Since when was having one Rolex no longer enough

[Oshawott]

I’m sure most people would think I am butt hurt because I can’t get a watch and am just saying others are greedy. But I have an explorer 1 and when looking to get a no date sub I have started to rethink if it will really make me happier.

I feel like most people used to buy one Rolex and keep it for life. Was this never the case?

To those that have had 1 Rolex and bought another. Was it worth it when you wear each watch less that you otherwise could have?

[Shaitan]

I kept wanting more after I got my first one. It’s nice to have a rotation and being able to pick one by outfit/occasion. It’s like shoes or shirts, gets boring always wearing the same


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[brandrea]

Welcome to the forum

I’d say for many people if not most, one Rolex is all you’d ever need or want.

To collectors however, it’s a giant rabbit hole

[harvey]

…I was happy with my kermit until I joined the forum in 2008…then the illness started!

[JimSnyder]

I would love to have only 1. But……… my name is Jim and I a watch problem

[Time Out]

I think two completely different pieces is all anyone really needs.

[enjoythemusic]

Kinda a loaded question. It depends on your desire, and age I guess. The older you are, the longer multiples are desired. For some, simply having one is an amazing life accomplishment.

[srmatth82]

As one already stated, if you are a collector then one isn’t enough. Collectors like to have different watches for different occasions, outfits, or just to switch it up a bit once we get tired at staring at one too long. I love my 114060, one of my favorites, but after a week max I want another watch on my wrist. Maybe I get in the mood to see my Hulk or BLNR on the wrist. But once I get tired of those, I happily go back to the No Date Sub. It also allows you to re-appreciate the watch all over again. So to me definitely worth it having more than one.

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by srmatth82

As one already stated, if you are a collector then one isn’t enough. Collectors like to have different watches for different occasions, outfits, or just to switch it up a bit once we get tired at staring at one too long. I love my 114060, one of my favorites, but after a week max I want another watch on my wrist. Maybe I get in the mood to see my Hulk or BLNR on the wrist. But once I get tired of those, I happily go back to the No Date Sub. It also allows you to re-appreciate the watch all over again. So to me definitely worth it having more than one.

The differences between all those watches is minimal.

[Strummer25]

Great question OP.
Theres an awful lot to be said for having “just” the one and wearing it every day. However when it goes for service what on earth do you do? First world problems and all that.
That said it is kinda nice to have different styles for different occasions, in your case NDSub would complement Exp1 perfectly.
My excuse for getting the 3rd was to leave one for each of my sons. Number 4 was to keep up rapport with AD but that hasnt worked out although have just found out Im going to be a Grandad so that problem has gone away ��

[Watch Rob]

I’ve had one Rolex for 6 years with no problem. But this a collector’s forum, and not just an owner’s forum. Collectors collect. I am an owner.

[ArtNouveau]

I got my first Rolex in 1984, that was the start of having just one “nice” watch and maybe a few cheaper pieces. I followed this pattern until 2001 when I found myself having a new SS Daytona and SS/Plat at the same time. By 2004 I had 3-4 nice watches in the safe and came to the conclusion that for me it was an absurd amount of money to have collecting dust and I went back to the old pattern.
I returned to Rolex in 2017 after six years without one and currently have bought four and kept three. I really like the variety they represent and wear all of them regularly. Never say never, but right now I don’t want or need any more. If something new comes out next week that I really want, I would probably make myself sell one to get one. No judgement of those that do, but I have never aspired to having one of every reference nor have I even come close to buying a PM model. I do not consider myself a collector, I just like mechanical watches. I’ve got around a dozen total but half of those are sub $500 and I’ve given away a few as gifts in the last few years.

[Harry-57]

Originally Posted by Oshawott

I feel like most people used to buy one Rolex and keep it for life. Was this never the case?

Yes. In my case. I can't speak for anyone else. I wear all my watches in rotation.

I don't only ever watch one movie or listen to one piece of music, or just have the one friend, or eat one kind of food or shop at one shop. I don't have one watch.

[travisb]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Welcome to the forum

I’d say for many people if not most, one Rolex is all you’d ever need or want.

To collectors however, it’s a giant rabbit hole

This is exactly what happened to me. All I ever wanted was one.
Didn’t quite go as planned.

[dpt.calvin]

They're like Pokemon. Gotta catch 'em all.

[zengineer]

I am not a collector in the sense that I get no thrill looking at them all lined up in a row or knowing they are all sitting in a box somewhere. But I do like having a watch for every occasion, without a bunch of overlap/redu dancy, and no single watch would do that for me any more than having just one pair of shoes would. In general, if I open the box after getting dressed and the right watch isn't obvious I know I have one too many.

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[tarmatimes]

That is the nature of the hobby

[arche3]

Not enough

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[dtwer]

It's called specialization.

First you get a Sub as a daily wearer.

Next you feel you need one for the black tie events, so you acquire a DD that is more elegant than your daily wearer, for that purpose.

Next you realize you need one for when you are jetting around the globe across different time zones, so you acquire a Sky D.

Pretty soon you have a collection in which each piece serves a purpose.

[jrsmiles]

I blame it on some kind of personality disorder. When I get into something, I can't stop at just one thing. I think the internet drives a lot of that behavior, since it's so easy to gather with like minds who do the same and are constantly showing off collections and additions. I can't have just one watch. Same with guitars, guns, motorcycles, tools, knives, shoes. Not everything needs to multiply but all the cool stuff does for sure.

When I was younger, I was a one watch, one knife, one guitar kind of guy. Having the means ratcheted up the acquisitions. I'm more fortunate than some and not as much as others and that's ok!

[kieselguhr]

1 of anything has always been enough. For non collectors.

I wore my Dad’s DJ for the longest time as my only watch. Then I realized that as time progresses, Rolex no longer guaranteed parts for servicing. That’s when I rationalized that adding another watch would at least preserve its lifespan. Which meant adding yet another watch as a third rotation would preserve its lifespan even longer. And another. And another. And........

[JSolution]

I had one and one only for 10-12 years. Went in for a service and the rest is history

[Mendota]

I view them as different pieces for different uses, like shoes, only more expensive and making up a collection.

I like reading about the history of the brands and really knowing what makes them special and unique.

I can see having my OP36, then a 124060 sub, followed by a blue Breitling Super Ocean on rubber for use on the boat and getting sunscreen all over it, and then a JLC on a nice strap. That would probably cover all of my bases from a modern perspective.

Then I want to collect a few vintage pieces.

Lastly, I have a good start on a collection of tools and eventually I would like to tinker and take apart or maybe even restore abused or badly worn vintage pieces that maybe just need some TLC and a new home. I think that would be really fun and then I know that I helped recondition it and give some life back to it. Prices for vintage parts are all pretty excessive right now, though, so at my basic skill level I wouldn't feel very comfortable attempting that yet.

[Lightsped]

To be honest, it does seem like the more watches I obtain the worse things get.

Currently have five and never really know which to wear.... I wore my first Rolex (SS DJ36 mm) for two decades before looking for a second Rolex. Got a Sub in 2017 and wore that for five years before looking for a third. And since then have obtained three Rolexes in less than a year.

It seems as more are obtained, the specialness of each individual watch wears off quicker then before.

Not to be mistaken, I love each watch, but I find myself looking for the sixth so soon after just getting the fifth. Still really love the hobby, but watches arent the same as they used to be in my mind....

[excelerater]

since a 10,000 watch is worth 30+

[herts9]

Variety is the spice of life...

Collecting versus wearing routinely seldom go hand in hand anymore. I admire those that went from none to a few to ten, then back down to one or two (sports and something formal-ish).

I'd love to just get down to something simple like a BLNR and call it a day. But I haven't the courage or strength. Yet.

[Seddyspaghetti]

Originally Posted by dpt.calvin

They're like Pokemon. Gotta catch 'em all.

+100

I wanna experience them all!!!!

[cvz]

Just recently fell down this rabbit hole... I like the idea of having a collection with each piece having meaning or being memorable. Thats where I started at least... today I want a Land/Sea/Air Rolex collection as well as a piece from each of the Holy Trinity...

But then wow I really like IWC... and FP Journe is amazing...

and so it goes...

[NachoNeal]

I enjoy having a few watches, but it's so totally unnecessary.
I'm pretty sure that I would be just as happy with only one.

[JRell]

If I didn’t like the look so much of the 124060 and didn’t feel the need to also have at least one Rolex with the cyclops, I probably would have just one. The GMT scratches that itch, but also think it would be cool to also have a sub date. So now I want the LV, but then think sea air and land, so then I want the Daytona. For me, it is the love and curse of the 124060 that starts it all.