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What’s the story of your first Rolex?
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.I had been in a week long conference in Budapest. Friday morning, we are all at the airport watching the snow and delays piling up. Despite my hangover from closing festivities the night before, I had the presence of mind to go to the Lufthansa service counter. “I have to be home Saturday, I said.” “ I can get you out of here now.” Said she, “but you’ll have a 7 hour layover in Frankfurt and a transfer in DC.” “Done” I said. So this is the result of hanging out in the Frankfurt Senator Lounge for seven hours, going for a walk halfway through and browsing at Wempe. Good thing I had been pricing these GMT’s. I did pretty well. The weighty feeling of strapping on that shiny hunk of SS was incredible. The only unpleasant memory was having 35 minutes to clear Dulles customs and run like hell for the Chicago flight. “Here comes another runner! “ The attendant said as she handed me a bottle of water!
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Prestonbarnett
·About 5 months after buying a birthyear Speedy for my 30th birthday, and having convinced myself and my wife that it was the last major purchase, I found myself wanting a Rolex. I had been pretty indifferent to Rolex and had previously decided that it wasn’t for me. But there was just something about the older Subs 🙄
Short story short I somehow ended up pulling the trigger on a 14060M and I still remember the feeling, when I opened the box: love at first sight.
I have since bought several Rolex. Even with all the hype and retards wearing them, they still speak more to me than most currently Omega models.
If my next purchase wasn’t to be a Rolex it would probably be a Glashutte Original SeaQ (if only the panorama date would come in a 41mm case)
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Uniqez
·
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Scarecrow Boat
··Burt Macklin, FBIMy first is this 1969 Air King. It has only ignited a fire in me to "graduate" to another Rolex lol!
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mjb
·I can't remember exact details, but I think my first "real" watch was a quartz Seamaster. I sold it for unknown reasons, and bought a Breitling while on vacation in the Bahamas. A friend told me that I was a fool buying another quartz watch (true), and after that point, with the exception of one other quartz Seamaster (because I had a Speedy in there somewhere that kept lousy time despite a service) I've stayed with automatics.
So... another friend of mine had a Submariner, and he kept telling me "buy a Rollie". It wasn't until I was in my forties and I had paid off the mortgage on my house that I felt that I could splurge on an expensive watch like that. I bought a previously loved 14060M which was great, except that I thought the bracelet was crap. I sold it, and the guy returned it to me because it had been polished. That was my introduction to the obsessive OCD Rolex ownership club. I kept it for another couple of months, but the siren song of the newer, "solid link" bracelet called to me, so I bought the newer model (114060) and sold the 14060M. I subsequently sold the 114060, and have bought and sold several more including a couple of BLNR, TT sub (blue), LV, and a couple of Daytonas. Now I'm full circle and want another 14060M, but they are too stupid expensive for what they are. I'd rather have a couple of my Omegas, quite frankly, than one sub.
So... another friend of mine had a Submariner, and he kept telling me "buy a Rollie". It wasn't until I was in my forties and I had paid off the mortgage on my house that I felt that I could splurge on an expensive watch like that. I bought a previously loved 14060M which was great, except that I thought the bracelet was crap. I sold it, and the guy returned it to me because it had been polished. That was my introduction to the obsessive OCD Rolex ownership club. I kept it for another couple of months, but the siren song of the newer, "solid link" bracelet called to me, so I bought the newer model (114060) and sold the 14060M. I subsequently sold the 114060, and have bought and sold several more including a couple of BLNR, TT sub (blue), LV, and a couple of Daytonas. Now I'm full circle and want another 14060M, but they are too stupid expensive for what they are. I'd rather have a couple of my Omegas, quite frankly, than one sub.
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watch3s
·Growing up, rolex was uninteresting to me as all I knew was the datejust and submariner date. You see those quite often in nyc. Also, its connotation in asian culture and association with wealth. I have always liked watches and been interested in time pieces since I was a kid and tinkered with cheap stuff. However, after graduating college I was passing by a usual haunt for me that in chinatown, a little place called Alltiques run by John Cristicello, a rolex caught my eye. I had never seen anything like it because of the aversion I developed in my younger years to rolex. It was a polar explorer 2. I was instantly fascinated by the watch and decided I had to have one. I was rather disappointed to learn they had discontinued the model shortly before my interest and realized it would be impossible to buy one mint. After a long search, I bought one on ebay in black 
that had an aftermarket dial by mistake. It went back to the dealer, and the search continued. I eventually ended up with a Z serial 3186 with no engraved rehaut. I later discovered the submariner and still wonder if I had done more research which watch I wouldve bought.
that had an aftermarket dial by mistake. It went back to the dealer, and the search continued. I eventually ended up with a Z serial 3186 with no engraved rehaut. I later discovered the submariner and still wonder if I had done more research which watch I wouldve bought.
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Stripey
·About three years ago, I figured that was right time to get myself a Rolex. It was to celebrate little job promotion. Unfortunately, size wasn't right for me and I ended up selling it. I wish I had cool story, like some folks here. But this watch got me into the Rolex rabbit hole.
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Stripey
·
I'm actually going to look at this next week - if I push the button, that will be my first Rolex.
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Uniqez
·I've thought I would never like that arrangement with the Roman numerals based on pictures of that dial in displays. However, looking at it on the wrist, I've changed my view. That looked really nice.
P.S. Seller had these also available at the time:
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Stripey
·In fact, I never thought , I'll ended up with one myself. When I was buying it - seller had few other ones. By looking at the pictures he sent, I have my mind set on the different airking, but when I seen this in metal, there was not even a question "which one should I get?".
P.S. Seller had these also available at the time:
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SpeedyPhill
·In 1998 I wanted to swap 3 Speedies against a Rolex... but the owner wasn't interested in trading several Omega's against a Rolex...
A bit the same story when, as a bachelor in the 1980s, I went to buy my first Porsche 911 and the dealer didn't want to takeover my 1958 MG-A sportscar... " sorry mate we don't trade in wheelbarrows "... were his exact words !
A bit the same story when, as a bachelor in the 1980s, I went to buy my first Porsche 911 and the dealer didn't want to takeover my 1958 MG-A sportscar... " sorry mate we don't trade in wheelbarrows "... were his exact words !
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Stripey
·In 1998 I wanted to swap 3 Speedies against a Rolex... but the owner wasn't interested in trading several Omega's against a Rolex...
A bit the same story when, as a bachelor in the 1980s, I went to buy my first Porsche 911 and the dealer didn't want to takeover my 1958 MG-A sportscar... " sorry mate we don't trade in wheelbarrows "... were his exact words !
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alfanator
·
I was 16, mom buys me a pawn shop SS Rolex Oyster date for my birthday. Says, this will hold its value, and if you are in need you could cash it in. I asked her to take it back and just get me a fashion watch, which is much cheaper. She sighs and says, cheaper yes but worth nothing, but if that is what you want no problem. I did not understand the lesson. I got a quartz fashion watch.
When I was 21, I buy a new Oyster Date for $1600 with my own money from first job out of Uni, wear it for 5 years, got bored with it sold it for $1600 to fund 321 Speedmasters to flip (this was in 1996 and they could be found for $500). Mom was right, buy assets not expenses. Took this idiot 10 years to learn that simple lesson.
On my wrist now, a Red Sub i picked up for $2500 when i was in grad school in 1998, funded by flipping 321 Speedmasters 😀 That was the next Rolex after the one I sold when I was 26, so i guess it is my second. But this is my forever watch. Wore it on my 50th a few days ago.
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nurseford25
·Mine was in Dec 2018 when my wife and I were in Maui for our 5th wedding anniversary along with my brother and his wife also celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary. We popped into the boutique to see they had any subs. Not a sub in sight of course. We chit chatted a bit and left our information. The week went by and I never expected to hear anything. On the day before we left I got called and said if I could get to the store when they opened it was mine. We all rushed over and they not only had the sub I wanted but the sub date my brother wanted too. My brother and I ended up both purchasing subs. It was a fantastic experience to commemorate my 5th anniversary, my recent 35th birthday, purchase a lifelong souvenir and share a great memory with my brother.
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Stripey
·So the story of my first Rolex is that today I pushed the button on the watch I mentioned above. Drove to the seaside from London on a day's holiday, had some socially distanced coffee and a panini in a cafe, had a bit of a walk around Ramsgate (which has a few places that buy and sell watches and jewellery), and then bought this. It will forever be my lockdown watch. I'm a big fan of the gilt on black. There's something really lovely about winding it as well.
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Martin_J_N
·Wow, after reading so many awesome stories the arrival of my Rolex is very mundane by comparison.
Having bought a Speedy earlier in the year I had no intention of getting another watch, then saw Omega's white dial Seamaster diver which I fell in and out of love with very quickly so abandoned that planned purchase, my wife told me not to get another Omega as I had two why not get something different, so a trip into the Rolex dealer happened, a look at a Datejust 41 an order and three weeks later the call.
Strangely the watch I ordered (White dial on an Oyster) was not what I ended up with, on arrival at the store I was surprised to see a Silver dial on a Jubilee and a Rhodium dial on a Jubilee in the window as a delivery had arrived the day before, I left with the Rhodium and it is stunning.
Having bought a Speedy earlier in the year I had no intention of getting another watch, then saw Omega's white dial Seamaster diver which I fell in and out of love with very quickly so abandoned that planned purchase, my wife told me not to get another Omega as I had two why not get something different, so a trip into the Rolex dealer happened, a look at a Datejust 41 an order and three weeks later the call.
Strangely the watch I ordered (White dial on an Oyster) was not what I ended up with, on arrival at the store I was surprised to see a Silver dial on a Jubilee and a Rhodium dial on a Jubilee in the window as a delivery had arrived the day before, I left with the Rhodium and it is stunning.
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NickC
·My dad had always promised me a Rolex for my 21st. He had a nice little collection building and said I could go for whichever one I wanted - within reason.
It's 1999 so we go to the Bond Street boutique and they have pretty much everything going.
I had (still so actually) quite slim wrists and as soon as I tried on this AirKing, I loved it. Loved the blue dial , the numerals etc. I remember my dad asking if I was sure it was the one I wanted, slightly confused that I'd chosen basically the cheapest watch in the shop. I still think its a pretty perfect watch, it works with every style of clothing and is still an under rated piece.
It's 1999 so we go to the Bond Street boutique and they have pretty much everything going.
I had (still so actually) quite slim wrists and as soon as I tried on this AirKing, I loved it. Loved the blue dial , the numerals etc. I remember my dad asking if I was sure it was the one I wanted, slightly confused that I'd chosen basically the cheapest watch in the shop. I still think its a pretty perfect watch, it works with every style of clothing and is still an under rated piece.
