Is your Rolex a Tool or a Toy?

[jake]

Beautifully said!!!

Originally Posted by gha

I find that my 2 Rolex's are watches,not tools, not "statements", not to "show off", not to "rub someones nose in it", etc.
I am a NAUI (old, since 1974) certified diver, not often now, & only in Nice Places, like the Cancun area, or Bermuda, or Hawaii. Wish I was always there, and always doing it, but that's just not realistic. That doesn't mean I can't reward myself for my years of working hard, & enjoy a great timepiece that is very practical, and ready to hit the beach at any time, when I can avail myself of that indulgence. The rest of the time, I feel all set, & ready to go, and thoroughly enjoying hitting the hot tub, or the shower, packing a Rolex on my wrist with me....we only go around once, far as I know, & I really don't want to "miss out" & regret not doing something....Enjoy the journey, & make it a Great One....gha

[Baptistman]

Originally Posted by jasonbellevue

I voted for both. My wife agreed and said my tool is a toy.

[jake]

Hi Ken!

Fascinating insight.

Thank you for sharing!!!

Jake

Originally Posted by Ken Cox

I wanted a GMT Master II because, as a career helicopter pilot, I thought the GMT function would have utility.

I found out, through use, that for a helicopter pilot the GMT function has no value, and even for weather briefings and clearances in UTC/GMT, I couldn't relate to the 24 hour hand and instead subtracted the hours in my head.

Since then, in travelling as a pilot, I have found the ability to change the hour hand without affecting either the seconds or minute hand a very pleasant feature, not to mention changing the date on months that have only 30 days.

When I climb into a helicopter, I ignore the ship's clock and rely on my Rolex.
Modern helicopters have a very expensive mechanical clock to back up the GPS-driven clock, and the expensive mechanical clocks break all the time, probably because of the intense and constant vibration.

Otherwise, over the years I have worked internationally, fought fires, supported pipelines, explored for oil and minerals, etc., and flown EMS; the watch has taken a horrific beating, experienced ambient temperatures from -40F to 140F; and through it all my Rolex has kept impeccable time.
I have only serviced it twice, at 10 and 21 years, and right now it looks and runs as good or better than the day my wife gave it to me (prior to the last service it looked like it had gone through a meat grinder).

My GMT Master II handles it all gracefully and with ease.

And, I have noted that other professionals treat me differently when they notice my Rolex; and, I can tell when they see it.
Kind of a sad commentary and cool at the same time.

[Widows Son]

I said both. Yes it does give you the time, but there are other much less expensive ways to do so.

[SPACE-DWELLER]

I use my SD for desk diving on a daily basis, so it's definately a tool watch to me.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by jasonbellevue

I voted for both. My wife agreed and said my tool is a toy.

Classic!!

[Chris B]

Sorta both, my GMT's & Explorer II are tools, my TT Sub is my plaything & my 1956 DJ is a work of art

[BlackpoolRolexCoaste]

Originally Posted by somdej

a male never become a Man before he gets his rolex.

Love it!!!!!

[marshallr47]

The only one of my watches considered as a toy would be the SS Daytona.

[seantk]

My Sea Dweller is a tool for time and date, however it is also used for a supplement while diving. It will not see any oil platforms though

I am not sure what a toy watch is. But it will probably be something I buy my son in a few years

Sean

[daveathall]

I wear my SD every day so class it as a tool, I once had a large (By British standards) 4x4 never once took it off road, no one ever sat in the back, but it was sooooooooooooo nice to drive.

[dopeymuppet]

I own a sub and a daytona and I have never been diving, nor used it for racing! Useful for timing cooking though!

[Trurolexer]

Well, I'm A Tattoed Boy With Mechanical Watches Toyz...

[f16570]

I wear mine all the time, unless there is the obvious chance of damage. Does this make it a tool? Probably.
I have worn it diving, surfing, hot tub, international traveling (so GMT Function helps), swiiming, showering, running, working out, office jockey,never been caving but who knows.

[ChrisB]

I use my watch to tell the time, therefore I have to vote "tool"
If I need to know the date, I use a calendar
If I need to know what day it is, I ask my wife to prevent me drinking too much.
I have an Oyster so that I never need to take it off (except sometimes when working on the car to prevent scratches or near a battery or similar to avoid short circuits). I wear it to swim and snorkel down to about 10m.
I chose a Rolex because it is the most beautiful piece of precision engineering and it reminds me of my Godparents who gave it to me
I chose an Explorer 1 because I admired my Godafather's; it tells the time so clearly, it's sophisticated yet understated and bezels, stopwatch, diamonds, gold, etc. add no value for me.

[JBat]

A watch is always a tool. It tells the time, regardless of it's superfluous complications.

[topcat30093]

IMO I would hardly call a Rolex watch a "Toy"
Jake, your quote

There was once a great Patek Add I saw with a tagline that read:

"A Patek does not just tell you the time–It tells you something about yourself."

Profoundly true.

"A Rolex does not just tell you the time-It tells you something about yourself."

When I see somebody else wearing a Rolex, I typically think that at a minimum they have some kind of commitment to excellence.

Food for thought.

[vukotab]

Toy,of course!I mean,I loved toughness of my old Expy,but I never did anything(not even bath) with it on my wrist.And I used to wear it daily!

[ThreeBlindMice]

A Rolex with many diamonds is a status symbol.

There is a kind of human ugliness and emptiness associated with a Rolex diamond bling bling.