What First Led You To Rolex?

[Hotrod64]

Tell what first led you to Rolex watches. Was it a family tradition? Was your first one given or passed down to you?

What led me to Rolex was... back in 1986, I bought a fake Rolex Day-Date for $20 from a guy selling them out of the trunk of his car. It was gold tone, had a black "diamond" dial and all the "appropriate" markings. Although the dial read "Oyster Perpetual", it had a quartz movement. But after a few months, every time I'd wash my hands, I would always see this green stuff on my wrist. I eventually stopped wearing it and bought a TT Seiko with a blue dial that resembled a Datejust.

The following year, a former co-worker of mine bought a used TT Datejust from a local pawn shop for $1000. Looked brand new. I was hooked. After that, I visited every AD I could find and snatched up every Rolex catalog I could find until 1993 when I finally took the plunge.

[President]

The YG DD I thought I could afford.

[nko51]

The overall look, but mostly the cyclops eye!

[Alex Stylianou]

Passed Down

[astcell]

My first one was a DATE model, I loved the SS and black face, the white gold hands against the black face is sooo nice.

[Blue Bull]

A dream since childhood,from the age of about 12.My mother was very much into diamond rings and I always went with.The jeweller was an AD for Rolex too and thats where I saw them first.I used to spend much time ,studying them..Ironically the jeweller she dealt with is the same one I bought my first Rolex from,6 years ago(GMT II red/black) I guess thats where I learned to chase the good deal,at a young age.She was and is a wonderful person... My Blue TT Sub,I also bought from this very same dealer,but the Dweller I bought from another,which I have been dealing with, too,in the past.This dealer is also family of the first dealer .. Waited patiently,until the age of 31,before I could really afford one.It was something quite special to own that first one.Thats just the way life is ,the longer you have to wait,the more special the moment is.

Rolex still have the allure it had,all those years ago ..

[Prince]

As a kid, I saw ads for Rolex watches (especially the DD President) in magazines, with people I admired wearing them and telling how fantastic they were. I promised myself that one day I would have one. Always be careful what you wish for, or promise yourself. You will usually get it. I have four of them now, and my wife has two. It might have taken me half a century to do it, but that doesn't matter.

Life is indeed good!!!

[Chris B]

It was a good few years later when I had the spare readies to fulfill my dream, but when it happened boy did it feel good,

[mike]

As many here know I bought my first Rolex when I was 19. My 1675 was the first, paid $245 for it in 1968. As a military cadet my instructors all seemed to wear a Rolex and I wasn't going to be different.
I wore the heck out of that watch and it never let me down. It led to another, and another......
The vintage pieces(they weren't vintage to me LOL!) have always been my preference. Such a storied tool watch history!

[haakon59]

The first reason I went to Rolex was for the prestige--I had a job where people noticed things like your watch and the advice to me was: get yourself a Rolex so you will appear successful.

Over time, the prestige issue has faded for me and I would now purchase Rolex for it's well known reliability and durability.

[Tomko]

The search for excellence.

“I am a man of simple tastes, I am easily satisfied with the best.”
Sir Winston Churchill

[Hotrod64]

Originally Posted by Chris B

It was a good few years later when I had the spare readies to fulfill my dream, but when it happened boy did it feel good,

Chris,

I remember this very same ad.

[Chris B]

Memories eh Rodney? lol

Unfortunately this is the only pic I've ever found of the ad, I'd love to have a reasonable sized version so i could have it mounted.

[mrbieler]

Originally Posted by mike

Such a storied tool watch history!

That's in a nut shell. I came for the history. Hard core watches worn by hard core guys. Or at least that what's the marketing man said.

The high prices of current watches whose design and engineering were paid for many moons ago drives me nuts as does that fact that Rolex continues to wander from its roots, but they call it progress so it must be good. Right?

[leopardprey]

Do you have a clearer copy of that Ad, or a link to it. Can not see the print very clearly. Thanks,

[greenfan]

I always loved ROLEX but I had a Cartier Panthere for years and really wasn´t in need of another watch. But two years ago the idea of getting one stuck in my head untill this Christmas that I finally managed to buy my first ROLEX, a GMT II with black and red bezel.....

[Chris B]

I'm afraid not Chad, much to my chagrin I've never found a readable pic of that ad.

[leopardprey]

"I'm afraid not Chad, much to my chagrin I've never found a readable pic of that ad." Any idea what mags it was published in, I think 1973. I am going to go through some old NG mags. (looking for justification to buy a DJ w/oyster bracelet)

Well, for me Magnum PI TV show and then later many NCOs/Officers in Army wearing Rolex is what got me interested. Also one of my College Profs, a Veitnam Vet, had an Exp 1 he got when he was serving in Vietnam.

[Gaijin]

I have not worn a watch since pagers were invented. From then and with cell phones I have always told time by looking at first my pager and then later my cell phone.

I have not worn a watch for about 15 years. So recently I decided to start wearing one again. I knew that if I was going to wear a watch (something I have always hated doing) that it was going to be a Rolex. I bugged my girlfriend until she finally bought me one. An Air King to shut me up. I am hooked. I love wearing a watch now!

[JJ Irani]

Window shopping in the very early '70s. Just drooled over them....couldn't afford them (although the prices then were like peanuts compared with today's prices!!)

Bought my first one in October 1980....a TT DJ on Jubilee.

JJ

[Kris]

I was 8 years old and in grade 3 when I first heard the name "Rolex".

A school pal of mine went on vacation over March break with his parents to New York City. While there, his parents bought him a counterfeit Rolex watch.

I remember the watch had the crown on the dial, however, the name ROLEX was actually spelt "ROLlEX".

He was showing it off at school all day. I didn't know what the big deal was until I asked my parents that night what a Rolex was. My dad laughed and said it was the most expensive brand of watch out there in the market place.

My friend had the watch for about 2 weeks and then he stopped wearing it. I'm assuming it was a bad fake and broke soon after.

The second time I started hearing about Rolex again was at my grade 8 Confirmation ceremony (Catholic School). Each student was to ask a friend of the family (adult) to become their "sponsor". Sort of like choosing your own God-parent. Any ways, another buddy of mine got his sister's husband to be his sponsor and his brother-in-law gave him 2 Rolex's! I found it odd as they are so expensive, however, this buddy of mine came from a troubled background and his family was "suspect", so I'm assuming either those 2 were really good counterfeits, or they were stolen!

Never thought of a Rolex again until 3 years ago. I finally made my purchase 2 months ago for an SD.

[Blue Bull]

Originally Posted by Kris

I was 8 years old and in grade 3 when I first heard the name "Rolex".

A school pal of mine went on vacation over March break with his parents to New York City. While there, his parents bought him a counterfeit Rolex watch.

I remember the watch had the crown on the dial, however, the name ROLEX was actually spelt "ROLlEX".

He was showing it off at school all day. I didn't know what the big deal was until I asked my parents that night what a Rolex was. My dad laughed and said it was the most expensive brand of watch out there in the market place.

My friend had the watch for about 2 weeks and then he stopped wearing it. I'm assuming it was a bad fake and broke soon after.

The second time I started hearing about Rolex again was at my grade 8 Confirmation ceremony (Catholic School). Each student was to ask a friend of the family (adult) to become their "sponsor". Sort of like choosing your own God-parent. Any ways, another buddy of mine got his sister's husband to be his sponsor and his brother-in-law gave him 2 Rolex's! I found it odd as they are so expensive, however, this buddy of mine came from a troubled background and his family was "suspect", so I'm assuming either those 2 were really good counterfeits, or they were stolen!

Never thought of a Rolex again until 3 years ago. I finally made my purchase 2 months ago for an SD.

Great choice on your first Rolex ~ The SD As a first Rolex,any of the ss sport ones ,would do just fine ...

[greenfan]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Window shopping in the very early '70s. Just drooled over them....couldn't afford them (although the prices then were like peanuts compared with today's prices!!)

Bought my first one in October 1980....a TT DJ on Jubilee.

JJ

JJ, what´s your story with ROLEx´s? If I remember well, you had like 15 watches? Do you remember them?

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by greenfan

JJ, what´s your story with ROLEx´s? If I remember well, you had like 15 watches? Do you remember them?

18 actually!!

These two are #17 & 18!!



Now let's see....I've owned the following (including above two!!)

3 x DJs
1 x DATE
3 x GMTs (1 x GMT and 2 x GMT-II)
2 x Exp-IIs (black as well as white dials)
1 x SD
4 x SS Sub dates
3 x TT Subs (one black and 2 blue!)
1 X TT YM

There you go...18 all up!!

[John Ireland]

two tone DateJust. He asked me to hold it for him while he played some tennis. It felt like a boat anchor in my hands. I loved the look too. In '62 he changed to a Day Date and at the same time bought me a 14k dress Acutron. That Acutron stay with me through the next 26 years. Never missed a beat. In '88 I thought about a Rolex but there were so many knock offs that ten year old kids seemed to be wearing them. I went for a then very new Breitling Chronomat. But by '95, the numbers were getting too small to read without my glasses. It was time for something with a cyclops. Was a slightly used '91 DateJust, saphire crystal, white gold bezel, jubilee bracelet, silver dial and markers and hands. Loved it...but in dark or bright light, it was difficult to read. Traded it away in less than a year. Then spotted an early 1601...silver dial, gold markers and hands, easy to read. Came on a strap...gave it a full service by Rolex. I still semi own it...I'm it's "godfather" so to speak...if the guy wants to sell it he has to offer it to me first. I wish I had the '91 back too...wish I had the Acutrom back as well...but since I have no one to leave my stuff too, I sold it to a collector who appreciates its history.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by John Ireland

two tone DateJust. He asked me to hold it for him while he played some tennis. It felt like a boat anchor in my hands. I loved the look too. In '62 he changed to a Day Date and at the same time bought me a 14k dress Acutron. That Acutron stay with me through the next 26 years. Never missed a beat. In '88 I thought about a Rolex but there were so many knock offs that ten year old kids seemed to be wearing them. I went for a then very new Breitling Chronomat. But by '95, the numbers were getting too small to read without my glasses. It was time for something with a cyclops. Was a slightly used '91 DateJust, saphire crystal, white gold bezel, jubilee bracelet, silver dial and markers and hands. Loved it...but in dark or bright light, it was difficult to read. Traded it away in less than a year. Then spotted an early 1601...silver dial, gold markers and hands, easy to read. Came on a strap...gave it a full service by Rolex. I still semi own it...I'm it's "godfather" so to speak...if the guy wants to sell it he has to offer it to me first. I wish I had the '91 back too...wish I had the Acutrom back as well...but since I have no one to leave my stuff too, I sold it to a collector who appreciates its history.

Nice story, John!!

[greenfan]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

18 actually!!

These two are #17 & 18!!



Now let's see....I've owned the following (including above two!!)

3 x DJs
1 x DATE
3 x GMTs (1 x GMT and 2 x GMT-II)
2 x Exp-IIs (black as well as white dials)
1 x SD
4 x SS Sub dates
3 x TT Subs (one black and 2 blue!)
1 X TT YM

There you go...18 all up!!

It´s time then to get a Daytona and an Air King, since they are the only models you didn´t own

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by greenfan

It´s time then to get a Daytona and an Air King, since they are the only models you didn´t own

Sorry, my friend.....but NO to both. Air-King too damn small at 34 mm on my large wrists....and NO to Daytona for TWO reasons:

1. No date!!
2. The stationary second hand drives me crazy!!

[WES]

Once upon a time, long ago, in 1975, three young men, Charlie, Don and Bill were out for a day of fun in the big city of Boston. After having a fine lunch, Charlie said to his companions, “While we’re here I like to stop by this jewelry store and get a new bracelet for my watch” On the way to the store, he excitedly told them, “this place has the best prices in town!” The jewelry store was located on the sixth floor of the large brick building; the elevator doors opened and the trio made there way over to the area that had glass cases containing watches of every description. Don and Bill looked on, as Charlie removed and placed his watch on the counter, “Do you have a gold and steel Jubilee for this” he asked the salesman. The salesman held up one finger and winked signaling he’d be right back and when he returned, had a small plastic envelope. The salesman opened the envelope, and placed a beautiful watch bracelet on the counter. Charlie smiled and asked the salesman to install it on his watch. “How much do I owe you?” Charlie asked the salesman, two fifty was the reply. At a time in the world when a Speidel watch band cost $3.49, Bill thought to himself “Wow, what a nice looking band and two dollars and fifty cents, this place really does have great prices”, it was only when Charlie started placing twenty dollar bills in the salesman’s hand did he realize it was two hundred and fifty dollars! After the salesman left, Don and Bill both bewildered, asked Charlie to please explain. “This is a special watch, it’s a Rolex! The President of the United States wears a Rolex.” They all went and looked in the case that was full of “special” watches. Bill had always liked a nice watch so that day he took home a catalog with pictures of watches called Day-Date, Date Just, Explorer, and he learned about Oyster cases and Jubilee bracelets. A few months later Bill returned to that store and purchased his first Rolex. A stainless steel Submariner with a date, for the discounted price of $301. Times and prices have changed but Bill still has and enjoys a few other Rolex watches these days; he talks about them to his friends on the Rolex Forum, but he still remembers a time, long ago, and wishes he still had that first “special” watch.

[JJ Irani]

Great story, Bill. Excellent...but with one small request though. Please throw in a few paragraphs to make for easy reading.

I had to pull out my old machette to chop my way through that forest of words!!