A return to Rolex - 2023 SOTC

[kilyung]

Excellent collection. I think “awareness” sums up the AP experience perfectly. I went through much the same experience with AP.

[NachoNeal]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Thanks! It's a 114270. Not sure which year it is. I actually bought the watch off a friend's wrist who owns a shop. I asked to try it on and knew I had to have it.

That sounds like a pretty classic story.

[travisb]

Great collection! I’ve had my stints (obsession) with AP and PAM amongst others but always return to Rolex.


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[alphadweller]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Perceived ruggedness maybe? A dinged up Rolex, I can live with. My first Rolex was a Hulk in my 20s, and I abused the thing on nights going out to the bar, accidentally dragging it against a brick wall or falling down face first. The damage incurred was some scratches on the bezel teeth and a cracked pip. But the watch still looked class.

A scratched Royal Oak bezel from taking out the trash, well, that felt annoying. Beyond that the flashiness of the satin/polish, the individual average cost of the watches, just really occupied my head space. Just seemed like I was always aware I was wearing an AP, always catching my eye even when I didn't want to think about it. That wearing experience was not fun for me, if not exhausting. Perhaps the mundanity of a Rolex allows me to engage when I want to and be pleasantly surprised at the same time.

Originally Posted by tifosi

I can totally relate to this. I had a short stint with a ROO Diver (probably the most robust of the ROs, haha) and I felt the same way. I was always super conscious that I was wearing it, treated it waaay different than my Subs. I felt it was way more delicate and treated it as such.

Now, I daily a gold Sub and I don't even think about it. Never crosses my mind to make sure my watch is protected or out of harms way.

Interesting feedback, thanks gents. Now I have a good reason not to go down the AP route!

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Perceived ruggedness maybe? A dinged up Rolex, I can live with. My first Rolex was a Hulk in my 20s, and I abused the thing on nights going out to the bar, accidentally dragging it against a brick wall or falling down face first. The damage incurred was some scratches on the bezel teeth and a cracked pip. But the watch still looked class.

A scratched Royal Oak bezel from taking out the trash, well, that felt annoying. Beyond that the flashiness of the satin/polish, the individual average cost of the watches, just really occupied my head space. Just seemed like I was always aware I was wearing an AP, always catching my eye even when I didn't want to think about it. That wearing experience was not fun for me, if not exhausting. Perhaps the mundanity of a Rolex allows me to engage when I want to and be pleasantly surprised at the same time.

Oh man, I totally feel you on the watch damage from garbage duty!

Since the final upclassing was the Code PQ, what was your experience once you reached that zenith? Pure beauty or felt 'meh' after a while?

I have had your experience as well, after long bouts of wearing AP, I put on something like a sub no date or GMT and this weird weight just comes off my psyche.

[Longhorn]

Originally Posted by macrowatch

Since the final upclassing was the Code PQ, what was your experience once you reached that zenith? Pure beauty or felt 'meh' after a while?

For the QP it became meh after a few weeks. You get 90% of the feeling of a Code uniqueness with the basic models. I had the chrono for quite awhile and had been adjusted to the case finishing, crystal, lugs, etc. So it felt like a dramatic increase for a movement that didn't fit the case (the crown is beneath the centerline of the mid case). You could feel the rotor spin, which you can't feel on the more modern in-house AP movements. I just didn't understand why this watch cost nearly 100k USD MSRP.

[doublevanose82]

Nice collection, very nice.

Who's your AD? RK?

[Longhorn]

Originally Posted by doublevanose82

Nice collection, very nice.

Who's your AD? RK?

Kormans and Ben Bridge if you're in ATX.

[SSMOKE]

Nice!!

[macrowatch]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

For the QP it became meh after a few weeks. You get 90% of the feeling of a Code uniqueness with the basic models. I had the chrono for quite awhile and had been adjusted to the case finishing, crystal, lugs, etc. So it felt like a dramatic increase for a movement that didn't fit the case (the crown is beneath the centerline of the mid case). You could feel the rotor spin, which you can't feel on the more modern in-house AP movements. I just didn't understand why this watch cost nearly 100k USD MSRP.

Thanks for this perspective!

[Nav01L]

Originally Posted by Longhorn

Perceived ruggedness maybe? A dinged up Rolex, I can live with. My first Rolex was a Hulk in my 20s, and I abused the thing on nights going out to the bar, accidentally dragging it against a brick wall or falling down face first. The damage incurred was some scratches on the bezel teeth and a cracked pip. But the watch still looked class.

A scratched Royal Oak bezel from taking out the trash, well, that felt annoying. Beyond that the flashiness of the satin/polish, the individual average cost of the watches, just really occupied my head space. Just seemed like I was always aware I was wearing an AP, always catching my eye even when I didn't want to think about it. That wearing experience was not fun for me, if not exhausting. Perhaps the mundanity of a Rolex allows me to engage when I want to and be pleasantly surprised at the same time.

Amen brother. Exactly what keeps bringing me back to wearing a Rolex. I’m 11 years into this, so probably at a similar point of the story arch as you are.

[cloudken]

Originally Posted by alphadweller

Interesting feedback, thanks gents. Now I have a good reason not to go down the AP route!

Agree it is helpful feedback as we are all told AP is on a different level than Rolex but if youre doing home stuff most of the time is it really worth it to explore that route? I've been on an AP list for 3 years and think its just better to get that one RO and be done with it.