Your First Rolex Buying Experience

[DCGuy1965]

Should be interesting. I'm one of those that remembers significant milestones and their respective dates. I just recently passed the date back in 1986 when I bought my first 16610. 20 years old at the time. Wore a Seiko at the time I think I purchased for $175 or so but in the 1980s it was all about being eccentric and given my age I wanted to be fashionable.

I was learning about how a Rolex was a real watch so to speak and my boss had a stainless date just I could definitely see the craftsmanship involved hence the bug bit me.

Now when you're only 20 and walk into an AD the sales folks aren't exactly falling over themselves to help you. Finally a nice lady at the now defunct Bailey Banks and Biddle was showing me some different models and when I saw the prices I nearly fell over. But alas one of her good customers came in and I could tell it was time for me to move on. Back then malls had more than 1 AD so I went to another nice jeweler Black Starr and Frost and met the guy whom to this day has sold me numerous pieces. He was the only one that treated me well and could not have been more helpful. I paid $1200 and basically financed by putting 250 down and 71 per month for 18 months. Sounds paltry compared to what you pay these days and that was the only watch I ever financed.

Long story I know but conjuring up memories like this can make one appreciate life's journeys. Anyone else have any memories?

[jdmi32]

February 1998. I was 28 and my fiancé wanted to buy me my first higher end watch as we were getting married later that year. We went to Davidson and Licht in San Jose and I promptly passed over the Subs and Datejusts and went straight to this one below. Something about it seemed just perfect to me, and that feeling remains to this day. We didn't even consider haggling and paid full price for it, and from that point on I was smitten with Rolex.

I've acquired a few more Rolexes since, but this one will stay with me till the end.

[sea-dweller]

Feb 1994, bought this BNIB 14060, from La Suisse Watch Company (Rolex AD) in Causeway Bay, Hong Kong. I still have this watch and it still runs and looks great.

[adamlea]

I remember Bailey Banks and Biddle. They ran an ad in the local paper - must have been around 86 - promoting some sort of finance plan, $X down and $X/month. The ad had a picture of a solid gold Day-Date. I was a 19 year-old college student with a job that paid about $6/hr. I knew my Dad wanted one. So, I suited up - completely suited up - and talked a frat brother into driving me to the mall. I figured that with a $6/hr. job and not enough of a credit history to screw it up, I could swing it. The Day-Date was $5K. Needless to say, I left empty handed.

[Wesley Crusher]

My first Rolex buying experience was pretty straightforward. I contactd DavidSW about a 114060 he had for sale and it was on my wrist within a few days.

A more interesting story is my first time buying a nice watch. I went to Ben Bridge to look at some Omegas and decided on the 2254.50. I tried negotiating, but we couldn't agree on a price. Before I left, he asked for my phone number and he'd call me once he spoke to his manager. I get a call the next day saying that he can give me the price I want. Great!, I thought to myself. I went to the store and he brought out the watch for me. HE TRIED TO TRICK ME BY SELLING ME THE QUARTZ VERSION. I guess because I was young, he didn't think I would notice. Idiot. I went to a different AD and got the watch for the price that I wanted. Now, I like to go to Ben Bridge whenever I can, try on all the watches and waste their time.

[nickb732]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

My first Rolex buying experience was pretty straightforward. I contactd DavidSW about a 114060 he had for sale and it was on my wrist within a few days.

A more interesting story is my first time buying a nice watch. I went to Ben Bridge to look at some Omegas and decided on the 2254.50. I tried negotiating, but we couldn't agree on a price. Before I left, he asked for my phone number and he'd call me once he spoke to his manager. I get a call the next day saying that he can give me the price I want. Great!, I thought to myself. I went to the store and he brought out the watch for me. HE TRIED TO TRICK ME BY SELLING ME THE QUARTZ VERSION. I guess because I was young, he didn't think I would notice. Idiot. I went to a different AD and got the watch for the price that I wanted. Now, I like to go to Ben Bridge whenever I can, try on all the watches and waste their time.

Wow, that sounds terrible, but I like the ending!

[coralfarmer84]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

My first Rolex buying experience was pretty straightforward. I contactd DavidSW about a 114060 he had for sale and it was on my wrist within a few days.

A more interesting story is my first time buying a nice watch. I went to Ben Bridge to look at some Omegas and decided on the 2254.50. I tried negotiating, but we couldn't agree on a price. Before I left, he asked for my phone number and he'd call me once he spoke to his manager. I get a call the next day saying that he can give me the price I want. Great!, I thought to myself. I went to the store and he brought out the watch for me. HE TRIED TO TRICK ME BY SELLING ME THE QUARTZ VERSION. I guess because I was young, he didn't think I would notice. Idiot. I went to a different AD and got the watch for the price that I wanted. Now, I like to go to Ben Bridge whenever I can, try on all the watches and waste their time.

What you do them now is funny. I would do the same thing, especially because when you walk in with something nice already on your wrist they seem to pay much more attention to you

[FTX I]

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

I went to Ben Bridge to look at some Omegas and decided on the 2254.50. I tried negotiating, but we couldn't agree on a price. Before I left, he asked for my phone number and he'd call me once he spoke to his manager. I get a call the next day saying that he can give me the price I want. Great!, I thought to myself. I went to the store and he brought out the watch for me. HE TRIED TO TRICK ME BY SELLING ME THE QUARTZ VERSION. I guess because I was young, he didn't think I would notice. Idiot.

Absurd

[joe100]

I don't want to relive this

Prices were so much lower back then... I'm about to be sad.

Should have bought 10!

[Annan]

Loved Rolex, especially TT DJ models, but was an absolute noob about details. In 1990 I went into a local AD and came out with a TT Date (the only TT they had in stock) thinking it was the same size as a DJ. Regardless, I loved it and wore it for 21 years, all the while lusting for the BIG DJ like the other guys had. Finally got one in 2011.

[Ed Man]

My first Rolex was a gift from my dad which I wore for 20 years so I didn't purchase my first until recently. I had been saving for a few years to do something special for my 50th birthday. At first the wife and I were going to take a trip and having a mini spending spree, but looking back on a visit to my AD for another reason, I mentioned to her that maybe we should get some watches as they would preserve some sentimental value instead of just more "stuff". So glad we did and I just love my new watch!!!

[Invictus Maneo]

1999. My mom had died the year before and left me some money. I wanted to get something to remember her by, something special that I would use a lot. I had wanted a Rolex Sub since seeing James Bond with one when I was about eight of nine. Even asked for it at Christmas that year. My wife was out of town with our little kids and I decided to go for it. Got a 16610 for myself and a ladies Tudor Sub with blue face for her. Had that watch until 2004 when it was stolen in a home invasion. I think I paid $3000 for it and 1800 for the Tudor. Insurance replaced the 16610 with a new one but it's never been quite the same. My now ex-wife still has the Tudor but doesn't wear it cause it pisses her new husband off. I think she's saving it to give our daughter . I still think of mom often when I look at my watch though so it's all good!


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[Dr. Robert]

I've only bought 1 Rolex new from an AD....that was back in 1973 in Hong Kong.
The other Rolex & Tudor watches I've purchased have been pre-owned.

[mbkmbk]

It was in December of 2012, and I had recently turned 16. Having found a 16710 that I really liked on craigslist, I arranged a meeting with the seller at a local AD.

The seller was a bit late, but the watch was examined and deemed authentic by the watchmaker. After this, I escorted the seller to a nearby bench. Having watched many hours of Pawn Stars, I was confident in my bargaining abilities and excited to put them to use. I managed to bring the price down by a few hundred bucks, and didn't let up; that is until my father stepped in and halted my assault. He claimed that the seller was tearing up And that was that! My first Rolex buying experience. I definitely went home happy, and hopefully the seller did too.

[mjclark32]

OP, that's a nice story, I bought some jewelry for my wife at BBB before they went under.
Unfortunately my buying experience isn't very colorful. I found the watch I wanted, through the forum, emailed davidSW and had then sub ok my wrist within a couple days.

[eeh100773]

I hadn't worn a watch on a regular basis since college. It was my father's 16800. My mother had to sell it, along with hers and my dad's TT Sub & DJ. Mom passed away in 2009, and I began to save up in 2011. I purchased my 14060 in May 2012 from Bobswatches.com. Heck of a journey.


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[phils]

It was late 1967 and I was a young pup starting scuba and needed a diver's watch and was torn between the Omega and Rolex.
I was on a business trip to State College Pa. and bought a Rolex 5513 from Crabtree jewelery for the retail price of $160.00. I passed on the 5512 which was $210.
I did a lot of diving until the latter 1970s. My middle daughter has it now.

[etp095]

Originally Posted by phils

It was late 1967 and I was a young pup starting scuba and needed a diver's watch and was torn between the Omega and Rolex.
I was on a business trip to State College Pa. and bought a Rolex 5513 from Crabtree jewelery for the retail price of $160.00. I passed on the 5512 which was $210.
I did a lot of diving until the latter 1970s. My middle daughter has it now.

How about a pic of that 5513?

[phils]

It is a 200m first model.

[phils]

Sorry Rudolph, but my daughter lives out of town so no 5513 pic.

[Joearch]

I went to say hi to my buddies at the local watch dealer in Beverly Hills. At the time my collection was exclusively Panerai. I had a ceramic 292 on my wrist. Just for the neck of it I tried in a LNIB Sub C that some guy had returned after a couple of days that his wife had bought new for him. I had always thought the Rolex watches were to small on the wrist. I surprised how much I like the Rolex. They basically made my a stupid deal by doing an equal trade. Full set both ways. I walked out with the Sub C and instantly became a Rolex fan.

[Ravager135]

I've told this story before, but when I was a child my parents always promised they'd get me a Rolex if I ever became a doctor. Flash forward to the spring of 2008, my parents are visiting me in Philly and we are walking down Walnut Street. We spot an AD (can't even remember the name, I still have the receipt in my green box) and head inside.

My dad tells me to choose anything in stainless. At the time I really knew nothing about Rolex other than that they were expensive and my dad had a black dial two tone Submariner Date. The first watch that caught my eye was the stainless/platinum Yachtmaster. It was a little outside what my dad wanted to spend so I narrowed it down to the 16610 and 16610LV. At the time I really knew nothing about the LV and just figured it was a gimmick limited edition. I went with a classic and chose the 16610.

Flash forward a little over a year and I bought myself a two-tone Breitling Navitimer. I held onto that until I was about 30 at which time I added the first Rolex I ever bought myself, the white dial Explorer II. After selling the Navitimer I picked up a Milgauss which stayed with me for about 6 months before I flipped it for an Explorer.

Just this AM, I contacted David for my newest piece: a 114060. I needed something ceramic, I have a GMT complication in my Explorer II, and I dislike PCLs. Will post pics once it arrives.

[Brucie D]

In January of 2013, I was 31 and had been running our group's Porsche centre for three years. We had moved into our brand new showroom the fall of 2012. Things were going great and based on a bunch of different business metrics I had figured out we were a shoe in for the Porsche Premier Dealer award. I knew it was finally time to get the watch.

I had been frequenting the local AD for quite sometime to drool and maybe plant the seeds for some co-promotion in the future. So one day when I was off, I suggested to my wife we go have a look. She rolled her eyes but came willingly. The woman I deal with at the AD was more than happy to have me try on everything and anything. I was sure I should save up a bit more and get the 116610LN but then I saw the watch below. I tried it on and my wife perked up and said it looked great on me. I took it off and handed it back, ready to say thanks and I will think about it when my wife said "oh just get the damn watch already! You've earned it."

Not one to pass up an opportunity, we closed it then and there and I was so excited carrying the bag with "the box", I made her drive home. I think I must have sat at the kitchen table for half an hour just unboxing. No regrets. So proud. The feeling is amazing and I hope that any would be first timers reading this thread are motivated to take the plunge. Now I have two and couldn't be happier!





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[bayerische]

Got my first Rolex used from a shop back in 2009. GMT Master 2, 16760.

[m j b]

I bought my first Rolex from DavidSW to celebrate paying off my mortgage.

[Garethmjones1]

I have always been a watch fan pretty much since I learnt to tell the time as a kid. I owned Oris and Omega watches but always lusted after a Rolex Sub.

I got married in Las Vegas last October and seeing a Rolex Sub C in one of the hotel AD it grabbed me and I couldn't stop thinking about it. We went on to honeymoon in LA, Waikiki and NYC and every where we went it seemed we came across a Rolex AD with one in the window and I became infected! It was whilst on my honeymoon that I joined this forum in the search for more information to quench this desire but it just made it worse.

I managed to resist the urge to purchase in the states as I didn't want customs issues, but as soon as I got back to the UK I went straight to my local AD and purchased a brand new Sub C no date.

This has been my daily wearer for the last five and a half months and it will always remind me of my wedding and honeymoon.

[rmfnla]

Originally Posted by m j b

I bought my first Rolex from DavidSW to celebrate paying off my mortgage.

My DJ wasn't my first Rolex but I bought it to celebrate my divorce...

[JohnBaker3]

It was March 1972 in Guam at the Commissary Jewelry counter. I was 22 years old and single. I splurged the $349.00 on the 5513. Wore it to Vietnam aboard the USCGC Basswood (WLB 388).

Dug it out of the drawer earlier this year and had it serviced. Looks great, runs great, and the best investment I ever made.

Now all I have to do is figure out how buy all the other ones that I want...

Be safe.

[rmfnla]

Back in 1974 I had a friend who had another friend trying to raise funds, so he was selling his Submariner for $175.

I think it was on my wrist less than 30 minutes after that call!

Wish I still had it now...

[BB345]

When I was 21 I was engaged and I had a few thousand that my father had given me to put towards a deposit for a house ;)

I decided that each of us should have something for life, and a Rolex is a watch for life. My budget couldn't stretch to brand new, so I bought her a two-tone Datejust and me a stainless steel Datejust dating to roughly the mid 1980s. Hers was absolutely perfect condition and mine was a bit ragged. But both are still going :)

I couldn't get a discount on hers, which isn't surprising given the condition. I got 10% off mine though.