Fratello Talks: Why Rolex Always Wins
It’s another week, and Fratello Talks is back! This episode is all about Rolex and, specifically, about the Crown’s uncanny ability to always come out on top. RJ and Lex join Nacho to discuss Rolex’s inability to lose, make mistakes, or create a bad watch. But wait, is that actually the case? Sure, Rolex tops most lists out there in terms of popularity, sales, and iconicity of its watches, but surely not all that glitters is gold. Sometimes that glitter you see from a distance is a Cellini when you get up close! All jokes aside, join the guys for a discussion on the brand’s perceived invincibility and a look at why this is the case. But before that, let’s take a look at what’s on the wrist.
Wrist check
We kick off with Lex, who was actually named after the Rolex brand. Only his closest friends call him by his full name; to everyone else, he’s just ‘Lex. On his wrist, he’s rocking the quartz Grand Seiko SBGX341, a funky white-dialed number with red accents and a rugged ’70s-inspired stainless steel case. A recent post-holiday rekindling of his love for his Grand Seiko will likely see him wearing this one for a little while, at least.
Next, we hop over to RJ, who is very appropriately wearing his Rolex Sea-Dweller 16600. This is a true, no-nonsense diver’s watch that’s ready to take on just about anything he (or anyone) throws at it. This is the second Sea-Dweller of this reference that RJ has owned, with the first having been regrettably traded in 2014 for a GMT-Master 1675. He no longer owns either of those specific watches. However, he did buy back a Sea-Dweller of the same reference, the watch he’s wearing today.
Finally, Nacho is wearing his Omega Seamaster Professional 300M reference 2254.50.00. There’s not a lot left to say about this one, but you can read all about why this is his GADA watch here. You can also check out his video on the watch on the Fratello YouTube channel. This is his most worn watch in 2023 so far, something that’s not likely to change any time soon.
Why Rolex always wins
Now, you all know that, for most of us here at Fratello, Omega holds a special place in our hearts and collections. But it’s simply not fair to say that Rolex is not the most popular brand overall. And as much as we enjoy the work of other brands, we find ourselves being critical. Whether it comes to a specific model or even a shift in the brand’s direction, not everything is always perfect. Is the work of Rolex, then, as close to perfection as the watch world gets? Well, as you’ll hear in the podcast, even the best will sometimes miss a step. Perhaps it’s about how a brand takes these “mistakes” in its stride or in just how many risks it’s willing to take. Either way, we discuss how Rolex manages to navigate these situations and seemingly always come out on top.
Do you agree with the guys? We’d love to hear your opinion. Share your thoughts on the topic in the comments section below.
