We all started somewhere

[roadcarver]

So I'm sure most of us didn't start wearing Rolex right off the bat. My question to you all is what was were your watch(es) prior to owning a Rollie?

My very first watch was an Alba quartz (unknown brand), and then the Casio databank which my dad bought for us when he visited Hong Kong.

I also had a Citizen automatic but only wore it a few years.. then came my Timex Ironman which I wore quite a bit.

After graduating from College, I bought myself the Seiko 150m chronograph (quartz) which I wore for 6 years and retired it after getting my Seiko 200m divers.

The rest is history... being followed by my Omega SMP, Rolex 14060, and the Steinhart GMT Ocean1.

[mike]

I had a Timex or two, but when I got my first Rolex at 19 the rest was as they say history.
Rolex...Thanks for the memories!!

[Mark]

Hated wearing them.

That changed the day I started wearing a high quality, attractive timepiece.

Funny how things turn out.

[Rto]

Mine was a Casio that had a lot of musics to be played as the alarm theme! But that was when I was maybe 10...
Then I felt in love with Tag Heuer as a manufacturer (I still admire it and have some)... Rolex was a brand for "old guys".. but suddenly I became more familiar with the sports series and got my 1st Rolie: a YM Plat SS...then, you all know...I got sick with ROLEX... and more recently started liking very much classic ones as well (I do not have one yet, but will! Maybe a DD WG with dark MOP dial)

[astcell]

My "most expensive" watch was a Casio with LCD display (a big deal for 1980). Light as a feather and it had tons of functions. Well, maybe 4, hehe. It was a lot back then. Then I went on to Seiko and other watches in the $200-$700 range but never was happy.

[Launch Mini]

My mechanical watch fasination was wayyyy back.
Dad had a mechanical/auto timex. He told me as soon as I learned to tell time, he would buy me one. Well later that afternoon I had one on my wrist.
I had that one for years.
Later on had a few digitals, until my Airking arrived about 18 years ago.

[C.J.]

OMG! I had sooooooo many. I've been a watch freak since I was a kid, but I always looked for something different or cool looking not so much the craftsmanship behind it. My first nice watch was a well used third hand no date Sub at 19 YOA. I got it because I wanted a Rolex, just for the name, nothing else. Once I had a nice mechanical, it was all down hill from there. I got into the soul of mechanicals big time and they've only gotten more expensive from there

[JJ Irani]

Let's wind back to 1955 - quartz did not even exist then. I was only 9 at the time.

My dad gave me a "cheap" WEST-END WATCH CO. hand-wound mechanical watch. Very simple in design on a SS bracelet.

Curiosity got the better of me so I opened it up one day to find out what the hell made it tick!!

Dad came home and gave me a clout across the back of my head. I had stuffed up the watch good!! And that was the end of that. I was to be without a watch for a few years then....and at the age of 12 got a SEIKO as a gift.

JJ

[mailman]

I had a hand wound Timex with a date feature when I was a kid. Then my grandfather gave me his father's hand wound auto Wittnauer that I wore for a very long time. I still have it. I had a few Swatch watches when they were in style in high school. A few Timex Ironman watches that I still have. One of them still has the original battery from '94 and is still running. When we were dating my wife bought me a Quartz Citizen for a dress watch. I always liked watches.

[amanda]

I think my earliest watch was a Mickey Mouse watch, a Christmas gift from my parents then for my 21st I got a Seiko Quartz from my late Grandma, I LOVE that watch and will never ever part with it. I can remember shopping for it 14 yrs ago now with my Grandma (35 I am now). I wore that for a while and then it got put away in its box where it sits with no battery in it. If my memory serves me correct I wore it for about 7yrs until I hurt my left hand, the ugly scar put me off wanting or wearing any watch

Then I got a Tag Heuer ladies model but had to part with it about 8yrs ago to raise some cash when I lost my job after that Mini-Sub, a Fossil here and there, a Seiko 5 Automatic Diver, a rare Vintage ladies Seamaster and now the GMT

[mailman]

Originally Posted by amanda

I think my earliest watch was a Mickey Mouse watch, a Christmas gift from my parents then for my 21st I got a Seiko Quartz from my late Grandma, I LOVE that watch and will never ever part with it. I can remember shopping for it 14 yrs ago now with my Grandma (35 I am now). I wore that for a while and then it got put away in its box where it sits with no battery in it. If my memory serves me correct I wore it for about 7yrs until I hurt my left hand, the ugly scar put me off wanting or wearing any watch

Then I got a Tag Heuer ladies model but had to part with it about 8yrs ago to raise some cash when I lost my job after that Mini-Sub, a Fossil here and there, a Seiko 5 Automatic Diver, a rare Vintage ladies Seamaster and now the GMT

You've had some nice stuff Amanda Other than the Seiko Quartz, do you still have any of the others?

[Uncle-AJ]

When I arrived in Saudi, over 33 years ago, I was wearing a Poljot. When this let water in, I got a Seiko and kept that for a few years. Next on the list was an Omega Speedmaster, then later a Cartier Santos. I still have both and wear them occasionally. After these I bought a Bertulucci Pulcra Maris but had a few problems with it, the result being I was sent a new replacement watch which I immediately part exchanged for my TT sub. Since the sub I've had a Panerai PAM93, now sold on and a Glycine Combat Auto which I use everyday. In between all these I've got a collection of Swatch watches and one or two others, a Mido etc.

My dad had a Bulova manual wind and that got me started. My first watch was a Cardinal digital, I moved through a couple of Casio digitals (needed stopwatch function for track and cycling in high school). In university I got a Seiko Sport 100 Chrono Moon Phase and I wore that one until I got my TAG Heuer Kirium while on my honeymoon.

A few years later I got my first ever mechanical watch, my Rolex Explorer II, which I wore daily for three years, at which point the Seiko Black Monster joined the rotation. Six months later I got my Panerai PAM01B and that's me.

[Rockrolex]

The first watch I can remember is a chep Russian watch that I bought at the 1967 World's Fair in Montreal. I think that one lasted until I got home.

After that, I recall getting a Seiko Quartz with a solar assist battery. It was all digital with multifunctions. From there I graduated to Casio analog dial quartz watches that had multi-functions, particularly including memory. That collection started from a trip to Hong Kong where I saw the hugh variety of watches all the stores had. I knew someone would have a watch with an analog face and memory. And so they did. After that, I kept collecting all the flavors of Casios with those features. I now have about 10 of them.

But then i discovered Rolex about 5 years ago. That started me on the downward spiral into watch sickness. Haven't worn a Casio since I got my first Rolex.

[Langnam]

Man, I just went through a mental list, and I've gone through a pile of watches before I got my first Rolex just about 5 years ago. Here goes:

From second through 6th grade, many timex mechanicals

7th grade through 9th grade, assorted sport watches (looked like Rolex Subs) and a Gruen.

1978 Seiko Bullhead Chronograph
1984 Movado Sports Edition SS--College Graduation present
1987 Cartier Tank Watch -Quartz
1997 Chopard LUC Gold Dress Watch
1999 Breitling Navitimer Premier - Chrono

Also a few assorted Timex Indiglos and a Swatch.

I never sell anything, so I've got all the watches since 1978. All kid stuff is lost or broken, and I did sell the Gruen to a friend while in high school. He still has the watch.

I started with an old "electric" watch around grade 7 - not quartz and it was like a Bulova Accutron but it was a "store brand" watch from the local shop. Then I actually got an Accutron years later. I wore that Accutron for many years until it was damaged beyond repair, then I was given an old Bulova hand wound mechanical. I still have that and am trying to get it running again when I have time. I had to stop wearing it because the glass crystal fell out.....

Here it is before I started working on it - it needs some love:



Then I bought a cheap quartz to get me through college, and after I graduated I bought what was at the time a fairly expensive quartz Seiko. About 2 years after that, I bought a Longines model 1000 quartz. I had seen them advertized on TV for years before and it was the watch I really wanted for a long time. I think I paid $1,200 for it back in about 1991.......

Here it is - sorry for the poor picture:



I wore that for about 10 years, and then bought my TT YM. About 2 years after that, I bought my JLC amaster Moon, a year later the GO PanoReserve, and recently flipped the YM for the Blancpain.

Along the way I bought some other cheaper watches (Seiko 5 sport and a vintage frankenwatch - let's not go there thanks.....) and of course I made two watches through the TZ watch school, and have been working on some older mechanicals I have inherited. I have most of the watches I've ever owned.

[Otis]

Hey, I don't know what I'm doing here as I don't even own a Rolex!

Being relatively new to the WIS world, I'm just starting to get an appreciation and an idea of some of the brands and their stories, and I can tell it's going to be one quick, downhill ride!

It started about 2 years ago, when I was mesmerized by Longines ad, and went out and bought a TT quartz dress watch. I recently sold this one, as I just didn't wear it anymore, and didn't want to replace the battery


Last November I bought myself an Omega Speedmaster Pro 3570.5, as a bit of a reward for finishing university and surviving a year in full-time work.


Earlier this year I bough another Omega, the 2531.8, my bond watch. I got it at a fantastic price at LNIB condition, and it's a great, solid watch.


Two watches in a year is enough, so I'm going to wait a while until something really smiles at me. I've also got an old Heuer split-seconds stopwatch that belonged to my father while he was studying engineering.

[amanda]

Originally Posted by mailman

You've had some nice stuff Amanda Other than the Seiko Quartz, do you still have any of the others?

No mailman, to help fund my GMT I sold off the lot I am going to regret the passing of the Mini-Sub that I do know. The vintage omega was tiny and looked ridiculous on me, so that was a no brainer!

I love leather straps, so the panerai has really caught my eye but it'll be some time before I can 'justify' buying one. My partner doesnt share my passion on this one and gives me a very very hard time about this... thats my downfall, its not what I earn.. I earn a good buck and the funds are there!!!! I could cry......

[amanda]

hey otis, you own some of the best watches ever made I reckon, that Speedy Pro is a cracker of a watch.. if I was a bloke, thats what I'd be going for . But on my wrist I just find it too masculine....

[roadcarver]

Hi Otis,

Omegas are very fine time pieces! I have an Omega SMP Pro chrono myself, and it's built like a tank!

I bought four watches in a year and that's enough for me (including my wedding wife's anniversary present)... actually enough for a few years

Originally Posted by Otis

Hey, I don't know what I'm doing here as I don't even own a Rolex!

Being relatively new to the WIS world, I'm just starting to get an appreciation and an idea of some of the brands and their stories, and I can tell it's going to be one quick, downhill ride!

It started about 2 years ago, when I was mesmerized by Longines ad, and went out and bought a TT quartz dress watch. I recently sold this one, as I just didn't wear it anymore, and didn't want to replace the battery


Last November I bought myself an Omega Speedmaster Pro 3570.5, as a bit of a reward for finishing university and surviving a year in full-time work.


Earlier this year I bough another Omega, the 2531.8, my bond watch. I got it at a fantastic price at LNIB condition, and it's a great, solid watch.


Two watches in a year is enough, so I'm going to wait a while until something really smiles at me. I've also got an old Heuer split-seconds stopwatch that belonged to my father while he was studying engineering.

[Otis]

Originally Posted by amanda

hey otis, you own some of the best watches ever made I reckon, that Speedy Pro is a cracker of a watch.. if I was a bloke, thats what I'd be going for . But on my wrist I just find it too masculine....

Thanks!

Yeah, it's a beauty alright.
Congrats on the pepsi too. The GMT fantastic.
I'm always trying to convince my female friends to get a nice SS sports watch, but they look at me like I have a problem.
Oh, and I'm never going to say "instead of those 70 pairs of shoes, you could have gotten a rolex" again.

[mailman]

Originally Posted by amanda

No mailman, to help fund my GMT I sold off the lot I am going to regret the passing of the Mini-Sub that I do know. The vintage omega was tiny and looked ridiculous on me, so that was a no brainer!

I love leather straps, so the panerai has really caught my eye but it'll be some time before I can 'justify' buying one. My partner doesnt share my passion on this one and gives me a very very hard time about this... thats my downfall, its not what I earn.. I earn a good buck and the funds are there!!!! I could cry......

Well amanda if it's any consolation, you're not the only one who has this problem. My wife could care less about having a high end watch. I'm sure if Ibought her one she would wear and enjoy it. But on the other hand, that translates into more for me. See, there's a good side to it after all.