Let´s see those faithful old "beaters"!

[Zed82]

I love reading stories about people buying Rolexes and wearing them 24/7 through the good and the bad.

At the same time, i wonder how my own LV will look like after say 15-20 years of constant wear.

Some pics would be much appreciated!

[bobg]

[SaddleSC]

Wore this one 24/7 for 12 years. I bought it at age 21 and it has been everywhere and done everything! (BTW...I love the lug holes on this one.)

[sparky]

Wear this most of the time-was about 7 years old when I got it 9 years ago

[Loyer]

This pre-owned 5513 is circa 1978. I purchased it for $900 in 1989 and have worn it 24/7 since.
I has been to 90 feet below the Carribean off Jamaica and the top of Mayan pyramids. It has seen Venezuela, Germany, Italy, Spain, Juarez Mexico, good Mexico, north south east and west USA, and half the islands in the Carribean. It has been serviced only once and currently keeps within 2 seconds a day per the atomic clock .
It has scuffed crystal, gouged case scratched bezel and a fake bracelet but I wouldn't give it up for anything (...well almost anything).

[Zed82]

Originally Posted by Loyer

This pre-owned 5513 is circa 1978. I purchased it for $900 in 1989 and have worn it 24/7 since.
I has been to 90 feet below the Carribean off Jamaica and the top of Mayan pyramids. It has seen Venezuela, Germany, Italy, Spain, Juarez Mexico, good Mexico, north south east and west USA, and half the islands in the Carribean. It has been serviced only once and currently keeps within 2 seconds a day per the atomic clock .
It has scuffed crystal, gouged case scratched bezel and a fake bracelet but I wouldn't give it up for anything (...well almost anything).

Wow! That´s a cool story, why did you switch out the bracelet?

[psv]

10+ years old photo of a 10+ years old watch. Been to North America, South America, Europe and Africa if I remember correctly.



Yeah, I was doing Sub 16610 without cyclops on NATO in the 90-ies already! :-)

[rfknauss]

Been wearing this one for over 30 years ..... still looks good!

[gettocard]

Great post and pics,keep 'em coming guys !!

Rolex is like wine,it gets better with age.No other watch can do that,period.

[TRW]

Wear this '07 16/7.

[sparky]

I'm lovin' this thread!

[Atomant]

Great thread!

[johnbeth]

Great watches!

[Zed82]

Thanks for all the pics so far guys.

I would however like to read more about how your watches have coped with several/many years of daily use. Opinions on the sturdyness would be appreciated!

[KirkWilfred]

Im a General Contractor in Alaska. Toughest profession in the most extreme climate in the world. +90F in the summer and -60F in the winter. I wear my GMT IIc everyday all day and beat the crap out of it. Never had an issue with it. I laugh at the guys on here that baby their watches. Wear it, love it, enjoy it!

[acce1999]

Originally Posted by Zed82

I love reading stories about people buying Rolexes and wearing them 24/7 through the good and the bad.

At the same time, i wonder how my own LV will look like after say 15-20 years of constant wear.

Some pics would be much appreciated!

I am the owner of the 14270 on this page:

http://www.minus4plus6.com/ouch.htm

This is a great site with a lot of pictures and information being maintained and operated by a member here, Sheldon Smith (user name sheldonsmith). I hope that it is OK for me to link to his site. There is a lot of good information and pictures there.

The Explorer is from the mid 90s, I bought it BNIB from one of my local ADs and it has seen pretty much everything. It came from Geneva on the Submariner style flip lock bracelet, which were an option for the watch then. It is not only my favourite watch, but also my youngest daugther's. Of course I had the watch on my wrist when she was born.

I wore it daily during a period of ten years; the most intense time in life when it comes to family (with small children), house renovation, career including a lot of travelling, and a lot of fun (of course). It was pretty much spot on for seven years. I adjusted it two times per year at day light savings time, and then the dent happened... One of my daughters helped me with that one. After that it started to loose a minute or so every two to three months. I had it serviced after eleven years. It still delivered well within COSC, but it felt good having it refreshed (on the inside only!).

Some more pictures:









I'd say that the Explorer is well suited for any situation! And mine is special, at least for me.

Best,

A

[jamesbondOO7]

25 years 365/24/7
Never took it off for any sort of sports activities or else. Never spoilt, but properly serviced every 5-7 years.

[kerrison]

Great thread and great watches/stories, I hope mine will turn out just as well 15 years down the road as those featured here!

[padi56]

This is my Rolex Unicorns from the early 1920s some were marked Unicorn on dial,but many were not and only Rolex Unicorn or Unicorn stamped on the movement.Still gets quite a bit of wrist time,bought for £5 at a car boot sale.Just cleaned it up a bit give it a service runs great and keeps very good time not bad for a almost 90 year old watch.

Rolex Unicorn from 1922 silver case,dial un-signed quite common in the early days of Rolex.



Movement Scan.




Rolex Unicorn scan from 1924 S.steel case quite a new metal then and more expensive than Silver.Have not got around to cleaning this one yet trying to find a second hand.



Rolex from 1924 same case as the Unicorn but the slightly better 17 jewel movement and still gets quite a bit of wrist time.

[dddrees]

Originally Posted by padi56

This is my Rolex Unicorns from the early 1920s some were marked Unicorn on dial,but many were not and only Rolex Unicorn or Unicorn stamped on the movement.Still gets quite a bit of wrist time,bought for £5 at a car boot sale.Just cleaned it up a bit give it a service runs great and keeps very good time not bad for a almost 90 year old watch.

Thats Awesome Padi.

All of these are great, guys.

[acce1999]

Beautiful watches!

But nothing you go diving with, I guess.

Best,

A

[GeoGio Greece]

Sub 5513 / 0 - 1983

GMT 16700 - 1993

Worn daily, in scuba and all other activities and sports. Serviced every 3-4 years.

[le_baroudeur]

For all those with rolex 24/7 on the wrist for years, do you check if the watch is waterproof regularly (every year?), or do you only service it every 5-7years and put it in water regularly without checking waterproofness?
Great thread!

[GeoGio Greece]

Originally Posted by le_baroudeur

For all those with rolex 24/7 on the wrist for years, do you check if the watch is waterproof regularly (every year?), or do you only service it every 5-7years and put it in water regularly without checking waterproofness?
Great thread!

Every season "start", that is April-May, before I start sea activities, I check the watches for their waterproof ability.

This is a MUST ! It takes 5 minutes and can save your watch.

[ersnyder]

Old enough to be Tritium but looks like a baby after service!

[jamesbondOO7]

Originally Posted by le_baroudeur

For all those with rolex 24/7 on the wrist for years, do you check if the watch is waterproof regularly (every year?), or do you only service it every 5-7years and put it in water regularly without checking waterproofness?
Great thread!

Never have. Just service every 5-7 years, nothing else. And in the shower everyday, in the swimming pool or in the sea, April to November.