Why Do Rolex Watches Cost So Much?

If you asked the typical person in the street what they thought was the greatest wristwatch in the world, most would most likely reply Rolex. Rolex is ingrained in contemporary society and is often seen as or utilized as a symbol of success. Rolex is one of the world's most recognizable brands and one of the most beloved in the luxury sector. Rolex has decorated the wrists of many renowned individuals throughout history, and the brand has a synergy with great achievers, all of which contributes to the brand's desirability to those aspiring to the same degree of accomplishment. But why are Rolex watches so expensive? Is it simply good branding and marketing, or are the components and procedures that go into making a Rolex watch what makes them so expensive?

Something that co

ntributes to the high price of a Rolex is that the company spends a significant amount of money on research and development. As with any innovative company at the top of their game, if you want the best, you must invest time, effort, and money into developing a product and continuing to improve it. Rolex continues to push the frontiers of innovation, introducing new production techniques, materials, and complexities for their timepieces.

Rolex also develops and manufactures their own in-house movements, while many other watchmakers purchase off-the-shelf movements and modify them somewhat. The expense of designing and manufacturing your own movement versus purchasing an off-the-shelf movement is enormous. It takes time and money to develop these movements to the necessary degree. Watch movements are costly to produce. The pieces are all very small and have a significant failure rate throughout the production process. All of these movements must be assembled by hand by trained Swiss artisans, and with labor costs in Switzerland among the highest in the world, it is no surprise that Rolexes are so costly.

If a Rolex is something you want to invest in, this infographic should help you make the right choice.