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Old 23 February 2020, 01:33 PM   #1
Rolex1983
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Is Rolex the first luxury watch you owned and why did you choose it?

Rolex was my first luxury watch and now has got me interested in other brands. How many people started with Rolex and what other brands did it lead you to?
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Old 23 February 2020, 01:38 PM   #2
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Rolex was first. Chose it because of name brand, my youthful perspective that there was nothing else. Now interested in Patek omega Oris and JLC


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Old 23 February 2020, 02:07 PM   #3
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First luxury watch was a YG DD when I was 18. Chose it because that was really the only brand I knew from seeing relatives buy. Always liked watches since I was in grade school.

Now that I'm older by 10 years I'm kinda stuck in the haute horology camp
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Old 23 February 2020, 02:11 PM   #4
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I bought an Omega Speedmaster as my first nice watch , I just liked the look of it and at the time the dealer I bought it from had Rolex on display too.
A couple of years later I walked into my local AD and bought a Daytona and have continued buying Rolex ever since
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Old 23 February 2020, 02:16 PM   #5
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Started with Rolex. I knew I wanted a watch when I graduated university but was reluctant to dive into Rolex as I associated it with my grandfather and his Day-Date. Did a fair amount of research and came to appreciate the value prop. Decided it was the benchmark so felt it was natural to begin my collecting journey with the brand. Eventually branched out to Tudor and Omega. Both are great in their own ways but my experience with each has led me to appreciate the crown even more. Not that I will necessarily buy more but I derive a lot more out of the ones I’m fortunate enough to have.
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Old 23 February 2020, 02:20 PM   #6
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Mine was a Tag Heuer Carrera. Then the Omega Seamaster and finally got my first Rolex which was the Sub Nodate.
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Old 23 February 2020, 02:35 PM   #7
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My first luxury watch was a Rolex Sub Date in 2003. Took it all over the world before selling it during a massive financial crisis in 2013-14.

When I started collecting again, an Omega Aqua Terra was my first luxury watch. I have since purchased several Tudors, Rolexes, and Omegas.
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Old 23 February 2020, 04:56 PM   #8
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No. It took me 12 years to get a Rolex. Before that I added Breitling and Omega, and a few "lesser" brands.
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Old 23 February 2020, 05:04 PM   #9
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TT DJ and 36mm Explorer were the candidates and ended up getting 36mm TT DJ w/ flute and jubilee bracelet, which is one of the well known traditional Rolex image I had in my mind. So that was 10yrs ago and just like anything else, needed the SS pair, which I've debated for the last 3yrs or so, but came down to (once again) 36mm Explorer or 36mm WG DJ with flute and oyster bracelet. Ended up getting the WG DJ as I couldn't get out of flute bezel. Gotta have gold flute bezel when it comes to Rolex, at least for me, lol.

Love both watches and probably won't look around for another decade 'til additional watch collection. :)
I have a feeling that 36mm Explorer will be joining the DJ brothers at some point. LOL
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Old 23 February 2020, 05:14 PM   #10
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First 'serious' watch was Tag Heuer Kirium. Still get some occasional wrist time.

Rolex GMT II was next after 9 years of Tag. Chose Rolex because of the quality and history.
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Old 23 February 2020, 06:24 PM   #11
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I did a lot of research into watches in general before I decided to buy a luxury watch. As it turned out, Rolex was the brand I chose and I chose Rolex because I fell in love with the 114270.

Rolex as a brand fits me very well and I respect what they have done and continue to do as innovators who have also honored tradition.
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Old 23 February 2020, 06:36 PM   #12
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Tag was my first I suppose but really it was Rolex many years later. Lived as expat in hostile environment for years and thought I’d buy a nice watch when I got back to Europe. Had a colleague that was a big collector and got me into Rolex. At the time I could not understand why someone would buy a watch for 5000gbp but took the plunge anyway.
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Old 23 February 2020, 06:52 PM   #13
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Yes. A TT DJ. And i didnt choose. My wife chose for me. I wanted a Speedmaster.
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Old 23 February 2020, 08:06 PM   #14
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no! Rolex in the beginning for me was ''flashy, gaudy etc.'' I mean Rolex does attract certain people. My first was Calibre de Cartier when it just came out. After that and my friend demolishing his Navitimer on vacation (because the seller said he could swim with it) I started looking for a watch you could wear on vacation. My vacation watch for this was my U-Boat but wanted something serious. Started my research and well the Sub was just renewed with the ceramic bezel and the rest is history. Bought a Yachtmaster after some years also. Now I want the OP39 white dial, but not wanting to pay list price I dont see this happening soon.
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Old 23 February 2020, 08:31 PM   #15
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Rolex would have been my first '' good'' watch , I bought mine early in a military career as I needed to know what time it was , and not what time it might be , that was in a time before mobile phones and sat nav, knowing the real time was very very important , and to do that reliably took a '' good ''watch, I guess the screw down crown was the deal maker back then, come to think of it , its still a feature I look for today.
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Old 23 February 2020, 08:38 PM   #16
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I started with TAG, Omega and Breitling which led me to Rolex.
I've enjoyed numerous other brands like PAM, IWC, AP and Patek but ultimately I've learned that Rolex is far and away my favorite.
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Old 23 February 2020, 08:39 PM   #17
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I got suckered into the hype and got ripped off on my first Rolex
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Old 23 February 2020, 08:45 PM   #18
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Raymond Weil (if you take it as a luxury watch)
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Old 23 February 2020, 09:58 PM   #19
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I was 12 yo when i bought my first luxury watch, a Rolex. Steel, jubilee bracelet, white gold fluted bezel. Bought it because my parents where wearing Rolex as well, so they where a good influence :)

Damn, almost 33 years ago :P
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Old 24 February 2020, 02:36 AM   #20
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No, my first was Breitling. I have owned other brands but Rolex is the one I like the most...


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Old 24 February 2020, 02:57 AM   #21
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A Tag Heuer series 2000 was my first 30 years ago. I still have it and just had it serviced for the first time at the Tag Service Center.
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Old 24 February 2020, 03:00 AM   #22
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A yg quarts lunar phase concord was a gift from my great grandmother when I was 13. I still have it but don't wear it.
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Old 24 February 2020, 03:02 AM   #23
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Is Rolex the first luxury watch you owned and why did you choose it?

Rolex is my first luxury watch. It was an inherited piece from my dad. I have an emotional attachment to the brand as a result. Fortunately, the Rolex design aesthetic fits my taste and it’s robust capability fits my lifestyle.

I find all watch brands have their merits. I have since tried my hand at Omega, IWC and recently Tudor. I would like to try JLC, AP, A Lange und Sohne, and Glashutte in the future.
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Old 24 February 2020, 03:07 AM   #24
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My signature had the order in which purchased starting top left

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Old 24 February 2020, 04:25 AM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Pim View Post
I was 12 yo when i bought my first luxury watch, a Rolex. Steel, jubilee bracelet, white gold fluted bezel. Bought it because my parents where wearing Rolex as well, so they where a good influence :)

Damn, almost 33 years ago :P

Wow, @12! Good for you. I got a $5 Timex when I turned 16.

I’m assuming you didn’t stop buying after starting that early. What’s the rest of the collection like now?


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Old 24 February 2020, 04:28 AM   #26
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First proper and real luxury watch was the Chopard Mille Miglia. Paid a lot for it, even after 30% below list, and some kid got lucky buying it from me for peanuts many many years later.

Before that (confession), I had bought quite a few fakes - AP, Omega, Rolex. Always liked watches, couldn’t afford the real deal. Never felt happy wearing any of them, the AP never even went on the wrist.



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Old 26 February 2020, 01:06 PM   #27
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Yes. I had decided that my first big watch purchase would be either a Speedmaster or an Explorer. I found the Speedmaster too large and I wanted 100 m water resistance, so I bought an Explorer 114270.
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Old 26 February 2020, 01:12 PM   #28
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Yes, I did not chose Rolex. It was a gift from my brother, as at the time I could not fathom spending that much money on a watch.

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Old 26 February 2020, 01:14 PM   #29
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My first was a Tag Heuer that I bought for myself at age 18 (c.2001). Still have it.

Then a few breitlings and a few microbrands after college.

Moved onto Rolex when the first black 116710 was released. The updated bracelet clasp is really what got me.
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Old 26 February 2020, 01:17 PM   #30
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Tag, Breitling, Omega, then finally a Rolex, then another, then another, etc, etc
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