The Model that surpised you the most.

[jets]

These days not many buy and sell many of these watches to 'try them out' for a while like we used to before the madness. The one watch that I always dismissed and panned was the Explorer II. This is mostly because of the orange 24h hand. I ended up buying one for kicks around 2018. I got it for a song and kept it a few months before selling it for a small profit.

For some reason I keep thinking about it from time to time and it surprises me how much I'd like to have it again. I remember it fitting so nice and the black dial was very legible.

Any watches surprise you in this way?

[Lightsped]

For me my OP41 in green. Bought on spur of the moment in 2021 and have really come to love this watch. Love how simple it is, and of course the color. I still have it and am wearing it at this moment. It is one of two watches that get the most wear time for me.

[JRell]

Surprised me the most - how much I love the BLNR and how it is the first watch I have had that stuck other than my submariner. Went through 3 datejusts, TT Root beer and bluesy, to finally get to a second Rolex to go with my 124060. Sold all the previous back to my AD, no profit but got my money back and put me in position to get the BLNR.

[GrantD]

The 216750 explorer for me too. After wearing 40mm subs and SD’s for almost a decade the extra 2mm on the Explorer 2, in addition to the white dial and orange hand of the polar just left me amazed. Like yourself, I’d never really yearned for one and I had dismissed the 16570 as a watch I wanted. How 2mm can change your mind as I now have both.

[ltmgeller]

Ceramic stainless Pepsi. Never thought they'd make it after it came out in white gold.

[Harry-57]

I didn't like the 116610LV at all until I met it for real. It looked gaudy to me. In the metal it worked a treat and addressed all the things I regarded as shortcomings of the 16610LV. Once I'd seen it for real, I had to have one.

[enjoythemusic]

Sky-Dweller.

An incredible complication with modern WP rating and way of setting the movement. I hope other brands are paying attention. Rolex engineered a great dial layout as well, so it is easy to read.

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[JSolution]

SD43.

I bought it partly due to not being able to get a submariner - and the sd43 was still the same price as retail on the secondary market at the time, rather the double for the 126610ln. Haven’t taken the watch off for much more than a day for the past year and a half

[2nastie]

2 watches:

1) Back in 2018 when they released the GMT with the jubilee bracelet. Really surprised how much I like that bracelet and frankly prefer it on most models.

2) Explorer 39mm. I was always dead set on the Sub walking into the AD, but after trying it on both watches several times (yes, back then... easy pickings haha!), I chose the Explorer!

[Boothroyd]

I too became a fan of the 214270 Mk 1 early. I also bought a DJII black dial over an early BLNR. So I guess I am contrarian. I the Explorer II would check a lot of boxes for me, if I ever get to see one in person at an AD again.

[Watch Rob]

My Rolex.

[TimeAZ]

The model that surprises me the most is the OP36. How is this considered an "entry" model, and why does it blow away so many other watches, even those at multiple higher price-points. I just can't think of any flaw with this perfect watch.

[Reelandy]

Originally Posted by enjoythemusic

Sky-Dweller.

An incredible complication with modern WP rating and way of setting the movement. I hope other brands are paying attention. Rolex engineered a great dial layout as well, so it is easy to read.

Attachment 1283793

Me too. I always wrote it off thinking it just wasn’t for me. Then I was at an AD, tried on the exhibition model and fell in love. The blue dial on oyster is such a stunner. Now my SA has a 3 watch wish list for me, Explorer II, Sky-Dweller and the Rootbeer gmt


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[28mm]

Originally Posted by Reelandy

Me too. I always wrote it off thinking it just wasn’t for me. Then I was at an AD, tried on the exhibition model and fell in love. The blue dial on oyster is such a stunner. Now my SA has a 3 watch wish list for me, Explorer II, Sky-Dweller and the Rootbeer gmt


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I said the same thing. I was sure it was too big and I'd not like it..

Now it's on the imaginary list!

[Cigars&Watches]

I was never a big fan of the EXP II until I saw one in the flesh at an AD recently. Saw both the black and white face. Really liked the black face.. surprised me.

My CHNR also surprised me how nice it is in person

[brandrea]

For me its not a Rolex

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[Gab27]

For me it was the meteorite BLRO. It's not a watch I can currently afford, but an AD was kind enough to let me hold one and try it on.

Until I saw it in person and held it, I thought it was a cool watch but with a very unjustifiable price. Upon seeing it in person, I was stunned by the masterpiece that it is, I almost got lost looking at the dial, and the price all of a sudden seemed quite reasonable for what you get.

TLDR; I liked it to begin with, but I gained an entirely new appreciation when actually seeing it in person.

[waterman1]

This one right now…

[RyanJ]

Disliked the DateJust and any watch that had a cyclops. Always told myself no way, ever...

Now, here I sit with a new DateJust 41 and am warming up to the cyclops and have found it useful.

This may just be some type of mid life crisis though.

[StillTrying]

The fit of 5 digits (sub and Exp ii) surprised me most. Yeah the bracelet is nothing compared to 6 digit ones, but the balance of elegance and utilitarian is striking and perfect for my size/shape wrist.

[dawalsh]

Been wearing this little guy almost every day for 2 months now. I can see myself keeping this only watch (or just one Rolex) for the rest of my life.

[NardinNut]

Two that surprised me the most:

5167a Aquanaut. First off I never thought I’d be offered one. Once I was I’ve been impressed with how comfortable it is, the dial, and how fun it can be by changing out the strap colors.

Tudor FXD. This one has surprised me the most. I find I reach for it over all my much nicer watches. It’s shockingly comfortable, legible, and goes great with casual wear. Really surprised by how comfortable it is. I can wear it for multiple days without even thinking about it or noticing it. The 5167a is also that way with all day comfort but considering is value now I’m always concerned I’ll scratch it or bump it against something. The FXD is meant to be a beater so I find it more enjoyable to wear as I don’t worry about it.

[fskywalker]

Surprised by the launch of the new Destro GMT:




Don’t like it


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[carlosdominguez01]

Kermit.

[Lamontsanders]

Surprised in a good way - BLNR, Sky-Dweller, several of my Omegas
Surprised in a bad way - Hulk, Daytona. Bought those sight unseen due to FOMO (before things went nuts) and never bonded.

[MONTANTK]

The sub. I didn’t hate it but before seeing one in person I had thought it was kind of plain and just a typical divers watch. I finally had the chance to try it on and I was taken back by how good it looked on the wrist. I’m definitely going to try and get one at some point in the next year or 2

[OrangeSport]

Originally Posted by TimeAZ

The model that surprises me the most is the OP36. How is this considered an "entry" model, and why does it blow away so many other watches, even those at multiple higher price-points. I just can't think of any flaw with this perfect watch.

Agreed

Loved mine

It wore the same as my 5 digit Sub (same dial size) and it’s the perfect “one watch” watch

[Boopie]

Honestly, my newest acquisition, my 114200 Air King. I picked one up a few months ago from one of TRF’s trusted sellers. It’s from the first COSC movement series from around 2007-2014, and the last of the 34mm AK. They had some kind of funky and dun movements when they came out.

I wanted a weekend watch without a date feature, and so I went with the silver dial and blue indices (tempted to get the pink indices dial). I also liked the history of the AK, and thought it’s an important watch in the Rolex lineup. I went with that model because I wanted the COSC certified movement and the upgraded 6-digit clasp. I also wanted a casual watch with an all-brushed Oyster bracelet.

It was the AK that came out when I joined TRF. It of course was the entry level Rolex. I was wearing then my ladies’ SS/platinum Yachtmaster, which cost a lot more money when I bought it new in 2001 than my AK did when it came out in 2007. So, honestly I didn’t think much of it at the time, and never thought I’d own one.

Was I wrong! I love the watch! It’s super comfortable and durable. It fits my wrist more comfortably than my 36mm DJ does. The silver dial is on par with any Rolex silver dial (I have one on my DJ). The lack of cyclops makes it more under the radar. It’s super robust, and it’s what I wear now when I go hiking, traveling, etc. I also like the touch of blue (on the indices) to make it more casual. My DJ is beautiful but I think the AK is more enjoyable and fun to wear.

[akili_2000]

Originally Posted by fskywalker

Surprised by the launch of the new Destro GMT:




Don’t like it


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Agreed