Life with Rolex

[angst]

I've seen a lot of Rolexes over the years, particularly when I was in the Navy. This was from 1979-1983 and along with Seiko was the diver I saw most often. Of course we didn't have frogman G-Shocks back then and there wasn't near the number of dive watch manufacturers at that time that you see today. Another reason you saw a fair amount of them was that the Navy exchanges overseas sold them in some locations. I remember seeing an exchange catalog with a date Sub at $600, which was doable for a lot of people interested in buying one. There were restrictions on their sale, however; you had to actually be staioned overseas in order to order one through the catalog at that price.

Plus, the Navy did issue them for some ratings and units. When I was stationed at Bethesda, I walked into the base inventory control department one day and sitting on a desk waiting to be inventoried in a US Divers box was 4 brand new Rolexes with tags and in the green Rolex boxes. Now, why they had shipped them in a US Divers box I can only surmise was to disguise the fact that inside was about $10,000 (civilian market price at the time) of highly desirable watches and possibly because US Divers had a contract with the government to supply them with Rolexes as part of a larger dive gear contract. I don't know for sure, just that there was the 4 Rolexes waiting to be inventoried for assignment to a diving research unit that was a part of the naval hospital base, which contained several ancillary commands.

One other place I tend to see them is at the VA, worn by some of the older vets. As a matter of fact the last time I rode the transportation van to a VA clinic the driver had one on his wrist.

[MrGone]

Thanks for sharing your story. It's always good to hear from someone who's had year of actual experience with a watch, versus someone who's "desk dived" it for a year or two :)

[Will_f]

I think the OP captured what a lot of us feel about Rolex: Excellent watches that have gotten better (albeit very slowly). However, the rate of improvement has been outpaced by the rate of price increases. A problem by no means limited to Rolex. Luckily companies like Sinn, Seiko and a whole crop of microbrands still make exceptionally nice tool watches for reasonable prices.

I've been thinking about buying a newish Rolex off and on, but not a dive watch.

[marchone]

Seiko Marine Master 300 and several Sinn divers fill the gap nicely.

[dougcee]

I'm fine with Rolexes, and good for them if they can get that kind of money for them.
The only thing that annoys me a little are the types who you can tell don't know anything about watches but got one just to let folks know that they had substance and had "arrived". That, and they probably think Rolex is the finest, most exclusive watch obtainable.

[Darwin]

I've lived in Vegas 2 weeks. I am military, so I am generally only around G's and Seikos. Prior to that I lived deep in Texas, where people are more concerned with trucks and cowboy hats then watches. It's funny to me that everyone assumes that if you live in Vegas, you automatically gamble and hang with the sharks. Contrary to this belief, I haven't met many people that ever even go to Paradise, NV. Believe it or not, there is more in Vegas then neon lights, gambling and strippers..some of us have to work legitimate jobs.

Well... that may be so but it still defies logic that you have only spotted a handful of Rollies in the wild in the past 5 years. I live in a small, sleepy town on Vancouver Island and see Rolex-adorned wrists every day. Love them myself (have 1 Rolex and 4 Tudors) but can't find any reason to disagree with the OP - they are RIDICULOUSLY overpriced. Yes, I get that they charge what the market will bear, but that argument really only goes so far, and it ain't very far...

[KurthFreres]

Hello and greetings to all, I am new to the forum.

Thanks for telling your story, with which I strongly agree.


Real life has nothing to do with marketing, something that I have seen many times by myself.


Greetings

[MJK737]

Rolex is by far not the best brand out there, with that being said, I've owned and still own many a watch. My circa 1986 16750 GMT is worn in all conditions, it and my SMP GMT are the only two mechanical watches I own that do not gain time after a long run. That and the bullet proof acrylic crystal (sure it scratches but a little toothpaste and your good) is why I wear it.

[Hector Fdez]

Cool story indeed. Thanks for sharing. Until a few weeks ago, I owned three Rolexes. They are beautiful watches, but I didn't need three, so I kept my DD and traded the other two towards a Romain Jerome Steampunk. Some of my friends thought that I was crazy, but to me, watch collecting is about rarity and uniqueness. Plus I kept the nicest of the Rolexes anyway

When I see someone wearing a Rolex, doesn't even tickle me, they are everywhere. But when I see something unique, that I have never seen before, that catches my attention.

Price? To me that is what someone is willing to pay. I never argue or debate prices.

Just my opinion of course.

[Will_f]

.

Price? To me that is what someone is willing to pay. I never argue or debate prices.

Just my opinion of course.

I used to think value was some sort of absolute and that it could be quantified and analyzed. Turns out I was right only up to a point and not for any of the watches I currently covet. Who would have thought?


Will