Rolex. Talk to me

[nolanryan]

I have been kicking around the idea of purchasing my first Rolex. I am decided on a certified preowned or at least a documented used one. Does anyone here collect Rolex?

[Sandscrit]

The Navy used to issue them to Seal Team One.

[cashnocredit]

Also, mechanical watches are a thing of beauty and represent the culmination of a long line of technical achievement. I do admire them from a historical POV. They aren't my thing but I am curious as to what attributes people see in them.

 

One at a time.

 

I collect Casios.

 

I don't dress up and am perpetually casual which is probably typical of engineer types.

When one wears out it goes in the trash and I get a new one. I've had my current one for about 6 years. It has a solar charged battery and syncs to the low freq. Colorado NIST signal so it's always accurate to 1 sec. It even changes from standard to daylight saving time automatically. No idea when it's going to stop working. Best watch ever.

 

And I don't worry about getting mugged.

 

That said, I do like luxury comforts. My auto cost >100k.

[radi8]

I have Breitlings and an Omega, but the general cautions are the same. Be very careful WHO you buy from, even more so with Rolex as it's probably the most popular collectible watch to replicate and some of the fakes are done very well. I've seen genuine cases fitted with replacement movements.. one with a Seagull..a very fine Chinese mechanical, but it's not original and not worth much. You won't know unless you see it in person and look inside. IIRC all Rolex' have closed case backs, so you'll have to get the seller to cooperate. That generally means no Ebay unless you really feel lucky.

I can track my Omega back to it's original sale in 1960 by serial number. Perhaps Rolex offers the same?

 

You will also want to either learn how to service a mechanical watch or find an old-school watchmaker who does. It's about $400 for a periodic service, generally cleaning and oiling the movement, polishing the case and attending to the crystal if needed, and they need it every few years. Without maintenance the jewels will drill down into the movement and ruin it.

 

Don't forget insurance...you can easily exceed the standard "jewelry" coverage on a homeowner's policy and will need to schedule your collectible separately. That might require an appraisal, depending. It costs me an extra $85/year for $10K coverage, tagged onto my homeowner's. It's cheaper if you keep the watch in a safe deposit box instead of wearing it, but that takes the fun out of it.

 

That said- happy hunting and enjoy! These watches can be handed down to generations that follow, they will run and run well for decades if not indefinitely.

[radi8]

When one wears out it goes in the trash and I get a new one. I've had my current one for about 6 years.

 

You asked what people see in them? The above is one big thing. Two of my watches are well over 50 years old and still get daily use. They will go to my sons when I'm gone and probably run another 50 years.

Also- I work around high RF and Magnetic fields, Quartz watches stop. Dead. Sometimes within a day. Mechanicals keep on going, most were built with antimagnetic movements. The Astronauts wore Omegas for a reason..

[cashnocredit]

 

When one wears out it goes in the trash and I get a new one. I've had my current one for about 6 years.

 

You asked what people see in them? The above is one big thing. Two of my watches are well over 50 years old and still get daily use. They will go to my sons when I'm gone and probably run another 50 years.

Also- I work around high RF and Magnetic fields, Quartz watches stop. Dead. Sometimes within a day. Mechanicals keep on going, most were built with antimagnetic movements. The Astronauts wore Omegas for a reason..

 

 

Sounds like you work around some sort of pulsed RF like radar. It takes a lot of intensity but no time duration to speak of to fry an electronic watch. Especially one with a solid metal enclosure. My view of watches is that the mechanical ones are closer to works of art or craftsmanship than they are utilitarian devices. The history of the craft is most interesting. Wars were won or lost based on the accuracy of timepieces and they were considered top military secrets at times centuries ago.

[cv91915]

I wanted a Rolex until I could afford one, then the appeal disappeared. Later, watches became unnecessary. Now, I just want some pie.

[Bad Doctor Frost]

I am a huge watch whore. I love watches. They're my thing...and shades. Anyway, why? Because they're art you can wear.

 

[CTSoxFan]

I have Breitlings and an Omega, but the general cautions are the same. Be very careful WHO you buy from, even more so with Rolex as it's probably the most popular collectible watch to replicate and some of the fakes are done very well. I've seen genuine cases fitted with replacement movements.. one with a Seagull..a very fine Chinese mechanical, but it's not original and not worth much. You won't know unless you see it in person and look inside. IIRC all Rolex' have closed case backs, so you'll have to get the seller to cooperate. That generally means no Ebay unless you really feel lucky.

I can track my Omega back to it's original sale in 1960 by serial number. Perhaps Rolex offers the same?

 

You will also want to either learn how to service a mechanical watch or find an old-school watchmaker who does. It's about $400 for a periodic service, generally cleaning and oiling the movement, polishing the case and attending to the crystal if needed, and they need it every few years. Without maintenance the jewels will drill down into the movement and ruin it.

 

Don't forget insurance...you can easily exceed the standard "jewelry" coverage on a homeowner's policy and will need to schedule your collectible separately. That might require an appraisal, depending. It costs me an extra $85/year for $10K coverage, tagged onto my homeowner's. It's cheaper if you keep the watch in a safe deposit box instead of wearing it, but that takes the fun out of it.

 

That said- happy hunting and enjoy! These watches can be handed down to generations that follow, they will run and run well for decades if not indefinitely.

 

 

I own a Rolex (Submariner), and would agree strongly with all of the points Radi made here. I bought mine new on my honeymoon over 6 years ago, and still love it. As radi said, you can't self maintain it and sending it in is expensive (I am waiting until the spring when apple watch comes out since it will takes a few weeks). Also, another annoyance is that it really doesn't keep great time. I would say it runs fast about 3 minutes per month (meaning if you set it to match the Colorado NIST in a month it will be about 3 minutes ahead). I consider a watch like this a piece a jewelry like a bracelet or ring rather than a watch. It is form over function. If you are buying used I would be sure to buy from someone reputable.

[Fuerza]

I am a huge watch whore. I love watches. They're my thing...and shades. Anyway, why? Because they're art you can wear.

 

Impressive! Makes my desire for an Apple watch seem small.

 

 

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[Cathatak]

I wanted a Rolex until I could afford one, then the appeal disappeared. Later, watches became unnecessary. Now, I just want some pie.

Ha! I love this quote!!!

[nysbadmk8]

I wanted a Rolex until I could afford one, then the appeal disappeared. Later, watches became unnecessary. Now, I just want some pie.

I agree 100% as long as it's key lime pie.

[cv91915]

 

I wanted a Rolex until I could afford one, then the appeal disappeared. Later, watches became unnecessary. Now, I just want some pie.

I agree 100% as long as it's key lime pie.

Yum.

 

I'm craving a sour cream raisin pie.

[nolanryan]

 

 

I wanted a Rolex until I could afford one, then the appeal disappeared. Later, watches became unnecessary. Now, I just want some pie.

I agree 100% as long as it's key lime pie.

Yum.

 

I'm craving a sour cream raisin pie.

 

I wish that was a typo. I'll try anything once. That just doesnt sound good.

 

I am probably going to go with a submariner or a classic date just. Stainless and gold with a blue face.

[cv91915]

 

 

 

I wanted a Rolex until I could afford one, then the appeal disappeared. Later, watches became unnecessary. Now, I just want some pie.

 

I agree 100% as long as it's key lime pie.

Yum.

I'm craving a sour cream raisin pie.

I wish that was a typo. I'll try anything once. That just doesnt sound good.

 

One of my best friends nearly gagged when I told her about this pie. Then she tried it, and now it's her favorite. She asks me to make one for her birthday every year.

[radi8]

 

I am probably going to go with a submariner or a classic date just. Stainless and gold with a blue face.

 

 

Both are classics. Have fun!

[brazen]

I have a beautiful Citizen DH got me. I wear it everyday, it dresses up or down.

[nolanryan]

I ended up with a stainless steel and 18k gold Datejust. I absolutely love it. I have already started looking for a second.

[radi8]

I ended up with a stainless steel and 18k gold Datejust. I absolutely love it. I have already started looking for a second.

 

And it starts, lol. That's a handsome, practical yet classic watch.

[CTSoxFan]

Yup, good choice. I know I would love to buy a second Rolex, but there are other things ahead of it in the pecking order at this time.

[hegemony]

Rolex Has Just Released a Brand New Submariner

[StarkRaven$]

On my daily 5-mile walks I sport a $10 Polar exercise watch I bought at Walgreens from their discount isle. It has a timer so I know how long I've been speed walking. 🙂

[hegemony]

56 minutes ago, StarkRaven$ said:

On my daily 5-mile walks I sport a $10 Polar exercise watch I bought at Walgreens from their discount isle. It has a timer so I know how long I've been speed walking. 🙂

[StarkRaven$]

1 hour ago, hegemony said:

Hege you killjoy...LOL!