How Did It Begin For You?

[Al1988]

As a relative newbie to this community it has taken me some time to get a feel for the place and as of late i've noticed a divide between vintage and modern Rolex opinions. This got me thinking the other day, how long ago or rather how did your love of vintage begin?

Was the vintage of today your modern of the day? By that I mean, when you first entered the world of Rolex, what was a modern Rolex? Was it a Sub 5513, was it a Daytona 16520, is it currently a GMT 116710? What were the latest models when you began?

Do you think if all the variations of the Daytona for example, ranging from the early cosmograph models down to the latest 116520, were available to you as brand new models in production from day one you would instinctively be drawn to what we now consider Vintage?

Or rather do you think experiencing the current crop of modern Rolex first hand was necessary for you to then appreciate the history of the current line up and move towards vintage?

I personally did not see the appeal of vintage until I was 'enlightened'. I bought my first real watch, one can say at 17, an Omega Seamaster. I chose it over a Sub 16610 as at the time I preferred the look of the Omega. However, less than a year later I found myself drawn to many different Rolex models. I bought my first Rolex, a GMT II 116710 and then a Sub Date 16610 at the ages of 19 and 20 respectively. Even after purchasing my 116520 Daytona I still did not find myself attracted to vintage models. Sure, I appreciated them, I read their histories with awe but I still didn't like them.

Fast forward 6 months and I find myself lusting after more vintage pieces than I can ever dream of owning. Yet I don't see myself entering that world for a long time as I just don't know enough, I have a certain fear shall we say about taking the plunge and I think that it takes a certain maturity, or rather experience within this world to fully appreciate it now.

So to cut this short (apologies if i've bored you), how did it begin for you? I don't think I would have grown to appreciate the quality and history that are vintage Rolex unless I had experienced what I consider modern Rolex. As someone who didn't grow up with what we now consider to be vintage, as the modern of my day, I find the experiences of those of you who did to be ever more fascinating!