Why I own a Rolex...(a long-winded post)

[Chad C.]

The other thread got me thinking about why I own a Rolex and I thought I would share my story. Some of it is personal but it does all relate back to the watch (eventually). My apologies for the loquacious post! LOL

Since I was nine years old, I had dreamed of owning a Rolex. My infatuation with this watch came from my father and mother who both wore them at that time. As a young boy, I remember trying on my father's massive watch, a watch so big on me it could fit around my forearm. My father often talked about the craftsmanship and quality of his Rolex Daytona. Even at such a young age, it was an object of desire. His friends, too, owned these coveted watches and I remember looking at them in awe. During these times we were what I would consider to be privileged and could afford the finer things in life. The finer things I came to love.

A few years later, however, my father lost his high-paying job, throwing my family into high financial pressures. Eventually, when I was in tenth grade my parents divorced and my mom became a single-mother struggling to raise two rambunctious teenage boys. Now my mother, previously a stay at home mom, worked long hours as a secretary and attended school at night, struggling to make ends meet. She worked from 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day, then attended school from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. every night, while studying on the weekends.

After barely graduating high school I attended the local community college, finished my AA degree and transferred to a private four-year institution. I took out considerable loans to pay for it and so did my mother. Yet, it is here I found a passion for cultivating the intellect and somehow managed to graduate with honors. After a couple years of working, I went back to school and received a graduate assistantship to complete my Master's degree. During this time, my mother finished school and built up an incredible business for herself. With all of her savings, she bought a duplex on the beach, which has turned out to be an amazing investment. Through her hard work she has bought another rental property and lives not far from these two properties now. She, through her hard work and determination, has made herself a success.

Back to the watch (I told you I would make it back to it LOL). During all these years, she never sold her Rolex. She had it for over twenty years. However, she found herself wearing it less and less and thought it could be put to better use. Therefore, we traded in her TT DJ, for my own Rolex. Its history, now passed on to mine. The rest of the money no doubt came from part of her inheritance from her parents passing away years ago. Though her inheritance was not a lot of money it is an impressive sum when you consider my grandparents were incredibly hard working blue collar people who managed to pay off two homes in their lifetime. This tradition, their hard work-ethic, passed down through me from my mother is represented in this watch. Two lifetimes of sacrifice - one of her parents, the other of a single mother - embodied in the stainless steel structure on my wrist. A gift for having been accepted into a PhD program four years ago. As a first generation college student and one who barely graduated high school this was a considerable accomplishment! LOL

Had I not received this precious gift, it may have been years or decades before I ever purchased one myself. It was a difficult gift to accept. But knowing my mother, it was not an option, she knew how long I have loved these watches and would have purchased one anyway. We went to an AD and I did little more than pick the one that looked right on my wrist. I tried on all that were there but this one just felt right and looked right. I have had it for almost five years now and each day I find I appreciate it and cherish it more. This is my everyday watch, well, it is currently my only watch. One which I will keep and cherish forever.

Honesty, integrity, determination, belief in yourself, and a little elbow grease goes far in this life. My mother is living proof of that - she embodies these tenets. She is a true role model to me and this watch represents so much more than a timepiece. As for my mother, she is finally being able to enjoy her success that was accomplished by all her hard work and struggles.

Last year my wife and I gave birth to identical twin boys. One will inherit this watch and the other will inherit the next Rolex I purchase (more than likely a GMT IIc). I hope this tradition continues in our family. It is not just about “a watch” to me it is what the watch represents.

To own a Rolex is a privilege and every Rolex has a story. I own a Rolex Explorer. This is our story.

Thanks for taking the time to read my very long-winded post.

Best,

Chad