Hello to all...

[Dwyer Castor]

I just joined the Forum. I find it's great to have a place where all Rolex watch enthusiasts can share & discuss their watches. As a watchmaker starting out in 1969, I found it a pleasure to repair all the mechanical watches that were available then. It was the mechanical watch's finest hour. The only common batery watch was the Accutron. There was such a great selection of high grade watches! I purchased my first Rolex in 1971, it was a SS DJ. I nearly purchased an Omega connie, but the Rolex appealed to me. That was back in the day when a Rolex was purchased for it's superb engineering, precision time keeping & durability. THEN they became a status symbol. Inflation and the ability to sell all the watches they could produce drove the prices up & up. The price stopped many from enjoying the pride of ownership in a fine timepeice. But the old adage "You get what you pay for" is as true today as it was when I purchased my first Rolex. The battery watches killed off many good mechanical watch companies. But there are still many good mechanical watches avaiable today. I personally like Mido (ETA movts.) for a reasonably priced mechanical watch. I have several and all have preformed well. But my real love is Rolex watches... As a "nut" for precision time keeping, you just can't beat a Rolex. However, the best time keeper in my collection is an Omega Geneve, 24 jewel. I have it running 3 to 4 seconds fast per week! A little better than any of my Rolex watches. The surge of battery watches in the late 70's made me leave watch repair for another career. I still work on my own watches. I now moonlight restoring antique clocks. The money I make fuels my purchase of antique clocks, interesting watches & another Rolex for my collection. As a watchmaker I'll be happy to answer any question regarding mechanical watches. I'm always glad to help other sharing the passion for high grade timepieces...