Community Stories

OK - who has the most patience?

hockey
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What is the longest you have waited from the time you made up your mind to acquire a certain watch to the time you actually found it and then purchased it?

I'll start. It took me four years to find a nice 80 micron gold plated 2545 - sweet 39 mm case diameter. I ended up selling it a few months later because one of the lugs was bent and it could not be safely repaired.

1951 2545.jpg
 
Deafboy
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I'll play.

Introducing the Longines 2803. cal.370 from 1966 I purchased off ebay. I had seen another one 2 1/2 years prior but regretted not pulling the trigger then. In retrospect I'm happy because the one I purchased is in nicer condition and came with its matching bracelet. It's a very nice watch though the style is "out of fashion" and rather smallish.

Longines.jpg
Edited:
 
gbesq
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Four years to find a mint 1950s Genève. Made a mistake along the way and bought an overpolished gold plated model (but with a nearly perfect dial). Sold that one at a small loss and found what I was looking for a few months ago.
47A40EC9-3BF5-45BC-921B-B1A33B2A3183.jpeg 2F18BC7C-C9E9-4399-85B4-D5AE8FCD0156.jpeg A2C67248-15F7-4C67-8B12-4F7807B418B7.jpeg BD5C5B63-1A2C-4AD3-8D3E-0B9F4CCC4E04.jpeg
 
Marsimaxam
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My story begins in late 1989, I walked into a vintage watch dealer store on Melrose Ave and saw a Rolex 5513 Submariner with a perfect gilt dial and rich patina. I asked the owner if I could look at the watch which he said I could, but, it was already sold. At that point I decided I wanted one. Prices weren’t crazy back then but finding a great example wasn’t easy. I bid on a few in auction, Sotheby’s and Butterfield’s, but I was always the underbidder. I expanded my search to include the 5512 which was essentially the same watch except with a COSC rated movement. Years passed as I continued the search looking for the right one. In 1993, I was participating in a chat group for vintage Rolex collectors, the site no longer exists, and I mentioned my search for a 5512 or 5513.The next morning I received an email from an American who was living in China who wanted to sell his 5512. He sent me some images and I knew my search had ended. Almost 4 years later I purchased the 5512... and still have today.
592DA93B-73C1-451E-AB02-DDD70408CA66.jpeg A075B651-DEC8-4657-8940-CECADF7D8B91.png
 
hockey
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Marsimaxam Marsimaxam
My story begins in late 1989, I walked into a vintage watch dealer store on Melrose Ave and saw a Rolex 5513 Submariner with a perfect gilt dial and rich patina. I asked the owner if I could look at the watch which he said I could, but, it was already sold. At that point I decided I wanted one. Prices weren’t crazy back then but finding a great example wasn’t easy. I bid on a few in auction, Sotheby’s and Butterfield’s, but I was always the underbidder. I expanded my search to include the 5512 which was essentially the same watch except with a COSC rated movement. Years passed as I continued the search looking for the right one. In 1993, I was participating in a chat group for vintage Rolex collectors, the site no longer exists, and I mentioned my search for a 5512 or 5513.The next morning I received an email from an American who was living in China who wanted to sell his 5512. He sent me some images and I knew my search had ended. Almost 4 years later I purchased the 5512... and still have today.
592DA93B-73C1-451E-AB02-DDD70408CA66.jpeg A075B651-DEC8-4657-8940-CECADF7D8B91.png
What a good story, thanks for sharing. Nice watch too!
 
STANDY
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I pestered a member for 3-4 years for a watch, sent him check ups every few months. Bought a few other watches and offered to throw the money in for the watch I was after every time. Offered to buy it off him when he mentioned he had just bought or wanted to buy. Plenty of “can help you free up some funds” comments linked to posts and threads.

Some are hard to break, but you need patience.

(This thread reminded me to send a PM to another member 😉)
 
emilio
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Marsimaxam Marsimaxam
My story begins in late 1989, I walked into a vintage watch dealer store on Melrose Ave and saw a Rolex 5513 Submariner with a perfect gilt dial and rich patina. I asked the owner if I could look at the watch which he said I could, but, it was already sold. At that point I decided I wanted one. Prices weren’t crazy back then but finding a great example wasn’t easy. I bid on a few in auction, Sotheby’s and Butterfield’s, but I was always the underbidder. I expanded my search to include the 5512 which was essentially the same watch except with a COSC rated movement. Years passed as I continued the search looking for the right one. In 1993, I was participating in a chat group for vintage Rolex collectors, the site no longer exists, and I mentioned my search for a 5512 or 5513.The next morning I received an email from an American who was living in China who wanted to sell his 5512. He sent me some images and I knew my search had ended. Almost 4 years later I purchased the 5512... and still have today.
592DA93B-73C1-451E-AB02-DDD70408CA66.jpeg A075B651-DEC8-4657-8940-CECADF7D8B91.png

that’s a serious story and a damn good looking watch!
 
Concer
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Marsimaxam Marsimaxam
My story begins in late 1989 [...]

Very nice story. this shows that long waiting is often worth it 😀
 
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