Why Did You Buy You First Rolex?

[Seibei]

Because, for the money it is the best watch out there.

[Gotgolf52]

It was my 40th birthday to myself. Always lust after Rolex but I can’t afford it, now I can but the feeling never the same like when I got my first Rolex.

[InitialAndPitch]

As a display pilot (non-commercial) I loved the history of the Pepsi and Pan Am, and as a pilot it prompted me to track one down and try it on. Just picking it up...the weight immediately let me know that this was the way to go. It allowed me to stick with

And of course Magnum PI wore one in later series :)

[AK797]

Originally Posted by Etschell

to show off and say look at me look right here, looooook.

Yeah, me too, nothing better than wearing this tiny obsolete thing on your wrist that most hot young girls think is some cheap mall watch because you can't even afford an I-watch.

On a serious point, I watched a gameshow where a 20 year old could not read the time on a clock, think in 10 years almost no teenagers will be able to.

[fullofboats]

I got lucky and saw a polar Explorer 2 in an AD and snatched it up immediately

[Flyoverguy]

I want a variety of makes and adding a SD4K and a Sky Dweller made sense. This was after acquiring other brands.

I enjoy the horology tradition in general and don't care to be a fanboy for one brand only.

[Wngo]

Received mine as a wedding gift from our parents. Now I'm itching for more.

[StuartG]

Simple. A fellow collector whose opinion I respect said that every collection should include a Rolex. I thought it over and decided that I agreed with him.

[tkc324]

Celebrating our engagement in 2009 and was in Maui. Walked into an AD and found out they had a SS white Daytona in the back room. I couldn’t leave the island without it...

[173rdabn]

I was in the Army. Not much money, but needed an accurate, waterproof watch. Rolex (5 year old used OP no date) pushed all the right buttons. A great and destruction proof watch

[justdate]

To celebrate a big birthday.

[np208]

for passing the CFA exams. next one for finishing MBA

[Monty22]

Originally Posted by np208

for passing the CFA exams. next one for finishing MBA

Congrats!! As someone presumably in your industry, those are big accomplishments!


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[Steed]

25th birthday present from my girlfriend- 25 years ago! Sea Dweller 16600. Sooooo many memories...

[horse4642]

I wanted one and I could afford it.

[mmmmp]

Originally Posted by GradyPhilpott

I wanted a Rolex.

That's probably the best reason of all.

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[superconductor71]

47th birthday gift.

AD called my wife saying they had an SD43, and it was hers if she wanted it. She remembered it was at the top of my WANT list and grabbed it.

Why did I want it? Been working hard for years and years, wearing different things and just finally wanted a finely crafted timepiece. Time came when my wants matched up with my means.


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[mmmmp]

Originally Posted by shoresguy

Curiosity led me to step into a Rolex ad store to just take a look at their watches in their display case. As I was browsing a sales guy approached me and asked if anything picked my interest. I said nothing really. I then remember reading an article about daytonas and asked if they had one. The sales guy excused himself, went to the back, after 10 minutes came back and said “let’s try this one on.” When I saw it in the flesh and put it around my wrist it was love at first sight. It was a 116520 and from that day on the Rolex bug has bit me.


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Nice story. It *piqued* my interest.

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[calebb90]

My jeweler conned me. I had tried dozens of watches. Never really got “the feeling” from any “sports” watch. Then she pulled out a BLNR, and everything changed.

[Old Geezer]

Pretty simple....I saw them in magazines growing up and aspired to have one. When I could afford it, I got it.

[cvo]

I love the attention to quality and the iconic style that Rolex has built.

[Madprofx]

A culmination of 1yr at my new role/company, I’ve always admired my friends older modelYachtmaster and it fit me perfectly, and it seems to be the natural progression through
my watch enthusiasm/collecting (having previously purchased Seiko Monster -> FC -> 2 Baume et Mercier -> an Omega GMT ‘Great White’ -> Chopard LUC Pro One Diver - all of which I still own, wear in rotation, and love)


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[JePro]

Originally Posted by Bob the brush

I bought a so called waterproof watch when I was in my very early teens with my hard earned money from doing odd jobs and a paper round, but it turned out it wasn't very, and I kept returning it to the retailer when it misted up. After the third or fourth time of returning it the manager, who did keep giving me a new one, said " if you want a proper waterproof watch, buy a Rolex". That statement stuck with me so when I finished school / college, was employed and married, I saved and bought my 1st Rolex when I was 28, back in 1983, I finally owned a 1016 Explorer I still have and wear today. It has never misted, and I still enjoy swimming.

Beautiful story, 1016 is an icon. I felt the same way you acquired your 1st rolex.

[csaltphoto]

So many reasons...

I had wanted a Rolex sub all my life, off and on. And I earn my living doing mostly marine photography and filmmaking. But you know how life goes...

Anyway, my last crap watch had died about 10 years ago. Hadn't even been wearing a watch. I had been part time at the day job and freelancing for years. Decided to go back to the day job full time (which was less hourly but more steady. Just got tired of chasing gigs.) So I bought my first Rolex to celebrate. And so I could mark the time there in style but also have something that would absolutely hold up to the rigors of the work.

[shoresguy]

Originally Posted by mmmmp

Nice story. It *piqued* my interest.

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Oops my bad. Thanks dude


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[rominvicta]

You missed the most obvious reason - I liked it! The way it looked, proportions, the idea of having something that may go as deep in sea as no one otherwise may do etc etc ...

[tomallen]

I was tired of buying drug store Timex watches on a Spidel Twist "O" Flex band that had to be wound every day that didn't keep time, fogged up on a humid day, and didn't last more than a year.

[Miguel Alvarez 2.0]

I was window shopping but went into kick tyres as they say and try On a Breitling. I walked out with the Exp 2. Was an expensive lunch. Lol.

[abozz]

My first Rolex was a gift from my Father, was his personal watch (DJ TT champagne, jubilee). I was in love of his watch and make him crazy to give it to me and he buy another one. I was 13 years old and the Watch was bigger than me but I was very happy. At the age of 33 I bought a Explorer II used (my frist Rolex I buy with my money) because I always love the brand, and wanted to celebrate some achievement in my life. An more recently I bought my first brand new Rolex, my grail: The venerable SeaDweller in his 50th anniversay version, the SD43, new movement, case proportions, size, special red text, bigger bracelet and clasp, ceramic bezel with all 60 minutes marked, and can not be more in love of my bigger BadAss watch, my wrist is only 6.75, but at the age of 13 years I was already with a big DJ 36MM in my very skiny body. I were Rolex for me and is a taste bonded with my dad.

[subprimero]

Nostalgia; I bought the present day equivalent to the 1803 that both my father and godfather wore.