ROLEX vs. ZENITH: Which is the Better Luxury Watch Brand?

Rolex vs Zenith luxury watch brand

One of the most compared brands in the luxury watch market is Rolex and Zenith. If you are looking to make a luxury watch purchase, then you are in luck.

This article will compare Rolex and Zenith based on various features, which will help you make your purchase decision and provide answers to your questions.

History and Heritage

Both Zenith and Rolex have been around for so long, and they have such rich history and heritage. It may come as a surprise to know that Zenith had been making watches far longer than Rolex.

Zenith was acquired by LVMH in November 1999, although it began its initial production in 1865 when Georges Favre-Jaco started the company in Le Locle in the canton of Neuchâtel. On the other hand, Rolex entered the watchmaking industry 35 years after the production of the first Zenith watch.

Hans Wilsdorf and Alfred Davis founded a watch company called Wilsdorf and Davis in 1905 in London. In 1908, the company became what is today known as Rolex and then Rolex Watch Co. LTD. in 1915.

The company was forced to move its base of operation to Geneva, Switzerland due to the First World War’s effect on the British Economy. In 1920, Hans Wilsdorf registered the company as Montres Rolex SA in Geneva.

Hans Wilsdorf began producing watches that weren’t only sleek and stylish but highly reliable, too. This propelled Rolex from being a new company to a formidable contender in the luxury watch industry.

Brand Recognition

Both Zenith and Rolex are respected in the luxury watch industry. However, their reputation and brand recognition are quite different.

Rolex prides itself on its exclusivity and prestige. It is said that Rolex is to watches what Rolls-Royce is to cars. Simply put, a Rolex wristwatch stands out. Their timepieces are probably the first thing people will notice on the wearer, and it is guaranteed to turn heads and make people look at the wearer differently.

There is no argument that Rolex is the first brand name that comes to most minds when luxury watches are mentioned. Numbers don’t lie, and if the numbers are to be considered, Rolex has been on the list of the most reputable companies in the world.

Apart from this, Rolex makes billions of dollars in profits from its watch sales. Rolex is also a popular brand in exclusive sports like golf, racing sports, and lawn tennis. Furthermore, Rolex has also been involved in influencing pop culture with their timepieces appearing in movies such as the first James Bond movie, Dr. No, Live and Let Die, and Argo, to mention a few.

Finally, a lot of celebrities prefer the Rolex brand. The list is endless, but Barrack Obama, Tiger Woods, Winston Churchill, Warren Buffett, Rodger Federer, John F. Kennedy, and several others have been spotted wearing Rolex watches.

Although Rolex is more popular and recognized than Zenith, the latter hasn’t done badly for itself. It is believed that Mahatma Gandhi carried a Zenith pocket watch, and Bill Clinton was also spotted wearing a timepiece by Zenith. However, Zenith doesn’t make as much money as Rolex.

Design

On the subject of design, both brands are known for excellence. Both brands use several metals to make their watches, and there are different dials and a multitude of other materials used in making their crystals, bracelets, and other watch parts.

In the midst of all these, both Zenith and Rolex ensures that the quality of material used is top-notch. This is what guarantees their place among the multitude of luxury watchmakers.

Rolex has been so innovative over the years on the design of their timepieces, which led to the patent of Cerachrom. The ceramic material is what gives Rolex the unique, beautiful luster that guarantees it as a head-turner. 

Water Resistance

Rolex and Zenith have contributed immensely to the development of innovations to make better water-resistant watches. As a result of this, both brands have several watches under their dive collection.

Rolex was among the first watch companies to incorporate the helium escape valve into their design. Rolex proved its ability in making quality water-resistant watches in 1960 when they released the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Deep-Sea Special watch.

At a depth of 10,916 meters, it worked as well as it did on the surface. The Rolex Submariner series is a testament to Rolex’s prowess in this field.

Zenith also has several high-quality water-resistant watches. Timepieces such as the Zenith El-Primero Pilot/Diver 3019PHC and the Zenith Divers’ Sub (ref. A3630) are known to be water-resistant among several other watches.

In terms of water resistance, Zenith and Rolex are on equal footing.

Magnetic Resistance

Every electronic device known to man emits electromagnetic frequencies. These frequencies interfere with the accuracy and precision of mechanical watches. Due to this, watchmakers constantly develop technologies to make their watches magnetic-resistant.

Both Zenith and Rolex excel in this department. Rolex has the Milgauss, which makes their watches magnetic-resistant to about 1,000 gausses. The Zenith Defy lab watch is also known to have a magnetic resistance of 1,100 gausses.

All in all, both brands succeed in tackling the effect of electromagnetic frequency on the accuracy and precision of timepieces.

Value for Precision

Both Rolex and Zenith are very particular about accuracy and precision. Due to this, attention is paid to details in the design, and a series of tests are carried by the COSC (Contrôle Officiel Suisse des Chronomètres) and the brands themselves to certify that each watch is up to precision standard.

Rolex has stopped making watches with quartz manufacturing, but this hasn’t affected their standard for precision. Currently, Rolex watches have an accuracy of -2/+2 seconds. This beats the current COSC standard.

Zenith has a history of producing highly accurate watches. When the Zenith El Primo was released in 1969, it became the first automatic chronograph watch and the first self-winding chronograph caliber.

When it comes to precision and accuracy, both brands are excellent.

Prices

The cheapest Rolex you will find in the market, Rolex Oyster Perpetual 39mm, is about $1,000 more expensive than the most affordable Zenith watch. Rolex has a cheaper line of watches called the Tudor, but they are not Rolexes.

When it comes to the contest of price, Rolex watches are generally priced higher than Zenith watches.

Resale Value

Since we just discussed prices, it’s only fair that we examine each brand product’s resale value. Watches are pieces of jewelry, so their resale value depends on a combination of different values.

Some of these watches are so rare that they go on to become family heirlooms. Watches like this become very valuable over time and can fetch huge profits if sold.

A Rolex Daytona worn by Paul Newman was once auctioned for $17.8 million, and Gandhi’s Zenith watch was auctioned at $1.8 million.

It is important to note that the history of the watch’s owner and the timepiece’s rareness significantly affects its resale value. Nevertheless, both Rolex and Zenith watches have great resale values.

Warranty

Rolex offers a five-year and above warranty on most of their watches, while Zenith offers the industry standard, which is two-years.

Conclusion

Rolex and Zenith are both wonderful luxury watch brands. They both have their pros and cons, and individual preference is the best judge of which to buy.

However, based on our analysis at Exquisite Timepieces, it is safe to say that Rolex is slightly better than Zenith when it comes to comparing both brands.