How Did You Get Into Rolex??

[dman]

Or even just watches in general? I have to admit that this was not a hobby that I planned on getting into or saw coming my way. I always liked mechanical things, not really an electrical guy. But my path to Rolex was actually just luck.

I bought an Omega SMP quartz as my first nice watch. I liked the look and the name but really new nothing at all about the watch. I had always been a Bond nerd, but never planned on wearing "his" watch.

That all changed when I met one of my first regular students, who happened to be an AD and the President of his company. He is not a Rolex guy, but a watch guy for sure. He wanted his scores to drop drastically and I was always interested in a good deal. That is how I got into Rolex, it was a pre-owned TT DJ, with a champagne dial and stick markers. It was on an oyster and I really liked it a bunch.

From there, I was hooked. I went through a bunch of different models and continue to do so, but the "Coronet" still does something for me.

How did you discover or get into this crazy hobby of watches?

BTW/ that first DJ was sold away, but I later bought it back from the guy and gave it to my father when he turned 60.

[RogerF]

Dad had a TT DJ, uncle had one, another uncle had one, mom had a ladies pres DJ, etc etc etc. Grew up around fine tie pieces so it was only natural that I would get into watches.

I have or have had other fine makes but Rolex just seems to suit me the best, I make no excuses for my love for them, I just do.

[Manatee]

When I was a teenager, my mom had Rolex, my uncle had Rolex, my great-uncle had Rolex, and this older friend who pissed away all his money on toys had Rolex. I wanted one. As soon as I could afford one (when I was 25), I got one -- a GMT II, which was a new model at the time. I think I'll honor it by wearing it tomorrow.

[JJ Irani]

How did I get into Rolex? Easy....just opened up the clasp and slipped my hand through!!

On a more serious note, however, I go back to the very early '70s when I would always pass this ONLY Rolex AD in Bombay who had a fairly handsome selection of Date, DJs and Air-King models.....all SS, no TT at all.

One day I saw a very nice ad of a TT DJ in TIME magazine.....this was around 1974....but I could never afford one at the time....so I picked up the next best thing.....an OMEGA Dynamic Geneve.....and loved it. It was only in 1980, on my 34th birthday, that I picked up my very first Rolex - a TT DJ with coffee dial and that's the one I had for the longest period of time....ever - 10 years.

JJ

[padi56]

Think even as small lad always been fascinated with mechanical watches think my first real mechanical watch was
a Lucerne.My Father had a couple of Rolex I suppose I got the bug from him,I got my first when I was 30 and its been
a passion ever since.

[s7horton]

After watching my dad trade and buy to get the rolex collection he wanted, I just had to have my own. I actually bought mine on a whim. Just thought I was going to "look". I never even dreamed of buying one, yet I did walk out the door with one. It seems most people were introduced via relatives. Not too much "just happened to be walking buy and like them" folks. I would say that Rolex would be hurting without "word of mouth" advertising.

[JuniorPhatFarm]

Just knew I always wanted one...Seeing people on planes, and in my towns, I just knew one day I had to own one...Voila...Fast forward to today, I am a proud owner now.

[Mort]

I always was fasinated with watches. When I was a kid, I used to love to play with my Dads Gallet Flying Officer circa 1958. It is a chronograph with a city bezel that you could turn to tell what the time was in 24 different citys. He gave me the watch a few years ago, and is the only Chronograph I own. But back to the love of watches, I was one to always notice what watch people were wearing, so I always asked for a nice watch. The first one I really wanted was back in the 70's, everyone was getting LED watches. I wanted a Pulsar, but got the black Texas Instruments one instead. After that I had different watches from Seiko, Citizen ect.

The first real what I conciderd high end watch I got was for graduation. It is a Gold filled Longines Quartz that is a tank style, that at the time was the one of the thinnist watches made. Keep in mind this was the early 80's and that what was in as far as fashon watches go.

As far as Rolex goes, I too was a Bond nut, but was not very knowlegable on the different models. I started noticing them on shows like Miami Vice and other 80's shows. Then a friend of my wife bought a TT DJ in 1985. It was the first one I had seen or held in person. I knew I had to have one sameday. Plus it became to proper accessory for all Yuppies at that time. I was in my 20's and could not afford a watch of that caliber. In the early 90's I got in the used car business, and everyone had a Rolex. I saw them on everywrist. I pointed them out to my wife all the time, got catalogs, looked at them in windows of jewelery stores ect.

I was about to turn 30 and was kind of freaking out because I no longer was going to be 20 something, and two days before my birthday, my wife gave be a package, I opened it and saw the green box, and in it was a used, but perfect condition, even with the sticker on the back, Stainless Oyster non date, smooth bezel, white face with romans on a jubilee band. I was real pleased.

She told me she saved for 4 months to afford it. She also told me I could trade it down the line for a nicer model when I could afford it. Which I later did.

I do have to say, no Rolex or watch in general made me as happy as the first one my wife bought me. If someone had my exact one I had, and offered it to me, I would buy it back.

Over the years, I traded up until I got the one I always dreamed of. My DD. Then I started buying other Rolex models as well as other makes. If you had told me 13 years ago when I got my first Rolex, that I would have 3 in my collection, I would of never believed it.

[Earl]

It just happened one day about 4 years ago up till then I'd had battery driven watches. I don't really know what started me on this adventure maybe, I got tired of replacing batteries? Might also be as I grow older I appreciate the fact "if it's mechanical it can be fixed if it breaks and makes for one heck of a heir loom to be passed down through generations"

How did I get into Rolex?

Well, first I took off the crown and pulled it right out. Then I stepped into my magical shinking machine and got down to the height of Finwhiz. Then I simply walked into the tube that previously held the crown and voila, I was into Rolex. Kinda tight in there though, so I left quickly.

On a serious note, I guess because I am a self-trained bicycle mechanic from about age 12, i've always been facinated with mechanical machinery. It was a natural progression, since they both use gears. My dad had an old manual wind Bulova he bought while in the RCAF, and it amazed me. I guess it grew from there.

Because as a non-WIS, Rolex is known as 'the' brand, that's what I went for when I could justify the expense.

[BruceS]

How did I get into Rolex? That would be my ego and my credit card
Actually, I got into watches through diving. Watches were a tool, but I just liked the looks too. As a typical watch newbie, all I knew was Rolex, just like everyone.

My first "good" watch was a Tag. Then I bought an Omega Seamaster. Went through a bunch of watches before I finally bought the one I always wanted and didn't think I could afford - a Rolex sub.

I've been through a lot of watches, as most of you know. I went from Rolex to Panerai, but now I'm selling most everything to fund this UK move. Once the dust settles, I may buy another Rollie as my lifetime ONE watch. I figure I better buy it while in the US because it'll just cost more in England.

Originally Posted by dman

I always liked mechanical things, not really an electrical guy. But my path to Rolex was actually just luck.

Hey Daren - I know what you mean as I am mechanically inclined, but not so much electrically (although I have done limited wiring in my other house). In fact, while taking engineering, in addition to the electives (I took psychology courses as a break from real work, and of course the "Exploring Human Sexuality" course as they showed porn films in class ) we were forced to take some electrical courses. I managed to learn enough to get my marks around 75 or so and then pushed all that electrical stuff out of my head to make room for important information....

I have always been a watch nut, but only seriously in the last few years. I originally didn't like what I saw in the Rolex line, but after visiting my AD a few times I started to want one. After a few years of my wife listening to me whine about wanting one, she finally caved one day when we are at that same AD. I saw the YM there and when I put it on, we both really thought it was the right watch (it was used, by the way). When the sales lady asked if I was interested, I said no (due to being told that by my wife for so long....) and the AD offered a deal on two watches as my wife was looking at a Cartier. I said no again, but them my wife said "what kind of deal are you offering?" I nearly fell over, and we left about $10K lighter and with me promising this would be my "last watch." What a mistake that was!!

I then started to look at watch fora, and I'm now here with my Rolex (for now), the JLC, the GO, a Seiko, and my project watch. I am starting to look at some old watches my family had -mostly in bad shape - and now am looking at some nice vintage watches on-line. So much for the Rolex being my "last watch".......

Originally Posted by Avalon

with me promising this would be my "last watch." What a mistake that was!!

I don't know of a more lethal promise any WIS or WIS wannabe could make to his wife cuz those words ALWAYS come back to bite you in the ar$e.

[Rockrolex]

I got my first one (a white dial YG DD with raised Romans - just like the one in Mort's avatar) from a very grateful client about 5 years ago. Until then, I hadn't even considered Rolex or any other high end watch. I was into quartz complications - the more the merrier.

But after getting that first one, I started doing some checking and looking at other models. I found a vintage TT DJ at a very good price and snapped it up. That was really the start of this addiction. After that first DJ, I found another previously owned TT DJ, also at a good price.

Following that purchase, I saw NIB black bezel GMT-II and knew I had to have that, which I was able to snag for about 25% off retail. Then I saw a friend who had a great looking YG DD with diamond markers. Once again, I found the same watch at an unbelieveably great price.

After that, I started looking at other brands and added to my collection. All of this in the space of less than 5 years. I think I've slowed down (notice I did not say I've stopped) now. There are a few more that I would like to have if they come along at the right price.

At the moment, the top choice on my wannahave list is a white dial Breitling Olympus. If it comes along at the right price, I will have to break open my reserve winder.

[molex]

I don't even remember when I decided I would own a Rolex one day, it just seems like I always felt that way. In high-school a friend of mine told me his dad had a Rolex he never wore because "it doesn't keep very good time and has to be worked on all the time", and even at then my reaction was "Well, he just doesn't understand is all". Then one day while leafing through an issue of Wine Spectator I saw and ad for a Sub-date. At the time, I was completley unfamiliar with Rolex models because owning one was only a dream, so I didn't tease myself by researching somegthing I couldn't have. But when I saw the sub-date I knew "That's the one for me", and the ad went up above my desk for almost a year.

3 years later I owned one.

1 year after that I owned 3.

1 year after that 5.

And now, it's only a matter of time until I hit 6, 8, a dozen... good lord, will it ever end?

[dman]

Originally Posted by Atomic

I don't know of a more lethal promise any WIS or WIS wannabe could make to his wife cuz those words ALWAYS come back to bite you in the ar$e.

So true. LOL!!!

[dman]

Micah and Ed, great stories, thanks for sharing guys!!

[dman]

Originally Posted by BruceS

How did I get into Rolex? That would be my ego and my credit card
Actually, I got into watches through diving. Watches were a tool, but I just liked the looks too. As a typical watch newbie, all I knew was Rolex, just like everyone.

My first "good" watch was a Tag. Then I bought an Omega Seamaster. Went through a bunch of watches before I finally bought the one I always wanted and didn't think I could afford - a Rolex sub.

I've been through a lot of watches, as most of you know. I went from Rolex to Panerai, but now I'm selling most everything to fund this UK move. Once the dust settles, I may buy another Rollie as my lifetime ONE watch. I figure I better buy it while in the US because it'll just cost more in England.

Bruce, if we have learned anything, it is there is no "one" watch.

[dman]

Originally Posted by Mort

I always was fasinated with watches. When I was a kid, I used to love to play with my Dads Gallet Flying Officer circa 1958. It is a chronograph with a city bezel that you could turn to tell what the time was in 24 different citys. He gave me the watch a few years ago, and is the only Chronograph I own. But back to the love of watches, I was one to always notice what watch people were wearing, so I always asked for a nice watch. The first one I really wanted was back in the 70's, everyone was getting LED watches. I wanted a Pulsar, but got the black Texas Instruments one instead. After that I had different watches from Seiko, Citizen ect.

The first real what I conciderd high end watch I got was for graduation. It is a Gold filled Longines Quartz that is a tank style, that at the time was the one of the thinnist watches made. Keep in mind this was the early 80's and that what was in as far as fashon watches go.

As far as Rolex goes, I too was a Bond nut, but was not very knowlegable on the different models. I started noticing them on shows like Miami Vice and other 80's shows. Then a friend of my wife bought a TT DJ in 1985. It was the first one I had seen or held in person. I knew I had to have one sameday. Plus it became to proper accessory for all Yuppies at that time. I was in my 20's and could not afford a watch of that caliber. In the early 90's I got in the used car business, and everyone had a Rolex. I saw them on everywrist. I pointed them out to my wife all the time, got catalogs, looked at them in windows of jewelery stores ect.

I was about to turn 30 and was kind of freaking out because I no longer was going to be 20 something, and two days before my birthday, my wife gave be a package, I opened it and saw the green box, and in it was a used, but perfect condition, even with the sticker on the back, Stainless Oyster non date, smooth bezel, white face with romans on a jubilee band. I was real pleased.

She told me she saved for 4 months to afford it. She also told me I could trade it down the line for a nicer model when I could afford it. Which I later did.

I do have to say, no Rolex or watch in general made me as happy as the first one my wife bought me. If someone had my exact one I had, and offered it to me, I would buy it back.

Over the years, I traded up until I got the one I always dreamed of. My DD. Then I started buying other Rolex models as well as other makes. If you had told me 13 years ago when I got my first Rolex, that I would have 3 in my collection, I would of never believed it.

Mort, that is an awesome story pal!! That is sort of why I bought back that DJ to give to my Dad, it had that meaning to me.

[Goodwatch]

Originally Posted by dman

Or even just watches in general?

Yet again a very good topic, scary almost. I think this practice must stop now because otherwise the outside world will mistake this forum for a very serious watchforum, chockfull with members dedicated to the art of watch making. Perish the thought! We don’t want this, do we?


OK, I’ll grasp any chance to bore the pants off you all with my Rolex stories, so here goes.


The first encounter with this venerable brand must have been in the early seventies. I was a young schoolboy back then. Sometimes my parents took my brother and I for an ice-cream in the centre of Rotterdam in a large pedestrian only shopping district. On one of those evenings we passed by the window of the oldest AD in Rotterdam. My father looked at the watches and uttered a cry of disbelief. A thousand guilders and more for a stainless steel watch! Not even gold? And very plain to look at? Back then, a thousand guilders was two months wages for a factory worker. (When I showed him my first Rolex, he still couldn’t believe it). I knew in an instant they must be special.

The second encounter was a few years later, at High School. In one of my classes was a Chinese boy, son of an immigrant. And lo and behold, on his wrist was a Rolex (mid sized). I couldn’t believe my eyes, his father must have been very rich. But the mockery had already started, because when I told an uncle of mine about the Rolex he asked as innocent as possible: “he has a Solex?” (A Solex is a cheap French moped, once very popular in my country). “What’s so special about that?”. Grrrrrrrrrrrr!

During the years my interest in watches in general and Rolex in particular grew and when in Lebanon during my time with Unifil I tried to buy a Sub, to no avail. I saved up 3 months of my wages (we received part of our extra wages in dollars) and approached a shopkeeper with a Rolex ad in his shop in Haris. He couldn’t deliver, the ad was just show.


In 1980 I bought a Cartier, in 1982 my second Cartier (both sold) and in 2000 my first Rolex. It took me ten years to earn enough to be able to afford that Sub whilst having a family to take care of. During a (second) robbery of our apartment the Rolex, along many others watches and personal irreplaceable belongings were stolen. Now again I a have about 8 watches but no Rolex yet. I’m saving up again. Because of the illness of my wife some time ago we had to make large expenses and this made a dent in the Rolex fund. But I’m a patient man and my day will come again!


Frans.

[dman]

Not only will the day come again soon Frans, but you will cherish it the way that most of should do more of.

[mailman]

When I was about 12-13yrs old, I can remember being over my uncle's house and hearing him talk about the watch my aunt had bought for him. All I can remember him saying is that she bought it for him in 1964 for about $175. I would ask him about it and I can remember him saying "It's a Rolex. It's the best watch you can buy." At the time he was scuba diving. Ever since then I was hooked. I would always think that someday I'm going to have one. In the meantime, my father, brother in law and sister all got a Rolex. Finally when I was ready I bought my dream watch. A SS Sub Date. I've worn it almost nonstop since I bought it 5yrs ago. I love it.
By the way my uncle's watch is a 5512 that he still wears every day.

[baseballduck]

The sad part is I have no clue how I got into Rolex. I think I saw ad's for them in magazines or something. I don't know. To tell you the truth I don't really care. I just know I like them.....a lot.

Tyler

[dman]

Originally Posted by mailman

By the way my uncle's watch is a 5512 that he still wears every day.

Yummy!! Cool story Paul!

[grinchcop]

It all began when I was around 10 or 11 years old. A friend of the family had been in the Merchant Marine, typically gone for almost 6 months out of every year. One day, right after he'd returned home, my dad asked me to look at his watch. I remember laughing when the owner said, "It's an imitation Timex," as he took off the SS Submariner and handed it to me for examination. He had purchased the Sub on his last trip through the Orient and was enjoying showing my dad and his other friends the watch. My dad told me that the Rolex wristwatch was one of the finest timepieces in the world and that I should try to own one as an adult, as they would last forever, keep great time, were waterproof, etc.

I then went to the collection of National Geographic magazines that my grandfather had, as I had recalled seeing ads for Rolex watches in them. I poured over the ads, vowing to someday own a watch like my dad's friend, as well as all those intrepid individuals pictured wearing their Rolex watches while hanging off the sides of mountains, flying in everything from balloons to jet fighters, exploring remote jungles and so on.

That was in 1971 or 1972 , but I never forgot that Sub. I actually bought my first Rolex in the mid-80's, but it was a SS GMT Master with the black bezel. The local AD didn't have any Sub's at the time, but I had always wondered if I shouldn't have waited.

On 1-1-05, I sold my GMT to a friend and bought a new SS Sub/date. Finally, I had my own Sub. Too bad it took over 30 years!

[BruceS]

Cool story! I remember my uncle wearing a gold Rolex. It was probably a DJ. My uncle always had the best of everything. That was probably an influence on me. LOL, I just remembered once asking him if it was a real Rolex

[JJ Irani]

Great story, Grinchop. I see that's your very first post.....so a BIG welcome to TRF. Enjoy your stay here and please post as often as you like....with some nice pics too!!

Cheers - JJ

[dman]

Indeed Grinchop!! Welcome to TRF, now that you have broken the seal, please keep the posts a coming mate!! Welcome in!!

[Rockrolex]

Let me add my welcome to TRF, Grinchop. Clearly you've been around for awhile. Glad you finally decided to take the plunge and come out in the open (to mix a couple of metaphors ). As others have said, we hope you will continue to post away here on the friendlies forum on the web.

I'm sorry you gave up the black bezel GMT, though. If you've been following the various threads here, you know that that watch is my all time favorite timepiece. But I'll forgive you that faux pas if you continue to be active here.

[Baptistman]

it all began at the age of fifteen really, I was given several watches for Christmas and birthdays, A Sekonda, a Beltime digital, Seiko Digital, etc, but in my Mums wardrobe was a gold gents Majex and an Gold Eternamatic (my Dad had died when I was very young and these were his watches) She also wore a Gold Eternamatic, I loved those watches, the automatic movements and fine lines fasinated me so thats where my watch fasination started.... Rolex came into the picture at the age of nineteen approx, I saw a S/S Sub date and thought it was the niceset piece I had ever seen. I found out a bit more about the Rolex company, and proceeded downhill as I attempted to buy branded Sub lookalikes, the nearest I got was an AVIA watch it looked incredible for £50 and a Seiko kinetic 5M43 fitted to a jubilee style bracelet.
If I had one piece of advise, savethe bucks and buy what your heart really wants, don't compromise coz it will cost you.

I have to say if Eterna had stayed the same Grenchen based company that it started out, then I would of held it in the same regard as Rolex. Its developments firsts were amazing, indeed thats the basis for ETA movements today