Incoming- The One With Yet Another Newcomer’s First Rolex

[jsw224]

Forgiveness in advance for this long yarn. In all the excitement, couldn’t resist-

Despite the seeming ubiquity of Rolex, especially as a longtime denizen of New York City, growing up I never perceived much of anything about Rolexes or watches in general. I simply had no idea of this ecosystem and world of collection and horology. In my late teens, about summer 2017, I worked at a coffee shop. One of my customers happened to be wearing a beautiful piece- I’d later learn it was a Sky Dweller 326938- and he let me try it on. Though it wore gorgeously, the size and bulk weren’t necessarily for me (I’m a 5’8” woman, fairly lengthy arms and legs). Still, this casual conversation sparked an entry into the world of watches, Rolexes specifically. As I began my descent into this interesting hobby, I would bounce around many favorites- first the iconic Black Submariner, then the Yachtmaster with sunburst blue dial, then the Bluesy, etc. Each of these had their moment in the sun, but due to my preferences expanding as I delved deeper into the wickedly wonderful world of watches, nothing truly stood out to me as an absolute hands down favorite. Too plain, too bulky, not a fan of bold Arabic numerals on the bezel, etc- nothing reigned supreme. My passion for watches also waned a bit as other interests took precedence in my life though I kept the idea on the back burner.

Fast forward to early 2019- a very close cousin of mine passed away from a rare form of cancer. The ordeal was quite harrowing to watch up close. Seeking distraction from my grief, I stumbled upon watches again. This iteration I now felt the unquelled urge to pull the trigger. I found these forums and saw a 26mm Datejust with a Rhodium dial, Roman numerals. The piece caught my eye for its clean, polished look along with the sentimental value of Roman numerals reminding me of my grandmother’s wooden clock, a cherished family heirloom on which I learned how to tell time. My family jokes that I’m like either a bodycon aficionado or an old lady in terms of dress. I can concur that my personal style is mostly filled with black and whites, houndstooth, ginghams, definitely influenced by my prep school background and then the popular TV program Scandal’s Olivia Pope. Following, I knew this particular watch, or at least a Rhodium-Roman dial with a fluted WG bezel, would go well with my wardrobe while adding a dash of polish/bling that I’m very fond of. However, upon seriously contemplating the prospect of purchasing, I quickly learned that for me, a 26mm watch would be more like a bracelet and while I’m not hugely into the trend of larger watches on women, a 31mm and then finally a 36mm seemed to be a better fit for me.

To shorten what’s already turned out to be a long ramble, I’ve been hunting for a 116234, which to my darned good luck, is now a discontinued model thereby driving the prices up and making it even more difficult to find a reasonably complete set with my intended specifications like an oyster bracelet. Nevertheless, I persevered in my pursuit and thanks to the great guys at Watch Chest, whom I checked out from their Who’s Who thread on this forum, I emerged from this long journey prosperous and insanely happy to be the proud owner of my first Rolex. Special thanks to the team at Watch Chest, in particular Corey, who guided me and answered all my questions with patience and understanding. The entire process went swimmingly- I received the watch within a very decent timeframe, it was sized, and even more beautiful in the metal than I gathered from the pictures. To put it mildly, I’m incredibly psyched.

Thank you for indulging my story and warm greetings to this community. Though I reckon with good authority that this 116234 is a lifer for me, who knows what I may end up with as accompaniment? I’m left handed and have taken to wearing it on my right wrist- maybe something will fill the left wrist sooner rather than later…😊