Sticker removal or not...that is the question

[daysky1]

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

[daysky1]

A friend of mine has a collection of muscle cars, he really enjoys them, but he is "legally" blind...they bring back great memories and is his gift to his kids when he dies,,btw they are really into them also...and when you say "I", would get more enjoyment out of my two Rolexes by removing the stickers you are assuming you know me...I just got a watch in today, not saying which one except to say this, is was fully stickered when it arrived and now is not and is on my wrist. I enjoy what "I" enjoy, not what you do, at least some of the time. We both share the enjoyment of watches, both high end and for me at least even a $10.00 Casio...purchased from Amazon, a Casio AD as I understand it. I really like that watch...I like all the watches in "my", "collection", no matter what condition they are in or what they cost..and I enjoy all the watches each person on this site posts pics of...but that's just me...

[daysky1]

You just didn't get my point, "I" am the one that considers a fully stickered watch, rare, not because it increases in value, but because it is "fully stickered", and "I", like it that way...I was just wondering if others ever got a fully stickered Rolex, and didn't take the stickers off but just kept it because they don't get sold that way very often...perhaps I should have use the word unique rather than rare....and after all is said and done, It's "my", party and I will keep them stickered if I want to...

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

Originally Posted by daysky1

A friend of mine has a collection of muscle cars, he really enjoys them, but he is "legally" blind...they bring back great memories and is his gift to his kids when he dies,,btw they are really into them also...and when you say "I", would get more enjoyment out of my two Rolexes by removing the stickers you are assuming you know me...I just got a watch in today, not saying which one except to say this, is was fully stickered when it arrived and now is not and is on my wrist. I enjoy what "I" enjoy, not what you do, at least some of the time. We both share the enjoyment of watches, both high end and for me at least even a $10.00 Casio...purchased from Amazon, a Casio AD as I understand it. I really like that watch...I like all the watches in "my", "collection", no matter what condition they are in or what they cost..and I enjoy all the watches each person on this site posts pics of...but that's just me...

I am not assuming to know you at all they were just opinions hence the use of "probably" and "suggest".

Interesting concept though, starting a thread that literally questions if you should remove the stickers, then making it quite clear you have no interest in opinions that are not in line with yours. As you mentioned, we don't know you. If you ask most people on here if you should remove the stickers they will say yes...for varying reasons. If you think you might take offence to those reasons, don't pose the question.

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

Also, just because I can't resist.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=om7O0MFkmpw&t=54s

[daysky1]

Your right I did get into this too much,,,my bad,,,thanks for your opinions they are interesting and who knows maybe the day will come when I.........hmmmm

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by daysky1

Your right I did get into this too much,,,my bad,,,thanks for your opinions they are interesting and who knows maybe the day will come when I.........hmmmm

No bother,

At the end of the day enjoy them how you see fit, I may see it differently but we would have nothing to talk about if we all had the same opinion.

[daysky1]

Good point, that u-tube makes. :-)

[jimcarver]

Originally Posted by daysky1

Good point, that u-tube makes. :-)

Haha yes, it always makes me laugh.

[Simon_jrees]

Originally Posted by daysky1

I currently have a nice Rolex collection of several "choice" watches. At least that is what I am told by AD sales persons when I call to see what they have in stock...I repeat this is a collection...I currently have a Date Just 2019 Blue dial with stickers on it..I'm not sure if it is fully sticker ed..but I decided not to take them off and just keep it as a collectors item, in that condition. Not to wear. I already had several when I bought that one. A nice variety. Now I regret taking the stickers off the first fully sticker ed one when I did. I just didn't appreciate how rare that was. It was a Black dial Milgaus, I repeat fully sticker ed. Wow, they are put everywhere, even places you find days later after you think you've removed them all...I just hope to someday get one like that again...for me I have plenty to wear and the uniqueness of a fully sticker ed one in my collection is like a rare mint never worn or used anything a person would want who has a collection of anything. So my question is, does anybody else feel the same...? Do you have enough to wear, so that a fully sticker ed Rolex would be a collectors item, enough so that you would just keep it that way? Are you a collector that finds it is ok to just have a rare piece that you don't wear and just enjoy having and perhaps checking on every once in a while.? With that said, I have another watch that I will never wear, it was my dads, a Bulova bought @ 1955, still works, he's gone now but the memories of him wearing this watch make it very special...the most rare watch in my collection by far.

If you're not going to wear them then leave the stickers on.

[SeeDweller]

Interesting that "DaySky" hasn't responded back at all. Maybe not a serious poster after all.

To address this:

1. I think there's been a very polite response to the OP. Most of the posters are saying that it's up to the owner as to how they enjoy their watch, and that's that! Some have made some funny comments, and I've laughed right through 'em.

2. There's no question that if one can buy a NEW Daytona 116500LN or a NEW GMT (Pepsi or Batgirl), they could turn it over pretty fast, for a 50-70% profit. And some are clearly doing that. For those buyers . . . . leave the stickers on, if you can. It might be an attraction for the buyer to buy yours, rather than a "lightly worn" example.

3. For the vast majority of us . . . we buy our watches to wear, and obviously the stickers come off (except for the older green sticker on the case-back - - - wish they still did those!).

4. Me? I have most of my watches to wear, and I DO keep a few completely new in box, and know that they'll be sold someday, when I need some $$ for a trip. But these were bought without the intention to wear them in the first place. I bought a WG, blue dial, 116509 on the same day as John Mayer had his Hodinkee-2 interview. Got a Full Set for $29K. And that watch is BNIB, and will remain that way until I sell it someday. I don't feel guilty for that - - I have plenty of other pieces that make me happy.
(But, who knows? Maybe sometime I'll just decide that this Daytona goes into the rotation, too, but ... until then, the stickers stay on!).

So, I like all the different takes on this. It's been a relatively respectful thread! What a Forum!

[Andad]

I wore my 16710 last week and noticed it still had a sticker on it.

I didn’t lose any sleep.

I have had it since new for 12 years.

[Greglaw]

Another example of someone ruining the opportunity for people who wish that they could just buy their "choice" Rolex, wear it and maybe even pass on to their kids. To each their own I suppose, but, what a shame for those who wish they could have one to wear. I understand that people can do whatever they want with their money, watch, etc, but, times have changed, there was a time when people used things, instead of worshiping them.

[214270Explorer]

Wear 'em if ya got 'em.

[cob427]

I too collect unworn and fully stickered Rolex tool watches. It's not silly, no more than some one who collects guitars! The interest with me lies in the fact that the stickers are supposed to be removed before customer leaves the AD with the watch and that makes it interesting to collect. I got my 16610 in Hong Kong and my Red Sub in Portugal and my 116520 Daytona in Pennsylvania and all were purchased at retail at an AD.I would like to add a 11610 Sub but i can only get one from an non AD for $13.9k and that is just robbery but in a few years it will probably be 20k! I have other Rolex and non Rolex for daily wear. Nothing wrong with holding and not wearing them and if you make a few bucks down the road good for you.

[Onikage]

The enjoyment of stickered watches in a safe is beyond me. Hey do what you like though. I hope you make a few K.

[zengineer]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My collection is just that, "my collection", I don't care if they are pet rocks, I don't collect for you...or anybody else. And I could care less if they ever rise in value, they are not investments. A collectible item is in the eye of the beholder. Not anybody else. I buy and collect what "I" like. And in my opinion "any", Rolex is high end. Not just the ones others like. And while I know some people walk out of the AD, and in the parking lot call somebody to flip it, so they go after the steel sports models. Not the "Classic Collection", which Rolex lists as "Day-Date, Sky Dweller, Date Just, Oyster Perpetual, Pearl master, and Cellini...A fine "Collection", in my book...High End Watches All...

Given all that, why are you asking us what we think? It's YOUR collection...at least I think that's what you are trying to drive home up there. I lost interest part way through to be honest.

Knock yourself out.

[Binky1]

There is some amazing photography, insightful technical details, heart warming stories on this forum etc ....and then there is this. Drivel about stickers on rare Datejusts and Milgauss..please!

[ce027772]

I think you shouldn't care what other people think. It seems to me that many people hoard Rolex SS professional models or buy them to flip. That's why you see unworn watches (including unworn prior years' models) on grey market for thousands above MSRP. Just take a look at DavidSW's inventory. The point is - a lot of people buy watches NOT to wear, but to hoard or to flip, but they are unlikely to admit it on this forum.

Originally Posted by daysky1

I currently have a nice Rolex collection of several "choice" watches. At least that is what I am told by AD sales persons when I call to see what they have in stock...I repeat this is a collection...I currently have a Date Just 2019 Blue dial with stickers on it..I'm not sure if it is fully sticker ed..but I decided not to take them off and just keep it as a collectors item, in that condition. Not to wear. I already had several when I bought that one. A nice variety. Now I regret taking the stickers off the first fully sticker ed one when I did. I just didn't appreciate how rare that was. It was a Black dial Milgaus, I repeat fully sticker ed. Wow, they are put everywhere, even places you find days later after you think you've removed them all...I just hope to someday get one like that again...for me I have plenty to wear and the uniqueness of a fully sticker ed one in my collection is like a rare mint never worn or used anything a person would want who has a collection of anything. So my question is, does anybody else feel the same...? Do you have enough to wear, so that a fully sticker ed Rolex would be a collectors item, enough so that you would just keep it that way? Are you a collector that finds it is ok to just have a rare piece that you don't wear and just enjoy having and perhaps checking on every once in a while.? With that said, I have another watch that I will never wear, it was my dads, a Bulova bought @ 1955, still works, he's gone now but the memories of him wearing this watch make it very special...the most rare watch in my collection by far.

[ce027772]

Originally Posted by Binky1

There is some amazing photography, insightful technical details, heart warming stories on this forum etc ....and then there is this. Drivel about stickers on rare Datejusts and Milgauss..please!

All topics should be welcome if they do not violate the rules.

[RollinMoses]

Originally Posted by daysky1

ok, time to correct some misunderstandings, I don't consider any of my watches rare nor do I consider them as investments. It is only a collection, that's all. I'm tempted to list what I have but resist the urge. From the least to the most complicated is about all I will say about my Rolex collection and for the informed, you know what I am talking about. From the highest places to the lowest places on earth, I would like Rolex to make a watch for parachutist but I digress and yes I have jumped at 12,500 ft and fell 2 miles before pulling the ripcord, I also have my PADI cert but have jumped more than scuba'd Enjoy life to the most when you can and while you can. from muscle cars to motorcycles and all things inbetween...now I am enjoying some of the best watches on earth....

When did you stop skydiving? Sounds like a very low opening by modern standards and I do not think anyone makes ripcord operated main canopies these days, at least not for civilian equipment.

Not a Rolex, but Oris made an altimeter watch that might be of interest. It was a limited edition for the Swiss air rescue Rega, but seems to be relatively available. I always thought that there was a skydiving / BASE jumping cross over as when jumping in Switzerland it is recommended to get the Rega insurance so that they can pick you up off the side of a mountain if anything goes wrong.

https://www.oris.ch/en/watch/oris-al...-set5-23-16gfc

[WestCoastS]

Its only a date just big deal. Having "collector's" keep safe queens ruins it for eople who really enjoy and wear time pieces unfortunately. Silver and gold will pop off soon maybe try thar instead?

[Binky1]

Originally Posted by ce027772

All topics should be welcome if they do not violate the rules.

Sorry didn’t mean to give off a totalitarian vibe. The Oris/parachuting post above was actually interesting and something I didn’t know about, hence of value but sticker decisions on everyday pieces?

[Rado63]

If you do have a fully stickered watch and you can afford to own it and not wear, keep the stickers on and leave it unworn. Don't expect the value to keep rising. The watch is still in production so a model from next year with more time remaining on the warranty will be worth more and the stickers will not make someone want to buy it and peal the stickers off. You can get a preowned, unworn piece from many sources with stickers off. Asking too high a price because stickers are on doesn't mean anyone is buying. When the watch is far out of production then the stickers may help attract a buyer.

[base615]

Originally Posted by RollinMoses

When did you stop skydiving? Sounds like a very low opening by modern standards and I do not think anyone makes ripcord operated main canopies these days, at least not for civilian equipment.

Not a Rolex, but Oris made an altimeter watch that might be of interest. It was a limited edition for the Swiss air rescue Rega, but seems to be relatively available. I always thought that there was a skydiving / BASE jumping cross over as when jumping in Switzerland it is recommended to get the Rega insurance so that they can pick you up off the side of a mountain if anything goes wrong.

https://www.oris.ch/en/watch/oris-al...-set5-23-16gfc

Congrats on making me pine for my old Swiss BASE days in Lauterbrunnen, Verbier, etc. I remember the 25 franc REGA insurance. Good value.

Also, I started jumping in the early 90s and have never seen a ripcord for a main canopy. Pretty sure everyone went to throw out pilot chutes before the 80s but students may have had ripcords a fair bit later.

[RollinMoses]

Originally Posted by base615

Congrats on making me pine for my old Swiss BASE days in Lauterbrunnen, Verbier, etc. I remember the 25 franc REGA insurance. Good value.

Also, I started jumping in the early 90s and have never seen a ripcord for a main canopy. Pretty sure everyone went to throw out pilot chutes before the 80s but students may have had ripcords a fair bit later.

Great stuff - yes, wonderful place and great times. I had a great intro to base in the valley with your countryman Douggs a few years back, but then wife and kids came along and so I am happy with the occasional sky / tunnel trip now and then.

Still tempted by the Oris - obvious don’t need an Alti for base and taking a few thousand euro alti on a skydive is asking for trouble, but as with everything else in watches, we are not here to make rationale decisions ).

Blue skies

[daysky1]

Yesterday at 12:03pm is what my last post was dated and timed...I went "left field defensive" in my prior posts and apologize for that, not sure what you referring to as I check and read these posts everyday, part of my wake up routine, thanks for responding. What you have to say is always interesting. I would like to respond to one post that made me think about if I was shorting another person from a Rolex by buying and keeping 2 of my collection unworn, I buy from the grey market and 2 have come preowned from 'The watchbox", those had time remaining of the factory warranty and the grey market markup was the cost I was willing to pay for "new and possibly sticker ed Rolex's, as far as I can tell all that I have bought is still available for immediate purchase on the grey market. I have had no success in buying from an AD. And they remove the stickers anyway, which is just fine for me. I haven't purchased any with the expectation of receiving a sticker ed one, I am surprised when that happens. And since I have other Rolex's to wear I decided to not remove the stickers from 2 just because they are unique. They are still available to purchase on the Grey Market the same as I did...

[daysky1]

My last jump was 10-3-82 @ 6,000ft using a PC., The Para Commander was in use and was probably the last of the round "performance" shoots, even while they were still in use the Strato Star and the Strato Cloud were taking over. the Star had 5 cells and the Cloud had 7. I jumped a Star @ 3 times,once in 76 and twice is 77. Most of my jumps was with a PC. (round shoot). At the time the recommended opening was at 2,500 ft but I usually took it down to 2,000 had one opening at @ 1,700 ft, even by my standards I considered that too low.But still no problems, the main always opened, only had one line over that resolved itself within a second or 2. 12,500 was as high as we went using a Piper Cub. We rented a Twin Beach for a day and went out 10 at a time, that was crazy and I ended up lower than everyone else, chasing the base and pin too fast and passed them up before could slow down, I couldn't open first so I had to wait till I started seeing shoots pop before I pulled. The jumpmaster had a few words for me after I landed, you see I delta ed instead of frog ed to descend. My speed was way too high for any kind of safety...jumping will always be in my blood. But now I have degenerating discs, pinched nerves, stenosis, and arthritis in my spine with one surgery back in @1987 so the memories will have to do...here is the interesting thing that ties in with watches, while most everyone else had an altimeter I was using a stop watch, I knew that at 12,500 I had 60 seconds, at 7,500, 45 seconds, at 5,500, 30 seconds at least that is as best as I can remember...the only problem was if the pilot didn't reach altitude before the door opened...I never checked...just hit my stopwatch upon exiting and glancing at it often on the way down, opening when the watch hit the seconds I was supposed to open at...don't remember who made that stopwatch or if it was ever serviced or calibrated. The altimeters were $50.00 at that time. The stopwatch was borrowed from the club. Hey, it worked, I'm still here.

[base615]

Originally Posted by RollinMoses

Great stuff - yes, wonderful place and great times. I had a great intro to base in the valley with your countryman Douggs a few years back, but then wife and kids came along and so I am happy with the occasional sky / tunnel trip now and then.

Still tempted by the Oris - obvious don’t need an Alti for base and taking a few thousand euro alti on a skydive is asking for trouble, but as with everything else in watches, we are not here to make rationale decisions ).

Blue skies

Ah, friend of Douggs. I met him a couple of times jumping in Norway but at the time I wasn't Australian, just British, so didn't become his countryman until after I finished jumping. Most of my main Aussie jumping mates were the guys who came to stay with me in the UK and jump low gnarly stuff (which the UK and Aus have in common when it comes to BASE). It was good to get away to the high stuff once in a while for sure.

Originally Posted by daysky1

My last jump was 10-3-82 @ 6,000ft using a PC., The Para Commander was in use and was probably the last of the round "performance" shoots, even while they were still in use the Strato Star and the Strato Cloud were taking over. the Star had 5 cells and the Cloud had 7. I jumped a Star @ 3 times,once in 76 and twice is 77. Most of my jumps was with a PC. (round shoot). At the time the recommended opening was at 2,500 ft but I usually took it down to 2,000 had one opening at @ 1,700 ft, even by my standards I considered that too low.But still no problems, the main always opened, only had one line over that resolved itself within a second or 2. 12,500 was as high as we went using a Piper Cub. We rented a Twin Beach for a day and went out 10 at a time, that was crazy and I ended up lower than everyone else, chasing the base and pin too fast and passed them up before could slow down, I couldn't open first so I had to wait till I started seeing shoots pop before I pulled. The jumpmaster had a few words for me after I landed, you see I delta ed instead of frog ed to descend. My speed was way too high for any kind of safety...jumping will always be in my blood. But now I have degenerating discs, pinched nerves, stenosis, and arthritis in my spine with one surgery back in @1987 so the memories will have to do...here is the interesting thing that ties in with watches, while most everyone else had an altimeter I was using a stop watch, I knew that at 12,500 I had 60 seconds, at 7,500, 45 seconds, at 5,500, 30 seconds at least that is as best as I can remember...the only problem was if the pilot didn't reach altitude before the door opened...I never checked...just hit my stopwatch upon exiting and glancing at it often on the way down, opening when the watch hit the seconds I was supposed to open at...don't remember who made that stopwatch or if it was ever serviced or calibrated. The altimeters were $50.00 at that time. The stopwatch was borrowed from the club. Hey, it worked, I'm still here.

Good stuff.

I think we've all done a few things that we look back on with amazement that we got out of it :)

[RollinMoses]

Originally Posted by daysky1

My last jump was 10-3-82 @ 6,000ft using a PC., The Para Commander was in use and was probably the last of the round "performance" shoots, even while they were still in use the Strato Star and the Strato Cloud were taking over. the Star had 5 cells and the Cloud had 7. I jumped a Star @ 3 times,once in 76 and twice is 77. Most of my jumps was with a PC. (round shoot). At the time the recommended opening was at 2,500 ft but I usually took it down to 2,000 had one opening at @ 1,700 ft, even by my standards I considered that too low.But still no problems, the main always opened, only had one line over that resolved itself within a second or 2. 12,500 was as high as we went using a Piper Cub. We rented a Twin Beach for a day and went out 10 at a time, that was crazy and I ended up lower than everyone else, chasing the base and pin too fast and passed them up before could slow down, I couldn't open first so I had to wait till I started seeing shoots pop before I pulled. The jumpmaster had a few words for me after I landed, you see I delta ed instead of frog ed to descend. My speed was way too high for any kind of safety...jumping will always be in my blood. But now I have degenerating discs, pinched nerves, stenosis, and arthritis in my spine with one surgery back in @1987 so the memories will have to do...here is the interesting thing that ties in with watches, while most everyone else had an altimeter I was using a stop watch, I knew that at 12,500 I had 60 seconds, at 7,500, 45 seconds, at 5,500, 30 seconds at least that is as best as I can remember...the only problem was if the pilot didn't reach altitude before the door opened...I never checked...just hit my stopwatch upon exiting and glancing at it often on the way down, opening when the watch hit the seconds I was supposed to open at...don't remember who made that stopwatch or if it was ever serviced or calibrated. The altimeters were $50.00 at that time. The stopwatch was borrowed from the club. Hey, it worked, I'm still here.

Sounds great! Yes - definitely memories of the fun we have in the sky are hard to erase! We have definitely all had those talking tos now and then )

I can see how a stopwatch would work, but definitely need to be sure when to set it. Getting into the habit of relying too much on the equipment is a risk in itself. I still have my analogue altimeter and jumped with it 10-12 years while most everyone else off student status jumps to a digital option. Sure digital is more accurate and mine needs a few taps on the way up to altitude to get it reading right, but no worries about batteries running out / forgot to charge.