Do you wear your Rolex as a ‘beater’?

[nighthawk77]

Torn between if I should use one of my Rolex as a beater watch over the summer - hiking, camping, sailing swimming etc - or opt for something else.

I’m usually happy putting any of my watches through their paces, and they all have the scars to prove it. However, I guess the way things are at the moment has me second guessing if I should use something less valuable during travels & adventures.

My reservation mainly relates to how easy it would be to replace something if lost/stolen - although all my watches are insured, it would be difficult for instance to source another 116610 unless going the used route, and a new sub would be an unknown wait via the AD.

I have been using less expensive watches (Seiko/Timex/Garmin) on my most recent trips and whilst Im still careful with these, I’m happy to leave them back at the hotel, or in a backpack when not required, worry free. The problem with this is that I always feel a little regretful that I’m not wearing one of my more favoured watches.

I have thought of picking something else up to bridge the gap between the two deltas - maybe a BB58 or P39 for instance, though I think I’d still feel the same.

Interested to hear how others approach this.

[depmur]

I have a Sinn 556 that I wear sometimes if traveling. I also have a dreaded Apple Watch that gets wrist
time also.


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[East of Eden]

My not pristine 16570 Exp II is my beater watch, it is insured, so it is worry free. It is also under the radar enough that I wouldn't worry about if traveling overseas.

[RogerOP]

If you have to ask…. :)

Seriously though, no one will probably care/remember if you have a Rolex, Timex, Casio or AP for your adventures.

I wear my OP for everything as it’s pretty banged up, but there are certain impact activities I wouldn’t do in it due to pain in wrists whilst wearing metal.

I have my 126610 insured with the AD and I will continue to do it like that as they’ll replace things directly with no wait. But I’m still slowly babying it.

[brandrea]

I don’t aspire to the “beater concept”. While I wouldn’t say I baby my watches, I do practice wrist awareness, even when I’m wearing my SKX.

Generally speaking, if I’m doing anything that can result in serious dings or scratches to my watches, I’m not wearing them. YMMV

[JSolution]

I just pick one that’s already a bit beaten up.

Gmt master ii 116710ln has been my choice on last couple of trips.

[Turpentine]

Tomorrow is not promised. Wear your Rolex.

[10XRolex]

I'm not sure what "things at the moment" are, since there are always things at the moment. But I'm sorry, it's only a watch. One that yes, cost you a pretty penny but it's still only a watch. It tells you the time and even the date. It also possibly allows you to strike up a conversation with strangers and friends. But the most important thing that it potentially does is give you joy. Joy knowing that you worked hard to buy something nice that you truly appreciate and maybe even give to a loved one down the road to enjoy.

So to truly answer your question, wear it. Life is way to short to worry about the what ifs and would have could haves.

[Krash]

It depends what your definition of beater is because different people interpret it differently.

If I’m cleaning the garage, I wear my G-Shock. If I go somewhere and don’t want to flash a Rolex, I’ll wear an Omega instead, but I’m not sure if that scenario falls in the beater category. If I’m working out or bike riding, I’ll wear my Apple Watch.

Also, I recently went to Europe and only brought my Apple Watch. I regret not bringing my Submariner.


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[Old Geezer]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I don’t aspire to the “beater concept”. While I wouldn’t say I baby my watches, I do practice wrist awareness, even when I’m wearing my SKX.

Generally speaking, if I’m doing anything that can result in serious dings or scratches to my watches, I’m not wearing them. YMMV

This is me too

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by Krash

Also, I recently went to Europe and only brought my Apple Watch. I regret not bringing my Submariner.


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And I bet you saw a lot of people wearing Rolexes in Europe.

[WatchTimes]

I have a 16570 polar and I have worn it, hiking, biking, hunting, skiing etc etc!
I would wear it through most anything short of doing construction work or something really rough and nasty.

[Calatrava r]

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fb/f9...672864c824.jpg

[Krash]

Originally Posted by East of Eden

And I bet you saw a lot of people wearing Rolexes in Europe.

I did. I was thinking the whole time that I should have brought mine. But for us it wasn’t a safety concern; it was more along the lines of packing as light as we can.

Last time we went to Europe, we overpacked. It was laughable. This time, we swung the pendulum in the other direction. We wanted to pack as light as possible and that included leaving our Rolexes at home.


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[dafuture]

I don't personally. I use my Tag Aquaracer or Divex for that. Just less worrying on my part, YMMV.

[h20addict]

Negative, I have a few Seikos or G-shocks to choose from for that purpose.

[Devildog]

Originally Posted by nighthawk77

Torn between if I should use one of my Rolex as a beater watch over the summer - hiking, camping, sailing swimming etc - or opt for something else.

I’m usually happy putting any of my watches through their paces, and they all have the scars to prove it. However, I guess the way things are at the moment has me second guessing if I should use something less valuable during travels & adventures.

My reservation mainly relates to how easy it would be to replace something if lost/stolen - although all my watches are insured, it would be difficult for instance to source another 116610 unless going the used route, and a new sub would be an unknown wait via the AD.

I have been using less expensive watches (Seiko/Timex/Garmin) on my most recent trips and whilst Im still careful with these, I’m happy to leave them back at the hotel, or in a backpack when not required, worry free. The problem with this is that I always feel a little regretful that I’m not wearing one of my more favoured watches.

I have thought of picking something else up to bridge the gap between the two deltas - maybe a BB58 or P39 for instance, though I think I’d still feel the same.

Interested to hear how others approach this.

I think first you need to understand why you feel a little regretful that you're not wearing one of your more favoured watches.

If that regret outweighs the worry free aspect, then wear them. If it doesn't, then don't

What you are doing, where you are doing it and who you are with makes memories. Not watches.

I wouldn't drive a sportscar down a rough forest track. And I don't wear an expensive (by general standards) watch when mountain biking down one.

[Law52]

If one wants to consider a watch a beater, gardening, doing other manual labor jobs, then my beater is my Rolex Explorer MK II. Otherwise, I wear one of my others in my collection.

[SolanaWatches]

It really depends on your lifestyle. I wouldn't wear my Pepsi on a camping trip, or any activity that could put it at risk. Heck, I even take off my watch before playing soccer in the backyard with my kid.

My "beaters" are a Tudor BlackBay and a Casioak. For instance, I would wear the BB to go ski, and I would wear the Casioak to go camping.

[ArtNouveau]

I don't have "beaters," I just have watches. I wear my Rolex doing anything, going anywhere, along with my Speedmaster and Seikos.

[Stan Cooper]

Since I bought my Ball Pilot GMT three weeks ago, it has become my daily wearer as well as my beater. My 16710 is taking a well deserved break. Here are the main reasons I've made that choice.

• The Ball Pilot GMT retails for less than $3k, so loss or damage wouldn't be nearly the disaster as losing or damaging my 16710.

• The Ball has both quick set date (via a crown pullout position) and jump 12 hour hand (either forward or backward, via two pushers).

• The Ball has tritium micro gas tubes on the dial and hands for reading the time in complete darkness 24 hours a day for about twenty years. This is important to me because I sleep with my watch on and like to check the time in the dark. The bezel has SuperLuminova lume.

• Both watches have COSC chronometer certification, and so far the Ball keeps better time than my Rolex on my wrist (the Rolex was serviced a year ago by the NY RSC).

• The Ball has 300 meters WR compared to 100 meters for my 16710.

[JParm]

Originally Posted by brandrea

I don’t aspire to the “beater concept”. While I wouldn’t say I baby my watches, I do practice wrist awareness, even when I’m wearing my SKX.

Generally speaking, if I’m doing anything that can result in serious dings or scratches to my watches, I’m not wearing them. YMMV

This! There's a difference between a daily / normal wear vs. beater.

I take care of my things, but that doesn't mean that they don't go hiking / swimming / adventuring with me. Scratches and dings will inevitably come of course, but in no world am I treating my nice watches like my $10 Timex I wear to the gym.

[Kevin of Larchmont]

I wear a Rolex for all outdoor activities including yard work except for those activities that involve working with rocks or hardscape. At that point in the chore list I simply take the watch off.

[GGGMT]

Some I’ll beat some I don’t.

This is a fantastic daily wear beater; gorgeous, even though Sterling, show some great scars, patina, super sick




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[Guppydriver]

Originally Posted by Stan Cooper

Since I bought my Ball Pilot GMT three weeks ago, it has become my daily wearer as well as my beater. My 16710 is taking a well deserved break. Here are the main reasons I've made that choice.

• The Ball Pilot GMT retails for less than $3k, so loss or damage wouldn't be nearly the disaster as losing or damaging my 16710.

• The Ball has both quick set date (via a crown pullout position) and jump 12 hour hand (either forward or backward, via two pushers).

• The Ball has tritium micro gas tubes on the dial and hands for reading the time in complete darkness 24 hours a day for about twenty years. This is important to me because I sleep with my watch on and like to check the time in the dark. The bezel has SuperLuminova lume.

• Both watches have COSC chronometer certification, and so far the Ball keeps better time than my Rolex on my wrist (the Rolex was serviced a year ago by the NY RSC).

• The Ball has 300 meters WR compared to 100 meters for my 16710.

That Ball is a great Tudor BBGMT or Longines Zulu Time alternative that really flies under the radar. I baby my BLNR, and having a more care free GMT alternative is something I aspire to own.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by nighthawk77

Torn between if I should use one of my Rolex as a beater watch over the summer - hiking, camping, sailing swimming etc - or opt for something else.

I’m usually happy putting any of my watches through their paces, and they all have the scars to prove it. However, I guess the way things are at the moment has me second guessing if I should use something less valuable during travels & adventures.

My reservation mainly relates to how easy it would be to replace something if lost/stolen - although all my watches are insured, it would be difficult for instance to source another 116610 unless going the used route, and a new sub would be an unknown wait via the AD.

I have been using less expensive watches (Seiko/Timex/Garmin) on my most recent trips and whilst Im still careful with these, I’m happy to leave them back at the hotel, or in a backpack when not required, worry free. The problem with this is that I always feel a little regretful that I’m not wearing one of my more favoured watches.

I have thought of picking something else up to bridge the gap between the two deltas - maybe a BB58 or P39 for instance, though I think I’d still feel the same.

Interested to hear how others approach this.

The only beater I know is in my kitchen used to beat my scrambled eggs.As for watches been wearing Rolex watches almost daily for over 50 years some used underwater as working tools.Others worn everywhere my own body went with watch attached to my wrist.

[B2 Stealth]

Wear the watch! They could withstand Padi diving in the Red Sea and grunts in the jungles of Vietnam. When I don't wear a Rolex I feel cheated.
An Air Force buddy just died this week unexpectedly so enjoy your moments while you still can--that means enjoying your possessions.

[Stan Cooper]

Originally Posted by B2 Stealth

Wear the watch! They could withstand Padi diving in the Red Sea and grunts in the jungles of Vietnam. When I don't wear a Rolex I feel cheated.
An Air Force buddy just died this week unexpectedly so enjoy your moments while you still can--that means enjoying your possessions.

I'm sorry for the loss of your buddy, Stich. :-(

[2thdock]

Rolex is a very big expense for me. I don't want it damaged or stolen. I wore my Omega to Aruba . if it got stolen, I could get another one tomorrow. Rolex...another looong wait. No thanks. Insurance is a no brainer but only gets your money back. I have 4 Casios G-Shocks that are my "beater" watches. Apple Ultra for exercise and work. Going out on a boat or Waverunner, swimming etc, Rolex no problem.

[East of Eden]

Originally Posted by Devildog

I wouldn't drive a sportscar down a rough forest track. And I don't wear an expensive (by general standards) watch when mountain biking down one.

If I fall off a bike hard enough to damage a tough SS watch I have bigger things to worry about, and anyway it's insured.