My devious "scheme" to inherit a Rolex DJ

[thechoson]

The one thing I've always loved about Rolex is there is always a story involved with each one. My favorite Rolex is not one I own, but rather my father's.

My grandfather owned his own business, but it was a business that took a lot of hard physical labor. My uncle went to the middle east on a trip, walked into a duty free shop and purchased a TT DJ for my grandpa. This was in the early 80s. Allegedly my grandpa didn't know what the heck a Rolex was, so my uncle just told him "it's the toughest watch known to man. You can't break it". So my grandpa took him for his word, and wore it to work all the time.

From pictures and from hazy childhood memories, I remember my grandpa wearing this watch. But of course after such hard usage and no servicing, it was going to stop. Once it did, he put it away in his closet.

About 13 years ago he gave it to my dad (he's one of 3 sons, so he's gotta feel lucky about that). My dad took it to a local watchmaker who shined it up and got it working again (it was in some beaten up shape).

My dad also runs a business (different one) but that also takes a decent amount of physical labor. Same deal- put the DJ through its paces. No servicing, stopped on him about 2 years ago. In the closet.

Now here is my scheme. I am thinking of offering to service the watch for him, and then hopefully he'll say "well son, it's time. just keep it". Haha.

I do want to get this serviced for him soon as a gift, and I do hope he wears it a bit longer. But hopefully one day it'll be mine.

Anyways, felt like sharing that story.

[Chris B]

Great story, have the watch serviced for your Dad & may he wear it for many years to come

[B. Doggy]

Do it. DO IT!

[drp2002]

well worth a try. Either way you'll both end up feeling good

[azguy]

Give it a whirl and see what happens....

[mjclark32]

Go for it

[kilyung]

I thought you were going to push someone off a ledge or read about the liberal use of poison! Why not just ask your dad if you can have grandpa's watch? He won't say no.

[VANCE723]

Originally Posted by kilyung

I thought you were going to push someone off a ledge or read about the liberal use of poison! Why not just ask your dad if you can have grandpa's watch? He won't say no.

when my dad purchased hid DJ he sent off his airking & had it serviced.when it returned it became my watch. from the moment i saw his DJ i kept asking him to trade with me...he never bit
however,
he passed away in 2010 & from christmas 2011 i was presented w/ a watch winder & his DJ...it was a bit of a "moment" for my mother & i...especially when she informed me he would have traded w/ me the first time i asked him to but it was his 60th birthday present from her

[GradyPhilpott]

Try this:

"Hey, Dad! I'll get that old DJ fully serviced if you'll let me wear it from time to time."

It'll be fun to see how he reacts to that proposition.

[Bowlduck]

Do it!

[1675-David]

Do it, it's a nice gesture and it shows that the watch also has an emotional value for you too!

good luck

[xhype]

just take it out the closet and wear it

[thechoson]

Originally Posted by xhype

just take it out the closet and wear it

Lol, well considering it's a Datejust that has stopped, it's only going to be right twice a month.

[Trouble15]

Originally Posted by thechoson

Lol, well considering it's a Datejust that has stopped, it's only going to be right twice a month.

Lol.... Get it serviced. Either way you want to take care of the watch & do a nice gesture for dad.

[boogiebot]

sounds more like a good plan.

great back story on the watch too. hopefully you get to pass it to one of your own kids someday.

[Smaug]

Yes, you should do it, if you can afford it.

Make sure someone competent does it, who will completely disassemble it to clean it in the ultrasonic, and who can replace worn parts. This watch likely has some worn-out parts.

If it was bought new in the early 80s, it probably has the 3035 movement. In addition to the normal service, you might ask the watchmaker to check for the special issue noted under "Tips and Tricks" on this page:
http://hiro.alliancehorlogere.com/en...upe/Rolex_3035

If he's experienced with Rolex, he'll be aware of this. If not, he'll be happy to hear it.

After a full service, with worn parts replaced, it should be good for another 20 years. (although 5 year service intervals are recommended)

If he holds onto it for a while, it will have that much more sentimental value to you when you do eventually get it.

I have a similar story to yours, but not with a Rolex. My family is of humble means. When my grandpa went to Switzerland in 1971, my dad gave him some money, I think $100, and asked him to get him a chronograph. The Moon Watch had just become famous, you see. My grandpa came back with not an Omega, but a really nice Bucherer.

Dad wore that every day for years and years. Into the early 2000s, by which time it was gaining a few minutes per day. Obviously to me, it was in dire need of a service. Dad put it in the drawer of his little organizer on his dresser and forgot about it. Bought a $20 Casio. (I'm ashamed to admit that) That watch, while a good deal more accurate than the Bucherer, only lasted maybe 4 years. One battery change. The crystal was cracked and scratched and it didn't run any more after the battery was replaced again.

So for his 65th birthday, my brother, sister, and I pooled our money and got it serviced by a watchmaker.

We presented it to him, and he knew right away it was a watch, but he assumed it was a NEW watch, since he knew I was into this hobby. (and since I had bought him a Swatch quartz chronograph a year or two prior)

He was floored when he opened it.

I think I've got him hooked on watches again, because he has a rotation now. He seems to favor 42-45mm chronographs, but is not picky whether they're quartz or mechanical, Chinese or Swiss. (sigh) He did get burned once when he bought what appeared to be an old-fashioned chrono, and it turned out to be a "faux chrono." (one subdial was running seconds, another one was a 24 hour dial, and the other one just seemed to randomly move when the "chrono" was started or stopped.

Some day, I'm sure that watch will be left to me. I'm happy to wait, too, because as long as I don't have that watch, it means I still have my dad. :)

[Widows Son]

I "borrowed" a sweet gold Hamilton tank from my dad (it was his HS grad present from the late 40's) for a wedding about 25 years ago. Needless to say he never got it back!!

[Sig228]

Why not just ask him if you can have it? Why all the scheming?

[mgent]

My first 'real' watch was a TT datejust. My Father-in-Law gave it to me, and it was his first 'real' watch. It is the only watch I own that I will never sell.

[Tan]

Would love to see a pic of the watch! Service it.

[Hairdude1]

Pics please! Also get it serviced!

[Matrim604]

Sounds like a great idea getting it serviced for your dad, and yes, please post some before/after pics =)