OysterDavid
15 September 2006, 08:38 AM
Well, I've visited the other Rolex sites and forums, but really, this one seems to be the friendliest, so I thought I'd register.
My obsession/relationship with Rolex ownership passed the 30 year mark back in May. It was May of '76 when a 24 year old received a $400 tax refund and decided to write to Bucherer in Lucerne where he first looked at a Rolex while vacationing with his parents 8 years prior.
They sent back a proposal, clipping pictures of the watches, giving me about 5 choices. I chose the DATE 1500 with Oyster bracelet and silver dial. The price? $240. And I had to pay about $12 in duty to the post office. I remember leaving work early to get to the post office to pick up the package. I opened it in the car, used a paper clip to try and adjust the clasp size, and promptly lost the springbar when it 'sproinged' away and behind the back seat. So it was another day when I could get to a jeweler shop to purchase a spring bar and start wearing it. I still wear the watch. I've had it serviced both here and twice sent it to Rolex Geneva for overhaul. I've acquired two more dials for it...a black stick in Switzerland back in '89 and a blue stick purchased in Hong Kong in '96. I purchased a Jubilee bracelet for it as well (back when Rolex still made the 19mm SS Jubilee). So with all of the change possibilities, I figure I've got about 6 different watches with that one.
I purchased a 15037 DATE (14K solid) on the Swiss visit in '89 with an Oyster bracelet. Because of my wrist size (small) Bucherer took out a link from the riveted bracelet.
Life's had its ups and downs through the years, and it was only in the past two months that I made an effort to see what's shakin' with Rolex on the internet...and boy has it been fun! It was on these forums that I saw pictures of the two toned Yachtmaster mid size model, and so last week pulled the trigger on a gently used model, and for watch number 3, it's a keeper. The 40mm would be too big on me, but this one fits great.
My fascination with Rolex began like some others, through reading the Ian Flemming James Bond books back in the 60's. I figured it was OK to get the watch, but not the Baretta. My dad had what I now know to be a bubbleback with a salmon colored dial from the post WWII era. That was his daily watch, and I remember him sending it to NY Rolex for servicing and being thrilled they offered to sell him an Oyster bracelet to replace the original leather strap. In a fit of I don't know what, he sold that watch in the 80's for $600 to one of those services advertising 'WE BUY USED ROLEX'. Now that he's passed on, I would have loved to have had that watch.
There you go. Probably much more than you'd want to know about a newly registered member.
Thanks for the forum, and I look forward to reading and occasionally posting in this friendly place.
Aloha.
My obsession/relationship with Rolex ownership passed the 30 year mark back in May. It was May of '76 when a 24 year old received a $400 tax refund and decided to write to Bucherer in Lucerne where he first looked at a Rolex while vacationing with his parents 8 years prior.
They sent back a proposal, clipping pictures of the watches, giving me about 5 choices. I chose the DATE 1500 with Oyster bracelet and silver dial. The price? $240. And I had to pay about $12 in duty to the post office. I remember leaving work early to get to the post office to pick up the package. I opened it in the car, used a paper clip to try and adjust the clasp size, and promptly lost the springbar when it 'sproinged' away and behind the back seat. So it was another day when I could get to a jeweler shop to purchase a spring bar and start wearing it. I still wear the watch. I've had it serviced both here and twice sent it to Rolex Geneva for overhaul. I've acquired two more dials for it...a black stick in Switzerland back in '89 and a blue stick purchased in Hong Kong in '96. I purchased a Jubilee bracelet for it as well (back when Rolex still made the 19mm SS Jubilee). So with all of the change possibilities, I figure I've got about 6 different watches with that one.
I purchased a 15037 DATE (14K solid) on the Swiss visit in '89 with an Oyster bracelet. Because of my wrist size (small) Bucherer took out a link from the riveted bracelet.
Life's had its ups and downs through the years, and it was only in the past two months that I made an effort to see what's shakin' with Rolex on the internet...and boy has it been fun! It was on these forums that I saw pictures of the two toned Yachtmaster mid size model, and so last week pulled the trigger on a gently used model, and for watch number 3, it's a keeper. The 40mm would be too big on me, but this one fits great.
My fascination with Rolex began like some others, through reading the Ian Flemming James Bond books back in the 60's. I figured it was OK to get the watch, but not the Baretta. My dad had what I now know to be a bubbleback with a salmon colored dial from the post WWII era. That was his daily watch, and I remember him sending it to NY Rolex for servicing and being thrilled they offered to sell him an Oyster bracelet to replace the original leather strap. In a fit of I don't know what, he sold that watch in the 80's for $600 to one of those services advertising 'WE BUY USED ROLEX'. Now that he's passed on, I would have loved to have had that watch.
There you go. Probably much more than you'd want to know about a newly registered member.
Thanks for the forum, and I look forward to reading and occasionally posting in this friendly place.
Aloha.