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4 Ranges · 28 February 2010, 11:25 PM

So here's the story of my first Rolex, as promised:

- When my family moved to Hawaii from the P.I., my father was looking for work as an attorney. It was tough going at first, but eventually he ended up working with an attorney and partnering up with him.

- As a teenager, my sense of watches were relatively limited, for obvious reasons. My "grail" watch, at the time, was a Casio G-Shock. I thought it was an extremely cool watch, that represented toughness and precision. My older cousins had them, and I was completely in awe.

"Expensive" watches, in my book, were Seikos and Citizens. These were the "adult" watches that I grew up seeing commercials of. In fact, I grew up in the period of James Bond when Roger Moore wore Seikos in his Bond movies. So, to me at the time, SEIKO was THE watch. I remember my dad, at one point, giving me his Seiko 5 Quartz, which I thought was amazing!

- Anyhow, my dad's first case with his new partner was a case that had been on-going for about 14 years. Tough case to crack, let alone win. My father, being the lawyer/genius that he was, found a way to WIN the case! It was a breakthrough that was a shock to his new law partner, who was overjoyed that his new partner was a prodigy!

- The money for the case that they had just won would be a while, but my dad's law partner wanted to give him a token of his appreciation. Right there, in court, he gave my dad his Rolex Oyster Perpetual. It was an amazing moment.

(cont'd)

RolexPete · 28 February 2010, 11:26 PM

.....and......

Lamone · 28 February 2010, 11:30 PM

Good beginning, what happened?

archaeofreak · 28 February 2010, 11:30 PM

pics!

4 Ranges · 28 February 2010, 11:39 PM

(cont'd)

- I still remember when my dad brought it home, because my mom was super-excited. She said "your dad won the case, and his partner gave him his Rolex!" I thought to myself "What's a Rolex?" Now, in my teenage mind, I thought $60 for a watch was the ceiling! $60 for a WATCH, for crying out loud. When my mom said "Oh, a Rolex is a LUXURY watch. That watch your dad is wearing is worth THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!"

!#@^%!#%!#$@!!!!!!!! A watch for THOUSANDS of dollars???? That blew my mind! But I have to say...that watch was a point of pride in our household. It showed that my father was able to prove to the law community in Hawaii that he was the real deal. Everytime I saw that watch, I was proud of my father.

- A few years later, my dad saw me admiring his watch, and he said "you know that watch has been to Vietnam?" I said "what do you mean?"

Apparently, not only was the watch a symbol of my dad's historic victory...it had ANOTHER story attached to it. Apparently, it's previous owner, my dad's law partner, went to Vietnam when he was around 21. He was drafted, and had the sinking feeling he was gonna bite the dust out in Vietnam. So he said "To HELL with it", and bought himself a Rolex. The SAME Rolex my dad was now wearing.

Also, it turned out, my dad's law partner ended up in a unit where the CO HATED HIM. Just hated him...so that every time they went out to the jungles of Vietnam, my dad's law partner ended up ON POINT. He was the point man for his ENTIRE TOUR in 'Nam. And everytime he went out...he wore his Rolex. He said to my dad "If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die in style!" LOL!! Obviously, he didn't die, and he brought the watch back with him in one piece.

My dad said that when they won the case, his law partner said "You know, it'll be a few months before the other party gives us the money, but I want to show you my appreciation now. I want to introduce you to my 'other buddy'." His other buddy: The OP Rolex he wore in Vietnam. He gave it to him then.

- When I went to Rolex NYC this past Tuesday, that was a very emotional day for me. In my bag were two Rolexes, representing two different generations, marking 3 separate benchmarks. The GMT II/Coke represented my own promotion, my own step up - a watch purchased by my wife to show her love and her recognition for the man she's been with for 13 years.

Then, the other Rolex - the Rolex that was a "buddy" to a scared but determined 21-year old in Vietnam, and was a symbol of drive and ingenuity for a 50 year-old Filipino emigre determined to provide for his family at a unique level of excellence.

When I post the pictures of both watches here, on TRF, it is my hope that you'll understand the significance of both Rolexes: a significance that weaves itself into the long rich history of the brand we are so deeply passionate about.

4 Ranges · 28 February 2010, 11:44 PM

FYI:

Pics are forthcoming on the OP, because it's being serviced. I don't think that watch has been serviced for years. They're replacing practically everything on it, so it'll be brand new in many ways. Rolex NYC said it'd be 3 weeks, so around March 15th. I'll post pics of both watches then. :)

axjimenez · 1 March 2010, 12:03 AM

This is an amazing story. Looking forawrd to the pictures

CoopJr · 1 March 2010, 12:24 AM

Awesome story! Welcome to the forum.

lolo96706 · 1 March 2010, 12:40 AM

Great story... can't wait to see the pics!

datejust1 · 1 March 2010, 12:45 AM

Amazing story! Can't wait for the pics!!

28 February 2010, 11:25 PM	#1
4 Ranges Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 94	My Dad's Oyster Perpetual '68-'69 So here's the story of my first Rolex, as promised: - When my family moved to Hawaii from the P.I., my father was looking for work as an attorney. It was tough going at first, but eventually he ended up working with an attorney and partnering up with him. - As a teenager, my sense of watches were relatively limited, for obvious reasons. My "grail" watch, at the time, was a Casio G-Shock. I thought it was an extremely cool watch, that represented toughness and precision. My older cousins had them, and I was completely in awe. "Expensive" watches, in my book, were Seikos and Citizens. These were the "adult" watches that I grew up seeing commercials of. In fact, I grew up in the period of James Bond when Roger Moore wore Seikos in his Bond movies. So, to me at the time, SEIKO was THE watch. I remember my dad, at one point, giving me his Seiko 5 Quartz, which I thought was amazing! - Anyhow, my dad's first case with his new partner was a case that had been on-going for about 14 years. Tough case to crack, let alone win. My father, being the lawyer/genius that he was, found a way to WIN the case! It was a breakthrough that was a shock to his new law partner, who was overjoyed that his new partner was a prodigy! - The money for the case that they had just won would be a while, but my dad's law partner wanted to give him a token of his appreciation. Right there, in court, he gave my dad his Rolex Oyster Perpetual. It was an amazing moment. (cont'd)

28 February 2010, 11:26 PM	#2
RolexPete "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Peter Location: Massachusetts Watch: 214270 Mk2 Posts: 1,963	.....and...... __________________ 2016 Explorer 214270 Mk2 - 1996 Submariner 14060* - 1972 Datejust 1601 1972 Oyster Perpetual 1002 - 1978 Oysterquartz 17000 Omega Seamaster 2265.80 - Omega Seamaster 300 166.0324 *RIP PAL 1942-2015

28 February 2010, 11:30 PM	#4
archaeofreak "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: AZ Watch: SS 16610 Posts: 125	pics! __________________ 16610 with holes

1 March 2010, 12:03 AM	#7
axjimenez "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Alex Location: Arlington, Va Watch: ALL OF THEM Posts: 1,705	This is an amazing story. Looking forawrd to the pictures __________________ “It is better to lead from behind and to put others in front, especially when you celebrate victory when nice things occur. You take the front line when there is danger. Then people will appreciate your leadership.” Rolex 114060 Omega SMP 2531.80 Vintage Omega - no idea but dad's watch

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28 February 2010, 11:30 PM	#3
Lamone Banned Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: NYC Watch: ya mawt! Posts: 3,448	Good beginning, what happened?

28 February 2010, 11:39 PM	#5
4 Ranges Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 94	(cont'd) - I still remember when my dad brought it home, because my mom was super-excited. She said "your dad won the case, and his partner gave him his Rolex!" I thought to myself "What's a Rolex?" Now, in my teenage mind, I thought $60 for a watch was the ceiling! $60 for a WATCH, for crying out loud. When my mom said "Oh, a Rolex is a LUXURY watch. That watch your dad is wearing is worth THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS!" !#@^%!#%!#$@!!!!!!!! A watch for THOUSANDS of dollars???? That blew my mind! But I have to say...that watch was a point of pride in our household. It showed that my father was able to prove to the law community in Hawaii that he was the real deal. Everytime I saw that watch, I was proud of my father. - A few years later, my dad saw me admiring his watch, and he said "you know that watch has been to Vietnam?" I said "what do you mean?" Apparently, not only was the watch a symbol of my dad's historic victory...it had ANOTHER story attached to it. Apparently, it's previous owner, my dad's law partner, went to Vietnam when he was around 21. He was drafted, and had the sinking feeling he was gonna bite the dust out in Vietnam. So he said "To HELL with it", and bought himself a Rolex. The SAME Rolex my dad was now wearing. Also, it turned out, my dad's law partner ended up in a unit where the CO HATED HIM. Just hated him...so that every time they went out to the jungles of Vietnam, my dad's law partner ended up ON POINT. He was the point man for his ENTIRE TOUR in 'Nam. And everytime he went out...he wore his Rolex. He said to my dad "If I'm gonna die, I'm gonna die in style!" LOL!! Obviously, he didn't die, and he brought the watch back with him in one piece. My dad said that when they won the case, his law partner said "You know, it'll be a few months before the other party gives us the money, but I want to show you my appreciation now. I want to introduce you to my 'other buddy'." His other buddy: The OP Rolex he wore in Vietnam. He gave it to him then. - When I went to Rolex NYC this past Tuesday, that was a very emotional day for me. In my bag were two Rolexes, representing two different generations, marking 3 separate benchmarks. The GMT II/Coke represented my own promotion, my own step up - a watch purchased by my wife to show her love and her recognition for the man she's been with for 13 years. Then, the other Rolex - the Rolex that was a "buddy" to a scared but determined 21-year old in Vietnam, and was a symbol of drive and ingenuity for a 50 year-old Filipino emigre determined to provide for his family at a unique level of excellence. When I post the pictures of both watches here, on TRF, it is my hope that you'll understand the significance of both Rolexes: a significance that weaves itself into the long rich history of the brand we are so deeply passionate about.

28 February 2010, 11:44 PM	#6
4 Ranges Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NYC Posts: 94	FYI: Pics are forthcoming on the OP, because it's being serviced. I don't think that watch has been serviced for years. They're replacing practically everything on it, so it'll be brand new in many ways. Rolex NYC said it'd be 3 weeks, so around March 15th. I'll post pics of both watches then. :)

1 March 2010, 12:24 AM	#8
CoopJr "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Coop Location: U.S.A. Watch: Subs Posts: 6,455	Awesome story! Welcome to the forum.

1 March 2010, 12:40 AM	#9
lolo96706 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Jeff Location: Hawaii Watch: Milgauss GV - V Posts: 202	Great story... can't wait to see the pics!

1 March 2010, 12:45 AM	#10
datejust1 Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: G Location: N/A Watch: N/A Posts: 6,042	Amazing story! Can't wait for the pics!!

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