere else. That the watch industry is concentrated around Geneva and the Val d'Joux to Neufchatel, does not really mean much other than that is where the specific factories were set up, and the industry knowledge was concentrated. Swiss Made may be a trademark - but its in the mind of the beholder... a Swiss factory vs. a Chinese factory take the people out, the machines and processes will be the same or similar. The Swiss do have a reputation for micro instruments, and fastidious quality...some would say bull headed stubbornness... that I can attest to. Swiss society is very regimented, and there is only "one way" to do things... each Canton fights with the other on how to make Rosti potatoes, so I can imagine the debates on how to properly do Cote de Geneve.... That is what you are paying for in Swiss Made.... if the Cote de Geneve is made in Shenzen vs. Le Sentier and quality is the same... I've no problem....

 

Rolex prices are coming down and the used market is flooded. My local Rolex AD at the Mall had a few in stock to purchase a few days ago…nothing I’d buy though. I sold all my Rolex in mid 2021-2022 when pricing was outrageous. Rolex watches I had for over a decade or 2. I kept 1 Rolex…2019 Sea Dweller and also kept a AP.

Now with Chinese made parts I’ve lost a lot of interest in Rolex and high end watches in general I’m skeptical about.

 

If the quality is there with the Chinese parts, that doesn't bother me as much as false narrative and bloated prices do. They are nice but not not rare and even most 'piece unique' watches are unique in the way Corvettes are (with some exceptions).