Why, Exactly, Did You Buy A Rolex ??

[FLAJIM]

For me, I feel like I have made it in life. 30 years ago working in the mail room I would see the big shots wearing Rolex's. When they saw me looking, they would say work hard and in time........Well now I have done well, 50 and looking to retire, kids almost out of college, all bills paid, own 2 homes and paid cash for my watch. Sell it....hell no, I would sell my arm first, my 6800 dollar watch is worth a million dollars to me in memories.

[Perdu]

I had quartz watches stop on me three times while traveling so decided to get an automatic. At the time I lived in Geneva and Rolex was everywhere. I fell in love with the Sub and the GMT. Ironically, my Sub kept great time for six years and then just. . .stopped on me. I must have lived in a bubble because I had no idea of who Rolex was.

I can't sell it becuase my Son has asked that at some stage I give it to him. I will do that on his 21st. or on graduation.

[dro57]

I have no plans on flipping this baby.

[blackrhino12]

Grew up watching Llyod Bridges wearing a Sub on Sea Hunt, then there were the Rolex ads in Skin Diver magazine and of course National Geograpic magazine. How could I resist?

[dubeagle]

Have you seen the GMT IIc?!

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by dubeagle

Have you seen the GMT IIc?!

Every body here does..

[Leighton]

Mine's a keeper. The older I get the more I need the cyclops.....

[sea-dweller]

I've always admired them as a child. I recall that sports greats (Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer) wore them. I've always wanted one since then. I never thought I would be addicted to them and own seven ! But, it's a great addiction !

[cody p]

because i thought it would make me happy...

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by cody p

because i thought it would make me happy...

hahaha so cody it didnt???

[boyet]

after casios, seikos, rado, tag, hamilton, balls, I need a very good timepiece(at first) and addicted by it

[JohnKC]

My story is kind of long-winded so my apologies in advance. Prior to about one year ago, I thought it was insane to spend more than a couple of hundred dollars for a watch. For me, a watch was meant to keep time and nothing more. Therefore, a quartz watch with some styling was fine with me. About a year ago I was channel surfing and stumbled on a show profiling Swiss watch making and very high end watches that cost well over $100,000 US $. I remember the show profiling BaselWorld and Phillipe Dufour and showing how he completely hand makes his watches. That's when the bug bit me. I saw the artistry and engineering skill in automatic watches. I started surfing the internet and learned more and decided that I wanted an automatic watch. Found several brands that I was interested in and was initially concerned about buying a Rolex because I was worried that others might notice it and bring unwanted attention as described in the threads about people asking if it is real or fake, how much it costs, etc. Because of this concern, I initially did not want a Rolex and was considering other brands. But, the more I looked at Rolex the more I appreciated the history and timeless/classical design of the watches and the fact that it has influenced the design of many modern watches. After reading this forum and threads concerning how most of our watches are not usually noticed by non-WIS, I decided to take the plunge and have not looked back. I love my GMT IIc but acknowledge that it is a long way from a Phillipe Dufour. But considering the price and strong resell value (only if times ever got tight), I think it is a relative bargain. What a difference a year makes! My old self would have called my current self an absolute lunatic for spending over 6,000 on a watch. Now, I am considering what to get next

[pz93c]

I'll buy one because I want one.

Same as my Omega.

[jbjenkins]

I really felt like I was missing something in the watch world - and I was.

[Boopie]

A combination of things...I was at a point in my career where I had felt I had really "made it," I had already purchased a home, drove a nice car, and I wanted a great watch. Of course, Rolex not just makes a great watch but has a great reputation. Certainly the marketing and brand image went into the decision. Everyone knows what a Rolex is. Plus, I had no children (yet) so I didn't have to worry that I was being self-centered and depriving my children of a college education. So, when my 10th anniversary approached, I told my husband I wanted a Rolex Yachtmaster.

While I liked the Rolex brand I was never a fan of the ladies' Oyster Date Just. None of Rolex's ladies' models "smiled" at me, but I did like the Sub. So, when I saw the Yachtmaster, I fell in love with it. I enjoy wearing it as much today as when my husband bought it for me almost 8 years ago.

While resale didn't factor into the decision to get a Rolex, as I would never sell it, it's nice to know that a Rolex holds its value, unlike many other brands or, for example, clothing and accessories.

[DRKBC]

Originally Posted by Tools

OK, OK,

this is not one of those esoteric "I love my Rolex because...." threads..

It seems to me that 90% of the time when somebody talks about getting a Rolex any more, it is caveatted with the "When I sell it..", or "What will it be worth in 2010", or I gotta have a box and papers 'cause "when I sell it..."

yadda, yadda...

So, my question is ...Why, exactly did you buy a Rolex if the first thing you're thinking of is getting rid of it.. ??

For me, Rolex's are tough as nails and very well finished and it I like the spirit, adventure and history of the brand. I am not a Swiss banker or a relative of royalty so I have never really wanted a Breguet or a Patek but I am an active person that loves travel and adventure and I think the watch suits me in that respect. As far as buying it to get rid of it all I can say is as with every material possession (as has been proven lately) you should buy it right and and take care of it so that if the need arises you can get out of it and live to buy again.

[Dylan Wade]

A friend of mine brought his many years ago in Singapore and something about his watch has always stuck in my mind particularly the cool unmistakable look of the Oyster strap links and the fact his was not the usual Rolex I had seen around before.

Fast forward 5-6 years and I saw an add in a Men’s magazine (mind out of the gutter; it was GQ or something) for the new GMT IIc and that was it as it was/is the coolest watch I have ever seen and the fact that it was a Rolex made it just untouchable.

By the way my friend has is EXP II (Polar), so I ended up with that too as each was will be handed over to my children upon their 21st birthdays……….that’s the plan anyway.

The whole value/investment thing is just a bonus in my eyes as you never really know what is around the corner as I like to be prepared for the WORST but always expect the BEST!

[Brushpup]

Because I have always loved watches and thought Rolex was the ultimate. For me it is in many ways, and it is likely that it will be the very best I can ever afford.

[rpryan55]

I wanted a Rolex since I was very young. Growing up without much money the successful men I saw all wore the Rolex brand. Sad to say, my first Rolex purchase had nothing whatsoever to do with anything other than status. It was only after I bought my first one (a Rolesor OP) that I came to appreciate fine watches. My life has been downhill from there.

[Widows Son]

I bought my TT Date because I like the brand's history, and dependability. I bought it because I liked the white dial, and Roman Numerals. It can be worn with jeans, or a suit. I bought it pre-owned and got a good deal on it. It looks/runs like new and was about 1/3 the cost of a brand new one. I've since added an AK, and a TT Datejust for my other half.

[dcmachead]

I've been looking at them for years, but the price has always given me pause. Instead, I'd get a nice watch, but it was always a compromise from what I really wanted.

My wife finally said, "If you add up the compromise watches, you could own a Rolex." She green lighted not one, but two Rolexes--nice to be able to drop coin like that and not have to hear about it ;) My son will get both of them.

My wife got a champagne faced DJ w/ diamond markers ;)

[Jackal]

I was in the Army in 1986 and was in a unit that deployed a lot so I needed something that was durable, automatic and waterproof. I didn’t want to deal with a dead battery stuck who-knows-where so I started with a Seiko 6309. My Seiko was a good watch but I walked by a Rolex display at a local jewelers one day and was captivated. The watches there were beautiful. No, not just beautiful they were elegant and precise…and expensive. The salesman saw me checking out the display walked over and before I knew it I’d bought a Pepsi GMT. Eventually the GMT got traded in for a Sub but by then I’d caught the bug that has plagued us all…WIS-dom-itis. In the mid 80's Rolex’s weren’t as popular as they are now but I remember walking into my barracks wearing my new GMT. I kept almost tripping myself up because I was looking at my wrist more than the ground in front but didn’t halfway through before one of my buddies spotted my GMT and walked over to check it out. I realized just then that I was a goner and that there was no cure for what ailed me.

[niels74]

Hmmm why did i finally buy a rolex, as long as i can remember i collected watches,all kinds, all brands working non working, then you get older and really want smth special, for me the holy grail was once to own a rolex,like climbing the everest.... many years later i finally bought the 1st rolex, 2e hand 16040, ill never forget the feeling of taking it out of the box , and wearing it, 15 years later is still ticks away,, its one of those watches you just never get writ off.. Feck i sound old.. !!!
i never buy any watch with the intention to sell it , of course it happens that some get sold off, yet never for profit, mostly to make some financial space for another...

[Naked Man]

i bought a rolex for 2 reasons...

1. to have a great watch
2. to show off my wealth in a way that many people will recognise

[James T]

Originally Posted by Naked Man

i bought a rolex for 2 reasons...

1. to have a great watch
2. to show off my wealth in a way that many people will recognise

Hahahha. Another honest man in the house!

[mpkRolex]

Originally Posted by Naked Man

i bought a rolex for 2 reasons...

1. to have a great watch
2. to show off my wealth in a way that many people will recognise

Did you succeed on the second one. To my surprise people hardly ever notice my Sub. But that was not my intent to buy in the first place. I was crazy about the Brand just because it was well recognized overall. And it created a perception in my mind that this was the best watch to own.

[James T]

Originally Posted by mpkRolex

Did you succeed on the second one. To my surprise people hardly ever notice my Sub. But that was not my intent to buy in the first place. I was crazy about the Brand just because it was well recognized overall. And it created a perception in my mind that this was the best watch to own.

they do notice... most just don't tell you about it, but they do know the watch you are wearing is something of great value...

[mpkRolex]

Originally Posted by James T

they do notice... most just don't tell you about it, but they don know the watch you are wearing is something of great value...

I can live with less people noticing my watch just to stay away from muggers

[Naked Man]

Originally Posted by mpkRolex

Did you succeed on the second one. To my surprise people hardly ever notice my Sub. But that was not my intent to buy in the first place. I was crazy about the Brand just because it was well recognized overall. And it created a perception in my mind that this was the best watch to own.

To be honest, it's been commented on twice

The first time was at National tyres, I was in the waiting room whilst having two new tyres fitted to my car and another customer asked me if it was real i said yeah, he asked if he could have a look so i took it off and gave it to him... he gave it a good look over, said it was nice and handed it back

the second time was by somebody who also had a rolex on, he asked me if it was a sea-dweller and showed me his sub

no women yet, i'm working on it though

[mpkRolex]

Originally Posted by Naked Man

To be honest, it's been commented on twice

The first time was at National tyres, I was in the waiting room whilst having two new tyres fitted to my car and another customer asked me if it was real i said yeah, he asked if he could have a look so i took it off and gave it to him... he gave it a good look over, said it was nice and handed it back

the second time was by somebody who also had a rolex on, he asked me if it was a sea-dweller and showed me his sub

no women yet, i'm working on it though

You lucky

I am sure no chic will fall for a SS Sub. So other shiny one may be - bluesy/platty or daytona may be