Your Watch before you got into Rolex

[chloebear]

The kids were digging through my box of old collectibles; military stuff, coins from around the world, etc. I found my old daily beater (Casio) and dress watch (Seiko). I actually think they still look pretty good. I’m going to go get a new battery for the Seiko today.

Feel free to share your older watches before you got into mechanical watches!


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[D.P.G.]

Omega Seamaster Titanium chronograph.

[ganiccus]

basic plain looking citizen dress watch on a shitty bracelet that pulls the crap out of my wrist hair.

[chloebear]

Originally Posted by ganiccus

basic plain looking citizen dress watch on a shitty bracelet that pulls the crap out of my wrist hair.

Funny about the wrist hair....I assumed incorrectly that Rolexes would pull my wrist hair. They never do.


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[Dlong]

Tags

[ganiccus]

Originally Posted by chloebear

Funny about the wrist hair....I assumed incorrectly that Rolexes would pull my wrist hair. They never do.


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I know right? Oyster bracelets are such a blessing for my wrist, so robust yet comfortable at the same time.

[kieselguhr]

First watch at 7


Birthday present turning 21


Then first Rolex at 23

[Dan Pierce]

Patek 5406J [borrowed pic].
dP

[chloebear]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Patek 5406J [borrowed pic].

dP

That’s awesome! You still have it Dan?


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[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by chloebear

That’s awesome! You still have it Dan?


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Thanks, Mike! It was given to me over 30 years ago after the death of a great uncle. I learned I was out of my league when I asked a Patek AD how much a service would be for a working watch with no complications. They said $1800.00 and take 2 years.

I traded the Patek to my matchmaker for a 2002 16710 back in 2006. The value of the Patek has remained unchanged since 2006, the GMT II values have gone thru the roof. Very happy w/ that decision.
dP

[chloebear]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Thanks, Mike! It was given to me over 30 years ago after the death of a great uncle. I learned I was out of my league when I asked a Patek AD how much a service would be for a working watch with no complications. They said $1800.00 and take 2 years.



I traded the Patek to my matchmaker for a 2002 16710 back in 2006. The value of the Patek has remained unchanged since 2006, the GMT II values have gone thru the roof. Very happy w/ that decision.

dP

What a story! $1,800 thirty years ago!!! You made the right call for sure. The Patek is a stunner but the 16710 is much more wearable and should just continue to appreciate. That’s a great story Dan. Cheers!


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[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by chloebear

What a story! $1,800 thirty years ago!!! You made the right call for sure. The Patek is a stunner but the 16710 is much more wearable and should just continue to appreciate. That’s a great story Dan. Cheers!


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The quote from Patek was in 2006 but still an eye opener. I had this image of these little old watchmakers shuffling around a Swiss chalet [thinking Tim Conway] and taking 2 years at that!
dP

[Rags]

Tag Heuer. These pacified me until I could afford a Rolex.




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[ganagati]

I loved my Panerai.....just wish my wrists could have supported the size.



My 116600 has worked out okay, though :D

[Bybybmw]

Originally Posted by Rags

Tag Heuer. These pacified me until I could afford a Rolex.




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My watches trended up from Timex, to Bulova, to Tag Heuer, and now to Rolex.

Quoted this post because the Tag Heuer on the right was my first "nice" watch. Wore it for 30 years and it's now at the Tag SC for a long overdue restoration.

[exador]

Originally Posted by Rags

Tag Heuer. These pacified me until I could afford a Rolex.

Yep. TAGs were the watch in the 80’s. Only day traders and used car salesmen wore Rolexes
This was mine:

[jlovda]

In 1969 my first good watch was a Tissot PR-516 with a 24 hr dial. $100. This picture is someone else's off ebay. One year later I bought my 5513 in Europe. I gave it to my brother. He scratched the crystal and gave it to an unknown jeweler who incorrectly mount a new crystal. He went to Hawaii and it got destroyed by salt water. I'm still fascinated by the dial and wish I could find another nice one.

[Fedpete]

Originally Posted by exador

Yep. TAGs were the watch in the 80’s. Only day traders and used car salesmen wore Rolexes

This was mine:

This is crazy. I had this one and then another which was a blue plastic case. Last one was a full lume face from mid 90s. These were fantastic watches.


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[Mac-427]

Stainless and gold Seiko Datejust look alike.

[DLRIDES]

A combination of Timex Expeditions for years, then made a huge leap forward to Citizen Eco-drive ........................... which I perceived as an expensive high-end watch !

[spoilsofwar01]

1970's

1st Timex
2nd Sekonda (made in the USSR)
3rd Marcey Digital watch

1990s onwards
(saw me owning)

2 x sekonda
2 x timex
1 x Ted Baker

2000 onwards
(my knowledge of watches grew as did my understanding of my error of my ways)

A steep learning curve, this found me buying and selling silver pocket watches and Avia wrist watches to fund my first Rolex, one thing I have learnt is you can spend a fortune on deposable watches that wont stand the test of time... Buy quality and they will last a life time.

[schoolboy]

The watch before my first Rolex was a Seiko skx007

My first kind of serios, kind of pricey watch was a citizen dress watch that my dad bought me when I turned 13



I’ll try to find pics of them!

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

The watch before my first Rolex was a Seiko skx007

My first kind of serios, kind of pricey watch was a citizen dress watch that my dad bought me when I turned 13



I’ll try to find pics of them!

Pic of the citizen from when I was 13 years old. I’ve had it for 16 years now! This motivates me to get it up and running again.

[QRX77]

The first James Bond Omega 007 limited Edition

[NachoNeal]

[IMG]IMG_20191117_163727598 by Nacho Neal, on Flickr[/IMG]

[dreyep]

Lovely Timex as a kid, then nothing in my teens and 20s, then an F-91W for a few years in my 30s. Then no watch at all for nearly two decades. I like a bare wrist. Not sure what's gone wrong recently. A late midlife crisis?

[Dubshack]

Movado




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[KrismanX]

Oo this is a fun trip down memory lane...

First, my college watch, a Krismas gift from my brother.



Second, my work watch during my two year stint in(guuulp) retail car rental. I actually FOUND this one.



Now I’ve got this random clinky thing! My first actual watch purchase!



Here’s the kicker: since buying my Rolex I realized I can also collect the watches I always wanted as a kid(as inspired by a few members here) sooooo!!!







Thanks for the memories

[stanleyleecm]

Bought it 20 years ago and still in my rotation.

[Rocky Hockey]

This was my daily wearer for quite a while! I still get a kick out of it. I do miss the ‘Indiglo’.


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