The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Rolex General Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 4 April 2010, 04:05 PM   #1
bran319
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 108
Wearing an older Rolex?

Hi everyone-

I have a '77 DateJust which was my father's before he passed away. I have had it fully serviced and restored by Rolex; it looks great! My only reservation is the movement's age. Is it like a car with high miles? Would wearing the watch often reduce the overall longevity of the movement or does Rolex restore them to like new? I guess what I'm asking is should I reserve the watch for special occasions only or just wear it and be happy? I have a son on the way and would like to be able to pass this watch on to him one day in good working order so that is why I ask.

Thanks!
Brandon
bran319 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 04:09 PM   #2
Dr. Robert
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
Dr. Robert's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Real Name: Bob
Location: U.S.A.
Watch: 1655
Posts: 64,288
I have my father's 1963 Datejust....I have had it since 1987, it's been serviced, etc.....I wear it....always brings a smile....wear it & be happy....it's a Rolex...it'll outlive you.
Dr. Robert is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 04:10 PM   #3
deschen
"TRF" Member
 
deschen's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Home
Posts: 94
If you had it fully serviced and restored by Rolex, you shouldn't worry at all about it.
Wear it in good health!
deschen is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 04:15 PM   #4
Tools
TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron
 
Tools's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Real Name: Larry
Location: Mojave Desert
Watch: GMT's
Posts: 43,514
Well....... the Big Ben Clock has been running since 1854, and they don't just save it for special occasions.......

With that, I am going to say that it is up to your own introspection for an heirloom..

I have my Dad's old gold Seamaster from 1962. I had it properly serviced and pressure tested... On the overhaul, they replaced all the worn gears, the pallet and jewels, winding pinions, crown, and the crystal... It performs like a new watch and the pressure check was satisfactory.........

........ But, I only wear this watch now for formal dinners and other "black tie" or "cocktail" attire.. I have plenty of other watches to wear for any occasion, and this one deserves a respectful rest, even though I am confident that I could wear it for another 45 years...
__________________
(Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....)
NAWCC Member
Tools is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 04:19 PM   #5
sakuraba
"TRF" Member
 
sakuraba's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2009
Real Name: Jib
Location: SJ, California
Watch: sun dial
Posts: 8,189
If properly serviced, I don't see any reason a vintage watch would be less wearable than a modern one.
__________________
F 14000 AirKing black
F 16710 GMT Pepsi
F 16570 Explorer II white
T 16600 SD
D 16610 LV

"fine quality is remembered long after the pain of spending money" -Steve Mulholland
sakuraba is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 04:46 PM   #6
shandy
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Real Name: Ian
Location: canada
Posts: 1,724
Quote:
Originally Posted by bran319 View Post
Hi everyone-

I have a '77 DateJust which was my father's before he passed away. I have had it fully serviced and restored by Rolex; it looks great! My only reservation is the movement's age. Is it like a car with high miles? Would wearing the watch often reduce the overall longevity of the movement or does Rolex restore them to like new? I guess what I'm asking is should I reserve the watch for special occasions only or just wear it and be happy? I have a son on the way and would like to be able to pass this watch on to him one day in good working order so that is why I ask.

Thanks!
Brandon
A watch movement is one of those wonderful things, the more you use it the better it performs. I had a 1948 Omega that ran beautifully, All properly serviced there were no worries.

Think how special your dads wonderful watch is to you, it is special as you probably saw him wearing it day in day out, just think how your son will feel knowing that not only his dad but also his grandad wore that watch all the time. I bet he will feel fantastic about that.

I love it when things that are loved and used as intended are passed down from generation to generation. I wear every day the wedding ring that was my mum's and before that her mothers, my Grandfather panned the gold in the Welsh mountains and had it made into a ring, the engraving is still there from their wedding day in 1915! It means so much to wear what they both wore daily!

Just make sure you get it serviced every few years (whatever rolex recommend for a watch that age) and your son will have a fine watch to wear with a huge emotional value..In fact I bet you it will be going strong enough for his son to eventually wear..Now wouldn't that be something
shandy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 07:12 PM   #7
OYSTERMANN
"TRF" Member
 
OYSTERMANN's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Real Name: Neil
Location: West Midlands UK
Watch: DJ,DD,GMTIIc,Sub
Posts: 7,063
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr. Robert View Post
I have my father's 1963 Datejust....I have had it since 1987, it's been serviced, etc.....I wear it....always brings a smile....wear it & be happy....it's a Rolex...it'll outlive you.
Great reply, Bob

Quite sobering to think that our watches will, for the vast majority, see us all out and then, like a relay baton, pass on to the next generation
__________________
Neil

116231 SS/RG DATEJUST 2007
118238 YG DAY-DATE 2007
116713 LN SS/YG GMT IIc 2008
116613 LB SS/YG SUBMARINER 2009
216570 SS EXPLORER II 2013
116520 SS DAYTONA 2014
OYSTERMANN is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 07:20 PM   #8
padi56
"TRF" Life Patron
 
padi56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Real Name: Peter
Location: Llanfairpwllgwyng
Watch: ing you.
Posts: 53,063
I regularly wear a couple from the 1920s and expect them to be still ticking when my ticker stops.
__________________

ICom Pro3

All posts are my own opinion and my opinion only.

"The clock of life is wound but once, and no man has the power to tell just when the hands will stop. Now is the only time you actually own the time, Place no faith in time, for the clock may soon be still for ever."
Good Judgement comes from experience,experience comes from Bad Judgement,.Buy quality, cry once; buy cheap, cry again and again.

www.mc0yad.club

Second in command CEO and left handed watch winder
padi56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 09:23 PM   #9
slcbbrown
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2009
Real Name: steve
Location: dallas area
Watch: 50's TT t-bird
Posts: 3,689
I wear my father's 50's TT TOG and expect to hand it down. Never been babied and never had a problem that wasn't fixed for a reasonable cost. That's why I buy Rolex. I've got a few others now but never worry about the age (it just means lower cost, usually). When I look at the age, I mostly consider whether it has quickset or not.
slcbbrown is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 10:47 PM   #10
Rscmaine
"TRF" Member
 
Rscmaine's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Real Name: Nat Parkinson
Location: Maine, USA
Watch: me pull a rabbit..
Posts: 1,196
33 years is not old for a Rolex...it's just getting broken in by now. Trust me, it will run for 40 hours longer than you will.
__________________
When the alien spaceships actually landed, to everyone's surprise, it turned out that the world's governments had not been hiding anything. They were just as clueless as the rest of us!
Rscmaine is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 4 April 2010, 11:10 PM   #11
Badfish179
"TRF" Member
 
Badfish179's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Snook
Location: USS Bluefish
Watch: Pam24, Seamaster
Posts: 883
The reason I buy Rolex is to pass it on and I expect my son to wear the watch daily and pass it on to his son.
__________________
Truth will rise above falsehood as oil above water. - Miguel De Cervantes
Badfish179 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 12:29 AM   #12
bran319
Member
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Indiana
Posts: 108
You guys are awesome! Thanks a lot for all the great replies!
bran319 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 12:40 AM   #13
rfknauss
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
rfknauss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Real Name: Richard
Location: Macungie, PA
Watch: 5513 Sub, LV Sub
Posts: 14,497
Been wearing my 5513 Sub for over 30 years ...... no problem ...... I just get it serviced every 5 - 7 years.
__________________


"Few things in life give man as great a pleasure as wearing a Rolex!"

TRF's "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Patron
rfknauss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 12:45 AM   #14
Safetrends
Banned
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Real Name: David Walz
Location: San Diego CA USA
Watch: my hand. :)
Posts: 9,156
Quote:
Originally Posted by bran319 View Post
Hi everyone-

I have a '77 DateJust which was my father's before he passed away. I have had it fully serviced and restored by Rolex; it looks great! My only reservation is the movement's age. Is it like a car with high miles? Would wearing the watch often reduce the overall longevity of the movement or does Rolex restore them to like new? I guess what I'm asking is should I reserve the watch for special occasions only or just wear it and be happy? I have a son on the way and would like to be able to pass this watch on to him one day in good working order so that is why I ask.

Thanks!
Brandon
Rolex watches are really great, regarding the 1601 which is what I have, the 1565 or 1575 movement will run for ever as long as you keep up the regular service on it. I wear mine all the time.

Attached Images
 
Safetrends is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 01:29 AM   #15
icnbne
"TRF" Member
 
icnbne's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Real Name: J
Location: Brisbane
Watch: Rolex Omega Seiko
Posts: 1,562
if Rolex wont outlast me, i wouldn't have bought one in the first place
icnbne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 02:04 AM   #16
CKLinLA
"TRF" Member
 
CKLinLA's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Real Name: KL
Location: Los Angeles
Watch: Explorer II Black
Posts: 1,480
No worries needed, I have a couple from the 1960s/70s
and I expect they will outlast me ... ...
__________________
Explorer II 1655; Day Date 1803; Submariner 14060; Deepsea Sea-Dweller 116660;
5-Digit Datejusts; Perpetual Date 1500 and 15000; Pelagos FXD M25707B;
Omega Dynamic 'Targa Florio' 5291.51.07; 'Good Planet' GMT 232.30.44.22.03.001;
Planet Ocean 215.30.40.20.03.002; Zenith Chronomaster Original 03.3200.3600/22.M3200.
CKLinLA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 03:27 AM   #17
jatco
2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
 
jatco's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Real Name: Thomas
Location: YVR
Watch: 116233/79190
Posts: 50,562
Check out 'Jakes Rolex World' banner below... Some people there have been wearing Rolex longer than we've been alive...!
jatco is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 05:59 AM   #18
landroverking
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Real Name: Jay
Location: TEXAS
Watch: Daytona
Posts: 7,648
Wear & enjoy!
landroverking is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 06:46 AM   #19
JBat
"TRF" Member
 
JBat's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Real Name: John
Location: Washington
Watch: 16710, 16610, DJ
Posts: 7,329
Wear it!
JBat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 07:39 AM   #20
VaDave
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Real Name: Dave
Location: Virginia, USA
Watch: DRSD:1665 Sub:5512
Posts: 16
I've been wearing my drsd for over 30 years - every activity under the sun and in the dark ( spelunking for awhile). Still runs great! Service and enjoy - that's what they are meant for.
VaDave is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 08:51 AM   #21
Renoir
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2009
Real Name: Renato
Location: New York
Posts: 2,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rscmaine View Post
33 years is not old for a Rolex...it's just getting broken in by now. Trust me, it will run for 40 hours longer than you will.
+1

I wear a vintage Rolex 5 out of 7 days a week with no hesitation or issues....just wear it and enjoy!
Renoir is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 09:32 AM   #22
shandy
Banned
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Real Name: Ian
Location: canada
Posts: 1,724
I love it that you guys are wearing your older Rolex's on a daily basis
shandy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 10:01 AM   #23
DWdrummer
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Florida USA
Posts: 954
I wear my Datejust every day since I bought it. Its older than I am being a 1973-1974 production serial watch.

Rolex watches are made to last and with even a decent amount of service and care will outlast several lifetimes of their owners.
DWdrummer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 5 April 2010, 11:06 AM   #24
kelly56
"TRF" Member
 
kelly56's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Real Name: Mike
Location: Kentucky
Watch: 16610 1675 Speedy
Posts: 1,057
My 1978 GMT has a power reserve of 48 hours and runs at +/- 4 sec/day. It will be running long after my flame is extinguished.
__________________
kelly56 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Wrist Aficionado

My Watch LLC

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

Takuya Watches

OCWatches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.