Your first rolex experience

[AF_Rob]

I picked up a new pre ceramic Sub ND from an AD when I lived in FL. A good deal and good people. No regrets.

[Speed]

Beautiful Y Serial SS Submariner Date. Lug holes and box / papers. Trusted Seller.

No Diet Coke...just a good deal.

[Joearch]

About four years ago I was wearing my Panerai 292. Ceramic Radiomir case. I really liked the watch but was not getting a ton of wrist time. I stopped by my local shop on a Saturday to say hi to the guys. I had never has a Rolex on my wrist and they seemed sort of small to me. A Preowned mint condition Sub C caught my eye. I tried it on and made the swap for the Submariner and could not believe how great it looked and felt on my wrist. That was the start of my appreciation of a fine brand.

[J!m]

I picked up a "well loved" 1680 because it needed saving from constant polishing wheel abuse and it fit my budget. Before that I had a complete Tudor 9411, another in pieces and a 5512 in pieces. The 1680 was my first "complete" Rolex.

I have since done several upgrades and the case is in the capable hands of Michal Young as I type. The watch will look like new when I get done with it, and I can apply MY love to if for the next few decades. Then my son can when they take it (or the Tudor) off my dead wrist.

I got it from Bob's watches and it was a transaction. I will say they took the time to set east coast time and date for me- a nice detail that I noticed and appreciated.

[ronin_ph]

1998. Had just passed my Series 7 and my father gifted me my first sub. It is still my most prized watch. Grateful every time I look at it.


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[busytimmy]

Got my first Rolex (216570 Polar) from an AD. Then several from DSW

[Pangit]

About two years ago, I had a ten year long service award approaching and had started thinking about using the cash award towards the purchase of a Rolex. Took a long time to decide on which one and then landed on the DJII. Month before I pulled the trigger changed my mind and bought the BLNR. Started reading this forum and I have added the DJII, a Tudor black bay black and a Bluesy since. Here's the BLNR

[T. Ferguson]

Originally Posted by iliketime

How was your first rolex experience? Did you buy it from an AD? Did you buy it here? Where you on a trip and saw it at the airport and impulse purchased? Did you decide for weeks and weeks? What did you buy? Would love to know how it felt

I unfortunately ruined my first rolex experience by buying from a pawn shop/ebay/grey market, documented here http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=458802 but i am on the hunt again!

My first Rolex experience was about as good as it can get. Back in the 90's I decided to get a Sub. I happened to mention my plans to a friend and she said, "You should get it from me." I said, "What on earth are you talking about?" She proceeds to tell me her father owns a jewelry store and has been a Rolex AD for decades! Who knew?!?

Cut to the chase, I got the "Daddy's little girl" discount - AD's cost.

[AzHadEnuf]

My first Rolex experience was when I was ten. 1970. My Dad brought home his new 6263. It replaced his Speedmaster that had been lost or stolen. I saw it on him every day til I left home at 17. Seven years latter I was oversees when I recieved a call from my Mom that he had suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. I was just barely able to get back home to attend his wake. I went to my Moms to drive her. Shortly after arriving for her she asked me to come into their bedroom, open a bed stand drawer, took out my Dads watch and said, " One of your Dad's favorite things was his watch, I know he would want you to have it, go ahead put it on...wear it for me". It's been with me over 30 years now.

Keep a watch for your kid. It will always be a special thing in their life.

[dht_tubes]

My first rolex come from my friend EX2 red hand, but I am closed to take the old ones datejust from my dad, finally go to my brother and still working on his wrist until today.

[RedCarrot]

Originally Posted by AzHadEnuf

My first Rolex experience was when I was ten. 1970. My Dad brought home his new 6263. It replaced his Speedmaster that had been lost or stolen. I saw it on him every day til I left home at 17. Seven years latter I was oversees when I recieved a call from my Mom that he had suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. I was just barely able to get back home to attend his wake. I went to my Moms to drive her. Shortly after arriving for her she asked me to come into their bedroom, open a bed stand drawer, took out my Dads watch and said, " One of your Dad's favorite things was his watch, I know he would want you to have it, go ahead put it on...wear it for me". It's been with me over 30 years now.

Keep a watch for your kid. It will always be a special thing in their life.

This is a great story.

[jeffgo888]

Originally Posted by AzHadEnuf

My first Rolex experience was when I was ten. 1970. My Dad brought home his new 6263. It replaced his Speedmaster that had been lost or stolen. I saw it on him every day til I left home at 17. Seven years latter I was oversees when I recieved a call from my Mom that he had suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. I was just barely able to get back home to attend his wake. I went to my Moms to drive her. Shortly after arriving for her she asked me to come into their bedroom, open a bed stand drawer, took out my Dads watch and said, " One of your Dad's favorite things was his watch, I know he would want you to have it, go ahead put it on...wear it for me". It's been with me over 30 years now.

Keep a watch for your kid. It will always be a special thing in their life.

I have to tell you, this story touched me and the sadness...sorry about your Dad.

My kids want my Omega Seamasters and they will have it when they finish High school.

And No, they are NOT getting the HU&LK or the DSSD.
They don't like it anyways...LOLOL.

[DandyAnt]

I'd always aspired to own a Sub but back in 2003 I had two small children, just bought a house and had a small business to grow. I had also recently purchased an Omega Seamaster (a model I still like now) for £1100 from the local AD.
In the UK I'd never seen a new Sub in my local AD's display as they were then (as now) snapped up immediately.
Anyway, that day in Feb I walked past the AD's window and saw the sales assistant putting a brand new Sub date in the display. I stood there and watched as he placed it on the plinth. I was in awe, I walked in there and then and managed to get a buy back on the Seamaster for full cost (a deal they were running at the time) and bought the Sub for £2300 RRP (less the £1100 buy back).

I wore it every day until 2014 when it was stolen. The insurance money bought me a new shiny 116610 SubC though and my love affair continues.


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[scubadiver1]

Saw my first rolex way back when I was a young lad and decided one day I would have one of these, years of hard graft and saving and in the year 2000 went in to an AD planning on buying my submariner, god knows what went on but I actually ended up buying an Omega seamaster the one with the blue wave dial, lovely watch which I still have to this day but within a few months I realised I really should have went with the rolex. however 16 years on this January I made the trip to a fantastic AD in Glasgow and fulfilled my dream and collected my submariner date model. the whole experience was fantastic and was made to feel special by the salesperson, we talked watches for ages and he even had a deep sea blue in stock which I had the pleasure of trying on in store, but the submariner has been a life long dream which I now proudly own and wear daily. AD experience was fantastic and a credit to rolex.

[NewEnthusiast]

I bought my first Rolex (an Air King) pre-owned from a friend of a friend who is a jeweller prepared to give me "mates rates". It was to celebrate my 30th birthday.

After deciding that I would like a watch to mark the occasion a couple of months prior to the birthday in question, I was browsing through watch websites and not getting excited about anything. I was talking it over with my wife and rapidly coming to the conclusion that I was at risk of dropping a load of cash just for the hell of it when she looked at me and said, "You want a Rolex don't you?". I couldn't help but agree. I had been trying to hide from this as getting a Rolex seemed really extravagant not least because I already had an SMP so it's not like I was in need of a high-end watch.

Over a couple of weeks she talked me into it/salved my inner voice that kept repeating, "You flash git" and I was able to find a beautiful Air King from the year I was born.

Now I have the bug and I'm plotting the next purchase... probably one for her. Well why not?

[iliketime]

Originally Posted by busytimmy

Got my first Rolex (216570 Polar) from an AD. Then several from DSW

how do you like them, i have my eye on an explorer 2 there at the moment, but no box no papers, has me concerned and hesitant

[sea-dweller]

BNIB 14060 from an AD in Hong Kong in Feb 1994, while I was there for business. Still have it:

[Wcdhtwn]

I was heading on vacation in the Caribbean and found the only Rolex AD on the island ahead of the trip. I exchanged multiple emails with him before every getting there, he was always willing to communicate and answer any question. He told me that if he got a BLNR in the week or two before my visit he'd hold it, which he did. I went, had a good personal experience there (too much champagne but they were pouring for me and a few other people shopping) and ended up leaving with my LN, not the BLNR. There was no issue with not having purchased the watch they held for me.

This is all when I was new to Rolex, didn't know this forum, and wasn't aware of the gray market sellers here. Next Rolex is gray market, either Takuya or DavidSW.

[txstats]

It was a planned purchase, got it at Heathrow boutique during a Christmas vacation. The milestone was I became a US citizen earlier that year.


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[DJ_Ambrose]

When I was a rookie cop, I broke several watches doing cop stuff. I also did some mountain climbing, and extended backpacking back then. I decided I was going to get a watch that could stand up to abuse. I went into an AD, explained the type of watch I was looking for and he suggested a Rolex Datejust. I had heard about Rolex, and I knew Sir Edmund Hillary wore one during his first ascent of Everest. so I bought it for $900. It amazed me how durable and accurate it was, and during one climbing trip to Alaska, it was extremely cold. Everyone else in my group had their watch stop because of the cold, while my Rolex didn't miss a beat. But what made me a rolex man for life happened seven years later. I decided to get a new watch so I put mine on eBay (they were brand new) Even though the watch had all the battle scars from me wearing it, it sold for $600 more than I paid for it (I was expecting to get maybe $50)
I still wear a Rolex and I've never lost money when I sold one.

[unndat]

I bought my first through a grey dealer (not a TRF trusted seller). It was about the watch not the experience.

[Maiden]

Bought a new 114060 from an AD two years ago for my first. I received an 18% discount so I was on par with the trusted sellers on the forum. I enjoyed the experience and have developed a great relationship with the AD. Bought my wife a datejust as well from the same AD. I bought a used 16014 as well and that has been great. Either way works, but if the delta is right, I go AD everytime.

[SA1]

This was before I became a Forum enthusiast, but I bought a pre owned sub from a perfectly rated (trusted) EBay seller and had the same great experience described by buyers from trusted sellers here, box papers next day perfectly wrapped delivery. Now was it more or less than I could have gotten here? Never checked but very pleased with the transaction and peace of mind that comes with PayPal EBay and AmEx, albeit likely at a premium.