First Rolex

[Paladin1]

First post to recount journey to my first Rolex. Like many of you, I have long admired the beauty and craftsmanship of Rolex watches but was reluctant to spend so freely on myself. Competing priorities for my wife and family always taking priority.

A year ago I joined this forum when a friend was downsizing and offered me a chance to purchase his two tone Sub and his Polar Explorer II. I was fortunate enough to be in a position to buy both and came here just for a bit of research before I pulled the trigger on the deal.

Uh oh. What's this? Five digit vs six digit references? Case sizes? Hole vs no hole lugs? Ceramic vs aluminum bezel? Hollow vs solid links? Etc etc etc. Now I had to re think everything. I passed on my friends watches.

Fast forward a year. Was in our local jewelry store to have my wife's wedding and engagement rings reset. Happens that the store is also an AD. While my wife worked with the designer on her new ring, I of course drifted over to the Rolex display. Thanks to the information you have all shared I knew what I was looking for. Not the two tone Sub I initially thought I wanted, but instead a two tone GMT Master II. I tried it on, struck a very fair deal on the price and my wife and I both walked out of the store very pleased with our purchases.

Thanks TRF!