Well, does it? Is there a model that had yet to be accepted? Obviously the main lot are a huge success but is there such a thing as a Rolex flop?
The closest I've seen on here is the Air King but even that has an ok fan base..
Well, does it? Is there a model that had yet to be accepted? Obviously the main lot are a huge success but is there such a thing as a Rolex flop?
The closest I've seen on here is the Air King but even that has an ok fan base..
I'd say some of the garish bejewelled things but that being said the internal mechanics are sound. Obviously the older subs etc had inferior bracelets vs today's model but we have to put the age into context. BTW current Air King has been a divisive watch stylistically but the specifications of the bracelet and movement are very good. I don't really think there would be a 'bad' modern Rolex but you could say the same of Omega, Breitling, IWC etc.
The Sky-Dweller got a lot of stick when it first landed - I too was in the 'hell no' camp, but I've grown to appreciate the engine within.
Of course they exist. I’m a big Rolex fan but they have and still do make some pig ugly watches.
The leopard Daytona - not a bad watch, just an ugly one (for my taste).
Not a fan of the DSSD either, simply because it's overweight, oversized, to thick (and therefore uncomfortable to wear), over spec'ed and over priced compared with the SD. IMHO.
Whoever does not know how to hit the nail on the head should be asked not to hit it at all.
Friedrich Nietzsche
New, debased, perverted Air-King in my opinion. ;-)
The DSSD isnt pretty, but I wouldnt say its overpriced considering the bracelet clasp and the case construction, also every single watch is actually tested to nearly 5000m, and some do fail (and when they do, the whole watch is a write-off, as the sapphire pierces the case from within).
In fact it's probably one of the most "bang for buck" Rolex watches, if you like engineering.
Sorry to the owners but... For me it has to be those white dial, bright blue yachtmasters
Saw one in a window yesterday and it's one of the rare watches that actually looks worse to me in real life than pics. I pointed it out to my mrs and (lying) said "that's what I want" she took a step back with a grimace & a "wow, that's horrible"
But they make them and sell them and it'd be a boring world if everyone liked only a nice subtle 5512/5513 wouldn't it. We also perceive colours differently and what's garish to me may be right for someone else.
There’s always the Walt Odets tear down and review of the Cal.3000.
http://www.timezone.com/2002/09/16/the-rolex-explorer-ref-14270-part-1/
http://www.timezone.com/2002/09/16/t...-14270-part-2/
It’s going back a few years and it is criticising the movement, not the aesthetics which must feel a tad quaint, but it certainly is an example of Rolex not quite living up to the hype...
Yes; this...
Great watch except when it came to telling the time - slight flaw in my view!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I think the Air King may end up having a cult following of some sorts in the future.. like those films that most criticised but end up having a much bigger following as a result of it.
For me, this question is an open goal into which every dealer in the country would happily punt the quartz Cellinis.
Air-King 116900 is commercially doing quite well; residuals are strong as I know too well having only this week tried to source one for my IT guy. I remain unconvinced by the Lego primary colour scheme...
...but apparently tight supply and such obvious points of difference do give this model a strong foundation for future desirability.
Haywood
Last edited by Haywood_Milton; 14th December 2017 at 23:27.
Bad, probably not, fugly yes some.
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. The third time it's enemy action."
'Populism, the last refuge of a Tory scoundrel'.
a bad rolex? several!!
There's an Air King in my local AD. And a sub 114600. And apparently the new SD made it to the display window for the first time a few days ago although it ended up being bought the same day
As a factory standard item, these are pretty ghastly!!!
Oddly enough, I am kind of drawn to these. Not that I can afford one so it's moot but I somehow find it appealing. I like the colour combinations I think.
I believe they are on the price list so (small volume!) standard production, I think.
The yacht master II? They never seem to get much love
The "James Cameron"
Afterthought gimmick that people fall for.
Design wise yes, but as far as the technical and engineering side, I don't think they do a bad watch, and I'm no fan boy and I don't even own one anymore.
Edit: except for those poorly designed SELs
Last edited by stix; 15th December 2017 at 08:29.
Bad no.
Not to my taste - a couple.
I'll grant that the YM-II ain't the best-looking design, but no other brand would even have the resources to manufacture a reliably water-resistant mechanical countdown timer that's programmable via the bezel. Though the watches may appear somewhat clownish, their unique 4160/4161 movements are no joke.
Taste is subjective.
I wouldn’t say bad as such,Just not my cup of tea I have no desire for any of them.
They remind me of old people’s houses with horrid wallpaper inside,cheap prints on the wall and a musty smell.
That’s the best way I can describe how they make me feel.
Pretty much the only Rolex I would own is the explorer 2 polar. The rest just don’t do it for me. The brand does not so it for me. Undeniably great watches and maybe one day my view will change. From taking to both watch people and non watch people it just generates the wrong sort of attention.
I like the leopard Daytona.
It's so overdone that it's a bit of a FU to subtlety.
The bloated DJ-II
There has been an air king sat in watch gallery in Westfields shepherds bush for about 6 months
Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk
The Yuckmaster 2 is pretty terrible in all its versions.
The new Milgauss and the Air-king. They made the Air-King to get clear of their surplus Milgauss-cases and movements, as they are exactly the same, only dial/hands/brushed bracelet differs. When I was at Rolex training I saw many employees wearing the milgauss... Leading me to think they either got one essentially for free, or it's time to buy one... :D Remember the Paul newman was an unsellable model as well, back in the day. The white and black clear crystalled milgauss are already discontinued since long, but still linger in shop windows.
Sadly, I'm still not a fan of the all polished cases and / or centre links, maxi dials or the current oversized lugs that make the bracelets look too thin - at least for my eyes.
As have said, they are a tour de force when it comes to items like the Glidelock clasp - especially when compared to the older models, but they just don't do it for me.
Similarly items like using 904 steel, or Gold produced in their own foundry, fail to justify the premium as it continues to grow apace.
I guess that makes the current line up a bad watch for me as soon as you go beyond the basic OP.
But their continued sales growth suggests that my views may be in a minority!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited by adg31; 16th December 2017 at 22:28.
I don't think there's a badly made modern Rolex, but the Cellini range don't often appear on the Friday thread.
Which might say more about the tastes of TZ than about the watch itself. Which is superb. If you want something naff....Rolex can accommodate you. They do 'bling' with great enthusiasm. Mind you, I still find the Skydweller rather 'challenging.' Or as my partner said;,'ugh...what's that.'
And yet it seems to sell strongly, so there you are. Everything Rolex sells.
Last edited by paskinner; 14th December 2017 at 23:28.
Off the top of my head, the following...
- Air King
- Current shape Explorer 2 (it'll be even worse with a ceramic bezel if they add one)
- The BLNR (yes I know I will be slaughtered for this but I dislike the hue of the blue and seeing one on someone's wrist the other day in the gym, it just looked like a regular model until it caught one of the lights and I saw the blue)
- The Rose Gold Yacht-Master on Oysterflex... why oh why did they get rid of the stunning case and swap it for the Submariner case?! I'm not saying I wouldn't have one at some point but it would annoy be that the lovely curvy case has been swapped for the more squared off Submariner type
- Any Pearlmaster model although I'm certainly not the target market
- The Pepsi GMT... if this would have been steel, it would have been incredible, but it isn't and the white gold is so brushed, it ruins any point in the white gold being present; you can't see the lustre due to the satin finish of it at all so it just adds weight, cost and more fragility.
My opinions will probably change over time, but as much as I rate Rolex, some of them aren't half over-valued by people IMO.
The uniformity of the look is Rolex’s strong point but also a point of lack of desirability in my mind I tend to like watches produced up to 1990 From the range I think a 36mm Explorer or a Pepsi GMT. Actually I’d add a Precision into that mix as well as models I’d like to own. It’s the same I suppose for all watch brands but those models up to that period give a reason for owning one other than just I’ve got a ROLEX!!!!
When looking at vintage the sheer range of Omega keeps me happy and also the capacity to own one on limited resources makes it achievable .