Why, Exactly, Did You Buy A Rolex ??

[barstoolman]

Originally Posted by gone-rolex-mad

I blame my old man! He always had rolex and raved about then. He gave me an old DJ when i was 15 and thats when it all started. I just love Rolex, i never buy a watch with the intention to sell it, its just that some other beauty comes along and i know i'll be unfaithful!!! The grass is always greener!

Gotta blame the old man as well.

My Dad sold his business back in '77 and bought the whole family YG Presidents. I was only 25 and don't think I went a day without wearing that watch over the next 10 years. Got tired of wearing gold after awhile so bought a GMT and later a Daytona but I still never can forget the feeling I had when my Dad gave me my first Rolex......and what a Rolex it was!!!!!

Thanks Dad

[SS Oyster]

I bought my first Rolex (DJ SS J white romans) in 1990. Loved that watch, but wanted a Porsche 911 even more so sold it to fund that car. Regret selling it ever since. Then I went on a "Want to be unique - want something rare (limited)" kick so bought a Universal Geneve SS Tri-Compax complication. However, after a shower one day, the solid link SS bracelet broke with pieces falling all over the floor.

When I took my Universal Geneve Tri-Compax (No 11 of 100) in for service and bracelet repair, my watchmaker told me that I should sell this rare complication and get a more solid built watch. He didn't recommend a brand.

I took his advice, sold the UG and bought the LV Sub. When I returned to show him my choice, he was very happy for me and told me I made a very wise choice ... much more solid and rugged watch. He told me the Rolex Sub was a bullet-proof tank compared to the UG. I agree and love the look and feel of the Rollie. I've come full circle, back to the watch I was meant to own.

I've noticed that people treat you differently when you wear a Rolex. You gain instant credibility and make a great first impression. Why wouldn't you want to give yourself that advantage, especially if in business.

I work in San Diego. Last week I was in Boston to give a product lecture. This week I'm in Beijing (sitting in the Royal King hotel right now) to give a product development seminar and to sign a very large business deal. On both trips, the Rolex has provided solid service and everyone I interact with takes notice. Rolex is probably the most internationally recognized watch brand.

Finally, on to the "better half". For those of us married owners, the expense of a Rolex is something that may or may not require justification (based on your financial situation). In my case, my wife knew the value of a fine time piece, but didn't necessarily think the timing was great with the economy running down. The argument that purchasing a professional series Rolex is truly like buying gold (very liquid asset if things really went badly) is true and persuasive, although I don't plan to flip mine.

I plan to add to my collection (not a huge collection), just perhaps a DD2 for more dressy occasions and perhaps a WG Daytona because I love that watch and the feel of the weight of the high noble metal content.

It still always comes back to the special feeling you get when you put on a watch you truly love ... for me, I get that most with Rolex!

[MBS430]

Originally Posted by Launch Mini

I'll be the first to be honest here.
Marketing and image.
Rolex advertising and product placement always implied "Success". If you had a Rolex you were successful.
Plain & simple.
Bought my first one for that reason alone.
Yes I knew the history, reliability etc, but if I wanted that , I would have gone Brequet, AP, Lange.....
Don't kid yourselves. MARKETING sold most , if not all of you on the brand to start with.
Now, I don't have any Rolexs anymore, but I do love watches. For me , they were a great place to start in the watch world.

+ 1 : Marketing and Image!!

Rolex may well be the prestige standard by which all other watch brands are measured. Rolex is unequaled in their marketing efforts. Even people who know virtually nothing about watches recognize the "ROLEX" name and associate with it being "the best."

Though Rolex isn't the best luxury watch on the market, no other watch is a greater, more recognizable symbol of STATUS and ACHIEVEMENT. So strong in some cultures (like mine: Asian), many people buy Rolex watches on this basis alone.

.

[WatchTimes]

I bought my first Rolex in 99 I think it was.
It is a SS DJ I bought at a VERY large well known
Pawn Shop in MI. I had wanted one forever and
just went into a pawn shop (first time in my life)
and just bought the one I saw that I liked.
I still own it and doubt Ill ever sell it.
I bought a SD this year as I wanted another watch
and had always like the SD (friends all had the sub and
I didn't want the same). I also bought it as rumor is
there wont be anymore after the M.
I bought a DSSD because I wanted it.
I could have sold it and made a couple thousand real
quick when I got it but I wanted the watch.
I am sure I will sell my watches someday but not for a
VERY long time! Of course I hope they jump in value like
older Rolexs have BUT I doubt that will happen nor is that
why I buy them.

People who buy and sell remind me of the stock broker commercial
where the guy buys a painting at an art auction and tries to sell
it as the next item in the auction.

[Art 1]

I needed a watch.

[DLL]

Because I can...

[JimSnyder]

Originally Posted by Chris B

Great thread.

It was these ad's from when I was kid that sowed the seeds, took me a bit of a while to get one but I'll always be grateful to Mr Adair

Same for me. I used to stare at those old adds everytime I found one

[JJ Irani]

I just couldn't find any other brand worthy of me!!

[ColinB]

I didn't buy mine, my wife bought it for me!
I had a Tudor but had always drooled over the Rolex Subs in the windows of the AD's. My wife got made redundant and received more than expected as a pay off. She went round several AD's until one said a Sub Date was coming in soon and she put a deposit down on it. A week later we received a phone call to say the watch was in and 30 minutes later it was on my wrist.
I find it hard to part with anything I love but I will never sell my Sub Date.
I still have my Tudor too.
My wife has a Tudor Lady Sub and a Rolex Yachtmaster.

[rolex_addict]

It just feels great wearing a Rolex!

[Lol-x]

ColinB it sounds like your wife is more into Rolex than you

[JimSnyder]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

I just couldn't find any other brand worthy of me!!

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by JimSnyder

Same for me. I used to stare at those old adds everytime I found one

Me too, those National Geographic ads were magical pieces of Rolex marketing at it's best

[ColinB]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

ColinB it sounds like your wife is more into Rolex than you

No, she just knows me very well!

[Brian Burrows]

Because I don't do second best

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

Me too, those National Geographic ads were magical pieces of Rolex marketing at it's best

Agreed, Steve. NG and TIME magazine ads were so captivating at the time.....bringing new meaning to the old phrase: It pays to advertise!!

[hsung]

I bought my first Rolex this year because I was impressed with a 27 year old vintage Sub I inherited 7 years ago, which maintained its image and time keeping (for an automatic) over two decades, and no doubt will into its third decade.

Why then did I buy a Daytona? Because I wanted an automatic watch that can keep good time and maintain it's value ... not that I want to flip it, but just in case I need the money for a rainy day. I was not born rich and still not, but would like to leave it for my son.

Other reason for buying another Rolex is because I wanted a sapphire crystal and there is no date on the Daytona. I don't have a self winder and don't enjoy spinning the hands round-and-round to correct the date ...

I have also thought about buying a second Rolex, but that's because of reading and seeing all the threads this Forum!

[Troy]

I bought a new one as I have a Tudor Rose 7928 and don't want to screw it up so the Sea Dweller is my beater. Dad liked Rolex so son like Father

[Mrdi]

I bought it for Surfing,Sailing and Diving.
In that order.

[springer]

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.. ??

It was the least expensive watch I could afford at the time.

[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?!

[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...

[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