Incoming...and rather long first post

[Oystersteel92]

Hi guys. I've been reading this forum for at least a couple years now, but haven't registered until now, because I have an incoming to share. First, a little background...

I became obsessed with clocks and watches and the history of timekeeping in general as a young man. Somehow, watching TV in the 80's, the name Rolex was burned into my brain as "the best." When I got my drivers license, the very first place I drove by myself was to the local AD, where they gave me quite an education, and I was dismayed to find that while Rolex was the best, the best is EXPENSIVE. I seem to remember a plain DJ with a smooth bezel and Oyster bracelet being around $2,500.

Fast forward to the late 90's, I'm in college in a very small town in the middle of nowhere, and the internet is still new to most people (AOL coasters anyone?) but the online watch community and interest in mechanical timepieces is blowing up. I devoured the online communities which only stoked my desire, and I was obsessed with the idea of buying a Submariner. My little college town happened to have a tiny AD with a single 5 foot display case for Rolex and around 15 watches at any given time. Mostly steel with a few TT on occasion. Back then, they had just started given credit cards to college students--who were thought to be a good risk and an opportunity to secure a lifetime customer--and while I only had $500 or so in the bank, I had a $6,000 credit limit. I had been poking around a no-date sub for several weeks when I walk in one day and sitting right there in the display case was a white dial Zenith Daytona. Even then these were very difficult to obtain and could be sold for a nice profit. As I recall it was $5,100 and I bought it right out of the case. Kept it for a week, most of which I couldn't sleep worrying about how I would pay for it, then sold it for $6,100, which after tax netted me about $600. Everyone that knew about it thought I was a real baller for scoring some quick cash, but for me, it became the one that got away.

Fast forward 20+ years. I've been through a lot of financial troubles, including being flat broke when I moved for my first job, and losing that job in 2005 when heavily in debt. Started over, worked my way up in a new company, lived below my means and paid off my debts. Met a great lady who grew up poor and was willing to live below her means too, and made a pretty secure little life for ourselves. Because we're frugal and have been through a lot, we don't really play in the stock market except for retirement accounts.

Last Thursday on my lunch hour, when things were starting to look pretty bad and the wealthier people I know were really starting to moan about it, I took a chance and went in to my local AD to see if they had any stock. It was better than it had been in late January, but the only thing close to a SS sports model was a TT YM2. I chatted up the sales rep, told him I was in the market for a white dial Daytona and that I figured with things getting bad, people might start saying "no" when they were called, and that I had cash and would not say no. He told me that they get calls from out-of-state about high demand models everyday, but that the owners preferred to do business with locals whenever possible. He asked me if there were any models other than the Daytona I wanted and I gave him a couple more I might be interested in, but would need to see in person.

Friday, the wife and I took a day off to knock around a bit before everything shuts down (the virus hasn't really hit here yet), and we're in a craft store when my phone rings. It's the sales rep, saying that a shipment had shown up that morning from Rolex with three watches, one of which was a black dial Daytona, and it was mine if i wanted it. Needless to say, I drove right over and after seeing it in person and trying it on, I knew I never wanted it to leave my wrist. (If you're wondering what the other two watches were, they were a Deepsea and a TT Sub, and he said every shipment from Rolex was like Christmas because they never knew when they would show up or what was in them.)

My photos are not great, because I have a cheap phone, but I included the obligatory car shot. Not in balance as you can see, because I drive a 19-year old Honda. Told you I was frugal.

[kieselguhr]

Congratulations!

[Yess]

Welcome, congrats, and great watch!!

[brandrea]

Congratulations and welcome to the forum

[dualcarb]

That is a great first post and story. Nothing wrong with being frugal and living below your means. Congratulations on a fantastic watch and may you create many good memories with it on your wrist...

[lamnyc]

That’s fantastic. You really earned it. Enjoy and stay healthy.

[arcampado]

Amazing story! And congrats, you just scored a reference that many have waited 6+ years for. Wear it with pride and in good health.

[ltmgeller]

Congrats and welcome

[worldofoyster]

congrats, great watch, greater story

[TNT009]

Enjoy

[pav333hp]

Amazing story and big congrats! Enjoy it in good health :)

[4 Aussies]

Congrats to you!! Great story! Don't let this one get away, it's a keeper and hard to get!!

[ilovethiscity]

What a beautiful story, thank you for sharing OP and huge congrats. You deserve that watch, it was made for you Sir.

[kaker15]

Great story, great watch

[schoolboy]

Heck yeah, I love this story. I live below my means as well.

[037]

Congrats and welcome to TRF!

[Phooi]

Congratulations on the watch! I’m on a waitlist and you get a call. I’m jealous but happy for you. Sounds like the AD sold it to someone who can appreciate it.

[EEpro]

Score!

[Ksporty]

Worth the read - congratulations and welcome!

[Monty22]

Excellent story and pick up! Well deserved


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[Closs1909]

Awesome story, and great pick-up. Black Daytona is my favorite current model/color in the whole line up, congrats!

[jackminny15]

Great story. You earned it. Congrats!!

[sickened1]

Congrats.

[GGGMT]

Holy crap!! Nice work. The Honda is great too


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[usmc_k9_vet]

Nice! Congratulations.


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[Phrank]

Congratulations, great read, it's fantastic how many of our stories of getting our first Rolex are similar.

For me it was in 2018, and it was a non-ceramic black dial Daytona that I'd been eyeballing since around 1991, and it is great when one finally lands on your wrist.

Congratulations again....:-)

[Oldfellow]

Congratulations, a great story and so lucky to pick up a Daytona so quickly.

[AstroClock]

Whoa! Congratulations!

[koobitz]

Congratulations! Wear it in the best of health!

[Wobbly]

Congratulations on the Daytona.

I hope your “great lady” gets something nice soon.