In this article, we are about to underline the differences between two of the most popular luxury watch brands out there: IWC and Rolex. Answering a question such as “which one is better between IWC and Rolex?” is not at all easy, there is not a right and a wrong, and most likely the answer will be different from person to person, depending on their tastes and which watch quality they value the most. Therefore, we will present some information on both Rolex and IWC, and then draw our personal conclusion, that might be different from yours.
Let’s start by saying that those two Swiss, luxury watch brands sure have something in common, but it is much more that they do not have in common. Let’s see it in detail.
One of the things that IWC and Rolex share is the attention to quality in the field of luxury watches.
The longest history is the one regarding IWC, dating back to 1868, the year starting from which the Swiss company began producing Swiss-style watches.
Rolex, on the other hand, appeared on the watch market in 1905, some years later, but was quick to catch up.
Popularity for IWC and Rolex
Rolex brand is often named among the top-of-mind brands, the most popular in the world. According to Interbrand, which measures brand popularity, Rolex is the most well known watch brands in the world. IWC is instead the 9th most recognized Swiss watch producing brands, especially for some lines and models such as IWC Portugieser and IWC Aquatimer, but still less compared to models like Rolex Submariner or Rolex Yacht-Master.
Rolex’s effort to aggressively make its brand popular has definitely worked out. Have you ever seen a Rolex campaign? It creates an impressive image, for a luxury lifestyle, not only for a watch. The idea of success is strong inside this kind of communication and popularity is a big part of it.
Prices and warranty for IWC vs Rolex
Rolex has decided over the years to stick to rigorous standards, even more than what IWC does. This mean a never-ending attention to quality and often translate in higher prices for its models. Even tough you will find similar prices for IWC top models and Rolex models, the average price for IWC lines is affected by the entry level models, that are way cheaper. For instance, you will find IWC’s models like Pilot’s Watch Mark XVIII, at around 3,800 USD, a price that is not comparable to any model by Rolex. The difference between the two brands’ prices is estimated to be around 150% on entry level models: Rolex watches cost 150% times more than 150%
This means purchasing a Rolex means almost having some cash at disposal the resale value is very high, such as the demand for the secondary market for basically all Rolex models.
We decided to include some information on the warranty for both watches, as it is something that interests many potential buyers and collectors. For Rolex, it is guaranteed for 5 years, which is above average but not quite as good as the one offered for IWC: 8 years if the buyer registers for international limited warranty online.
This choice that has been made recently, surely has something to do with the fact that Rolex was still perceived as a more durable watch, sometimes with good reason, and because Rolex has been investing in testing a lot of resources, money, and time. IWC is not doing the same, so the perception of durability is unbalanced to the advantage of Rolex, as it is the accuracy and precision of their watches.
IWC vs Rolex: the design and the craftsmanship
IWC and Rolex designs are easily distinguished, only a glance can make you distinguish one from another, with the former being more defined and elegant, and the latter being more bold and tough. This is just a general rule, but you will find this is true for almost all Rolex and IWC watches and chronographs. Rolex watches and chronographs are robust, will speak for the owner, and resist all the situations they are faced with.
During the years, Rolex has made a point of only using made-in-house movements for their productions, while IWC usually uses movements by ETA and Valjoux, which make their watches less appealing for those who appreciate crafted movements. They will purchase calibers made by third party producers, and then adjust and build them in house.
Good quality and craftsmanship is guaranteed with both brands, one of the great differences is the fact that IWC will use often-transparent case backs, something that Rolex won’t use that often, probably to make their watches be perceived as even more solid, durable, and accurate.
Also, IWC features more complications in their watches, compared to Rolex. You might be able to choose more complicated features and combinations of them, if you choose an IWC watch instead that a Rolex. Such features range from the perpetual calendar to the moon phase, minute repeater, and so on.
IWC vs Rolex: our conclusion
Much of the popularity gained by Rolex doesn’t come from its legacy as much as it comes from its aggressive communication and marketing. For a long time, Rolex has been a synonym for luxury, while Iwc has become more a watch for an owner who wants something more niche, likes to research more, in short, is looking for more original and unique pieces, which is not always the same as higher prices, as we have seen before in the article.
Owning a Rolex means you have reached a certain status, and it will be immediately recognized as this brand is very popular. Instead, owning an IWC is increasingly becoming the signal of being part of the community of watch lovers and collectors. For all of those, reasons, since we are talking about two well-known brands which provide extreme quality, the choice is hard but we will go with IWC as our favorite.
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