Were you ever awarded a new Rolex?

[jmeds75]

Has this gone away completely?

Taking a trip down memory lane...10 years ago, I was a Ford Rep and working with our Ford Dealers in Houston and we used to have Sales contests over the course of several months on a somewhat regular basis for top sales dealers over objective-some of these contests would involve Rolex watches as top prizes. We would bring in a handful of winning dealers in for a nice steak/lobster dinner and then they would have a credit to a new Rolex (based on their rank in the sales contest). The AD would be at the dinner and have a few dozen watches on hand for the dealers to take their credit towards a watch or use credit plus cash to upgrade. The dealers loved these contests.

I work with 1 dealer in the Detroit area that currently provides a Rolex to dealer employees that hit 30 years in service at the dealer - wondering how they are able to maintain this-I have not asked them about what kind of relationship they have with their AD-I am guessing it is pretty good if they have bought Rolexes for 30 year employees over the years.

Anyway, I thought adding this thread would give a chance for people to tell their story if they won a Rolex or were awarded a Rolex at some point.

Wondering if these days will ever come back!

[Carew]

The Coca Cola Folks still award Rolex

[~JJ]

My office mate received a Rolex OP for 15 years of work at a global ad agency. This was in 2018, so I’m not sure if it’s still being done.

[Wee-Willie]

Until the early 1970's, College Football players in the Cotton Bowl received a Rolex OP, with the Cotton Bowl logo...I have a few friends with these.

[ArtNouveau]

I remember a man who owned a motorcycle parts/service store in the 70’s. He had retired from Cameron Iron Works and had received a tutone Datejust at the time. My father got a gold Omega Constellation when he retired from Conoco in ‘76, I still have it.
I got a firm handshake and thank you when I retired from AT&T last year!

[fnfiveseven]

I use to do tech work for one of my clients who were a hedgefund and the manager gifted the employee leaving a solid gold YM2 which was pretty bad ass.

I have so much of these type of stories and working in the finance industry just seemed so alien to me.

[JTL31]

Not I, but I did purchase a 6 month old preowned (never worn) OP 36 that was awarded to an employee from an advertising agency. Works for me ~ and my wallet! :)

[train-time]

Now they give you the boot right after they eliminate the pension and health care for retirees. Once you are in your 50's they look for ways to incent you to move on. It's the American way..... Sad after 25 or more years, but true!

[tarmatimes]

Never happened to me

[brandrea]

I’m lucky to get a lump of coal

[flyboyyy]

Last fall, I awarded 4 of my employees Rolex watches for 15+yrs of service. 3 Mens SSDJ's, 1 Ladies DJTTRG. Took over a year to acquire them all (and 2 different AD's). I have a couple more I plan/hope to award in coming years. In previous years I had awarded GMTII's for years of service as we're in aviation (but due to them being impossible to get at MSRP, I had to settle for DJ's this time around). For employees without that many years (but at least 10), at retirement I award them a Breitling.

The hard part is getting them to wear them regularly. A couple of them feel too self conscious and think they are too 'fancy or expensive' for daily wear or they somehow aren't deserving of it because their watch is worth more than their car...so we're working on that! :)

I can tell you in my case, none of them have ever expected it or acted entitled to it. They have always been very grateful, as I am for their years of work.

[omar-rye]

I was behind an older gentleman at the cashier line. I noticed the Batman on his wrist so I said "nice watch sir". He looked down and said "Oh thanks, it was a gift from work". I'm like "that's a generous gift" and he said "I made them a lot more money than what this watch is worth". I asked him what he does for work and he said that he brokers business exits and acquisitions

[donas]

It wasn't by a company, but my parents gave me a 116610LV when I got my master's degree.

[Shmoopy]

Not really an award, more a gift… I was sitting in my mentor’s office when he unexpectedly received a box, delivered by some private company with a rough-looking delivery man other than UPS/FEDEX/USPS lol.

He opened it in front of me, it was a DDII in WG as a thank you for a referral.

[Hashim]

My father got awarded a used Milgauss about 15 years ago. He did not like it and had it sold the following week.

[Spectre38]

I currently have 28 years in at my job, for my 25th... I got a certificate printed by my boss " In Celebration of 25 Years of Service ".

I can't imagine receiving a Rolex.

[Bigsoftee]

One of the owners of the company gave me a SS Daytona, the one prior to the latest model.

[csaltphoto]

I awarded myself one. Last place I worked gave a cheap seiko quartz/ TT DJ copy with the company logo on the dial for my 20th.

[pwcres]

My father received a his and hers President set once. Sadly he had to return them as he was working on a government project. He never regretted returning them.