What's your oldest Rolex?

[Xyza0722]

Originally Posted by padi56

Old silver Rolex Unicorn from around 1922 still wear it and still keeps good time, and in this time frame many watches did not have the name Rolex on the dial.

Very nice!!

[Xyza0722]

Oldest is my 2.1mil 1675….coming up on 52 years young

[T4ME]

Originally Posted by DtownRRS

32 years with the 16750 GMT. My buddies dad owned the Jewelry store. Wanted to buy it for graduation from college. Asked what I could afford to pay him. Between working almost full time and college I said $500 is all I could spend. He said done! His dad was a really great guy!

Plan to give it to my son when he graduates from college in 2 years.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

WOW Still looks great...

[T4ME]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

Submariner 16613LB manufactured in 1990 (Flat S dial)...I have owned the is watch for 25 years and I still love it!

Can't go wrong with this piece, still looks great

[HogwldFLTR]

It used to be my '72 1803 followed by my early '80s 16013; they went towards my Platona. Now I guess it's my TT Daytona.

[Case61]

Day-Date 1803, ca. 1977 complete with Italian day dial. I purchased it in Malta about six years ago.

[vesnyder]

My oldest is a 1983 two tone datejust. I purchased it when I graduated from college. My son took posession of the watch a couple years ago so I had to go out and get a new CHNR GMT II!

[al7391z]

Originally Posted by padi56

The Rolex Unicorn was made in two versions 15 Jewel and 17 jewel many other names were on Rolex watches back in the 1920 into late 1940s when most all were discontinued except for the Airking.There was the Air Lion,Air Tiger,Air-giant,SpaceDweller,SkyRocket,Speedking,Falcon, Orchid,Observatory, Tridor,Athlete,Commando,Turtle Timer,Canadian,Empire, Oyster Lipton, Rolex Scientific,Rolex Everest,Tudor Advisor,Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Shipmate and Oyster Standard,and there are a quite a few more that I cannot remember now.In the very early days of Rolex trying to get into the USA market they came across the firm of Abercrombie and Fitch,this was then a store specialising in sportsman's' equipment; whether you wanted to go elephant shooting in Africa, fishing for salmon or trout in Scotland, Abercrombie and Fitch was the place you went for all your equipment. Everything from fishing rods to double barrelled shotguns could be found under their roof. As the sportsman's store they seemed the ideal place to sell the very first oyster watches, which were already building a reputation as the sportsman's watch. It may have seemed the ideal place but it did not work out that way, firstly because Rolex sold the cheaper down-market version of their watches in a high end store, and also because Abercrombie & Fitch did not advertise the watch sufficiently. These Abercrombie & Fitch watches are probably the rarest of all the cushion oysters, in all my life I have only ever seen one; it was signed "Abercrombie and Fitch (Seafarer) on the dial and the case and movement were signed Oyster Watch Company.The case was quite badly pitted because then they were made from a base metal, a chromed zinc material that did not last very long,a bit like the relationship between Rolex and Abercrombie & Fitch.Now Abercrombie & Fitch went on to become the USA distributor for The Swiss Heuer watches, probably more of a sportsman's watch to speak of, being mainly chronograph watches at that time.

Wow - learned more about Rolex with this post than I did the past 12 months. Thank your the insight!

[al7391z]

*for the insight!

[Pete_mcC]

My oldest Rolex is my pocket watch from the 1920s. Had to buy this because of the shared initials that the original owner had engraved on the watch. Still works beautifully.

My oldest wrist Rolex is my 1953 6202. Nearly 70 years old and still getting monthly wrist time

[MAINEZX10]

Originally Posted by padi56

Old silver Rolex Unicorn from around 1922 still wear it and still keeps good time, and in this time frame many watches did not have the name Rolex on the dial.

Beautiful piece. How did your hands of that beauty?

[BNA/LION]

My oldest watch is a 1985 ✦ Rolex 61550 Explorer II "Non-Rail" Cream Dial

[Ny325]

Mine a 36mm white dial DateJust I purchased in 1998. A classic.

[carwash66]

My 16613 and 16803, both purchased new in the 80’s.
Not a good picture, but both have been worn daily for years and still in great shape.

[carwash66]

My Dad’s 14k 6605. Received prior to his passing about 7 years ago. Needs a sympathetic service. Date not advancing.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by al7391z

Wow - learned more about Rolex with this post than I did the past 12 months. Thank your the insight!

Thank you but in general Rolex knowledge is far down the list today on forum.Now its mainly investment this or that, silly nicknames,plastic stickers etc the actual history of the RWC in now gone. But not forgotten by some who took the trouble to research and learn about Rolex in general over the past 50 odd years.

Originally Posted by MAINEZX10

Beautiful piece. How did your hands of that beauty?

At a boot sale picked it up in a box of old watch parts,put a new crystal give movement a good clean and service got in running and still running today

[Bob the brush]

Oldest and favourite, so long ago, and receipt lost, I think new in 1981 or 2.

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[Spoonage]

What - BLNR
When - 2014
Why - To celebrate 2 milestones... Commissioning as an officer in the Military and getting Married
How - Called a couple local AD to see if they had the BLNR, walked into the AD saw it in the case, tried it on, asked for a discount, paid, walked out with it.

[George58]

1979 18078 DD my late father bought new. He gave it to me a few years before he passed he was 90. He told me " here I wore for thirty years now you wear it the next thirty".

[samson66]

Originally Posted by SaddleSC

Submariner 16613LB manufactured in 1990 (Flat S dial)...I have owned the is watch for 25 years and I still love it!

Good Lord that watch is beautiful. Looks brand new. You've got a real stunner there. Hold onto that one for another 25 years

[Oxfordian]

What an awesome thread, to see these watches being worn for many many years is just brilliant, my first Rolex DJ41 is a mere toddler at 2 and a bit years of age so will go along with my Submariner to my kids but hopefully not before I have given both a decade or two of wrist time.

Congratulations to everyone who has posted you have put a smile on my face looking at these beautiful watches.

I hope those who panic about getting a scratch on their precious or have an attack of the collywobbles about wearing their watches on a daily basis see this thread and understand just how brilliant these watches are.

Fantastic stuff, looking forward to seeing more images and reading the associated stories that go with the watches.

Thanks for sharing your memories.

[padi56]

Below a picture of my Fathers 1980s Daytona 6263 I remember my Father taking on two jobs and saving for almost 5 years to buy is first Rolex. He went to the AD to buy a sub but was offered the Daytona, now at this time it was quite a bit cheaper than the sub. So he bought the Daytona they even gave him a discount, now this watch belongs to me. Myself now in quite poor health and 79 years old but I would not sell it at any price just means so much to me as when I wear it it reminds me of my Father and how he struggled and saved for his first Rolex watch.

[casadecamporolex]

Peter, how true.
Where once we gathered here to learn and glean knowledge on a shared "hobby", it’s morphed into a wrist flex and money groveling forum.
Love your perspectives,as always.



Wow - learned more about Rolex with this post than I did the past 12 months. Thank your the insight!

Thank you but in general Rolex knowledge is far down the list today on forum.Now its mainly investment this or that, silly nicknames,plastic stickers etc the actual history of the RWC in now gone. But not forgotten by some who took the trouble to research and learn about Rolex in general over the past 50 odd years.

[casadecamporolex]

Bought this at a rummage sale for pocket change; cost $300 to service by RSC. Early 50’s ?

[samson66]

Originally Posted by padi56

Below a picture of my Fathers 1980s Daytona 6263 I remember my Father taking on two jobs and saving for almost 5 years to buy is first Rolex. He went to the AD to buy a sub but was offered the Daytona, now at this time it was quite a bit cheaper than the sub. So he bought the Daytona they even gave him a discount, now this watch belongs to me. Myself now in quite poor health and 79 years old but I would not sell it at any price just means so much to me as when I wear it it reminds me of my Father and how he struggled and saved for his first Rolex watch.

Great story and absolutely beautiful classic Daytona Peter.

My father died ~10 years ago and I often think I wish I had an old watch or something to keep him in my thoughts. Sadly he literally hated watches and never owned one of any kind. My two Rolexes are already earmarked for my two kids one day.

[JSolution]

Originally Posted by padi56

Below a picture of my Fathers 1980s Daytona 6263 I remember my Father taking on two jobs and saving for almost 5 years to buy is first Rolex. He went to the AD to buy a sub but was offered the Daytona, now at this time it was quite a bit cheaper than the sub. So he bought the Daytona they even gave him a discount, now this watch belongs to me. Myself now in quite poor health and 79 years old but I would not sell it at any price just means so much to me as when I wear it it reminds me of my Father and how he struggled and saved for his first Rolex watch.

fantastic peter, absolute stunner.

How often do you wear your watches in rotation? especially this Daytona?

[huttobhsc]

1950 34m OP my grandfather bought in 1954, ref: 6285. It took me forever and a day to get it serviced this year, but I am grateful that the watch continues to keep decent time for its age. I have the Jubilee the watch came on, but I wear it on a leather bund strap to protect it a little bit, and I wear the watch at least 3 days per week. It is by far my favorite watch that I own although not nearly the most expensive. I will one day give it to my daughter. I tried to upload pictures but I am an idiot lol so maybe the next go around.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by JSolution

fantastic peter, absolute stunner.

How often do you wear your watches in rotation? especially this Daytona?

Well over the past two years and this covid pandemic not left the house much because of taking medical drugs and treatment for my health condition, my immune system is severely compromised, so got to be extra careful. But when feeling down which is quite often now, I just put on the Daytona and wear it, as I can see my Father face in the dial, and his big smile on how proud he was when wearing his first Rolex watch.

[jlovda]

5513 purchased in Zürich in 1970. I believe the SN shows it being made a year or two earlier. Paid $130.

5513 20210423 very small.JPG

[Booth9999]

Originally Posted by padi56

The Rolex Unicorn was made in two versions 15 Jewel and 17 jewel many other names were on Rolex watches back in the 1920 into late 1940s when most all were discontinued except for the Airking.There was the Air Lion,Air Tiger,Air-giant,SpaceDweller,SkyRocket,Speedking,Falcon, Orchid,Observatory, Tridor,Athlete,Commando,Turtle Timer,Canadian,Empire, Oyster Lipton, Rolex Scientific,Rolex Everest,Tudor Advisor,Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Shipmate and Oyster Standard,and there are a quite a few more that I cannot remember now.In the very early days of Rolex trying to get into the USA market they came across the firm of Abercrombie and Fitch,this was then a store specialising in sportsman's' equipment; whether you wanted to go elephant shooting in Africa, fishing for salmon or trout in Scotland, Abercrombie and Fitch was the place you went for all your equipment. Everything from fishing rods to double barrelled shotguns could be found under their roof. As the sportsman's store they seemed the ideal place to sell the very first oyster watches, which were already building a reputation as the sportsman's watch. It may have seemed the ideal place but it did not work out that way, firstly because Rolex sold the cheaper down-market version of their watches in a high end store, and also because Abercrombie & Fitch did not advertise the watch sufficiently. These Abercrombie & Fitch watches are probably the rarest of all the cushion oysters, in all my life I have only ever seen one; it was signed "Abercrombie and Fitch (Seafarer) on the dial and the case and movement were signed Oyster Watch Company.The case was quite badly pitted because then they were made from a base metal, a chromed zinc material that did not last very long,a bit like the relationship between Rolex and Abercrombie & Fitch.Now Abercrombie & Fitch went on to become the USA distributor for The Swiss Heuer watches, probably more of a sportsman's watch to speak of, being mainly chronograph watches at that time.

Originally Posted by padi56

Well over the past two years and this covid pandemic not left the house much because of taking medical drugs and treatment for my health condition, my immune system is severely compromised, so got to be extra careful. But when feeling down which is quite often now, I just put on the Daytona and wear it, as I can see my Father face in the dial, and his big smile on how proud he was when wearing his first Rolex watch.

Thank you for these great posts sir! These are the type of posts that make me feel closer to the brand. I can’t wait for my turn to pass one on to my son. Please whenever possible keep sharing your knowledge. Also I hope you are able to enjoy good health again.