Comments:
Caption: BS Meter.
Photo Credit: Not Mine.
Who here believes the statement "A Rolex Takes A Year To Make" or a derivative close to that?
A lot of sales people at Rolex dealers have said "A Rolex Takes A Year To Make" or some derivation near that.
I remember first hearing that statement when I was an eight year old kid and found it dubious.
I suppose with EXTREMELY LOOSE definitions, like we need to factor in the time those dinosaurs took thousands of years to turn into oil which lubricates a Rolex, then we can make the statement it takes over a thousand years to make a Rolex. Don't forget that we had to dig mines to mine the iron ore that we later turn into metal to make the watch out of. But the statement also implies it requires Rolex a year to make their own watch.
I can even tell you as a fact that a $100,000 Patek Philippe perpetual calendar doesn't take a year to make, at least not by "normal" definitions. But if you count the time the alligator egg is laid by the female alligator to the time it takes for it to become a watch strap, yes, it does take over a year.
Now, obviously, nobody here is going to admit that they ever believed a Rolex required a year to make. I think I've made certain of that. But what kind of demented person would make such a statement. What kind of ill-advised person would believe that statement?
I wouldn't blame you if you tarred and feathered me if I ever make such an awful statement!
Perhaps one of the reasons why I even present this question is because another watch friend sent me this YouTube video with just the acronym "LOL" because the supposed expert here is just so incorrect. At 1min 12sec, she states "...it takes one year to make a Rolex..."
The supposed expert also makes further incorrect statements that she tries to pass on as facts, but the most glaring one to me is the one I mention above.
I suppose I'd be less surprised if I heard the statement from a poorly trained watch salesperson. But it's a bigger and more painful surprise when it comes from a supposed "watch expert."
Moral of the story here: Be careful whom you believe, a little skepticism is usually healthy, and a good dose of logic will dispel most fabrications. "So much for expert witnesses," a phrase used by many trial lawyers.
Caption: BS Meter.
Photo Credit: Not Mine.
But for an editor of Hodinkee to make that statement? That's bone chilling! [nt]
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Consider their "star struck" audience
A couple weeks ago I got a survey request from them and the last question was "do you trust Hodinkee?" Guess what my answer was... 😉
Well, I certainly trust Hodinkee much less after that example!
Everybody makes mistakes, but that one was an extremely appalling one. And she stated multiple assumptions and incorrect facts. For instance, at the very end she claimed the ladies' two tone is the most popular reference ever made. Not true!
Hmmm, maybe to the “mainstream” public who just wants
An expensive watch, it sounds good to their ears. The WIS are probably few and far between so many of these sales people take their chances or odds?
Don’t know, just spitballing.
I think you're right! But for an editor of Hodinkee to make that statement?
But I remember I was a very young kid, under ten, when I first heard this and I thought that couldn't make sense. It just couldn't. GDP per capita in Switzerland being what it is, then the watch would have to cost a lot more money than the $8,000 they charge for a Submariner non date.
Yeah, I don’t know why she said that,
Honestly, she knows/or should know quite a few WISs go on Hodinkee.
Misleading may not be the proper term.
Misleading may not be the proper term.
Definitely not what I expected from anyone sensible. Especially from a supposed expert.
"So much for expert witnesses," common lawyer quote.
I wouldn't be so surprised if a poorly trained salesperson said this...
I remember I was eight years old at a Ben Bridge Jeweler when I first heard this statement that "a Rolex takes a year to make" and I was thinking it was a salesperson's rhetoric. But for an editor at Hodinkee... That was a big shock. Also, 2.3 million views on that video! Goodness, that could mean millions of people now take this fiction as fact. And that's not the only incorrect statement she made!
🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
The way information gets around, especially with today’s technology, more so for its falsity, is scary. As you plainly laid out.
I don’t know sometimes, what to do about all this, yeah, but it is wrong.
I don’t know sometimes, what to do about all this, yeah, but it is wrong.
It is indeed scary... Time to be even more vigilant and skeptical when reviewing any media or content. [nt]
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Not that I'm aware of. If they knew the video was so incorrect, wouldn't they just take down the video? [nt]
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"Business Insider" published the video and they are happy to keep it up
Hardly anything is accurate on their site:
They are indeed very happy to keep it up! 2 Million views! I would be too! [nt]
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If that were true...
Imagine how many employees/watchmakers they would need to produce 1,000,000 watches a year.
Do the math
Say 8000 for the Rolex
Ave 2000 working hrs in a year
Hmm ... $4 per hour? Don’t think so.
More realistic guess might be
Say $1000 overhead/equipment etc
And $500 materials
With $1500 labor @ $50/hr = 30 hrs = one person/week
And $1500 profit
Thus $3500 for distribution
Ave 2000 working hrs in a year
Hmm ... $4 per hour? Don’t think so.
More realistic guess might be
Say $1000 overhead/equipment etc
And $500 materials
With $1500 labor @ $50/hr = 30 hrs = one person/week
And $1500 profit
Thus $3500 for distribution
Exactly. I thought the same thing.
I was better at basic mental math when I was a child than I am even now. So just doing some multiplications in my mind, it didn't make sense.
Only a year?😂 I’ve been told the Datograph takes five, and don’t forget the Odysseus took ten years to develop... [nt]
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Development does take years! If a Rolex takes a year to make, imagine how many years that Zeitwerk minute repeater takes to make!
Philippe Dufour ought to charge millions for his work since he's only able to make one or two pieces in his lifetime!
You can’t compare Mr. Dufour with any other watch brands, since all use CNC’s to make the parts.
So yes, the one year to make a Rolex is BS so is the “Hand made” term used on high horology.
While very part is supplied by robots, the assembly is still done by watchmakers at Rolex.
The videos we see, e.g. AP, Lange, Patek, Kari, depicting a watchmaker assembling a high complication piece, it’s also a sells pitch, since every one of them has a “quota” that they have to meet otherwise out the door they go!
So yes, the Zeitwerk minute repeater might take longer to assemble then a Datejust, but definitely not years, If someone believes that it does, then Santa is real;-)))
While very part is supplied by robots, the assembly is still done by watchmakers at Rolex.
The videos we see, e.g. AP, Lange, Patek, Kari, depicting a watchmaker assembling a high complication piece, it’s also a sells pitch, since every one of them has a “quota” that they have to meet otherwise out the door they go!
So yes, the Zeitwerk minute repeater might take longer to assemble then a Datejust, but definitely not years, If someone believes that it does, then Santa is real;-)))
How many other "expert" writers/journalists are out there writing about other subject matter where we can't so easily pick out the untruths? [nt]
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You bring up a good point! Ignorance is bliss!
It's just sad that a supposed expert from a horology/watch news outlet is so misinformed and in a position to misinform the public. Supposedly, 2.3 million people viewed that video according to YouTube!