Wearing your Rolex in tough conditions?

[ratty]

Define "tough conditions".

When I worked in an engineering factory operating heavy machinery, I would never wear a watch or ever a ring. If the machine could catch the watch and pull me in I wouldn't wear anything which could get caught and be dangerous. This relates to my personal safety as opposed to the watch just getting scratched or damaged.

I probably wouldn't wear a watch if I was brick laying or when working on a car. I expect to get scratched and /or end up bleeding when I do things like this so I usually choose not to wear a watch when doing things like this.

I can't think of anything else which I would do which would make me think about taking my watch off. Having said that, I now find myself wearing 1990 s Daytonas more often than not and I don't want to get them scratched up or damaged if it can be easily avoided. If I'm going on a holiday in the UK I will usually wear a 116520. I go hill walking, swimming etc wearing this without a care in the world. It is already scratched up so I'm not worried about more scratches and it has taken many knocks and bangs on our adventures together and never misses a beat! I genuinely don't give it a second thought when wearing it. I'm confident that it will survive anything than I can survive.

It went into Rolex a couple of years ago and the customer services person I dealt with commented about how nice it was to see a watch with had obviously been worn and enjoyed. I didn't get it polished because it didn't need it and I didn't want to be looking at it to see if it was scratched again, I just put it on and got on with life again!

I fully understand that I'm in a position financially where if something did happen to one of my watches I could just replace it, but I find that some of the pleasure in owning these watches is not being too worried about when and where I wear them incase they get scratched.

[Giovannibravo]

Originally Posted by deeman54

How many of you wear your Rolex as a tool in harsh conditions. IE work, rugged adventures and or rough jobs.

Im a sailor and I’m seriously considering working my submariner as my work watch. I know it’s expensive but the sub today is built way better than those of the 90’s and they really used their watches back then. What’s your take?


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So I don't work outside in my yard with my watches. But I will ski and workout with them.

[Oxfordian]

Owning a Rolex is a big commitment, not least because of the entry price, so understandably people will protect that investment as much as they can.

But a Rolex is designed and built to be worn, and when worn is likely to get signs of wear.

So whilst I have three I do try to be sensible with my watches, if I'm doing jobs where the watch is going to get hit then off it comes.

I know that the watch can take a knock or two but no point in going out of my way to put a big scratch or dent in it.

[milgaussSD43]

[Ballzzz]

Jackhammer / Sawzall / Hammer / Chainsaw / Drill / Wrench / Winch etc... Just some of the things I do with my watch on.

Usually I only realize after the deed is done, I guess time will tell but im not looking to treat a watch that is robust as something I should put a cage around.

Great thing is these are my personal choices and if you feel opposite your choices are great too=)

[GONZO2LR]

wear it....mine makes me smile, when im doing stuff...i sometimes think my sub smiles back...haha....

[ratty]

Originally Posted by GONZO2LR

wear it....mine makes me smile, when im doing stuff...i sometimes think my sub smiles back...haha....

This made me smile as well, I like it.

[spinnaker226]

Originally Posted by deeman54

How many of you wear your Rolex as a tool in harsh conditions. IE work, rugged adventures and or rough jobs.

Im a sailor and I’m seriously considering working my submariner as my work watch. I know it’s expensive but the sub today is built way better than those of the 90’s and they really used their watches back then. What’s your take?


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I wear my submariner almost every day-thus far, it only shows normal wear and tear but has held up fine with consistent exposure to saltwater from regular fishing/spearfishing/freediving, boating etc.
that being said, the only times i take it off are for range days, showers, sleeping, or rough activity where im concerned with potential hard impacts or vibration. i don't see any benefit in unnecessarily abusing or banging the watch around if i dont have to. that's what my seiko is for.

[Fleetlord]

Sure…just no complaints about service cost if it gets busted.

[martyjanderson]

Originally Posted by Calatrava r

My take also. Why beat up a nice watch when there are so many cheaper and much more robust watches out there to slam and bang around.

probably the view of 99 percent of rolex and high end watch owners. never seen anyone doing serious labor etc with a rolex. there seems to be a legion of people that claim they dig ditches etc in their rolexes and have some sense of moral superiority about it.

[mpkRolex]

Originally Posted by Bazil

I once wore my GMT getting off the sofa, had to quickly sit back down though ..

[nighthawk77]

Horses for courses.

I'm generally happy wearing my watches for everything and anything. For example, when travelling I'll only normally take one watch, my sub, and it will be worn no matter what the occasion/activity - that can entail everything from sailing, hiking, climbing, cycling etc.

When at home however, with other watches on hand, it doesn't make sense to wear the sub when say mowing the lawn or gymming, when a cheap G-Shock is more comfortable and more expendable should it get damaged.

[martyjanderson]

Originally Posted by Ohiorolex

This thread is turning into a flex. There is nothing wrong with being careful with a watch that costs at least 10k. Likewise, some of us don’t mind signs of wear and tear and enjoy wearing their watch for all activities. I have friends whose parents drove their rear wheel drive sports cars year round with poor/no defrost in snow and rain. I have plenty of friends that have all wheel drive 911’s and they never see rain, never mind snow. It isn’t fair for me to judge people on what they do with their stuff. We all derive pleasure from these watches regardless of wearing them in a coal mine or going out to dinner wearing watches that are covered in protective stickers. The great thing about this hobby is the diversity of the people that come together over their passion for collecting and enjoying these watches.

Agreed....its even more silly than people that cover watches in plastic.

[RolexDave68]

Originally Posted by GONZO2LR

wear it....mine makes me smile, when im doing stuff...i sometimes think my sub smiles back...haha....

[JoseR]

I don't wear my Rolex for any physical activity. That's just me.

[richardlo]

If it doesnt bother you that it may get scratches or the metal loses its shine from micro scratches then do it!
Otherwise if it causes you stress or anxiety than dont do it. Seems there are two camps lately one that just uses their watch no different than any other tool and another that worries about resale value, if its as pristine as the day it was bought, and obsesses over the details. No one is right or wrong just do what makes you happy.

[Rebel]

Wear a sports model in harsh conditions...it can take it. Wear dressier models in not harsh conditions even though it can take harsh. Just my thoughts.

[derek001]

I don’t have a Rolex watch that I can use as a daily wear or for tough conditions. I’d rather wear the cheaper ones I have in my collection.

[Spread5150]

I got my dad a sub for his 60th birthday. He beats it up on the farm like it was free. I guess it was. Today I saw him digging in a tool box with it on. It took all of me to not say anything. I guess he’s using it. Which is why I bought it.

[trailblazer68]

Originally Posted by padi56

Well my own very late 1990s early 20000 16600 SD had a very hard life working as a real working tool with well over 600 hours underwater.Well used and often abused now 25 years old still looking good and never missed a beat.But today most all Rolex watches get a very very pampered life, reading the thousands of posts over 20 years on forum.I sometimes wonder why Rolex makes one of the toughest mecanical watches made today.

A big fan of SD here, would be great to see a pic of your SD

[Incident]

Originally Posted by deeman54

How many of you wear your Rolex as a tool in harsh conditions. IE work, rugged adventures and or rough jobs.

Im a sailor and I’m seriously considering working my submariner as my work watch. I know it’s expensive but the sub today is built way better than those of the 90’s and they really used their watches back then. What’s your take?


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Not wearing a Rolex because it may get scratched/bumped/roughed up...is like not walking on the deck of your boat because it may get scuffed.

[GGGMT]

Don’t want to take my sub into the 102 degrees mineral baths so I took my Patek. Now that’s a watch that can take anything.




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[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Spread5150

I got my dad a sub for his 60th birthday. He beats it up on the farm like it was free. I guess it was. Today I saw him digging in a tool box with it on. It took all of me to not say anything. I guess he’s using it. Which is why I bought it.

I would chose this 10/10 times over just leaving it on the dresser to wear on special occasions.


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[winst]

Originally Posted by Fleetlord

Sure…just no complaints about service cost if it gets busted.

You’ve hit the nail on the head there. I have Rolex watches which I wore as tool watches for years, but I now wear my Tudors as tool watches. If you damaged the crystal, you would need to have it replaced with a service which is going to cost you at least £300-£400 more for a Rolex and if you damaged one of those nice Ceramic Inserts on the modern Rolex Professional models, you really are talking big money for replacement.

Fair play to those of you that do it and it is your prerogative, but I no longer do.

[Moondoggy]

Originally Posted by Spread5150

I got my dad a sub for his 60th birthday. He beats it up on the farm like it was free. I guess it was. Today I saw him digging in a tool box with it on. It took all of me to not say anything. I guess he’s using it. Which is why I bought it.

I love that and relate to it, I bought my wife a very nice DJ36 for doing something I couldn’t do, never has set the time, again wears it like it’s free, says she loves it that’s all that matters I guess.

[geoach]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Don’t want to take my sub into the 102 degrees mineral baths so I took my Patek. Now that’s a watch that can take anything.




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[Number3]

Originally Posted by GONZO2LR

wear it....mine makes me smile, when im doing stuff...i sometimes think my sub smiles back...haha....

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Ballzzz

Jackhammer / Sawzall / Hammer / Chainsaw / Drill / Wrench / Winch etc... Just some of the things I do with my watch on.

Usually I only realize after the deed is done, I guess time will tell but im not looking to treat a watch that is robust as something I should put a cage around.

Great thing is these are my personal choices and if you feel opposite your choices are great too=)

I can’t imagine jackhammering not adversely affecting timing.

I dropped my 114060 (well my wife’s) on the floor a few months back and had to send it in for service

[fishingbear]

Wear them!

[phrede]

Yes, i buy my watches to use them, although it may not be the harshest environtments for them :D