14 watches. 27 years. Collection complete

[MTROIS]

Have been lurking here for a few months, but this thread is by far the most interesting and inspiring one!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by MTROIS

Have been lurking here for a few months, but this thread is by far the most interesting and inspiring one!

Cheers!

[red.earth]

I've still got about 600 posts unread - it's like having a big, mostly uneaten cake

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by red.earth

I've still got about 600 posts unread - it's like having a big, mostly uneaten cake

It's crazy!

Second watch bought will be posted tomorow with pictures and history:)

[Dyim]

Thread of the year for sure

Phenomenal collection with even better stories behind them.

@toomuchtalk, how often do you service the watches? Just wondering if they find anything unusual during servicing because of the extreme conditions they have been thru.

Looking forward to more postings.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Dyim

Thread of the year for sure

Phenomenal collection with even better stories behind them.

@toomuchtalk, how often do you service the watches? Just wondering if they find anything unusual during servicing because of the extreme conditions they have been thru.

Looking forward to more postings.

Cheers.
All of them, except the most recent have been serviced once. So the submariner has been serviced once in 27 years. And it was battered! Think it cost about £400, which was a lot considering what I paid for it in 1987( I think ).
The thing is rolex sport watches are very robust!
And in reality, even on a polar trip they are worn under the cuff and are not exposed to the weather.
The submariner was worn on military exercises, diving trips, polar expeditions, mountaineering, Sky diving, caving- so I reckon one service in 27 years is good value.
And; it has been worn in the shower

[Maverick_1908]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Cheers.
All of them, except the most recent have been serviced once. So the submariner has been serviced once in 27 years. And it was battered! Think it cost about £400, which was a lot considering what I paid for it in 1987( I think ).
The thing is rolex sport watches are very robust!
And in reality, even on a polar trip they are worn under the cuff and are not exposed to the weather.
The submariner was worn on military exercises, diving trips, polar expeditions, mountaineering, Sky diving, caving- so I reckon one service in 27 years is good value.
And; it has been worn in the shower

This one is for the “can i shower with my rolex”?

[2Redbulls]

I'm very glad this thread was resurrected, otherwise I'd never would have found it. Love the pictures of the locations. Now off to the exploration thread...

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by 2Redbulls

I'm very glad this thread was resurrected, otherwise I'd never would have found it. Love the pictures of the locations. Now off to the exploration thread...

Love the avatar

[playmore009]

I am glad this thread was resurrected - Just awesome! Thank you for taking the time and sharing with us your stories and your collection.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by playmore009

I am glad this thread was resurrected - Just awesome! Thank you for taking the time and sharing with us your stories and your collection.

Submariner in action....

[toomuchtalk]

The Rolex Explorer 2. Black dial.

The second watch I bought. A few years after the submariner. It was in the window of my AD, impulse buy? No, not really. It just called me...
This watch has been on expeditions to Norway, greenland and has been on the polar plateau in Antarctica.
It's had one service.

To me this is the ultimate fly under the radar rolex. It is a small watch by modern standards now. The black dial gives the watch more depth than its white dial cousin. And is more the direct descendant of the original. As its a black dial. The fixed bezel means you are not in danger of it getting stuck. As it doesn't move anyway! In that respect it is a more robust watch than the GMT.
It's smaller size means it's less prone to knocks than the new watch.

[Beef]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

The Rolex Explorer 2. Black dial.

The second watch I bought. A few years after the submariner. It was in the window of my AD, impulse buy? No, not really. It just called me...
This watch has been on expeditions to Norway, greenland and has been on the polar plateau in Antarctica.
It's had one service.

To me this is the ultimate fly under the radar rolex. It is a small watch by modern standards now. The black dial gives the watch more depth than its white dial cousin. And is more the direct descendant of the original. As its a black dial. The fixed bezel means you are not in danger of it getting stuck. As it doesn't move anyway! In that respect it is a more robust watch than the GMT.
It's smaller size means it's less prone to knocks than the new watch.

I agree totally with your assessment of the EXP II. And it does really fly under the radar....which probably contributes to it being so under appreciated. I love mine and just picked up another to have PVD/DLC coated. Thanks for resurrecting this thread, Steve, it's truly timeless. (No pun intended!)

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by Beef

I agree totally with your assessment of the EXP II. And it does really fly under the radar....which probably contributes to it being so under appreciated. I love mine and just picked up another to have PVD/DLC coated. Thanks for resurrecting this thread, Steve, it's truly timeless. (No pun intended!)

Hi beef..
Cheers. Would love to see the PVD explorer!

[DCheeta]

This thread keeps getting better and better!

So was it the Submariner that helped get you out of that potentially difficult situation in Norway? In the book you just say your "Rolex watch", but considering that was one of your early expeditions I assume it was either the Sub or the black ExpII.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

This thread keeps getting better and better!

So was it the Submariner that helped get you out of that potentially difficult situation in Norway? In the book you just say your "Rolex watch", but considering that was one of your early expeditions I assume it was either the Sub or the black ExpII.

Hi!
It was the Submariner! And it was greenland
I used the hands on the watch to indicate to a local hunter a pick up time...I didn't speak Inuit and he didn't speak English.
This was in the days before sat phones, and we were in total self rescue situation. Facing a huge expense of open water?

[DCheeta]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Hi!
It was the Submariner! And it was greenland
I used the hands on the watch to indicate to a local hunter a pick up time...I didn't speak Inuit and he didn't speak English.
This was in the days before sat phones, and we were in total self rescue situation. Facing a huge expense of open water?

Is that the hunter? Awesome photo!

I remember that story too, but I was actually referring to your Norway expedition. The issue of the certain farmer and his hut, and his wife, and your Rolex offered as security...

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by DCheeta

Is that the hunter? Awesome photo!

I remember that story too, but I was actually referring to your Norway expedition. The issue of the certain farmer and his hut, and his wife, and your Rolex offered as security...

No, these two guys are the dog drivers we use on greenland crossings.. Will try and find a picture of the hunter from that trip!

I remember the norway one Now! Yes that was the sub too!

[toomuchtalk]

Thanks to all that have viewed this thread.

[theturboman]

Very nice read and even nicer watches

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by theturboman

Very nice read and even nicer watches

Thanks!

[andpassport]

Pics

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by andpassport

Pics

Pics of what?

[sturgeon123456]

Really off the wall question....do you know what breed of dogs are in the photo? They don't look like huskys malamutes?

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by sturgeon123456

Really off the wall question....do you know what breed of dogs are in the photo? They don't look like huskys malamutes?

Hi, Greeland Husky.

[sturgeon123456]

Originally Posted by toomuchtalk

Hi, Greeland Husky.

Thank you very much! They look beautiful!

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by sturgeon123456

Thank you very much! They look beautiful!

Cheers!

[toomuchtalk]

This is the third watch I bought. And if I had to keep just one watch, this would be it.
It was used to navigate to the South Pole and is engraved on the case back. The only one I have engraved.
It's been to Antarctica and the South pole, and greenland and Norway.

In many ways, why would you buy an explorer 2, when you could get this? It does the same as an explorer 2, plus you can measure time as the dial rotates. Not as robust, yes; but more versatile.

[toomuchtalk]

Originally Posted by sturgeon123456

Thank you very much! They look beautiful!

Cheers!

[phrede]

Hi Steve,
Thanks for delivering these absolutely awesome reads!

You've mentioned the robustness of the beautiful GMT-Master as being a minus. Have you experienced issues with this watch or with some of the others?

All the best,

Frederik


-via iPhone