Final Incoming (36mm Steel Explorer) - Summer Rolex Sprint Complete

[SoylentGreenChi]

The summer has been a journey. When the new 36mm Explorer was released in April, I started looking for it - and, well - had to learn a lot about the current state of the Rolex market. This forum was an essential tool for that learning (thank you, folks!).

While waiting for the Explorer, I discovered that I love the 36mm Datejust, and bought a blue dial, then a Wimbledon, and finally a silver dial. Yesterday, I got the call for the Explorer, which rounds out the summer buying, and I now have four Rolexes as the core of my watch collection.

Thank you for all the great advice and collegiality on the forum. Super appreciate it. Good luck to everyone looking for their grail watch!









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[zab]

Congrats! Really looks great on your wrist. Enjoy in good health. Lovely collection, I have the silver DJ 36 with fluted bezel and oyster bracelet and love it.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Congrats

[cjhurni]

Congrats man, beautiful collection. Where are the stands from?

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by cjhurni

Congrats man, beautiful collection. Where are the stands from?

Thanks! The stands are from Estimoart on Etsy:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EstimoArt

[dannyp]

Congrats, quite a pickup there! Rest of the collection is pretty awesome, too. Me thinks you now need an OP36 in green to round it out;).

[PepsiBezel]

Congratulations! You definitely have a type.

[kieselguhr]

Congratulations!

[blackedge]

OP - would be great to see a side by side wrist shot of the explorer and the silver DJ.. (thinking of the same duo)

Big congrats aswell.

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by blackedge

OP - would be great to see a side by side wrist shot of the explorer and the silver DJ.. (thinking of the same duo)

Big congrats aswell.

You got it. Apologies these are not higher quality, but I think you can get a sense of the proportions in these photos. In person, the Explorer is slightly (very slightly) smaller in appearance compared to the 36mm Datejust.







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[blackedge]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

You got it. Apologies these are not higher quality, but I think you can get a sense of the proportions in these photos. In person, the Explorer is slightly (very slightly) smaller in appearance compared to the 36mm Datejust.







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Many thanks! Appreciate it.

[jhross98]

what a great collection. amazingly, i basically did the same thing this summer. i ended up with the 36mm explorer, a 36mm blue DJ on oyster (smooth bezel), a silver DJ on jubilee (smooth bezel), and a blue 3-6-9 36mm OP.

i have a huge vintage collection but its basically impossible not to put one of these on every day

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by jhross98

what a great collection. amazingly, i basically did the same thing this summer. i ended up with the 36mm explorer, a 36mm blue DJ on oyster (smooth bezel), a silver DJ on jubilee (smooth bezel), and a blue 3-6-9 36mm OP.

i have a huge vintage collection but its basically impossible not to put one of these on every day

Cool, congrats! I absolutely love that blue 3-6-9 36mm OP. Great pickup.

BTW, Boston is my hometown, I’m new to Chicago. I miss eating lobster rolls at Belle Isle Seafood. So good. Go Pats!


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[JoseR]

Congrats and enjoy..

[Jmaster]

Are your blue and Wimbledon looks smaller. Is that just the angle of the picture? Also how does the 36DJ compares to the Explorer? I heard the Explorer is more vintage size and slight smaller than the 36mm DJ. How do they wear?

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Jmaster

Are your blue and Wimbledon looks smaller. Is that just the angle of the picture? Also how does the 36DJ compares to the Explorer? I heard the Explorer is more vintage size and slight smaller than the 36mm DJ. How do they wear?

I haven't compared side-by-side, but I believe that the dials are the same diameter and the bezels the same width but the lugs taper in more on the Explorer, giving the impression of a smaller watch. However, both should measure the same diameter at the same points on the watch.

As far as the sizes in the OP's picture, I think it's angle, with those two set further back. Couldn't be smaller, as there's no Wimbledon 31 (next size down).

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by Jmaster

Are your blue and Wimbledon looks smaller. Is that just the angle of the picture? Also how does the 36DJ compares to the Explorer? I heard the Explorer is more vintage size and slight smaller than the 36mm DJ. How do they wear?

Just the angle of the picture, with the blue and Wimbledon dials in the backrow. The Datejusts are all the same size (and I can swap out their bracelets, etc.)

The Explorer does appear slightly smaller on the wrist, but as DannyP notes, that could be the taper in the Explorer bracelet.


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[2001jesper]

Congrats - Take a little time to enjoy them as well, before you prepare for the winter sprint

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by 2001jesper

Congrats - Take a little time to enjoy them as well, before you prepare for the winter sprint

Yes, I definitely need to take a breather, as the summer sprint went beyond Rolex! Here are the other 5 watches I picked up this summer. (Researching watches was basically all I did the past four months - it was a lunatic obsession, which this forum meaningfully contributed to.)


Other than an AP Royal Oak 37mm which is on its way/allocated to me and - down the line - an A. Lange and Sohne (1815 up/down) this should be it for the rest of my life. This is my 50th birthday year, and I wanted to build a watch collection I could enjoy for (hopefully) the next 30-40 years. It was a controlled spending frenzy this summer, which I intend to rapidly slow down so I can enjoy these watches.

-Cartier Santos (Medium)
-Zenith El Primero A385
-Glashutte SeaQ
-Grand Seiko 231
-Breguet Marine 5817

[Wahlberg]

Is that the green SeaQ? I love how diverse those 5 watches are. Well chosen.

How are you liking the Grand Seiko?

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

Is that the green SeaQ? I love how diverse those 5 watches are. Well chosen.

How are you liking the Grand Seiko?

Thank you!

Yes, that is the green dial SeaQ. I wanted to try Glashutte for a long time, and I have not been disappointed. The SeaQ bracelet is among the best I own - right up there with the Oyster, my favorite bracelet.

The Grand Seiko is a joy: beautiful, simple dial, manual wind, I love listening to this movement. Despite the huge price difference, I honestly prefer the Grand Seiko 231 to a Patek Calatrava 5196G.

[SaddleSC]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

Yes, I definitely need to take a breather, as the summer sprint went beyond Rolex! Here are the other 5 watches I picked up this summer. (Researching watches was basically all I did the past four months - it was a lunatic obsession, which this forum meaningfully contributed to.)


Other than an AP Royal Oak 37mm which is on its way/allocated to me and - down the line - an A. Lange and Sohne (1815 up/down) this should be it for the rest of my life. This is my 50th birthday year, and I wanted to build a watch collection I could enjoy for (hopefully) the next 30-40 years. It was a controlled spending frenzy this summer, which I intend to rapidly slow down so I can enjoy these watches.

-Cartier Santos (Medium)
-Zenith El Primero A385
-Glashutte SeaQ
-Grand Seiko 231
-Breguet Marine 5817

How do you like the Santos Medium? Any wrist shots of that one? What is your wrist size? I really like that watch...on my list for sure!

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

How do you like the Santos Medium? Any wrist shots of that one? What is your wrist size? I really like that watch...on my list for sure!

I like it a lot. Before this summer, I did not know much about Cartier and, on first glance, it was not a style I thought would like. But as I learned more, and saw it more, it became more and more appealing.

What I like:

-The hint of blue on the dials and crown
-The fact that you get two free services as part of the purchase price
-That you get TWO extra bracelets as part of the purchase (a brown leather one that comes with the Santos, and then you can choose an alligator one in a color of your choice)
-The quick adjusting steel bracelet that makes it easy to make size changes on your own



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[dannyp]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

I like it a lot. Before this summer, I did not know much about Cartier and, on first glance, it was not a style I thought would like. But as I learned more, and saw it more, it became more and more appealing.

What I like:

-The hint of blue on the dials and crown
-The fact that you get two free services as part of the purchase price
-That you get TWO extra bracelets as part of the purchase (a brown leather one that comes with the Santos, and then you can choose an alligator one in a color of your choice)
-The quick adjusting steel bracelet that makes it easy to make size changes on your own



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Were you able to get a deal on it? Found it hard to swallow msrp on that one since it’s pretty much the same as a Rolex. However I do like the style, but instead of buying one, I just wear my wife’s sometimes. But don’t tell anyone… I don’t want anyone to know I sometimes wear… quartz

[Thuilln]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

I like it a lot. Before this summer, I did not know much about Cartier and, on first glance, it was not a style I thought would like. But as I learned more, and saw it more, it became more and more appealing.

What I like:

-The hint of blue on the dials and crown
-The fact that you get two free services as part of the purchase price
-That you get TWO extra bracelets as part of the purchase (a brown leather one that comes with the Santos, and then you can choose an alligator one in a color of your choice)
-The quick adjusting steel bracelet that makes it easy to make size changes on your own



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Nice watch; can you elaborate on the 2 free services? I’ve never heard of this..

[Cru Jones]

Congrats on the new watch!

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

Yes, I definitely need to take a breather, as the summer sprint went beyond Rolex! Here are the other 5 watches I picked up this summer. (Researching watches was basically all I did the past four months - it was a lunatic obsession, which this forum meaningfully contributed to.)


Other than an AP Royal Oak 37mm which is on its way/allocated to me and - down the line - an A. Lange and Sohne (1815 up/down) this should be it for the rest of my life. This is my 50th birthday year, and I wanted to build a watch collection I could enjoy for (hopefully) the next 30-40 years. It was a controlled spending frenzy this summer, which I intend to rapidly slow down so I can enjoy these watches.

-Cartier Santos (Medium)
-Zenith El Primero A385
-Glashutte SeaQ
-Grand Seiko 231
-Breguet Marine 5817

This set of 5 is really good.

[Jmaster]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

This is my 50th birthday year, and I wanted to build a watch collection I could enjoy for (hopefully) the next 30-40 years.

Funny how turning 50 have the exact same effect on me…I’m also turning 50 this year and also went on a multi-watch buying sprint. I’m my case, I got three: a Tudor BB GMT, a Rolex OP Date and a Patek 5146G coming soon. I also think that I should take a breather too, but as the others said here on the Forum, it will never be your last watch…

Enjoy your great collection.

[SoylentGreenChi]

Originally Posted by Jmaster

Funny how turning 50 have the exact same effect on me…I’m also turning 50 this year and also went on a multi-watch buying sprint. I’m my case, I got three: a Tudor BB GMT, a Rolex OP Date and a Patek 5146G coming soon. I also think that I should take a breather too, but as the others said here on the Forum, it will never be your last watch…

Enjoy your great collection.

Yes, I figured, I wanted time to enjoy these watches, so just went for it this summer. The COVID situation probably had something to do with it, too.

Congrats on your collection - that is one terrific three watch combo, all of the watches complement each other. And that Patek! My goodness, what a stunner - it must be a delight to look down at it and see that dial looking up. Enjoy your fantastic collection in good health!

[Jmaster]

Originally Posted by SoylentGreenChi

Yes, I figured, I wanted time to enjoy these watches, so just went for it this summer. The COVID situation probably had something to do with it, too.

Congrats on your collection - that is one terrific three watch combo, all of the watches complement each other. And that Patek! My goodness, what a stunner - it must be a delight to look down at it and see that dial looking up. Enjoy your fantastic collection in good health!

Thanks. The “new” collection just kinda come together as I look across the market and found the watches that I like and want. Due to some logical reasons, I still need to wait another week or so before getting my hands on the PP, but I am super excited about it.

Wish you also good health and another 50+ years of enjoying your watches.

[Wahlberg]

Congrats!

Did you buy them all at the same AD?