Why did you purchase your Rolex?

[oliverrichardsaa]

What was it? What contributed to the purchase of your first Rolex? Did you want to finally feel like you purchased a high quality time piece, or perhaps you did it to show off? I'd welcome a conversation as to why you made your purchase and what it meant to you?

Please feel free to share the model you purchased.

[GradyPhilpott]

The truth is that I wanted one luxury watch in my collection of affordable watches.

I didn't know at the time that Rolex watches are even more addictive than affordable watches.

My first was 114270. I fell madly in love with it as soon as I put it on and had to have it without looking at any other watches in the shop.

With the feeding frenzy going on now, I'm drifting back toward more affordable watches, but now with a keener eye for quality.

Not every watch in a collection needs to be of heirloom quality to be well-made, attractive, durable, and precise.

It's actually a great time to be into watches.

[HogwldFLTR]

I wanted to own a Rolex. I felt it was an accomplishment.

[Cubdrick]

I was always running late and needed a way to tell the time.

Honestly, was leaving for Afghanistan and wanted something to come back to.

[Chewbacca]

All the males in my family going back about 80yrs were watch enthusiasts.

The Rolexeses were my favorite ones. Also Citizens from the 70’s.

[Dr.Smellody]

In my mind it is the best (yes I know there are other (more expensive/more complicated.....brands).

My childhood heros wore them.

It is all I wear now. I could attain some of this other brands but just love the whole Rolex package.

[Ar_Mi]

Growing up I would always see my dad wearing his watch, and even though it wasn't a Rolex it cemented the idea owing a watch in my mind. I wanted to be like my dad. I had the odd swatch and nike watches as a kid. As I got older&older
I become more and more interested in owning one super well made Swiss watch for the rest of my life ( or so I thought).
After doing some research It was more than clear to me that Rolex was the way to go. A robust & beautiful workhorse.
I then purchased my first Rolex, which I still have and wear from time to time. That was it, I was fully bitten by the watch bug. I became obsessed with the idea of keeping time. I now sleep breath and eat watches, and I have Rolex to thank for that

[Tape]

money laundering

[Jojoshop]

A family affair , my dad owns few luxury watches, I use to wear them “only at home” when I was little. Now I bought my own with my own money and I could take them out :-)

[Kyle3130]

Because I had wanted a Submariner since I was a boy and it marked the birth of my son. I plan to wear it until I pass it on to him.

[jrs146]

Call me crazy. But I bought it to tell time.


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[JVGwatches]

Originally Posted by oliverrichardsaa

What was it? What contributed to the purchase of your first Rolex? Did you want to finally feel like you purchased a high quality time piece, or perhaps you did it to show off? I'd welcome a conversation as to why you made your purchase and what it meant to you?



Please feel free to share the model you purchased.

I spent my childhood obsessed w/ my dad’s Day-Date. He used to say that the watch was powered by the movement of his body. When my dad passed, the watch was passed down to my older brother. I got my dad’s Tag, but I knew my first big watch had to be a Rolex.


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[WristCheckDaily]

Finally reached a point of my life where I wanted to buy something nice for myself. The more I though of the idea of a Rolex the more I wanted one. Fell in love with the hulk submariner at first sight and learned that it was nearly impossible to get. Finally pull the trigger when my buddy was on his honey moon and contacted me about an AD that has a hulk. The catch is I had to buy a DJ also...my first Rolex purchase was a combo deal lol


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[BT1985]

My first Rolex was a preowned submariner I received as a gradation gift. My parents pooled their money with my grandparents to buy it for me because they knew it was something I always admired. After the first year I forgot that it was on my wrist as it had just become a part of me. I finally took it in to get serviced ten years later based on a recommendation from a friend. When I didn’t have it on my wrist I realized how much I appreciated it. The fact that I didn’t think about it for ten years was a testament to its quality and reliability which kickstarted my drive to research and collect.


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[s_haverford]

After having saved up some money, I started looking around and saw there were many options for my budget (sub 6K). After months of thinking and looking I was able to try on a OP 36mm with the white face and I just knew.

My watch was to celebrate a new career in my life and with that as the driving factor and being able to find one while on vacation, I pulled the trigger.

Now I am obsessed and am already looking for that next piece. But in due time.

[importstunna]

I was really into divers and bought a Logines Hydroconquest soon after college. It looked like the Rolex Sub which I always dreamed of owning, but couldn't afford at the time. Then an opportunity came up for the Sub which I couldn't pass up. It was all downhill from there into the Rolex geekdom.

[junamuan]

Originally Posted by BT1985

My first Rolex was a preowned submariner I received as a gradation gift. My parents pooled their money with my grandparents to buy it for me because they knew it was something I always admired. After the first year I forgot that it was on my wrist as it had just become a part of me. I finally took it in to get serviced ten years later based on a recommendation from a friend. When I didn’t have it on my wrist I realized how much I appreciated it. The fact that I didn’t think about it for ten years was a testament to its quality and reliability which kickstarted my drive to research and collect.


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Heartfelt story.

[Wcdhtwn]

I had two watches, Omega and IWC. I used to travel for work a lot and was always uneasy with the IWC as it just seemed too fragile, I lost a couple of pushers for the chronograph. So after much reading and research I decided adding a GMT was the right move. the Omega was/is fine for traveling, but once I started getting into Rolex I knew I needed to add one. Well, one at a time...

[oroloi]

For about 40 years Ive always liked the brand for its robust case and movements but chose other brands instead.
Personal choice but also didn't really like the look of them except for the Sub, early last year I decided to buy myself a Sub and was shocked to find it looked very different. I couldn't work out what It was and then it hit me........the fat lugs. So after decades of wanting one I decided its not for me. Shortage didn't matter as I wouldn't have bought one even at a discount.
I decided to buy myself a YM as it was at the top of my list and since they kept the lugs slim it sang to me so I bought it, don't care if its not popular to others I buy watches for myself................absolutely no regrets :)

[tyler1980]

being honest, death

always bothered me i have nothing tangible from my grandfather, and my father who is still alive but doesn't wear watches or anything i would qualify as a personal item that i would be able to have.

Before my first son was born i bought a Rolex.

[SS Oyster]

Bought my first one while an officer in the Navy with my first nuke bonus. I wish it had been a submariner, but I didn't know anything back then, so I bought a SS DJ white roman dial, which I loved. Years later, used it along with $10k to purchase a 1981 Porsche 911SC Targa. Wish I still had that car.

Years later, I knew I really wanted a Submariner, and since my favorite color is green, I got the LV Kermit, which I loved. Wish I still had that one too. This is why I tell people not to "trade up", but instead to just wait until you can afford the next watch.

Why Rolex and why did I get this brand vs. another? Likely because of knowing officers who owned them and wishing I had one.

[Rashid.bk]

Originally Posted by BT1985

My first Rolex was a preowned submariner I received as a gradation gift. My parents pooled their money with my grandparents to buy it for me because they knew it was something I always admired. After the first year I forgot that it was on my wrist as it had just become a part of me. I finally took it in to get serviced ten years later based on a recommendation from a friend. When I didn’t have it on my wrist I realized how much I appreciated it. The fact that I didn’t think about it for ten years was a testament to its quality and reliability which kickstarted my drive to research and collect.


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Great story. This is lost today. Even if someone wanted to genuinely buy a watch for someone, a wife for example who's heard her husband mention a certain Rolex...that person would find it very difficult to walk into any of the popular ADs(Rolex, PP, AP) and simply buy a special gift.

Hopefully they like Omega, IWC or Breitling.

I chose and bought Rolex for their durability and tool watch heritage. As I researched the brand I became enamored with the history of the company. Even though all Rolex are by and large shiny blingy things, they are still the most durable and functional watch on the market to me.

Something as simple as the emphasis Rolex placed on the movement. Time keeping reliability, it hacks and no worry of date manipulation at certain times. Three simple things...but things even high end brands don't match with their highly decorated movements even by today's standards. Some are finally fixing the date manipulating issue just now....this seems like a non issue, but try to explain this to someone who's never owned a mechanical watch, it's very nerve racking.
Love Rolex first, but also love Omega and AP.

[mattskybeat]

I was making the jump from omega after years of reading about and drooling over Rolex watches in various ADs. I started earning some real money and I bought a Daytona 116520. After feeling the quality of the watch I have never looked back.

[Seibei]

Because I am at the correct point of the so called Rolex appreciation curve, meaning that I appreciate Rolex and the quality the stand for.

[Joergen]

When starting collecting watches, many people see Rolex as the "must-have" watch, maybe even a grail. And when the time comes, you have Rolex on top of your mind. It's simply a watch that you must own. This was my thought process in the beginning at least.

[schoolboy]

Great thread!


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[Onikage]

My Omega was looking a bit tatty.

[kegan]

Same reason I did most every other stupid thing in my life, my brother got me into it

[Jeee]

Show off to everyone

[Panych]

Because I could not sleep after I saw my sub in jewelry shop...

The desire to have a rolex appeared when I realized that a recently bought Tag was not really that one what I expected before the purchase from this watch. I understood that I was fooled - caliber 5 carerra is not really luxury one and used movement is not inhouse. Then I started learning watches, brands, etc. This exercise led me to Rolex. Next I have already said above...:)