Has the value gone for Rolex.

[willy]

It would be interesting to hear what you all think about the crazy prices we are
paying,especially on the Grey market for Rolex watches.
                     The thing that really tipped me over the edge,was that i recently
bought a Rolex Batman.I really liked the watch except for the polished center
links.I thought the bezel was a thing of beauty,and i intended to keep it,at least
for a few months
                         I have always known and respected that Rolex do not do much
with the finishing of their calibers,and they hide them behind a solid case back.
But they have a reputation of reliability and strength second to none.And of course
you have to take into account the fact that they hold there value better than any
other brand.
                              But in the last few years due to the mass indoctrination of
watch buyers,who think Rolex make the best watches on the planet,prices have
reached ridiculous levels.
                             When a Rolex Green Sub costs more than a Blancpain fifty
fathoms,we have truly entered a world,where people are willing to pay nearly
double the price for a watch because of the name on the dial.
                            The Blancpain is better finished,the caliber is in a different
class to any modern Rolex,and the amount of handwork is about 100 times
more than a machine finished undecorated caliber in a Sub.The actual worth
of the Sub caliber is only a few hundred dollars.

                      In reality the Sub should cost about half the price of the Blancpain
or even my Glashutte Sea Q Date.It is your money and you make your choice,and
i have made mine.I have owned at least 45 Rolex watches,and i still think they
are a great brand.You could argue that they have never been great value for
the money.I would dispute this because for so many years they have made some
of the greatest watches that collectors all over the world love.
                       My own opinion today,is that i would still buy a used Rolex if the
price was fair for what i am getting.But to pay the prices that dealers demand
for a hot model is not on my agenda.And i truly think that this is going to hurt the
image of Rolex in the future.The last thing a brand like Rolex wants is for a watch
to become common.Some will say that with a yearly production of over one
million watches,and the new demand from maybe one Billion new buyers in 
the future,Rolex have nothing to fear.But there are millions of Rolex watches
out there,just look at how many they have made in the last fifty years!

                              In my eyes Rolex lost the image of being an exclusive watch
many years ago.Today the competition is incredible,and i can see them falling
longer behind other brands in their segment .The internet is a game changer
for brands who just live on past achievments.

What do you think?
PS. When i compaired the Batman to the Glashutte,the Batman made me feel like i had
been cheated.So now i have the Glashutte and i feel much better.