First Rolex!!!

[w001cdffdc]

In 1997, I was living in Japan and fell in love with the Explorer II, white dial--it was the perfect blend of utility and reliability with a storied past. I visited my local AD when I returned home, a near penniless graduate student with a new infatuation, and the salesman treated me respect and kindness, seeming to believe me when I told him that I would back someday. I believe that the price he quoted me was $4,800. ! I never lost sight of that watch, keeping a picture of it on my desk for a while with a quote from my now ex-wife, from Emerson: "He has a fine Swiss watch but fails to tell the time by the sun." I always thought I would have that engraved on the back of that Explorer II someday.

Of course, times change, marriages end, and beards begin to gray. And wages increase, for the lucky. I have been lucky. With other important things acquired and feeling the right trajectory set at what is unmistakably middle age now, I began to plan my purchase. This would still be a consequencial expenditure, so I re-visited the Explorer II to affirm my desire. Indeed, things do change, and I found the design change of 2011 not to my liking, at least not compared to the 3186. I ran through all the simpler professional watches, plus DJ, quickly narrowing it down to a DJ II white, Explorer, and used 3186 Explorer II. I saved high quality photos on my phone and reviewed them over and over, mostly for pleasure, but also for discerning. I read dozens of posts on this forum and articles from respected blogs. When I eliminated the 3186, I called the AD, now 180 miles away from me as I've moved, and asked him if he had the Explorer and white DJ II in stock -- yes. Hours pass. I read and look more, and I made my decision -- the Explorer, the essence of the Explorer II, with understated elegance lacking in the 42 white face and the flashier DJ II all polished. I called him back and asked him to hold it for me, took off work 2 hours early, and drove 3 hours. He had the watch ready, a half hour before closing, and after telling him, reminding him, of our first encounter 20 years ago and the story above, closed the deal. I wore my sleeve rolled up all the way home.

[tamiya]

Nice prologue... the beginning of a beautiful new relationship, huh?

[bcmind]

Damn beautiful story

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

[Rolex watch fan]

really enjoyed reading your story and congrats to your new partner (for life)?
But don't feel you were lucky in what you have achieved.
this was all done to you and in your self-believe.
hope the explorer will not your last Rolex

[dave023]

Congratulations and nice story...

[w001cdffdc]

Thank you, all!

[august1410]

Great story. I never tire of reading the stories of how we all wound up with our particular watches.

[EvEr34]

Great read. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the new watch

[Boaters]

Great story!

[sutats]

Great story and huge congratulations on your first Rolex! What I find most amazing is that the sales advisor was still there after all that time.

[sager]

Congratulations, thanks for sharing