Tell your Rolex story

[Goodwatch]

It is perhaps nice for each of you to tell your own Rolex story. I’ll start of with mine.

My first ‘real life’ encounter with Rolex was at high school. (Atheneum). One of my fellow students, the son of immigrated Chinese parents wore a Rolex. It must have been 1975. Already back then I knew what a Rolex was because of the prominent Rolex dealer in Rotterdam. Both my parents and myself couldn’t believe the prices on those watches when we went window shopping. That much money for a plain steel watch? Unbelievable, they must be special… The only thing I can still remember was the blue dial on his watch. I’ve always had a keen interest in watches and gone through quite a few for those days. Ancre, Sicura, Seiko, etc. Reaching 19, I was drafted in the Dutch Army and choose to volunteer to go to Lebanon on a peace keeping mission. And to my big surprise this country turned out to be a little watch haven. One of the traders that used to visit our post in his big Buick Riviera made frequent trips to Beirut to stock up on watches and jewelry. The watches comprised mainly of Japanese quartz watches from the big brands. And in flavors that weren’t even available in my home country. I bought a couple of them to give to my parents and my brother. But the shop he had in the little town of Harrisnearby our post sported a Rolex advertisement. It was a Sub! I fell in love with the watch. We’re talking 1980 now. I asked the shopkeeper if he could supply the watch. He couldn’t and the dream faded away. Back home I found a job quickly and in August 1980 my eye caught an article about the recently introduced Cartier Santos Dumont Carrè. I sold my Cannon A-1 with a bunch of lenses and bought it. Great watch. Two years later I sold it to my brother and bought a Cartier Tank Vermeil. Beautiful dress watch. The dealer was so kind to swap the plain leather strap for a beautiful alligator strap free of charge. When I was strapped for cash a couple of years later I had to sell it with loss. I lost my interest in high end watches because I was involved in getting a place of our own and getting married. Years went by and the itch started again. I started to read watch magazines again and collected catalogues from all the great marques. In 1999 I became a member of TURF and started talking about Rolex. And in April 2000, after a year of saving all my overtime money and all the other money I could spare I bought my first Rolex with great support of my wife. A 16610, just released with the SEL band after being on a waiting list for 4 months. At the same dealer I used to gaze in the window over 25 years ago!

And now I’m getting ready to buy my second Rolex. Still haven’t made up my mind, it will either be a Sub or a Sea Dweller. But that black dial GMT looks tempting as well.

This was my story, how about yours?

Frans.

[Manatee]

My story:

When I was a teenager, my mom and my uncle (her brother) had Rolex watches. I didn't really think about getting one I was in my mid-20s.

I looked at them in NY (where I lived) a couple of times a week. I wanted either the GMT-Master or the Cosmograph. I could get a good deal on the Cosmograph, but it was manual wind, used a non-Rolex movement, and didn't have the date. I didn't consider it a "real" Rolex.

Then I moved out to Indiana to take a job. Soon after I got there, I visited a couple of stores at a mall in Bloomington (south of Indianapolis.) The standard price on Rolex was: they'd offer 20% off, and you end up getting 30%. So I got the new GMT-Master II model.

I loved that watch, and still do. It's had most of its parts replaced by now, but it's still my original Rolex.

[JJ Irani]

Mine dates back to the early '70s when I was still in my mid-20s. I used to pass by this Rolex showroom ever so often and gaze upon these beauties lined up there on display.

I drooled and I drooled and finally got my very first Rolex in October of 1980.

JJ

[padi56]

Bet you wish you bought a few of those hard to sell in those days
6263/65 Cosmograph Peter.Myself was not a bit interested in Rolex
watches,but always loved all mechanical watches.My Father had a
man wind Cosmograph,and when he passed away it was mine. Thats
when the Rolex bug started with me,but myself like vintage watches
all brands.Like collecting British military watches,some now are quite
expensive,but tell what hobbies not.

[JJ Irani]

Padi,

Since you mention prices and I do have a good memory for dates and numbers, I remember seeing prices on those watches in Indian Rupees way back in the '70s.

The prices were ridiculously low like averaging around Rs. 3,000 per watch. At that time, the Indian rupee = USD 7 or thereabouts, so those watches would have been around the USD 400 mark - a lot of money in those days. And also a lot of money in Indian Rupees for one's earning capacity in the '70s.

JJ

[mike]

Well,
Got my first Rolex(a GMT) in 1968 at the tender age of 19. I was in college,and an ROTC cadet.
My military instructors mostly wore Rolex watches so I was heavily influenced.
That watch cost $245.00 brand new. Wore it through out my military service and most of a 32+ year police career.It got pretty beat up over the years,but it never failed.
Just got it back from RSC. I had several Rolex pieces over the years,and several examples now,but this one started it all.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Padi,

Since you mention prices and I do have a good memory for dates and numbers, I remember seeing prices on those watches in Indian Rupees way back in the '70s.

The prices were ridiculously low like averaging around Rs. 3,000 per watch. At that time, the Indian rupee = USD 7 or thereabouts, so those watches would have been around the USD 400 mark - a lot of money in those days. And also a lot of money in Indian Rupees for one's earning capacity in the '70s.

JJ

Cannot go back as far as the 70s JJ,but remember my Father saying his
watch cost around £700. List price in 1986 checking a old price list was Daytona £882, Sub date £1012,TT Sub £2070 SD £1161,GMT-Master £884,
Explorer 11 £954, Explorer £681 and a great shock the Oysterquartz £1199

[JJ Irani]

Not surprising though, Padi. In the '70s, we had a quartz revolution going and everybody wanted a quartz watch. Rolex came out with the OQ in 1978 and it started to sell like the proverbial 'hot cakes'. That would account for the high price of OQs at the time.

JJ

[NewEnthusiast]

Old thread I know but I'm new to being a Rolex owner so why not revive it.

It started many years ago when I was given my first watch and (a manual Timex) and fell in love with watches generally. After a phase of digital watches with more and more useless functions I became aware of Rolex as a brand; most likely as a result of becoming aware that Bond (a lifetime passion) wore a Rolex. However they were filed firmly in my mind as something "other" people had. I always remember being properly star-struck when I passed a shop selling them. Some people get excited when they see celebrities on the street... to this day, I still get excited when I see a Rolex. Homework time was spent scouring the website identifying the models I would get one day when I was rich.

Fast forward many years and my love of watches matured and expanded. I developed an understanding of the craftsmanship and quality associated with mechanical watches rather than just thinking they were "the thing to have". I was also lucky enough to own one; an Omega Seamaster which was a hugely generous gift for my 21st. Why the Seamaster? Well partly because it was the Bond watch of the time, partly budget, partly just because I fell in love with the way it looked and felt. Let's be honest, we don't treasure watches like these because they tell the time well, we do it because they make our hearts beat a little faster every time we see it.

I will always love the Seamaster however I still gazed in awe at Rolex shops and did a double take every time I saw one being worn. Deep down, I knew that if I won the lottery, one of the first things I would do was go down to the AD and buy a Rolex.

Fast forward another few years and my 30th was rapidly approaching. My wife and I were discussing what I would like to mark it. I knew I wanted something that would last forever to mark it rather than something consumable or with a finite lifetime. After going through some of my other interests, watches reared their head. Initially I dismissed the idea but she suggested putting the word out among family and friends that, if they were thinking of marking my birthday, a contribution towards something big would be appreciated rather than smaller things that would lose their significance over time.

Then the research started. I did some guesswork as to the sort of budget I would be looking at and settled down to look at watches. Going pre-owned became the obvious choice to get more watch for the money. I looked at several brands but none really grabbed me and I was determined not to drop a large amount of money on a watch just for the sake of it. Again it was my wife who correctly interpreted what I wasn't admitting to myself... I wanted a Rolex. Initially, I was hesitant. The brand was still pinned firmly in the "unattainable luxury" bracket however pre-owned prices were reasonable and, as she pointed out, it was likely to be a last big indulgence before children.

Eventually, after an enjoyable couple of months getting to know all the details of many different models (thanks to all here who's knowledge was incredibly helpful), I became the proud owner of an Air King. Here I genuinely surprised myself. I always saw myself going for one of the chunky sports models however I fell in love with the sleek and simplistic elegance of the AK. I liked the idea of having something a bit more "dressy" than the Seamaster but that could still be a day wearer. I also liked the smaller size and (oddly) the font in which "Air King" is written on the face.

So there we have it, the story of my first Rolex. Sorry for droning on!

[jon_jon]

Great thread bump from 2005, LOL :-)

Thanks for sharing your Rolex story, NewEnthusiast!

Great to read some old posts from JJ as well - he was a great asset to TRF!

[Soloman40]

Originally Posted by Goodwatch

It is perhaps nice for each of you to tell your own Rolex story. I’ll start of with mine.

My first ‘real life’ encounter with Rolex was at high school. (Atheneum). One of my fellow students, the son of immigrated Chinese parents wore a Rolex. It must have been 1975. Already back then I knew what a Rolex was because of the prominent Rolex dealer in Rotterdam. Both my parents and myself couldn’t believe the prices on those watches when we went window shopping. That much money for a plain steel watch? Unbelievable, they must be special… The only thing I can still remember was the blue dial on his watch. I’ve always had a keen interest in watches and gone through quite a few for those days. Ancre, Sicura, Seiko, etc. Reaching 19, I was drafted in the Dutch Army and choose to volunteer to go to Lebanon on a peace keeping mission. And to my big surprise this country turned out to be a little watch haven. One of the traders that used to visit our post in his big Buick Riviera made frequent trips to Beirut to stock up on watches and jewelry. The watches comprised mainly of Japanese quartz watches from the big brands. And in flavors that weren’t even available in my home country. I bought a couple of them to give to my parents and my brother. But the shop he had in the little town of Harrisnearby our post sported a Rolex advertisement. It was a Sub! I fell in love with the watch. We’re talking 1980 now. I asked the shopkeeper if he could supply the watch. He couldn’t and the dream faded away. Back home I found a job quickly and in August 1980 my eye caught an article about the recently introduced Cartier Santos Dumont Carrè. I sold my Cannon A-1 with a bunch of lenses and bought it. Great watch. Two years later I sold it to my brother and bought a Cartier Tank Vermeil. Beautiful dress watch. The dealer was so kind to swap the plain leather strap for a beautiful alligator strap free of charge. When I was strapped for cash a couple of years later I had to sell it with loss. I lost my interest in high end watches because I was involved in getting a place of our own and getting married. Years went by and the itch started again. I started to read watch magazines again and collected catalogues from all the great marques. In 1999 I became a member of TURF and started talking about Rolex. And in April 2000, after a year of saving all my overtime money and all the other money I could spare I bought my first Rolex with great support of my wife. A 16610, just released with the SEL band after being on a waiting list for 4 months. At the same dealer I used to gaze in the window over 25 years ago!

And now I’m getting ready to buy my second Rolex. Still haven’t made up my mind, it will either be a Sub or a Sea Dweller. But that black dial GMT looks tempting as well.

This was my story, how about yours?

Frans.

I was so touched reading this thread, being a rolex enthusiast first, and second being a lebanese national. Therefore a double thank you Frans for this thread and for your service, salute.

[Snow-Dweller]

Here's my story, copied over from a previous thread:


Advance apologies for the long post. I can only hope that some fellow TRFers will find it interesting, and that it may even save a few people some time (and money)!

I was about seven years old when my father came home and placed a grey felt oyster shaped box on the dining table in front of my mother. My curiosity aroused, I think I was as excited as she was to see the yellow gold ladies watch inside. As a family we spent lots of time at the beach and in the water, and I clearly remember my parents explaining to me that this was a Rolex.....the "very best" waterproof watch there was.

Hence was born my fascination with watches in general, and with this brand in particular. I was forever looking at peoples' wrists, and often getting myself in trouble for expressing my disappointment when not impressed by what I saw. Attaining my first Rolex became a mission throughout my teenage years. I worked weekend and holiday jobs, and I saved all I could, but never seemed to be getting closer to my goal (girls and weed got in the way). At 18 my father lent me his Airking, and two months after turning twenty I gave it back to him when I bought myself my absolute dream watch: a new TT Submariner ref 16803. The year was 1986....and I own and love that watch to this day.

Around 10 years later I bought a used polar Explorer II to wear when I wanted something less flashy, and could not believe that I owned two Rolexes!

A Panerai and a Cartier Roadster came and went.

I then treated myself to a white gold Day-Date when I successfully sold a business in 2005. I spontaneously flipped the Exp II for a Milgauss gv in 2010 whilst visiting wonderful San Francisco. Surely that was it.....I was all-watched-up? Would love to own a Daytona one day....but never really thought it would happen. What had I learnt?....not much, if I'm honest.

Then two things happened at the end of 2013....a friend was working at an AD and called to ask if I wanted an SS Daytona, and I stumbled upon TRF. I said a big yes to both.

TRF members swept me up with their enabling (thanks guys), and within a couple of months of picking up the Daytona I had a BLNR as well. It then became clear that I missed the Exp II, and really "needed" to replace it.....so in came a polar 216570.

Surely that was it. I now owned 6 Rolexes. What more could I possibly want? (Knowledge, for one thing). I started looking into Patek and AP, and getting swept up by the sub-forums here. My tastes began to change.....although not by much, as it later turned out.

Each to their own, and no offence is meant to anybody....

The Daytona went - I never loved it. Found it to be light, shiny, and difficult to read.
The Day-Date went - I loved it but never wore it.
The BLNR went - that blue was simply too bright for me.
The Milgauss went - it felt like a kids watch.

I tried and failed to like the Patek sports models (after 6 months my name got to the top of the list for an Aquanaut at the PP salon in Geneva....thankfully I turned it down).

I fell head over heals in love with everything AP, and a year ago became the proud owner of both an SS Diver and a 15400. I went through a period of a few months where I even became quite anti Rolex....felt like one saw them everywhere, and that they weren't special enough.

I was (and am) also heavily influenced by JorgeCCW's thread "Conversion from hoarding all brands..." http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=368299 and Lapince's thread "4 or less club" http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=382940

So by last summer I found myself with my original TT Sub, my 216570, and the two APs. And I was very happy....for a short while.

I gradually became convinced of the fragility of the APs, and found myself wearing the Explorer II more and more. The APs are lovely, but aren't for me. I knew that it was a question of time....

This was last September. The penny had finally dropped. I had finally received the memo. I am a Rolex man. I knew then where I was headed, but was determined to take my time, to be sure of what I was doing, and to do it properly.

I bought myself a GMTc LN. I knew that it was a tester. Five months in and the honeymoon period is over, but I still adore the watch. For me it is the most useful complication, and those green details....oh how I love those green details. I even love the PCLs that felt so wrong on the Daytona. It was all a part of a journey.....

This week I was in Italy and did a good deal to buy a new PepC BLRO, and to trade both APs. I will turn 50 in June, but will have my present early.

So what have I learnt? I have learnt that Rolexes are built like tanks. I have learnt to try other tastes, even if they turned out not to be for me. I have learnt the importance of buying at the right price (Daytona and BLNR both went for a small profit, and I'm getting my money back on both APs).

And I am learning to take my time and do my homework.

Cheers.

[malnik]

My wife bought my Rolex for me as an engagement present since I dropped 5 months of my salary on her engagement ring the month before. The only part of this Rolex story that I remember vividly is that when my wife came in though the jewelry store, everyone was staring at her because she was so beautiful. True story.

[THC]

Always good to see JJ posts...

[judson]

I worked at a high end clothing store during high school and into college. We sold a lot of Armani, Boss, HSM. This was in Indianapolis in the early 90's and my largest sale of all suits was $10,000. We had a number of Colts and Pacers that shopped in the store. I learned to look at shoes and watches to gage the likelihood of a large sale.

I bought first Mont Blanc pen while I worked there as well as my first watch, a Seiko that was nothing special but I do still have it. I told myself that if I ever made six figures in a year that I would buy myself a Rolex because that is what all of the high rollers wore.

I waited a few years after I reached my goal before I bought my first real watch. I just couldn't bring myself to spend that much money on a Rolex, so I bought an Omega which I also still own. As a side note, I get more compliments on my Omega than I have ever gotten on my Rolexes.

I should have just purchased the Rolex first and been a one watch guy. I enjoyed my Omega and purchased a few more before I bought my first Rolex, but once you get over the mental hurdle of spending that much money on a watch, it becomes much easier.

I now limit myself to one watch purchase a year.

My wife read this post and wanted me to mention that I also have the greatest wife in the world and that our children will never work in a high end clothing store!