Wrestling with Rolex: Balancing Memories and Upgrades

[Maxy]

Hey fellow watch aficionados!

Let's talk about the perpetual struggle that many of us face in the world of Rolex collecting. You know what I'm talking about—the constant battle between holding onto cherished memories and succumbing to the temptation of upgrading to the latest and greatest iterations.

Now, I don't know about you, but the recent improvements and corrections in Rolex's catalogue have got me feeling some type of way. On one hand, I've got my trusty Explorer 39 MK1, my very first Rolex. Sure, it's got its flaws, like that annoyingly short minute hand, but man, the memories attached to this bad boy are priceless. Selling it would feel like parting ways with a piece of my horological soul.

Then there's my Sub No Date. It's been my go-to for ages, but let's be real, that minute hand never quite reached the markers like it should. But lo and behold, Rolex goes ahead and fixes that in the Sub 41. Talk about mixed emotions—am I right?

And let's not even get started on the improvements in the 216570 Polar and Datejust II, or the slim markers on the new Daytona. Don't get me wrong, these upgrades are drool-worthy, but upgrading every single watch in my collection? Yeah, not gonna happen.

But here's where it gets tricky. The addition of anti-reflective coating under the crystal? That's a game-changer. Suddenly, my older Rolexes feel a tad... outdated. Take the 124060, for example. It wears on my wrist like a dream, and those cleaner crystals and perfect hands? Chef's kiss But selling off my 114060? Now that's a tough pill to swallow.

So, where does that leave us Rolex enthusiasts? Caught between a rock and a hard place, it seems. On one hand, we've got the nostalgia and sentimental value of our existing collections. On the other, we've got the shiny new upgrades tempting us at every turn.

But hey, isn't that part of the thrill of being a Rolex collector? The constant push and pull, the never-ending quest for that perfect balance between past and present? I don't know about you, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

So here's to all the Rolex collectors out there, navigating the murky waters of sentimentality and perfection. May your collections be filled with memories as timeless as the watches themselves, and may you always find joy in the journey, no matter which Rolex iteration you find yourself lusting after.

Until next time, .

[lamadoo]

I feel you...particularly the AR.

Gotta say congrats on holding onto the 39 Explorer. Those stubby hands made me sell it which I regret doing.

[brandrea]

I can admit to falling into that trap. Many of us here do

What’s good to remember is that Rolex makes incremental changes slowly over time. Part of the beauty of the brand is that even with todays “upgrades” you can still see a direct connection to the past

[travisb]

Nothing wrong with making new memories with a new watch.

[JSolution]

Keep them all, buy new ones with new money. I’m fortune enough
To have bought and owned all I wanted there’s nothing really new for me to try. I’m not interested in vintage. I don’t lust for anything and all the spare money I have just gets re invested :)

I’ve had quite an enlightenment with “money” as of recent years. A friend said to me, write down on a bit of paper everything you want to buy. Do you know what I put on that list? Nothing. Nothing whatsoever. There’s always a bigger watch a better watch a bigger house a better house, car, etc etc etc. It’s all the same at the end of the day. The excitement in material possessions has totally left me.

Owning nothing, owing nothing and being free is a much more appealing sentiment to me than lusting after the next “thing”

Having said that I still wear all of my watches, however rarely anything other than the sd43 these days.

[BraveBold]

Originally Posted by JSolution

Keep them all, buy new ones with new money. I’m fortune enough
To have bought and owned all I wanted there’s nothing really new for me to try. I’m not interested in vintage. I don’t lust for anything and all the spare money I have just gets re invested :)

I’ve had quite an enlightenment with “money” as of recent years. A friend said to me, write down on a bit of paper everything you want to buy. Do you know what I put on that list? Nothing. Nothing whatsoever. There’s always a bigger watch a better watch a bigger house a better house, car, etc etc etc. It’s all the same at the end of the day. The excitement in material possessions has totally left me.

Owning nothing, owing nothing and being free is a much more appealing sentiment to me than lusting after the next “thing”

Having said that I still wear all of my watches, however rarely anything other than the sd43 these days.

Well said.

[1William]

I like the OP's post because he summed up how some collectors fell about the watches they own. Everyone's journey is different and the emphasis we place on our watches is not understood by many. But for those that get it, they understand. I have worked hard not place sentimentality on inanimate objects. I found that hard at first because that is natural to some/most to do that. I save my sentimentality for people, not things. That does not mean that I don't like my watches and everything that goes into ownership and collecting but if they all went away today, I would make it and move on. I don't overthink my buying/selling/trading and I will make a move in a heartbeat if I see an upgrade or improvement to a watch I like. Just bought a 124060 and it really is a better watch than the 114060 to me. No looking back at my 114060, just enjoying the 124060. To sum it up, this is a hobby that should bring you joy and excitement. However that manifests itself.

[Dan Pierce]

Not everybody thinks new = better. Some do & good for them. Many prefer a certain era from the past that best represents what their favorite timepiece should be.
dP

[watchwatcher]

Originally Posted by travisb

Nothing wrong with making new memories with a new watch.

Well said, Travis.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

I enjoy having references to the past in my array of watches and feel that different examples/generations of the same thing is the essence of collecting. Also, I tend to place a little more value on the harder-to-get discontinued item than on the latest Bright Shiny Thing, maybe that comes from years of following my mother around antique stores as a child. Having said that AR is a game changer but not enough for me to trade in perfectly good watches without it that still have stories to tell.

[Ravager135]

Depends on the reference for me. I have "upgraded" Submariners and a GMT-Master II to the latest iterations. In the case of the latter, it was going from the 116710BLNR to the 126710BLRO which was more than just getting a new movement. There are things I liked about the previous generation Submariner and there are things I like about the newer generation Submariner. I preferred the bracelet proportions on the previous model, but prefer the case proportions on the newest model.

Other references I have I would not update because they just mean too much to me. My Explorer II was the first Rolex I bought for myself. It was one of the first six digit Explorer IIs to hit the market, still has the "frosted" clasp before they went to a smooth design. Even if the current model wasn't very close in execution, I'd still keep my Explorer II. I just never made memories with my older Submariners and GMT-Master II and when I was able to get upgrades at MSRP while making a profit selling the older models, I did so.

I think it just varies watch to watch.

[Eric88]

I can TOTALLY relate to this thread. In fact, it reminded me of a thread I started many years ago about the struggle between watches as currency vs. cherished memories.

I have done a little of everything over the years, though I am getting to a more stable collection with a few modern and vintage that keep me happy.

My primary daily wear watch is the 126610LN Sub Date, after owning every variation of modern and vintage Subs...this one is my favorite. The fact that I wore it for my daughter's wedding in 2022 *MIGHT* give me enough nostalgia to never get rid of it.

My Milgauss Z-Blue was bought to commemorate a couple of milestones in life and so it has a special connection as well.

Once you start looking at something new and you're being drawn to it, I find it difficult to resist the urge!

[Gearjockey]

I was reading on this forum the ability to swap non AR crystals for AR crystals for around $2-300. I haven’t checked with my dealer, but normally he has the ability to get this done with OEM parts without RSC.
As far as “upgrading” or swapping the entire reference, I’ll consider it as soon as they address what I (and many others) perceive as the larger issue.

[Maxy]

Originally Posted by Eric88

I can TOTALLY relate to this thread. In fact, it reminded me of a thread I started many years ago about the struggle between watches as currency vs. cherished memories.

I have done a little of everything over the years, though I am getting to a more stable collection with a few modern and vintage that keep me happy.

My primary daily wear watch is the 126610LN Sub Date, after owning every variation of modern and vintage Subs...this one is my favorite. The fact that I wore it for my daughter's wedding in 2022 *MIGHT* give me enough nostalgia to never get rid of it.

My Milgauss Z-Blue was bought to commemorate a couple of milestones in life and so it has a special connection as well.

Once you start looking at something new and you're being drawn to it, I find it difficult to resist the urge!

Nice, a thread from 2010. Looks like problem for ages!

[AK797]

I think to this question the well used TRF saying is most apropos - don't sell, just add. Keep the sentimental and milestone watches and try to add the newer ones when you can. I am going through a bit of a nostalgia phase at the moment and am looking at buying a couple of watches that are not very popular or in now but have meaning to me on my watch journey.

One awakened me to the world of luxury watches and the other to the world of Rolex after a few years of deliberately avoiding the brand, it had a pretty bad rep back then, would you believe!

I almost feel like I owe these two watches, which I did not buy, as looking back without them I would not have done hardly any of the watch learning and buying I have done, if at all. I could have 60K posts on Mumsnet instead!

[S.Explorer]

It depends...I had a used, battered Explorer which I replaced with a new Explorer. I'm happy making memories with the new one. It looks 90% the same as the old one so I'm not that sentimental about the old one but I wanted to be the first owner for a change. The new one I will never sell.

Regarding the new AR underside crystal, Rolex will install on older models.

[roadie1]

A few years ago, there was a post from a guy that lived on a mountain in Scotland. Said he drove an old land rover and wears an old sea dweller. He posted pictures and it was beat to hell and back. It looked freaking awesome! I can’t imagine wearing a watch for so many years doing everything and wanting to trade it in for a shiny new model. I wish I could get to that point L O L. I always end up buying and selling and find it hard to hang onto a watch long enough to make those memories. I do, however have a SD 4K that I bought new 10 years ago it’s not going anywhere although I rarely wear it. Post like his make me want to be a one Watch Guy. I just can’t seem to get there.

[Idcutthat13]

Originally Posted by roadie1

A few years ago, there was a post from a guy that lived on a mountain in Scotland. Said he drove an old land rover and wears an old sea dweller. He posted pictures and it was beat to hell and back. It looked freaking awesome! I can’t imagine wearing a watch for so many years doing everything and wanting to trade it in for a shiny new model. I wish I could get to that point L O L. I always end up buying and selling and find it hard to hang onto a watch long enough to make those memories. I do, however have a SD 4K that I bought new 10 years ago it’s not going anywhere although I rarely wear it. Post like his make me want to be a one Watch Guy. I just can’t seem to get there.

I would enjoy seeing that post if you can find it

[Joearch]

OP, nice post. Over the last 20 years of collecting, I have moved away to some degree about being sentimental towards my pieces. That’s allowed me to make adjustments without getting emotional about the watches and keeping things fresh. That has meant getting rid of newer pieces for older ones in some cases.

[Maxy]

Originally Posted by Joearch

OP, nice post. Over the last 20 years of collecting, I have moved away to some degree about being sentimental towards my pieces. That’s allowed me to make adjustments without getting emotional about the watches and keeping things fresh. That has meant getting rid of newer pieces for older ones in some cases.

Thanks.. maybe I should do it for some of my timepieces as well especially my Polar 216570 but the difference is very minute. Another thought it get rid of both Explorer 39 MK1 + Polar 216570 and fund towards Sky Dweller.

[lamadoo]

Originally Posted by Gearjockey

I was reading on this forum the ability to swap non AR crystals for AR crystals for around $2-300. I haven’t checked with my dealer, but normally he has the ability to get this done with OEM parts without RSC.
As far as “upgrading” or swapping the entire reference, I’ll consider it as soon as they address what I (and many others) perceive as the larger issue.

i believe swapping out non AR crystal for AR ones only applies to model numbers that have received an iteration upgrade and really older pieces from 2000. For example the 116610 submariner can't have an AR crystal.

Correct me if I'm wrong please.