Discussion
Well this one took me by surprise somewhat. I've long been a fan of some Rolex's (GMT Master 2, Submariner being the primary ones). I've flirted with the idea of others (Explorer, Milguass) but it didn't go much further than trying a couple on and mulling over them.
I did stick my name down on the impossible list for a GMT or Sub, but knew realistically I'd be in for a long wait.
Fast forward to earlier this week, and an AD I'd kept on touch with pinged me a note about a 40mm Yact Master with blue dial he got in. Pictures didn't look great that he sent, and I was away with work. I popped up a post here and put some feelers out.
Then once returning on my trip, low and behold they had the same watch in Doha Airport. I tried it on and was impressed! The watch felt great and the blue dial looked stunning under the perfectly lit showroom :-). I was in a slight rush at the time, so other than a quick try on, it wasn't really going to happen. I knew I had one potentially lined up on my return to the UAE.
That brings us to last night. I'm still umming and arring over what to do. The blue looked great, but the bezel was quite prominent. Feedback on my post was 50/50, but I knew I had to try the rhodium dial for comparison.
Later last night I head out for a meal with the Mrs and afterwards we just so happen to be passing by probably the smallest Rolex boutique in a Dubai hotel. Interestingly, SS Sports aside, this was the largest collection I'd seen in recent months. They had alsorts in, and the watch counters didn't look like a ghost town like most have on my travels recently. The Mrs was engrossed with the Date Just 36 collection and I was hunting for anything that resembled a YM, Sub, GMT etc.... nothing. Then when I asked the guy he said he 2 YM's in that day. A Steel/Everose with black dial and a steel with rhodium.... Great! He dug them out and I politely said it was the rhodium one I'd be interested in (the Everose just wasn't me).
So I tried it on, and wow. Just like the blue, I was impressed. It just works (for me), but I knew it would be a tough call.
So I stuck up another pic on my other post, gathered some thoughts and slept on it. This morning was spent flicking back and forth of pictures of both (on my TV no less). I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't go wrong with either. I enjoyed aspects of both, but ultimately the watch felt great and offered something different to my current collection.
A decision was made on the rhodium model, and part of the decision was down to the people I was dealing with. The AD I'd been in touch with for some time was a little bit arrogant and pusher at times. The guy I met last night was the polar opposite. He was genuinely interested in me and my wife as customers. Got out about 6 watches for my wife to try and offered some great advice. He wasn't pushy in the slightest and even bought us a Starbucks!
So to cut this jibba jabber short, that's what I took the plunge on and I couldn't be happier.
I've now got too many in the collection and need to move a couple on. I know, I've said this on my last 2 purchases, but there is zero point in having watches sat in a drawer doing nothing. I'm not sure which two will go, but one is likely to be the Omega Speedmaster Racing I purchased recently. It's a fantastic watch but I've not bonded with it like the others.
My default watch is still my Tudor Black Bay 58, it's just sublime and I highly recommend to anyone.
Some snaps. Excuse the goldfish, it wasn't intentional.... There just happens to be really good light here :-)
Cheers.
I did stick my name down on the impossible list for a GMT or Sub, but knew realistically I'd be in for a long wait.
Fast forward to earlier this week, and an AD I'd kept on touch with pinged me a note about a 40mm Yact Master with blue dial he got in. Pictures didn't look great that he sent, and I was away with work. I popped up a post here and put some feelers out.
Then once returning on my trip, low and behold they had the same watch in Doha Airport. I tried it on and was impressed! The watch felt great and the blue dial looked stunning under the perfectly lit showroom :-). I was in a slight rush at the time, so other than a quick try on, it wasn't really going to happen. I knew I had one potentially lined up on my return to the UAE.
That brings us to last night. I'm still umming and arring over what to do. The blue looked great, but the bezel was quite prominent. Feedback on my post was 50/50, but I knew I had to try the rhodium dial for comparison.
Later last night I head out for a meal with the Mrs and afterwards we just so happen to be passing by probably the smallest Rolex boutique in a Dubai hotel. Interestingly, SS Sports aside, this was the largest collection I'd seen in recent months. They had alsorts in, and the watch counters didn't look like a ghost town like most have on my travels recently. The Mrs was engrossed with the Date Just 36 collection and I was hunting for anything that resembled a YM, Sub, GMT etc.... nothing. Then when I asked the guy he said he 2 YM's in that day. A Steel/Everose with black dial and a steel with rhodium.... Great! He dug them out and I politely said it was the rhodium one I'd be interested in (the Everose just wasn't me).
So I tried it on, and wow. Just like the blue, I was impressed. It just works (for me), but I knew it would be a tough call.
So I stuck up another pic on my other post, gathered some thoughts and slept on it. This morning was spent flicking back and forth of pictures of both (on my TV no less). I came to the conclusion that I wouldn't go wrong with either. I enjoyed aspects of both, but ultimately the watch felt great and offered something different to my current collection.
A decision was made on the rhodium model, and part of the decision was down to the people I was dealing with. The AD I'd been in touch with for some time was a little bit arrogant and pusher at times. The guy I met last night was the polar opposite. He was genuinely interested in me and my wife as customers. Got out about 6 watches for my wife to try and offered some great advice. He wasn't pushy in the slightest and even bought us a Starbucks!
So to cut this jibba jabber short, that's what I took the plunge on and I couldn't be happier.
I've now got too many in the collection and need to move a couple on. I know, I've said this on my last 2 purchases, but there is zero point in having watches sat in a drawer doing nothing. I'm not sure which two will go, but one is likely to be the Omega Speedmaster Racing I purchased recently. It's a fantastic watch but I've not bonded with it like the others.
My default watch is still my Tudor Black Bay 58, it's just sublime and I highly recommend to anyone.
Some snaps. Excuse the goldfish, it wasn't intentional.... There just happens to be really good light here :-)
Cheers.
Edited by matt_knowles on Saturday 29th June 18:10
Thanks for the kind comments.
The rhodium / blue contrast works well, it's a feature I really like. Similarly, I liked the blue / red on the blue dial version.
Its the first watch I've had with a cyclops, which is interesting. Some love them, some hate them. I would be neater without, but I wanted a watch with a date to compliment the BB58 I have.
People talk about the quality of these watches against those a few brackets down. I know that's a given, but you can really tell the difference. It's the little details that add up to a big change.
Pound for pound, I'll say it again, the BB58 does take some beating!
The rhodium / blue contrast works well, it's a feature I really like. Similarly, I liked the blue / red on the blue dial version.
Its the first watch I've had with a cyclops, which is interesting. Some love them, some hate them. I would be neater without, but I wanted a watch with a date to compliment the BB58 I have.
People talk about the quality of these watches against those a few brackets down. I know that's a given, but you can really tell the difference. It's the little details that add up to a big change.
Pound for pound, I'll say it again, the BB58 does take some beating!
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