The Stories of Rolex Watches you see working as a bank teller

[Leeroy Jenkins]

I've wanted to share this story for awhile because it has definitely enhanced the appreciation I have for my Rolex.I recently acquired a humble 114060 sometime in 12/14 at the age of 24 by scraping money together while going to college and working as a bank teller. My interest in Rolex watches started out when I first saw Sean Connery in Goldfinger and it has since evolved from there. While I do not know too much about the different references and vintages of the watches I do recognize the general models and can spot them pretty easily.

As a bank teller you meet many interesting people and some of them happen to wear Rolex watches. For many of them the watch has been their only watch since they first bought it way back in the day. These people are not famous and seem like ordinary people, but their watches share each of their interesting stories.

I would usually ask them a bit about their watches and the men would fondly share the story of how they first purchased their watch. Each was happy to chat about their watch. The most interesting stories are as follows:

1. The first man that came in was an old gray haired man. He was wearing a Rolex GMT that he said he first bought in 1967. It was his only watch for 47 years. He had sent it back to RSC a few times with them returning it looking like new each time. One thing he noted was that the service cost more than the price of his watch and that the watch was older than I was. I told him his watch was most likely worth many more times the price that he originally paid, but he didn't seem to care about the monetary value of his watch. The corners had rounded, but it was still a stunning vintage watch to see. Like a fine wine it had aged and acquired a nice patina. I believe the watch had a riveted bracelet that was original. I distinctly remember him telling me that I made a great decision in buying my watch.

2. The next man that came in had probably the most interesting watch I have seen yet. It looked like a Rolex GMT and I recognized the cyclops and the sweeping of the second hand, but it was very interesting in a few regards and I have never seen one like it on the internet or since. The bezel was solid blue and red with no numbers on it. The face of the watch was either faded or only slightly showed the Rolex logo. The bracelet was marked Rolex however. He was a pilot in the Vietnam War and he said that at the time it was the best GMT in the world. He had been asked about the watch before by other pilots in the service because of the unique features that it had.

3. Up next was a man that came in wearing an Explorer 1 that he used in Cambodia during the Vietnam War and since had worn it everyday. I believe this was the oldest watch and was something like 49 years old. It looked like it had a new bracelet and had been serviced a few times too. I didn't ask too many questions, but the watch looked like it was in good shape and had served the owner well.

These stories give me assurance that my watch will give me many many years of service and I certainly won't be worrying about scratches or polishing at the recommended intervals. It seems that these watches are made to last and that my watch will still be ticking away in 50 years as it is today.