Rolex sponsorship

A

Alex78

Hall of Fame
Why is Rolex sponsoring so many players on the tour?
I figure they would be keen to have only "the best" players wear their watches, instead it looks like just about every second player with half a decent record (just slightly exaggerated) gets to be a Rolex ambassador these days :unsure:
Definitely doesn't let Rolex appear like the champion of watch brands they probably view themselves.
 
lidoazndiabloboi

lidoazndiabloboi

Hall of Fame
Alex78 said:
Why is Rolex sponsoring so many players on the tour?
I figure they would be keen to have only "the best" players wear their watches, instead it looks like just about every second player with half a decent record (just slightly exaggerated) gets to be a Rolex ambassador these days :unsure:
Definitely doesn't let Rolex appear like the champion of watch brands they probably view themselves.
Click to expand...

I think the sponsorship is working. It's making me want to buy a Rolex more than ever.
From what I've seen, the sponsored players have either won at least 1 major, or the year end finals. Do you have a list of the sponsored players?
 
W

WilsonRF97A

Rookie
just did a quick search and it saids the following players:
Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem, Stéfanos Tsitsipás, Karen Khachanov, Juan Martín del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Garbine Muguruza. i'm sure there are more...
 
jsm1373

jsm1373

Rookie
Plus Sinner.

I used to be a big Rolex fan/collector but the current secondary market prices are insane. Once all the trendy folks realize “everyone“ has one they’ll fall out of fashion and prices should normalize.

right now there are so many other brands with equal or better quality for less money
 
A

AVSH

Banned
WilsonRF97A said:
just did a quick search and it saids the following players:
Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem, Stéfanos Tsitsipás, Karen Khachanov, Juan Martín del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Garbine Muguruza. i'm sure there are more...
Click to expand...
Also Zverev, just switched from RM to rollieeee
 
A

AVSH

Banned
jsm1373 said:
Plus Sinner.

I used to be a big Rolex fan/collector but the current secondary market prices are insane. Once all the trendy folks realize “everyone“ has one they’ll fall out of fashion and prices should normalize.

right now there are so many other brands with equal or better quality for less money
Click to expand...
Couldn't agree more
 
Purestriker

Purestriker

Legend
Alex78 said:
Why is Rolex sponsoring so many players on the tour?
I figure they would be keen to have only "the best" players wear their watches, instead it looks like just about every second player with half a decent record (just slightly exaggerated) gets to be a Rolex ambassador these days :unsure:
Definitely doesn't let Rolex appear like the champion of watch brands they probably view themselves.
Click to expand...
They equally sponsor golf in similar fashion. In the US, both our considered to be country club sports (outside the coasts) so why not?
 
A

Alex78

Hall of Fame
I was just surprised to see how many players use, er, endorse Rolex these days.
I remember some years ago, the Swiss ski racer Carlo Janka became just the second Swiss pro athlete brand ambassador for Rolex - after Roger Federer, of course. This seemed to imply, at least for me, that it's a very select circle of champions who get to promote Rolex watches. Now, it doesn't seem so special anymore.
Not sure if that's detrimental to Rolex' success as a brand or not, obviously.
 
lidoazndiabloboi

lidoazndiabloboi

Hall of Fame
Khachanov and Tsonga are the surprising names on the list.

On the womens side, we can add Bencic, Kerber, Andreescu, Carolina Garcia, Sloane Stephens.
 
jsm1373

jsm1373

Rookie
SinneGOAT said:
Wear G-shock ;)
Click to expand...
I like G-shocks & own a few. My ex-Navy combat diver buddy says that’s what nearly all operators actually wear.

but try and bring this back to tennis – 8-B it always amazed me how many pros with great 2HBHs wore a watch *while playing*. (Andre, Serena, Nishikori, Rafa off the top of my head). I’m practically never without a watch except on the tennis court – it goes in the bag right before grabbing a stick.
 
guanzishou

guanzishou

G.O.A.T.
Why no smartwatches... This is the future.... Apple, Garmin, Samsung should sponsor some players... I reckon Hyeon Chung was sponsored by Samsung?

Tennis has never had the sort of popularity that sports such as golf, taekwondo, baseball and soccer enjoy in South Korea. Unlike Japan and China, which have marketable tennis stars, well-funded coaching systems and a number of lucrative professional tournaments, South Korea's tennis infrastructure is still relatively undeveloped.

The 21-year-old Chung is the result of an effort to try to change this. Born with poor eyesight, he took up the sport as a young child after doctors said it would benefit him to focus on the color green. After showing promise, Chung became part of a junior tennis program funded by the electronics giant Samsung to develop the game in South Korea.
Click to expand...
 
jmacdaununder2

jmacdaununder2

Legend
There’s simply no need to endorse tech that already sells; traditional watches OTOH are a sad anachronism with about as much functionality as a gold necklace, and likewise for the most part have no purpose other than ostentation.
 
brinkeguthrie

brinkeguthrie

Hall of Fame
jsm1373 said:
Of course you realize that was a Goldeneye sponsorship deal... Roley in the early novels :p
Click to expand...
Right! But it's been Omega since 1995. I've got the "Q2" watch, Q's watch by Swatch he wore in No Time To Die; (Omega owns Swatch); that's as close as I'll get!
 
jsm1373

jsm1373

Rookie
brinkeguthrie said:
Right! But it's been Omega since 1995. I've got the "Q2" watch, Q's watch by Swatch he wore in No Time To Die; (Omega owns Swatch); that's as close as I'll get!
Click to expand...
Actually I think the swatch group owns omega. seems counterintuitive but just like how Volkswagen owns Bugatti.

it has been a long sponsorship deal, but in 1995 BMW was also “the James Bond car” and I don’t think anybody thinks of a Z3 4cyl as Bond’s car :-D

search Google for Daniel Craig Rolex and you’ll see which is his off camera choice. Not knocking Omega btw, great watches…
 
jsm1373

jsm1373

Rookie
jmacdaununder2 said:
There’s simply no need to endorse tech that already sells; traditional watches OTOH are a sad anachronism with about as much functionality as a gold necklace, and likewise for the most part have no purpose other than ostentation.
Click to expand...
Wait a decade when the current Apple Watch‘s battery doesn’t work anymore and it’s been recycled for parts or in the trash. A mechanical swiss watch (not necessarily an expensive one) will still be serviceable and running.

are some people ostentatious about expensive watches, definitely. But it’s unfair to say that’s why everyone has them.
 
roger presley

roger presley

Hall of Fame
jsm1373 said:
Actually I think the swatch group owns omega. seems counterintuitive but just like how Volkswagen owns Bugatti.

it has been a long sponsorship deal, but in 1995 BMW was also “the James Bond car” and I don’t think anybody thinks of a Z3 4cyl as Bond’s car :-D

search Google for Daniel Craig Rolex and you’ll see which is his off camera choice. Not knocking Omega btw, great watches…
Click to expand...
VW does not own Bugatti anymore, Rimac does.
 
jsm1373

jsm1373

Rookie
roger presley said:
VW does not own Bugatti anymore, Rimac does.
Click to expand...
If you really want to split hairs, Rimac owns 55% while Porsche owns 45. And Volkswagen owns Porsche.

was just trying to make an analogy about how sometimes a less expensive seeming brand can actually sell enough to own a more prestigious one.… the swatch group owns many higher end names just like VW
 
rafazx10

rafazx10

Rookie
Sounds like a large number of players, but I dont see many players from the same country.
Event though some of those guys are not the "best", they are the best player in their country, that might be enough exposure in that market for Rolex.
 
NickJ

NickJ

Professional
G-Shock for tennis, but day to day my dads Rolex he left me when he died. Kinda feels weird when I'm not wearing a watch . . .
 
Bhagi Katbamna

Bhagi Katbamna

Legend
jsm1373 said:
Of course you realize that was a Goldeneye sponsorship deal... Roley in the early novels :p
Click to expand...
The Rolex that Bond wore in one of the earlier movies sells for a lot more now than it did when it was new. The Omegas always lose value after the sale. Rolex is selling every stainless steel model they make. They want their sponsors to sell the gold models.
 
EasternRocks

EasternRocks

Hall of Fame
Love seeing my two big hobbies clashing - watches and tennis equipment.
Speaking of rolex, what’s everyone’s favorite vintage or modern ref?
 
jsm1373

jsm1373

Rookie
NickJ said:
G-Shock for tennis, but day to day my dads Rolex he left me when he died. Kinda feels weird when I'm not wearing a watch . . .
Click to expand...
Exactly. When I wear my grandfather’s gold omega I think about how as a broke kid he swept the floors for free at a company than later retired as it’s VP and got it as a retirement gift. Same with my late dad’s GMT - how many business trips did he take to earn that thing while being afraid to fly. Definitely not thinking – I am an ostentatious jerk who’s better than you.
Just saying, not everyone with a nice watch is an ahole
 
Bhagi Katbamna

Bhagi Katbamna

Legend
jsm1373 said:
Exactly. When I wear my grandfather’s gold omega I think about how as a broke kid he swept the floors for free at a company than later retired as it’s VP and got it as a retirement gift. Same with my late dad’s GMT - how many business trips did he take to earn that thing while being afraid to fly. Definitely not thinking – I am an ostentatious jerk who’s better than you.
Just saying, not everyone with a nice watch is an ahole
Click to expand...
That's great. My son is wearing my late Dad's Omega Constellation that was his 70th birthday gift.
 
roger presley

roger presley

Hall of Fame
jsm1373 said:
If you really want to split hairs, Rimac owns 55% while Porsche owns 45. And Volkswagen owns Porsche.

was just trying to make an analogy about how sometimes a less expensive seeming brand can actually sell enough to own a more prestigious one.… the swatch group owns many higher end names just like VW
Click to expand...
True
 
brownbearfalling

brownbearfalling

Hall of Fame
OP: from the way you describe your observation, it sounds like Rolex Are poaching these players and paying them ridiculous salaries for their endorsement. I think we will never know since Rolex is not a public company. To me part of the deal is the player reaching out to Rolex to get the sponsorship. Watches don’t interfere with their other sponsorships. And the brand has made themselves a status symbol. These players are human too.
 
A

Alex78

Hall of Fame
brownbearfalling said:
OP: from the way you describe your observation, it sounds like Rolex Are poaching these players and paying them ridiculous salaries for their endorsement. I think we will never know since Rolex is not a public company. To me part of the deal is the player reaching out to Rolex to get the sponsorship. Watches don’t interfere with their other sponsorships. And the brand has made themselves a status symbol. These players are human too.
Click to expand...
Do you mean to imply the players ask Rolex to hand them a watch they can put on after the match (and not like "Where is it? I don't have it!"-Andy Murray) and generally endorse in Rolex ads?
I somehow doubt this is the way it works. Instead, I suppose Rolex reaches out to the players because they want to be known as a watch brand promoting the "best" tennis players on the tour. And I think they're putting a lot of eggs into that tennis basket and hope some of them hatch. Not sure how much money these players make from their watch deals, but I - again, suppose - it's not just the watch they receive.
 
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