The analog past – ROLEX in a digital world

[Highfly]

I bought my 1675 in 1973 as a pilots watch, and it has been with me for 7.000 hour airborne, until I sold my plane 3 years ago.

And while the world has gone digital in the meantime – GPS, maps and pocket computers being the norm and paper manuals and paper maps long time gone – I find the analog mechanical ROLEX is more up to date than ever.

My 1675 is a fixpoint in a changing world and it reminds me, that it´s important not to leave the past completely behind, but to take care of the skills that associate to the past. When eg. the GPS runs out of battery you are lost if you depend on it, but a paper map and a ROLEX never let you down (you can use the watch as a compass).

So I enjoy the passion of the mechanical analog watch this forum represents. And I´m curious of what drives your passion for the ROLEX ?

[rolesor2022]

Analog for the win baby, wooooooo

[L_S_SHOE]

There's something about the mechanical exactness of a Rolex. Life is busy and complicated and imperfect. I look at my watch as a vacation from the imperfect world around me. It's a respite from the things I don't understand and cannot control.

I'm also sentimental; my father, uncle, and grandfather all wear or wore a Rolex.

[7enderbender]

I’ve always been more drawn to solid mechanical/analog devices, even when watches weren’t all the craze. Same appeal with pens, certain guitars/amps, cameras, older cars (manual transmission). Something about being connected still to the real world via a physical connection and control. Not to say that some modern digital devices can’t be good complement. These things can go hand in hand. But there is nothin inspiring about an Apple Watch or a Tesla or most other modern cars to me.

[Gerry62]

1675 Stunning ! Thanks for sharing

[Chefinspecteur]

Great post Highfly and fully agreed with you.
A smart watch will be thrown away one day (already done so), but the Rolex will live on.
On the wrist of my son and my daughter.

[fishingbear]

Originally Posted by L_S_SHOE

There's something about the mechanical exactness of a Rolex. Life is busy and complicated and imperfect. I look at my watch as a vacation from the imperfect world around me. It's a respite from the things I don't understand and cannot control.
I'm also sentimental; my father, uncle, and grandfather all wear or wore a Rolex.

These words are so very true in regards to the fascination I’ve always had in mechanical watches.
The fact that a Rolex can be worn, used, enjoyed and sometimes abused all while maintaining its beauty, functions and value make it a special thing to have daily.

[B2 Stealth]

Very enjoyable post. Congrats on 7000 hours with that gorgeous BLRO strapped to your wrist. Stories like yours are why I enjoy TRF. Hope you are well!

[Old Expat Beast]

I guess the first Rolex digital watches were also quite controversial when they first appeared a century ago.

Pic: The Best of Time: Rolex Wristwatches : An Unauthorized History, Dowling & Hess.

[askdanny]

But isn't flying all about timing? From engine warm-up times to dead-reckoning to holding patterns...

Unfortunately, no one in the mechanical world — especially not Rolex — has managed to make us a wearable chronograph that is legible when you sit in a vibrating general-aviation airplane with less-than-smooth air.

—Danny

[0nly5iv3Digits]

Couldn't agree with your sentiment any more, OP. Analog is the way. I still prefer to row my own gears in the 911, despite the conveniences of the dual-clutch automatic.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

I use GPS to navigate every day but I still keep an atlas and state and local maps in my vehicle so I can always find my way. I swore to myself in the 80’s that I’d never buy a vehicle with a digital gauge cluster, my last new vehicle purchase was in 2008 and I’ve kept my word but not sure how much longer I can hold out. I’ve never owned a digital watch though and I can safely still promise that I never will.

Great thread, thank you.

[SS Oyster]

Love OP sentiment. As a retired Surface Warfare Officer who learned celestial navigation, I appreciate charts, chronometers (“The Ship’s Chronometers”) as was reported to me multiple times a day as Commanding Officer, I can appreciate mechanical marvels and how we all survived without GPS.


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