A year with "my first Rolex"

A year with "my first Rolex"

Author
Discussion

Nigel_O

Original Poster:

2,859 posts

218 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
At the end of 2014, I found myself in the position of being able to afford my first "proper" watch. After a really helpful thread discussing the benefits of a homage versus the genuine item, on the 14th January 2015, I sent (what was for me) a significant amount of money to a person I'd never met - a certain Mr D Hackett.... I know some people on here would class a stainless Rolex as entry-level into the world of great watches - I can see what they mean, but for me, it was a huge step, with my previous must expensive watch being a Skagen Titanium (£100 - £150?)

A year ago tomorrow, a parcel containing a brand new, ceramic-bezelled, no-date Submariner turned up at my office and I opened it like a ten year old on Christmas morning, much to the bemusement of my office colleagues.

In the year since I bought it, it has been off my wrist for less than a week (5 days to LeMans and half a day working deep in an engine bay). I sleep with it on, shower with it on, and work with it on, even for my more manual job.

For the first two or three weeks, I guess I wanted people to notice it (apart from Wifey, who I hadn't bothered to tell....). Nobody has noticed it, with the possible exception of my Tag-wearing boss, but he didn't say anything (well, you wouldn't, would you...)

After a few weeks, I got over myself and realised that owning a nice watch is more about personal satisfaction than "look what I've got...". Since then, I smile inwardly to myself every time I glance at the watch. Re-setting it every Monday morning (its three seconds a day slow) is an absolute pleasure, as I get to feel the quality and weight in the palm of my hand, rather than on my wrist.

The only downsides I have found so far is that a) I worry every time I touch it against something as I walk past (no damage though) and b) I actively hide it on occasions, as I don't want it to be seen in some situations

Wifey still hasn't noticed it, which after a year leaves me with the ability to do what she does to me when I notice her with a new pair of riding boots or something pointless for the house - "oh, that? Got it ages ago - told you about it - don't you remember?..."

In the early days, I still considered a Steinhart for those times when I felt the Sub might be inappropriate - I even considered a "replica", but swiftly canned the idea when I saw the PH vitriol that fakes generate - having thought about where the money goes, I'm now in agreement. However, it occurred to me that I probably won't ever wear a "lesser" watch again, rendering my very modest collection as ornaments in one fell swoop. The only way I can see me not wearing the Sub is if I fall for something even better.

The intention is that the Sub will be left in my will - trouble is, I have two lads, so I can see me having to find another nice timepiece

Slippery slope, huh?

A10

633 posts

98 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
If you think your wife hasn't noticed it, you're dreaming! biggrin

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
Is this a piss-take?

KungFuPanda

4,324 posts

169 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
Zod said:
Is this a piss-take?
Come on, he loves his Rolex!

Pics please.

The original Nick the Greek

366 posts

99 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
[quote=Nigel_O]At the end of 2014, I found myself in the position of being able to afford my first "proper" watch. After a really helpful thread discussing the benefits of a homage versus the genuine item, on the 14th January 2015, I sent (what was for me) a significant amount of money to a person I'd never met - a certain Mr D Hackett.... I know some people on here would class a stainless Rolex as entry-level into the world of great watches - I can see what they mean, but for me, it was a huge step, with my previous must expensive watch being a Skagen Titanium (£100 - £150?)

A year ago tomorrow, a parcel containing a brand new, ceramic-bezelled, no-date Submariner turned up at my office and I opened it like a ten year old on Christmas morning, much to the bemusement of my office colleagues.

In the year since I bought it, it has been off my wrist for less than a week (5 days to LeMans and half a day working deep in an engine bay). I sleep with it on, shower with it on, and work with it on, even for my more manual job.

For the first two or three weeks, I guess I wanted people to notice it (apart from Wifey, who I hadn't bothered to tell....). Nobody has noticed it, with the possible exception of my Tag-wearing boss, but he didn't say anything (well, you wouldn't, would you...)

After a few weeks, I got over myself and realised that owning a nice watch is more about personal satisfaction than "look what I've got...". Since then, I smile inwardly to myself every time I glance at the watch. Re-setting it every Monday morning (its three seconds a day slow) is an absolute pleasure, as I get to feel the quality and weight in the palm of my hand, rather than on my wrist.

The only downsides I have found so far is that a) I worry every time I touch it against something as I walk past (no damage though) and b) I actively hide it on occasions, as I don't want it to be seen in some situations

Wifey still hasn't noticed it, which after a year leaves me with the ability to do what she does to me when I notice her with a new pair of riding boots or something pointless for the house - "oh, that? Got it ages ago - told you about it - don't you remember?..."

In the early days, I still considered a Steinhart for those times when I felt the Sub might be inappropriate - I even considered a "replica", but swiftly canned the idea when I saw the PH vitriol that fakes generate - having thought about where the money goes, I'm now in agreement. However, it occurred to me that I probably won't ever wear a "lesser" watch again, rendering my very modest collection as ornaments in one fell swoop. The only way I can see me not wearing the Sub is if I fall for something even better.

The intention is that the Sub will be left in my will - trouble is, I have two lads, so I can see me having to find another nice timepiece

Slippery slope, huh?[/q]

Great watches aren't they?

I have a collection of 15 'quality' watches. My GMTII is my favourite. I find wearing a Rolex allows me to look down on other people. Very satisfying.

smile

Nigel_O

Original Poster:

2,859 posts

218 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
Zod said:
Is this a piss-take?
No - what makes you think it is?

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
Zod said:
Is this a piss-take?
No - what makes you think it is?
Seriously?

The original Nick the Greek

366 posts

99 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
Zod said:
Seriously?
You don't own a Rolex?

How do you possibly manage?

smile

leglessAlex

5,384 posts

140 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
You must be pretty keen on having exactly the right time to hand if you're resetting it every week! If any of my mechanical watches were that accurate they'd get reset once every couple of months at most hehe


It's nice to see you still appreciate it, it would be a shame if you spent a very large amount of money* on a watch and then didn't really give it a second thought after a few weeks or so.








*I'm aware that a lot of posters will disagree with this, but to me several thousand for a watch is quite a lot of money.

Legacywr

12,017 posts

187 months

Thursday 14th January 2016
quotequote all
Watching smile

Ilovejapcrap

3,274 posts

111 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
The original Nick the Greek]igel_O said:
I find wearing a Rolex allows me to look down on other people. Very satisfying.
Uhmmm

Nigel_O

Original Poster:

2,859 posts

218 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Zod said:
Seriously?
Yes - seriously....

What made you think it was a piss-take?

Nigel_O

Original Poster:

2,859 posts

218 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Ilovejapcrap said:
The original Nick the Greek]igel_O said:
I find wearing a Rolex allows me to look down on other people. Very satisfying.
Uhmmm
Now THAT was a piss-take (I hope...)

The original Nick the Greek

366 posts

99 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
Now THAT was a piss-take (I hope...)
No. I enjoy looking down on poor people.

wink

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
Zod said:
Seriously?
Yes - seriously....

What made you think it was a piss-take?
It was more that I hoped it was a piss-take. If not, take a step back and think about how it comes across.

The original Nick the Greek

366 posts

99 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Zod said:
It was more that I hoped it was a piss-take. If not, take a step back and think about how it comes across.
Very straight forward .

I can afford a Rolex.

You can't because you are poor.

Very satisfying.

smile

Nigel_O

Original Poster:

2,859 posts

218 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Zod said:
It was more that I hoped it was a piss-take. If not, take a step back and think about how it comes across.
Perhaps you should take a step back and consider how it was meant to come across... I can only re-read my post in the manner I wrote it - if there's a tone that has come unintentionally come across, you're going to have to help me, as I can't see it.

The Watches forum (and several others on PH) can sometimes seem daunting for Newbies, as it is populated by some very knowledgeable people, with some very expensive and exclusive watches. The discussion on the forum can be quite "clicky" for those (like me) not "in the know"

That's absolutely fine by me - the Watch forum regulars have to have their in-depth, knowledgeable discussions - these are often the source of inspiration for others.

However, the other type of visitor to the forum is the un-knowledgeable type, like me. They're considering buying a good watch and want some help, guidance and encouragement (or perhaps discouragement from making a mistake). These people need to be catered for and thankfully, the vast majority of regulars in this forum are quick to provide assistance at the right level

If you think my post was "boasty", you couldn't be further from the truth. After all, coming on this forum and bragging about a £5k Rolex is hardly going to be impressive when there are people on here with watches that make a Rolex look like a Timex. Don't get me wrong, I'm still just as chuffed with the watch as I was a year ago, and I still see it not only as a nice watch, but also as a personal achievement, so yes, I'm proud of myself, but also realistic that I'm still on the lower rungs of a very tall ladder.

My post was designed to convey my (genuine) experiences of a year with a proper watch - the positives and the negatives. It was designed to thank the people that helped me make the decision to own a Rolex instead of a Steinhart and it was designed to help other people in a similar position to that I found myself in a year ago. If I've conveyed a sense of pride in my achievement, then I'm glad, because I AM proud. If my post helps others to take the plunge and they feel half as good about it as I do, then that must be A Good Thing

Sorry if you didn't read it that way....

Zod

35,295 posts

257 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
The original Nick the Greek said:
Zod said:
It was more that I hoped it was a piss-take. If not, take a step back and think about how it comes across.
Very straight forward .

I can afford a Rolex.

You can't because you are poor.

Very satisfying.

smile
laugh

sealtt

3,091 posts

157 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Great post, I totally agree the real enjoyment comes when you start enjoying it because it's something YOU want and something you really enjoy - rather than what other people think is good. It really sounds to me like you might have caught the bug - and seeing as you have 2 sons, that gives you the perfect reason to start hunting for the second watch wink

sealtt

3,091 posts

157 months

Friday 15th January 2016
quotequote all
Nigel_O said:
Perhaps you should take a step back and consider how it was meant to come across... I can only re-read my post in the manner I wrote it - if there's a tone that has come unintentionally come across, you're going to have to help me, as I can't see it.

The Watches forum (and several others on PH) can sometimes seem daunting for Newbies, as it is populated by some very knowledgeable people, with some very expensive and exclusive watches. The discussion on the forum can be quite "clicky" for those (like me) not "in the know"

That's absolutely fine by me - the Watch forum regulars have to have their in-depth, knowledgeable discussions - these are often the source of inspiration for others.

However, the other type of visitor to the forum is the un-knowledgeable type, like me. They're considering buying a good watch and want some help, guidance and encouragement (or perhaps discouragement from making a mistake). These people need to be catered for and thankfully, the vast majority of regulars in this forum are quick to provide assistance at the right level

If you think my post was "boasty", you couldn't be further from the truth. After all, coming on this forum and bragging about a £5k Rolex is hardly going to be impressive when there are people on here with watches that make a Rolex look like a Timex. Don't get me wrong, I'm still just as chuffed with the watch as I was a year ago, and I still see it not only as a nice watch, but also as a personal achievement, so yes, I'm proud of myself, but also realistic that I'm still on the lower rungs of a very tall ladder.

My post was designed to convey my (genuine) experiences of a year with a proper watch - the positives and the negatives. It was designed to thank the people that helped me make the decision to own a Rolex instead of a Steinhart and it was designed to help other people in a similar position to that I found myself in a year ago. If I've conveyed a sense of pride in my achievement, then I'm glad, because I AM proud. If my post helps others to take the plunge and they feel half as good about it as I do, then that must be A Good Thing

Sorry if you didn't read it that way....
Forget about that guy, he just has a really bad attitude for whatever reason - I would imagine he is not particularly into watches anyway. Your post came across fine and was obviously just about sharing something you have really enjoyed - this is the watch forum after all.