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ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX
9 December 2017, 11:04 AM
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#1 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Florida
Watch: 5513,Hulk,GMTII
Posts: 364
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Accidental Rolex
This is how it started for me. I was 19 years old and in the U.S.Army stationed in Kassel Germany. The year was 1965. A friend of mine was previously assigned to the 82nd airborne. He had a beautiful watch he used to time his jumps from the aircraft. This watch had all kinds of buttons and knobs and I was really impressed. It was an Omega Sea Master. I owned literally nothing. Even the green uniform I wore belonged to the Army. I wanted one thing I could call my own. I saved my money for a few months. It's hard to save money when your pay is $127.00 a month. I drank about $100.00 a month in that Great German Beer. One Day I got on a train and headed for Frankfort. Arriving at the Post Exchange, I headed for the watch section and asked to see an Omega Sea Master. the sales Lady informed me they were all out of Omegas, but she said "We have this".She handed me a watch with no buttons, no knobs, no stop watch, no nothing. However, It was a very nice looking watch. I asked what it, as I had never heard of the Brand. She told me it was a Divers watch. So, I bought it. On the train ride back to Kassel, I kept admiring the watch and hoping I had not screwed up by spending $109.00 for a watch I never heard of.
In Kassel my buddies were slapping me on the back and telling me I had a "Rolex" one of the finest watches in the world. I kept thinking "really". That Rolex Sub has been with me for the past 50 Years. I guess I made a good choice, even though I didn't know what I was buying. I had purchased this watch purely by accident. |
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9 December 2017, 11:07 AM
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#2 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Larry
Location: Kentucky
Watch: Yes
Posts: 35,044
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Wow...interesting.
 Can we see some pics? 
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9 December 2017, 11:08 AM
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#3 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 5,622
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That's really awesome, and there's nothing cooler than wearing the same watch for 50 years.
 That $109 price is amazing. $109 in 1967 equates to less than $900 in today's money! |
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9 December 2017, 11:13 AM
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#4 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: USA
Posts: 52
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Great read! I did not buy my Rolex by accident and paid a bit more than $109!!
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9 December 2017, 11:19 AM
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#5 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Northern CA
Watch: Too many
Posts: 120
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Cool story!
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9 December 2017, 11:25 AM
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#6 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: USA
Posts: 384
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Great story Bill, love to hear stories like that. Awesome choice made by accident. Congrats
A wonderful family friend, helicopter pilot in Vietnam purchased in country a 1968 GMT. He flew & mechanic for us and would always take it off while bending wrenches. He would let me admire it, I was 12 years old..the start of my obsession
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"Walking's easy when the road is flat, the Good Lord gave us Mountains so we could learn how to Climb" Lonestar. |
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9 December 2017, 11:38 AM
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#7 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Real Name: MJC
Location: PHL USA
Watch: IWC, Rolex, AP
Posts: 29,232
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Great story! Pics please
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9 December 2017, 11:43 AM
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#8 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Real Name: Angelo
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Watch: Rolex Submariner
Posts: 42,164
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I loved your story Bill. I hope you continue to wear that watch in great health for many years to come.
__________________
Rolex Submariner Omega Seamaster Aqua Terra Tudor Black Bay 58 Blue Tudor Ranger 79910 Nomos Club Datum 733 Nomos Metro 38 Stowa Flieger Classic 40 * Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons * |
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9 December 2017, 11:46 AM
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#9 | |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: USA
Posts: 670
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Quote:
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9 December 2017, 11:53 AM
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#10 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: TX
Posts: 44
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I upvote the inclusion of pics as well please.
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9 December 2017, 02:07 PM
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#11 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Here
Watch: SpeedyPro Explorer
Posts: 235
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Thanks for sharing the story Bill
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9 December 2017, 02:56 PM
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#12 |
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: In Motion
Watch: my wrist presence
Posts: 7,436
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pics please , pretty please .... Awesome story!!!!
Doesn't get any better...
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9 December 2017, 03:03 PM
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#13 | |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: OC
Posts: 1,466
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Quote:
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9 December 2017, 03:05 PM
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#14 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Real Name: Rommel
Location: Toronto Canada
Watch: 116710LN
Posts: 9,202
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Fantastic story! Thanks for sharing and please post some pictures of this watch
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9 December 2017, 03:26 PM
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#15 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2014
Real Name: Dennis
Location: Netherlands
Watch: ♛
Posts: 552
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__________________
♛ 116610LN - 116710BLNR - 116500LN White - 116500LN Black Instagram: @sportwatchmania https://instagram.com/sportwatchmania/ |
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9 December 2017, 03:45 PM
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#16 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Tampa
Watch: SD4K
Posts: 2,674
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Awesome story!!!
I lived in Kassel for many years :)
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Sea-Dweller 116600 - the manly one GMT II 16710 - the manly one Daytona 116500 - the manly-womanly one Yacht-Master 268622 - the chick version Speedy Mitsukoshi <3 Tag Heuer Aquaracer WAF141C.BA0824 - the chick version Thank you logan5tx!!! Have to link it. Too long for the signature. https://www.rolexforums.com/showpost...0&postcount=14 |
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9 December 2017, 04:09 PM
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#17 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: SE Texas
Posts: 11
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9 December 2017, 04:25 PM
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#18 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Dubai/Wales
Watch: Panerai, Rolex
Posts: 170
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The best $109 I bet you have ever spent, great story��
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9 December 2017, 05:02 PM
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#19 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Canada
Posts: 94
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Thanks for sharing, really enjoyed reading it. Continue to enjoy your watch for many years in good health.
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9 December 2017, 05:04 PM
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#20 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Earth
Posts: 1,695
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awesome!
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PP Geneva |
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9 December 2017, 06:16 PM
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#21 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: NL
Watch: Yachtmaster
Posts: 14,757
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Nice story, you still have the paperwork that came with it ?
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Day Date 18238, Yachtmaster 16622, Deepsea 116660, Submariner 116619, SkyD 326935, DJ 178271, DJ 69158, Yachtmaster 169622, GMT 116713LN, GMT 126711. |
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9 December 2017, 06:22 PM
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#22 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2008
Real Name: Tony
Location: England
Posts: 5,459
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A truly wonderful story that I enjoyed reading.
And one that I have to admit being slightly envious of Congratulations and I hope that you are able to post a photo.
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9 December 2017, 06:28 PM
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#23 |
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Banned
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Kingstown
Posts: 58,279
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Your story brings back a lot of memories Bill.
I probably saw you walking out of the PX that day.  I rented an office from Jerry Borelli at the American car wash outside the PX and had a window view of the PX entrance. |
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9 December 2017, 07:58 PM
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#24 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Real Name: Yannis
Location: Europe
Watch: maniac
Posts: 9,070
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Great story man!
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9 December 2017, 08:52 PM
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#25 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2011
Real Name: Steve
Location: Australia
Watch: DSSD
Posts: 20
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What a brilliant story!
I hope to be wearing my watches in 50 years too. |
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9 December 2017, 08:58 PM
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#26 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 472
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Cool story !
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9 December 2017, 09:32 PM
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#27 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Real Name: Scott
Location: HK Georgia, USA
Watch: 5330/8
Posts: 61
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Great story, thank you for your service!
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9 December 2017, 09:53 PM
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#28 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: ByDawns Earlylite
Watch: 16800
Posts: 3,580
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Great story Rocketman! I knew tons of guys that bought Rolex watches from the PX in the late 60's early 70's. If memory serves me correctly, you could by a two tone DJ for around $250.
Times have changed. |
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9 December 2017, 09:58 PM
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#29 |
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Banned
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Florida, Canada
Watch: Rol/Seik/Tud/Omega
Posts: 30,244
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Nice story.
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9 December 2017, 10:57 PM
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#30 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex
Posts: 987
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That’s a great story. Please post some pics.
 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk |
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