Do you remember THE DAY ???

[jimbo1mcm]

No, not the marriage.....the day you got your first Rolex. It was just one year ago on a beautiful October morning, that I called the Rolex dealer in a neighboring state to check his inventory of GMT II C's. He told me he was looking at 2 new ones in the case!!! I jumped in my car and drove a couple of hours and I have never been happier with a purchase. I wear it, but take it off for nasty jobs where it could get scratched badly, but I don't fret about small wear marks on the band. I clean it about once a month and about every couple of weeks, I adjust the time. It usually runs about 5-6 seconds fast in about 2 weeks. Wonderful, gratifying timepiece.

[NickJames]

Yeah, seems like it was just yesterday.... oh wait it was only a few months ago!!

I had been seriously looking at them for months, always wanted one, and one morning woke up, called my buddy and said "I'm buying a Rolex today". He about pissed himself and said "With what money!? A fu@*ing ROLEX?! are you serious!?!?"

My buddy and I rolled up the the jewelry store. Walked in and talked with my salesman who sold me my $800 bracelet about a year back.

I poked around the "lesser" watches for a bit, but the luminous glow of the Rolex collection kept pulling me twords it. I couldn't stop myself, I broke down and rushed to the Rolex section. "OK, bust em out, lets have a look!"

My original choice was the Explorer. Beautiful watch. Utility look but still dressy, seemingly perfect. But then my salesman broke out this 07 SS two tone oyster band, smooth bezel , jubilee blue faced dial with romans. The sparkling deep blue face seemed to suck me into its deep abyss. The old school roman numerals just seemed to fit perfectly... That watch had a grip on me!
Came down to the DJ and the Explorer They both fit very well on my wrist, the explorer was a little larger but felt good, the datejust was exactly the size I was looking for, perfect size, lighter weight, clean classy look. I have smaller wrists but large hands and forearms so fitting a watch can be difficult. I originally wanted a "sport" model, but this DJ had me in awe. With the smooth bezel and bold oyster bracelet it brought such a look of "sport" if you will, but still screamed C L A S S!! I had to go with that DEEP blue masterpiece!

Walked out with a heavy wrist and empty wallet!! But the pride and satisfaction I have continually gained each and every day since has been well worth the expense. Still hard to sometimes believe I actually own a brand new ROLEX!!

I must say, I wish I had the Explorer also. Sometimes think I might have made a mistake, but God I love this DJ.
Now I am saving for that Explorer!!!
I'm hooked............

[TheVTCGuy]

OK... I get another chance to tell MY story! Thanks for the thread Jimbo!

This was not my first Rolex, but it was the first in about 10 years due to financial and other difficulties. It was also my grail watch, a SS Daytona. On February First I walked in to the AD and picked it up, notice the huge grin on my face!

8 1/2 X 10" Glossies of this picture are available for any of you TRFers that would like to put one on your wall...

[Art161]

Not really. I was looking for a good watch. I walked into a jewelry store that happened to sell Rolex, among other brands. After talking with the salesman, I bought a Rolex for about $200. That was 1971.

[diversified]

The day I bought my first Rolex, I took the subway from my office to center city Phila. to avoid the traffic and parking problems. Coming back on the subway I thought everybody in the subway car was wondering what I had in the jewelry bag. A little nervous.
Funny, now I couldn't care less.

[chicagowatchman]

Back in 1982 i was just 22 and i bought my first 18K day/date for around $3200!

I felt like a young superstar with my Rolex!

[ColinB]

OK, here we go. For a few years I had looked at the Rolex window in the local AD. I had always liked the clean look of them and got myself a brochure.
When I saw the Submariner Date I was hooked!
I went to several Ad's who quoted me "about 6-9 months" for arrival.
I put my name on the list.
In the meantime my wife went into a dealer and asked if they were getting a Sub date in and the nice man at the counter said "I think one is coming next week". My wife said "is it definitely a date model?" and he said leave me a deposit and it's your's, if not a date then deposit back.
A week later I was about to go to work when the AD phoned to say the watch had come in and YES it was a Sub Date.
30 mins later I was trying it on!
Late for work that day but did I care?

[mike]

Well let's see...... It was a spring day in 1968. The sun was shining and I saw a 1675 in the window of a since out of business AD. That afternoon the watch was mine. It still is today.

[Bisquitlips]

10th anniversary in Luzern Switzerland last month.

All over Europe I am looking in every AD I can find, just to drool. Nothing serious, but I love looking at them!

That day we were in Luzern Switzerland, so I tell my wife I am going into Bucherer's and she says she's going to the chocolate shop across the street.

I sit down at the desk and ask the salesperson to show me a Date Sub and a GMTIIc. She brings them out and then, to my surprise, my wife comes in a sits next to me. I am feeling a bit rushed now that she is sitting there and then she says, "what Rolex do you really want? I want to see it." So I have the salesperson bring out a SS/YG Yacht-Master with a Black Mother of Pearl dial.

After slobbering all over myself for 5 minutes Leah, my beautiful wife says, "let me buy it for you!" I resist (howbeit weakly) and then relent. Best decision I ever made!

NO, not the watch, but marrying this girl!!!!

Today I am the very proud owner of my first Rolex. An awesome SS/YG YM with a BMOP dial.

So now you know: The rest of the story!

[NickJames]

Now that is a watch! Great Rolex, great wife, what more do you need?!?!

Congrats on both!

[TheVTCGuy]

Beautiful Watch and what a great story Bisquit! Congrats! What a wife... uh.. does she have a sister?

[DCGuy1965]

OOOOO boy!!! Can I remember that experience. 1986 I was 20 years old and was very proud wearing my Seiko Chronograph. I had heard Rolex was the be all end all of watches but never really seen one up close. I started noticing them more and more since the 80's were a very good time for excessive consumption. When I first walked into an AD ( I believe Bailey, Banks, & Biddle) and saw the prices I nearly fainted and NO ONE WHATSOEVER would even look at me let alone offer to help.

The DC area had many ADs locally and there was another in the same mall (BLack, Starr, & Frost) where I met the most down to earth person who treated me with the upmost respect. I finally bought a SS Sub (which I wish I still had!!) and now that I'm better off have bought three others from him since he is the owner of Lenkersdorfer. The irony of all this is my first sub was worn constantly working playing or whatever. I wore it the way it was supposed to be worn. Now I freak out if I see a spec of dust or God forbid a smudge on the crystal!!!

[DSJ]

Do I??!?!?!

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=29274

It's a day I won't soon forget!

[Yume-sama]

Mmm yes, I had ordered it on December 28th, 2005, and it arrived in early May one day before my birthday.

No better way to say "Happy Birthday!" than with a Platinum Super President DD.

[MACRAME QUEENS]

Yes. It was the day before my birthday, a little over 4 months ago. Despite the fact that my AD had a new 16610 in the case, I opted for a BNIB example untouched by human hands. They quoted me up to 3 weeks on the delivery date; it arrived 5 days earlier (an eternity when you are waiting to slip that first Rolex badge on your wrist). It is the best acquisition I've ever made.

[Boopie]

Yes, still remember it. It was just before Valentine's Day 2001, the year of my 10th wedding anniversary. I had decided on the platinum/SS YM for some time, and my husband had wanted to give one to me. We had found a dealer who was willing to sell it to me at a substantial discount, for cash. We hadn't thought to call the bank in advance of our coming, so the bank almost didn't have enough cash on hand to give to us (it was over $4500). I still remember filling out the sales slips and getting the beautiful watch. A couple of days later, when colleagues at work asked me what my husband got me for Valentine's Day, I proudly showed them my wrist and said, "This!"

It's still my favorite ladies' Rolex watch. While it seemed extravagant at the time, it has definitely paid off in my daily enjoyment and use of the watch. It is rugged but lovely to look at, and is versatile enough to wear with any type of outfit.

[shanegg]

Easier to recall.

Bought my first Rolex yesterday. 9/30/08. A GMTIIc SS m.

I will never forget that day. I just turned 37 and have wanted a Rolex since I was 20.

Just took me 17 years.....

Special

[Singslinger]

Yup, it was 17 March 1987 at the Watch Palace in Singapore's Lucky Plaza when I bought my GMTII with the red/black bezel. Although I had no idea what Rolex's range was at the time, I knew I wanted a Rolex and so went for the newest model at the time. It's been a slippery slope downhill after that (bought 5 more since then) but hey, what can I say - no regrets!!

[shanegg]

Nice. St. Patricks Day!!!!

[Submariner 1]

I sure do! Submariner Date, It was May of this year, and it was the realization of a 20+ year dream of mine. And to top it all of I got to do it on my sons 21st birthday, as a symbol of what he, I, and my wonderful wife have achieved after my divorce over 10 years ago. But something even better for my wife and I is our 2 1/2 year old daughter!! Don

[astcell]

Milgauss:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=50554

Subbie:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=51142

Swiss Army:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=26791

Breitling:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=34625

Panerai:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=10105

TT GMTII C:
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=11405

And there is a thread somewhere for my GMTII in late 2006, my first Rolex in 2 decades, but I cannot find it.

So you all have been here for every purchase of mine!!!

[sea-dweller]

Yes, easy to recall. It was February 1994, and I was in Hong Kong on a business trip (and secondary purpose of buying a Rolex while there !). A colleague of mine who worked in our Hong Kong office took me to several AD's after we left work one late afternoon. After visiting several AD's, we ended up at La Suisse Watch Company in Causeway Bay. My colleague helped me to negotiate a great price on a BNIB 14060, which I still have today. Back then, the price was $1720 USD, with no sales taxes. When I wore it out of the store that day, I could not believe that I finally had a Rolex on my wrist. A very special feeling, and one that I will always remember.