為什麼勞力士手錶這麼貴？：英語精讀講義

Ask most people around the world 文法

詢問世界上大多數人

to name the finest brand of wristwatch in the world

說出世界上最好的手錶品牌，

and the answer will usually be Rolex.

答案通常會是勞力士。

A status symbol, 片語搭配

作為身分地位的象徵，

Rolex is one of the world's most loved luxury brands,

勞力士是全球最受喜愛的精品品牌之一，

worn by everyone from Winston Churchill to James Bond. 文法

從溫斯頓·邱吉爾到詹姆士·龐德等名人都曾佩戴。

This brand is one of the most recognizable and sought-after brands worldwide. 用詞

這個品牌是全球知名度和追捧度最高的品牌之一。

The most expensive Rolex sold at auction fetched over $17 million. 用詞

拍賣會上最貴的一只勞力士拍出了超過 1700 萬美元的高價。

But why are they so expensive?

但它們為什麼這麼貴？

Is it purely clever branding

純粹是巧妙的品牌行銷，

or are there valuable parts inside these iconic watches of incredible worth?

還是這些價值不菲的標誌性手錶內部有著珍貴的零件？

Or is the value of these watches

抑或是這些手錶的價值

owed to the rich and historic journey of the brand? 片語搭配

歸功於該品牌豐富而悠久的歷史旅程？

In today's episode of the Infographic Show,

在今天的《Infographic Show》節目中，

we will look at the history of the company

我們將回顧這家公司的歷史，

and figure out why is Rolex so expensive. 講解

探究為什麼勞力士如此昂貴。

So first of all, 表達脈絡

首先，

just how much does a Rolex cost? 文法

一只勞力士到底多少錢？

Prices for a mechanical Rolex watch start at around 3,250 pounds

機械勞力士手錶的起價約為 3250 英鎊

for the Oyster ladies watch

例如蠔式（Oyster）女錶，

and the James Bond Submariner will cost you as much as 5,000 pounds. 片語搭配

而詹姆士·龐德的水鬼（Submariner）則要花費多達 5000 英鎊。

A cult Daytona costs around 8,250 pounds.

備受追捧的迪通拿（Daytona）售價約 8250 英鎊。

Moving up the range, 表達脈絡

等級往上走，

a platinum ice blue diamonds Daytona costs over 50,000 pounds.

鉑金冰藍鑽迪通拿售價超過 50,000 英鎊。

In 1955,

1955 年，

the GMT Master was born.

GMT-Master 誕生。

This timepiece was designed for Pan Am pilots,

這款手錶專為泛美航空飛行員設計，

allowing them to see the time and day in different parts of the world.

讓他們可以隨時查看世界不同地區的時間和日期。

This model with a rotating dial retails at 5,600 pounds. 用詞

這款帶有旋轉錶圈的型號零售價為 5600 英鎊。

Thus, while being expensive,

因此，儘管價格昂貴，

Rolex offers a wide range of models that most people could afford

勞力士提供了各種各樣的款式，大多數人都能買得起，

if they were to save up or land a high-paying job. 講解

前提是他們存夠錢或者找到一份高薪工作。

Despite their high cost,

儘管成本高昂，

Rolex watches are obtainable to most consumers.

大多數消費者還是能買到勞力士手錶。

And once you own one,

一旦你擁有一只，

you feel like you have arrived. 慣用語

你就會覺得自己功成名就了。

Rolex began when Hans Wilsdorf founded a watch distribution company in London.

勞力士的故事始於漢斯·威爾斯多夫在倫敦創立了一家鐘錶經銷公司。

At the time,

當時，

wristwatches were imprecise,

手錶還不夠精準，

but Wilsdorf had a dream of making a watch that was not only precise, 文法

但威爾斯多夫有一個夢想，要製造一款不僅精準

but also elegant.

而且優雅的手錶。

He used small movements manufactured by a watchmaking firm based in Bienne, Switzerland.

他使用了由瑞士比爾一家製錶公司生產的小型機芯。

He came up with the name Rolex as it was short, 片語動詞

他想出了「Rolex」這個名字，因為它很簡短，

thus able to fit on the timepiece,

適合印在錶盤上，

and was easy to pronounce in any language.

而且在任何語言中都容易發音。

The firm concentrated on the quality of the movements

這家公司專注於機芯的品質，

and its quest for chronometric precision eventually led to a successful product.

其對天文台精準度的追求最終帶來了一款成功的產品。

In 1910,

1910 年，

a Rolex wristwatch was the first of its kind to receive the Swiss certificate of precision 片語搭配

一只勞力士手錶成為首個獲得瑞士官方精密計時測試組織

by the official watch rating center in Bienne.

（位於比爾）頒發精密計時證書的手錶。

In 1914,

1914 年，

Kew Observatory in Great Britain awarded Rolex with a class A certificate.

英國邱園天文台授予勞力士 A 級證書。

At that time,

在當時，

such a certification had only been awarded for marine chronometers.

這種認證僅頒發給航海天文鐘。

From this point onwards, 表達脈絡

從那時起，

Rolex was a brand name associated with quality products.

勞力士就成為了與高品質產品相關的品牌代名詞。

In 1919,

1919 年，

Rolex shifted its headquarters to Geneva.

勞力士將其總部遷至日內瓦。

By 1926,

到 1926 年，

Rolex had launched the Oyster.

勞力士推出了蠔式（Oyster）手錶。

This was the first waterproof wristwatch

這是第一款防水手錶，

with a sealed case to protect the inner movements.

擁有密封錶殼以保護內部機芯。

The next year,

第二年，

an English swimmer named Mercedes Gleitze wore the Oyster watch

一位名叫梅塞德斯·吉莉絲的英國游泳運動員佩戴著蠔式手錶

while swimming across the English Channel.

橫渡了英吉利海峽。

The watch survived the 10-hour journey

這只手錶在 10 小時的旅程中完好無損，

and remained in good working order on the other side. 片語搭配

到達對岸時依然保持良好的運行狀態。

This is an example of the company's excellent early branding and marketing strategies.

這是該公司早期出色的品牌和行銷策略的一個例子。

In 1933,

1933 年，

a team of explorers flew over Everest,

一支探險隊飛越聖母峰，

all wearing Rolexes.

所有人都佩戴著勞力士。

In September of 1935,

1935 年 9 月，

Sir Malcolm Campbell

麥爾柯姆·坎貝爾爵士

set a land speed record of over 300 miles an hour. 片語搭配

創下了時速超過 300 英里的陸上速度紀錄。

And what was he wearing on his wrist?

他的手腕上戴著什麼？

Yes,

沒錯，

a Rolex.

一只勞力士。

Sir Edmund Hillary climbed Everest wearing a Rolex.

艾德蒙·希拉里爵士也是戴著勞力士登頂聖母峰的。

By this time,

到這時，

Rolex was well established as the wristwatch worn by high achievers. 片語搭配

勞力士已經牢固確立了作為成功人士手錶的地位。

This was the watch for winners,

這是屬於贏家、

record breakers and adventurers.

破紀錄者和冒險家的手錶。

In the year 2000,

2000 年，

the 4130 chronograph movement was developed and put together by Rolex.

4130 計時機芯由勞力士研發並組裝。

It was an admirable simplistic chronograph made of just 290 components,

這是一款令人讚嘆的極簡計時機芯，僅由 290 個零件組成，

which is far less than the standard chronograph movement. 文法

遠少於標準計時機芯。

Rolex continues to lead the wristwatch market today.

如今，勞力士繼續引領手錶市場。

Each watch that leaves the factory in Bienne

每一只離開比爾工廠的手錶

is tested to a high standard. 片語搭配

都要經過高標準的測試。

They are also tested by the independent Swiss Chronometer Testing Institute.

它們還要接受獨立的瑞士官方天文台檢測機構的測試。

Each watch earns the title of Superlative Chronometer.

每一只錶都贏得了「頂級天文台精密時計」的稱號。

Each Rolex is accurate to minus 2 to plus 2 seconds a day,

每一只勞力士的誤差在每天負 2 到正 2 秒之間，

surpassing the stringent standards of minus 4 to plus 6 seconds per day.

超越了每天負 4 到正 6 秒的嚴苛標準。

The inner movements of the watch are costly to develop

手錶的內部機芯開發成本高昂，

and take both time and money to perfect to the desired level. 文法

並且需要花費時間和金錢才能將其完善到理想水準。

Watch movements are expensive to make.

製造手錶機芯非常昂貴。

The parts are small

零件很小，

and have a high failure rate during the manufacturing process. 片語搭配

在製造過程中容易出現高不良率。

These parts need to be put together by hand 片語動詞

這些零件需要手工組裝，

and the Swiss have one of the highest labor costs in the world.

而瑞士的勞動力成本是世界上最高的之一。

Also,

此外，

the materials are expensive to acquire.

獲取材料的成本也很高。

Rolex uses 904L steel instead of the standard luxury market 316L steel,

勞力士使用 904L 不鏽鋼，而不是精品市場標準的 316L 不鏽鋼，

and this adds to the manufacturing cost. 片語動詞

這增加了製造成本。

Rolex had to replace most of its production machines and tools

勞力士不得不更換大部分生產機器和工具

when it made the switch to 904L steel. 片語搭配

以配合向 904L 不鏽鋼的轉換。

The quality of workmanship is normally higher than say an Omega or TAG Heuer. 表達脈絡

它的工藝品質通常高於歐米茄或泰格豪雅等品牌。

Rolex is unable to price its watches at the same level of other brands.

勞力士無法像其他品牌那樣為手錶定價。

Rolex makes between 800,000 to a million watches each year

勞力士每年製造 80 萬到 100 萬只手錶，

and it does everything itself,

而且所有的工序都是自己完成的，

including the melting of its gold and steel.

包括熔煉黃金和精鋼。

It could be said that Rolex watches are reasonably priced 語氣意圖

可以說勞力士手錶定價合理，

because their retail prices are close to their resale values.

因為它們的零售價接近轉售價值。

If you were to buy a new Rolex watch and wear it for a year or so 文法

如果你買了一只全新的勞力士，戴了一年左右，

and then sell it to a new buyer,

然後賣給新買家，

you wouldn't lose much money with the transaction.

這筆交易你不會損失太多錢。

Some popular models after a period of 10 to 20 years

某些受歡迎的型號在 10 到 20 年後，

might actually rise in value from their original retail price. 片語搭配

價值實際上可能比最初的零售價還要高。

This appreciation in value is rare with watches,

這種升值在手錶界很少見，

but it is in line with Rolex's intelligent marketing and brand value. 片語搭配

但這符合勞力士智慧的行銷與品牌價值。

Despite the high price tag of a Rolex wristwatch, 片語搭配

儘管勞力士手錶價格不菲，

you will find it difficult to find another product with the same level of quality. 文法

你很難找到另一款具有同樣品質的產品。

Over time,

隨著時間的推移，

Rolex has built a reputation based on the length of time and quality of workmanship

勞力士憑藉投入到手錶中的時間長度和工藝品質，

that goes into its watches. 片語動詞

建立起了良好的聲譽。

Mechanical watches not only cost a lot to manufacture,

機械錶不僅製造成本高，

but they are also expensive to design.

設計成本也很高。

The movements must be designed and developed

必須為每一款新錶設計

for each new timepiece.

和研發機芯。

Rolex spends time developing products

勞力士花時間開發產品，

that will keep ahead of the industry curve.

以便在行業內保持領先地位。

Rolexes are more than just practical objects 片語搭配

勞力士不僅僅是實用物品，

to tell the time with.

只是用來計時的。

They are a fusion of engineering and watchmaking art, 片語搭配

它們是工程與製錶藝術的融合，

and their rich heritage adds to the brand value.

其豐富的歷史底蘊更增加了品牌價值。

They are highly desirable among collectors.

它們在收藏家中極具吸引力。

The stainless steel Rolex Daytona that once belonged to actor Paul Newman

曾經屬於演員保羅·紐曼的那只不鏽鋼勞力士迪通拿

holds the title of being the most expensive watch ever sold at auction. 片語搭配

保持著拍賣史上最貴手錶的頭銜。

The Phillips Auction House in New York

紐約的富藝斯拍賣行

sold the timepiece for $17.8 million,

以 1780 萬美元售出了這只錶，

beating a prior record of $5 million for the Bao Dai Rolex. 文法

打破了之前由「保大」勞力士創下的 500 萬美元的紀錄。

So when we consider the cost of the Rolex,

因此，當我們考慮勞力士的成本時，

we must consider the development,

必須考慮手錶的研發、

workmanship, and materials cost of the watches,

工藝和材料成本，

as well as the brand value that has been established over the years 片語搭配

以及多年來建立起的品牌價值，

by the achievements of Rolex customers.

這也要歸功於勞力士客戶的成就。

Do you think a Rolex wristwatch is worth the price on the box? 片語搭配

你覺得勞力士手錶值得包裝盒上的價格嗎？

Is there a better watch out there on the market?

市面上還有更好的手錶嗎？

Let us know below in the comments section.

請在下方的留言區告訴我們。

Also, be sure to watch our other show called

此外，請務必觀看我們的另一個節目，名為

Most Expensive Machines in the World.

《世界上最昂貴的機器》。

Thanks again for watching.

再次感謝觀看。

And as always,

一如既往，

don't forget to like, share, and subscribe.

別忘了按讚、分享和訂閱。

And see you all next time at the Infographic Show.

我們下期在《Infographic Show》再見。