Remember buying your 1st Rolex??

[AtlasMaximus]

Not counting my inherited 6424...

A couple years the family and I were on vacation in Maui and we stumbled into a Tourneau. The rolex display "only" had a couple of DJs (oh how those were the days). I was eyeing the BB58 (especially since at the time it was "new hot watch") but since the only working salesperson was talking with another customer, I found the preowned rolex display in the back. Since I just got into the hobby not long before that, it was amazing to see the hot rolexes in person including the batman ($18k), 50th anniversary kermit ($17k) and a panda daytona ("only" $20k). I was drawn to the aluminum pepsi or coke. After getting the blessing from my wife, I chose the 16700 pepsi. Since then, I have picked a couple more but this is still the one that I wear the most.

[Jacobson]

2007, Explorer II 16570 (£2,100) followed by a DateJust 116200 the following month (£1900) & and a GMT II Pepsi 16710 (£2250) not long after that.

Still own the Explorer & GMT. Gifted the DJ to a family member.

[marmite2005]

The year was 2002. Walked into the London AD at Threadneedle street in my lunch break. I wanted a Roles 15200, Salmon dial, smooth bezel. Armed with info from TZforum, pushed for a 10% discount on a steel sports watch (which was the standard back in the day). £1700 and 4 weeks later, I returned to pick up my new shiny acquisition.

[Shan77]

Remember it like yesterday…… 2013 went out to get some headphones for going on holiday the next day and passed an AD putting a SubC in the window…….. it was obviously meant to be!

[Harry hayre]

May 2020 bought a yellow day date 40 which i was obsessed with for my 30th bday. Got it from my local boutique and bought another piece since

[Laostuh]

2016 right before my son was born. I was 25 walked in to the mall, saw a display of Rolex in one of the stores, inquired about a Day Date in White Gold. I will admit it was an impulse buy, although I did want the Day Date, I should've done more research on sizing. I got a 36MM and ended up parting with it because it wore small on me, and I have relatively small wrists..

Got rid of the 36MM Day Date the year after and purchased a 116710LN brand new from AD. In hindsight if I would've held onto the Day Date, I would've doubled my money. But whatever.

[samsmart]

November 2003 I bought a 1989 5513 (my forst real watch). I wore it for 6 years and sold it for twice what I paid. I kick myself everyday for selling that watch. It was a transitional model. Last year of the plastic crystal, but first year of white gold surrounding the lume plots. Was a great watch, and I have been chasing one every since.

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[noshake]

I bought a SubDate for my 40th. The SA told me they didn't have any and would put me on the list. ( This was before I knew about lists, spend history, grey markets etc...) A month later I got the call. Surprised to say the least but it felt like a milestone achievement after school and working for many years.

[SS Oyster]

My first Rolex was a modest SS Datejust 36 white Roman dial, engine turned bezel on jubilee. Loved that watch, but years later traded it with $10k for a 1981 Porsche 911SC Targa.


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[HMHM]

My first Rolex was a 34mm Date! Still have it until today. Many special memories with it.

[amanbra]

Yeah it was bloody stressful. I purchased it grey to make a huge occasion for me. Only ADs from that point for me… it was a 116503 that will be with me forever.

[pmar124]

Got my 16710 GMTII back in 2002 from an AD; almost 20 summers ago. I remember the day like it was yesterday.

[Wee-Willie]

Originally Posted by Harry hayre

May 2020 bought a yellow day date 40 which i was obsessed with for my 30th bday. Got it from my local boutique and bought another piece since

Damn!! I was 31 when I bought my Air King.
Bought my YG Day Date when I was 67!

You'll sure get MANY more years wearing your Day Date than I will!!
ENJOY!!

[watchwatcher]

Like it was yesterday. I was shopping for an engagement ring with my wife-to-be, and after we'd found one, the dealer pulled out a steel DJ for shits and giggles.

Another $1400 changed hands - not counting the ring, of course - and I was the proud owner.

[Mendota]

Yes. I grew up watching James Bond movies and always wanted a sub. In high school in the '80s I would walk past the ADs and just look in the cases. After college I would actually stop in and try them on, versus just admiring them from the case. At the same time I also fell in love with the Explorer 1. For my 30th birthday in 2002 I was trying to decide between the Explorer 1 and the sub, but I got cold feet and convinced myself not to do it. I read a now discredited scathing review of the Explorer 1 on Timezone and I told myself that the sub was "too big" so best not to get either one. The well respected watchmaker and expert who wrote that review on Timezone was later found to have been "paid off" by a competitor and he was blasted, publicly shamed, and left the industry. I don't recall if Rolex took any legal action against him or not...

Fast forward to the late 2000's and early 2010s and you could buy pre-owned watches at large discounts compared to new. While I had ample opportunities to pick up the very same Exp 1 and Sub that I had originally looked at (for the exact same dollar amount since they were used versus brand new back in 2002) I still didn't do it.

Finally, in 2020 I hit a career milestone and I decided to finally reward myself with a Rolex. In August 2020 I found a sweet deal on the 36mm Oyster Perpetual with the blue Explorer dial. It ticked all of my boxes and was actually better than the original Explorer that I had always liked, plus the blue dial is prettier to look at. I also got it for almost 15% less than what AD retail was since it was a pre-owned full kit and the insane market hadn't caught up to these models yet. Within 2 weeks of my purchase, Rolex announced they were discontinuing the version I had and prices started climbing. I couldn't have picked a better time to buy and I had no idea this would happen.

[bmrk]

It was first at love sight, saw the Sub at the AD and got it

[GGGMT]

Oh, the memories. New York City, 1994. Rudy was the mayor, Nancy Kerrigan got attacked, Brazil won The World Cup, and OJ fled the police it is white Ford bronco. It was a time of love, intrigue, and uncertainty. Purchased my 16700 through and AD in Delaware over the phone and letter and mail. About $2000 (including the 15% discount). Still have it, full box and papers, letter correspondence, receipts. After 15+ years as a daily wear, it’s spends it’s time in the pastures in the bank vault.


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[F33A]

I was a freshman in college in 1965. I said to a friend "that looks like a nice watch - what is it?". He said "watch this" , held the watch over his head and dropped it on the tile floor. He said "it's a Rolex and it can take a hit" so I bought one. I wore it for years then switched to a GMT Master then an Explorer. One watch at a time. Now I wear a platinum DD40 and I'm done.

[Mags01]

My first Rolex was a Cellini with black MOP dial and diamonds. I got it to celebrate my divorce :)

[rolexperfect]

24 years old. Bought 2 Rolex at the same time. First it was a 116610LN and after I was offered a 116520 white dial straight from the safe. December 2012. Amazing first experience.




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[Yobber76]

My first Rolex was a DJ 41 126300 (Silver dial, oyster bracelet) bought in January of 2018

[Gtsby]

When I started my job in 2002 I told myself that I would buy myself a Rolex when I either hit 20 years or hit a particular promotional level with my job. I spent a year studying for the promotional exam in 2018, and spent all my time on study breaks researching the watch I would buy if I got promoted. I decided on a serti submariner from 2002 so it would signify both the promotion and all the years at my job. I got promoted and bought my watch, so I was one and done on expensive watches.
Now I'm on the waiting list for a BLNR to commemorate my 20th anniversary at the job this year, and then I'm done.....in theory.

[Hkspwrsche]

Rolex Date was my first one. I had already bought an Omega. I wore it on a leather strap on on a work trip right after I got it. I really was charged up! It was great.

[thenobbox]

I was 18, freshman in college. Was just discovering watches and learning and reading voraciously. My uncle bought and sold watches, and I got my first – a 1500 Date 14k gold capped – from him. Wore that throughout underclassman years. It was stolen summer 2017, but that same day I picked up a 1601 that I still have to this day.

[bazin]

Netherlands 1978......... when I was 35 years old I bought my 1st Rolex; a GMT Master 1675.
I still have the full set and the original invoice of 1978 of $ 520,-
I did wear it daily during 34 years until 2012....then I purchased more Rolexes.
The GMT 1675 is now 44 years old and still running fantastic.......still absolute original and never parts replaced.......
...(I am now nearly 79 years old and purchased last year a new 2021 Lotus Evora GT 410 sport IPS)

My 1978 Rolex GMT Master 1675.....









And my new Lotus Evora GT 410 Sport IPS.....

[rolexperfect]

Originally Posted by bazin

Netherlands 1978......... when I was 35 years old I bought my 1st Rolex; a GMT Master 1675.
I still have the full set and the original invoice of 1978 of $ 520,-
I did wear it daily during 34 years until 2012....then I purchased more Rolexes.
The GMT 1675 is now 44 years old and still running fantastic.......still absolute original and never parts replaced.......
...(I am now nearly 79 years old and purchased last year a new 2021 Lotus Evora GT 410 sport IPS)

My 1978 Rolex GMT Master 1675.....









And my new Lotus Evora GT 410 Sport IPS.....

congrats!! what an amazing GMT you have! Love the lotus

[danicasi2002]

Steel DJ36 w fluted bezel, Bucherer, Lucerne, Switzerland, 2004

[bazin]

*****
@ rolexperfect

Thank you sir........!

[Eagles4133]

The year was 2014, the display cases were loaded with sport models as far as the eye could see. 30th Birthday gift that my wife bought me with my own money. Was able to try on almost everything but settled on 39mm Exp 1 MK1 with an 8% discount. Passed on a used VC Overseas for just a couple grand more. Who knew?

It was more about the watch and less about the dollar back then.

[TheWatchmen]

First was in 2018, I bought an M serial 16610. I think I paid around 6k for it. That one only stayed with me about a year, and I added a few more.

Then I decided to sell the watches (broke basically even on what I spent) and purchase a rental property, which has done well over the last few years with the crazy Colorado housing market and I’ve been building a small collection back up over the last couple of years.

Now I’ve got a blue 126334, 116610lv, and silver 18038. Despite the SS sport watch craze, which I have certainly been a part of in some form or another, my favorite watch is the 36mm Day Date. Precious metal does seem to add a little something more, and IMO a “dressy” PM watch is far less ostentatious as a PM sports watch.

I’m 41 years old, so suppose I’m old enough to wear a grandpa’s watch. I totally understand many people saying they wish they hadn’t sold their first one, but I couldn’t care less.