The heritage of your Rolex?

[MURRAY]

Read a few threads earlier in the week that made me think of this....I waited until today to post because I think maybe the forum gets more glances on weekends...and for many in the world that is starting any time now...so here goes...

A recent acquisition from my newest 'best buddy and big toe' DavidSW, brings me a formerly loved Sea Dweller. It was sold originally in 2006 and hails from Taiwan. I found the dealer, googled it, and it was on the Patek Phillipe site listed as an AD for them....I can't read the Rolex site that would list Asian dealers because I can't read the language....in any event...

It fascinated me to think that the watch was made over 4700 miles to my east...then was sent to the AD 6100 miles further east...which was then traded in in Orlando after another 8400 miles east from there....

I think of the sales clerk putting it in the showcase, and someone trying it on. I think of the purchase taking place, and the owner walking out with a big smile into a street filled with people...All these things are happening in November of 2006, all the while I am here tied up in my life certainly not aware of any of it...and not knowing that years later by chance, this history would present itself, it would become pertinent, and now I ponder it all....Possilby boring to many, I'm sure...yet this fascinates me...

Where did this go and what did it's owner do? It probably would have some stories to tell....perhaps if I submerge it in a few pints I can get it to fess up....

So tell me fellow TRFers....anyone have interesting tales of the heritage and journeys of your previously owned treasures?

[tkc324]

My datejust was a hand down from my grand father, who has traveled the world. I hope to wear it as I travel more one day...

[t e x]

And just think Murray if you were to acquire the various paper work detailing the life; what provenance!

...and DavidSW is amazing

[joeychitwood]

Both my Submariner 16613 and my Datejust 116234 were "traded" (plus cash) in exchange for an 18K YG Sub to a former TRF member who turned out to be a scammer. The watches made their way to Columbia, South Carolina from Minnesota, where they languished for a few weeks in the custody of the con man. Ultimately, the sheriff's office in Columbia recovered the watches and returned them to me. I sent the Sub to Los Angeles recently for a cleaning and polishing, courtesy of train-time. The Datejust is now in St. Paul resting on my oldest daughter's wrist. The Sub rotates with my Sea Dweller which was sent from Florida by Steve Mulholland.

[j ingram]

I think that learning the history of your watch is fascinating. I bought my TT, black- faced Sub new in 1999 and will pass it down to my kids (if I ever have any) or to my nephew when I pass away creating its own history. I hope it will be appreciated.

[sakuraba]

This thread got me running to check on my watches' paperwork!

[Cato]

What I especially like about my Datejust is it's lack of "heritage." I wanted a very uncommon dial and the folks at Ben Bridge had to special order it. So, it wasn't sitting in a display case for years being handled by various strangers. When I picked it up it had plastic all over it; this leads me to think it came straight from a Ben Bridge warehouse or perhaps Switzerland. She was a virgin until we met!

[MURRAY]

Originally Posted by t e x

And just think Murray if you were to acquire the various paper work detailing the life; what provenance!

...and DavidSW is amazing

Yeah...I just have the original paperwork....David took it on trade from a 'good regular' customer...so not sure how many times flipped....David's AD looked it and everything to check it out...but who knows how many time's its been polished, etc...or how many other adventures it has been on...hence the original post...

[MURRAY]

Originally Posted by joeychitwood

Both my Submariner 16613 and my Datejust 116234 were "traded" (plus cash) in exchange for an 18K YG Sub to a former TRF member who turned out to be a scammer. The watches made their way to Columbia, South Carolina from Minnesota, where they languished for a few weeks in the custody of the con man. Ultimately, the sheriff's office in Columbia recovered the watches and returned them to me. I sent the Sub to Los Angeles recently for a cleaning and polishing, courtesy of train-time. The Datejust is now in St. Paul resting on my oldest daughter's wrist. The Sub rotates with my Sea Dweller which was sent from Florida by Steve Mulholland.

I remember your story...and all the help our law enforcement connected TRFers were providing you guidance.....glad to hear everything turned out for the best...shows once again to only deal with those that you can completely trust....

[mpkRolex]

My daytona and sub have yet to travel outside of continental North America. For now they sit on my wrist in Canada. My daytona is banned from going outside Canada and US but my Sub will surely travel around the globe with my each vacation

[Lion]

My Rolex story is mundane as it traveled from Switzerland to my AD four miles away and then into my possession!!!

[joeychitwood]

Prior to being stolen, my Sub had traveled with me to Mexico, Canada, the Caymans, Hawaii, Micronesia, Guam, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Beijing, the Great Wall, Shanghai, Xian and Palau.

[Puffy]

In the past 4 months my Sub has been to Singapore twice, Sydney twice, New York once and Germany once.

The Exp and GMT are getting jealous.

[JackR]

Last year I bought some leather Cross pen cases, Made in India, at a closeout store for $5.00 each, I sold one on ebay for $40.00 to someone in India.

[sam.]

From my grandfather,Oyster Royal,being 59 years old it went to many countries with him.

[Subfiend]

I think Jake's Rolex Watch Blog is going to have an interesting story of a man and his watch that have been to some amazing places, and on practically every major expedition of the past 30 years.

As for me, my Sub has been to approximately 35 countries, three dives to Titanic and one deep submersible dive to below 16,000 feet. My SD and Daytona have also made Titanic dives.

[DAVIDSW]

This is a really good post.....

When you wrote

"I think of the sales clerk putting it in the showcase, and someone trying it on. I think of the purchase taking place, and the owner walking out with a big smile into a street filled with people"

I can really imagine this....

Once can only wonder if only watches spoke what stories they would tell.....

[kyle L]

My Rolex was bought second hand, I believe it's from an AD that's in a Casino. So someone played slots, bought a Rolex, wore it a couple of times and then sold it to my watchmaker, now it's mine!

[MURRAY]

Originally Posted by DAVIDSW

This is a really good post.....

When you wrote

"I think of the sales clerk putting it in the showcase, and someone trying it on. I think of the purchase taking place, and the owner walking out with a big smile into a street filled with people"

I can really imagine this....

Once can only wonder if only watches spoke what stories they would tell.....

Hey David my friend...glad to see you out surfing...This one's for you tonight...

[rizakaniza]

My Submariner 5510 was purchased by my Great Uncle when he was in Europe for military purposes. He gave it to my parents and they recently gave it to me.

[tripleC]

my fathers was giving to him from my mothers father witch was giving to him by a my mothers uncle who was a Priest in Rome..and someday it will be mine ..

[watchteacher]

My bubbleback was bought at a garage sale, the seller didn't know it was a Rolex as the dial was discolored, and I sure wasn't going to tell her-it's rose gold and was very tarnished. My Tiffany TT Blue Sub I bought when I was running Tiffany's watch repair center and I got 30% off as well. Never got the SS Daytona I had ordered, they were selling them for list so one never became available for me. I'd sure like to have both, but I did ok.

[uracowman]

My first one is coming in brand new from an AD sometime early next week.

I decided to buy it after the U.S stock market closed on March 31st of this year. It is commemorate my third straight year of huge returns vs. the S&P 500.

[bobernet]

Rather than thinking of the memories behind my watches, I think of the memories ahead of them. The nights on my wrist as my wife's hand is clasped in mine. The nights I brushed the hair from my childrens' faces as I kissed them goodnight. The warm waters on a Caribbean dive. The flights to visit family. The pictures of weddings and funerals, days at work, and nights on the nightstand.

I hope that some day my children will look at them when I'm gone - remember some of those memories for themselves, and daydream about the places these pieces of steel and gold traveled with their father.

My Dad and Granddad were not Rolex folk, but some day I hope to have my father's Remington 870, and think of the pheasants on the dinner table, and the days out in the fields with a crisp wind, and a beautiful bird dog. The warm wood in his hands, and the smell of sage and snow in the air.

I wish my watches had a family history, but they don't. So, I look forward to the history I will create.

[ed54]

I spent a lot of time trying to find where my Datejust came from: the warranty paperwork was neatly filled out in Chinese, which concerned me a bit. I finally found a list member from China who kindly agreed to translate for me. I sent him a photo of the dealer's information, and he told me the writing was not Chinese, but Kanji, and the address was Sapporo, Japan. He also sent me an electronic copy of the dealer information, which I entered into Google earth. This got me a location in Sapporo, and identified local stores including a hotel and a department store called Daimaru. After a LOT of web surfing, I established that Daimaru indeed sold Rolex watches, and I found the Kanji for Daimaru on my paperwork. I just found Google translations, and have roughly translated the dealer info as "Daimaru treasure watch sales" and matched the address to Daimaru. And finally, another kind TRFer confirmed that Daimaru is an AD in Japan. I still wonder how the watch found it's way east to the US.

[utc66]

My SD's previous owner is a rapper in Georgia, USA. I googled the name on the paperwork. I was told by the seller that he always kept it on a winder. Since then it's been with me to Krakow and throughout China. Hopefully to Mongolia in the fall!

[NorthernPike]

In 1949 the luxurious cruise ship SS Noronic burned horrifically in what remains to this day the worst disaster in the history of the city of Toronto, in terms of lives lost. My father took quick and decisive action that day and saved many people from certain death. At the time he worked for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, and subsequently was presented this watch by his union. Not long after that, he was wearing it when he crashed his motorcycle and it flew off and was run over by a car. The outer caseback has some dents from that, but the inside looks just fine.
The crystal was cracked, the crown gouged, and there was internal damage. He then put it away in a drawer where it sat for about 50 years until I found it after his death. I always new it was around, but since it wasn’t a dive watch it didn’t captivate me. I found a great watchmaker that I could trust and had it repaired; coincidentally I’m wearing it right now as I type this, as my daily LV is presently at RSC Toronto for regulation.
My research prior to its restoration rekindled my keen interest in Submariners that goes back to my adolescent years, having always been a diver as was my father. I finally got the Sub I always wanted when I treated myself to an LV for my 51st birthday. Wearing this unique piece of Toronto history gives me great pleasure, as does sharing it with those like you who appreciate such things.

[mikelprz]

My Sub date, I purchased in Geneva, Switzerland at Bucherer's 45 Rue du Rhone . From there it went with me to Italy, Germany, Jordan, Iraq, Qatar, Dubai, Hong Kong, Thailand, Singapore, USA, S. Korea, Japan, and New Zealand.

[Subfiend]

Did anybody check out Jake's site today? If so, what do you think of the story?

[joeychitwood]

Great story and great watch, NorthernPike. Do you have any photos of it after restoration?