A year with "my first Rolex"
Discussion
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?
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?
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....
A10 said:
No mate, it's just a watch.
Ultimately yes, but for many, its the realisation of significant aspiration and the result of a lot of hard work (or good fortune)For me, its my "pat on the back" for holding down several jobs and working long hours (which I enjoy, but a trinket on my wrist helps remind me why I do it)
I know some people for whom a Sub is their daily beater and their "best" watch is worth ten times the price of the Sub, but I bet I felt as good when I bought my Sub as he did with his PP (or whatever it is...)
Now that I've realised the satisfaction is ME knowing, rather than other people knowing, a side of me thinks a Rolex was a bit predictable and I should have gone for something a bit more subtle. However, if you look back at the thread from a year ago, I had already decided I wanted a black-faced, black-bezelled diver watch, with chunky white hands, so my choice was also based on style, because it just happened to be what I liked.
I see photos of some watches on this forum and (to me) they look very ordinary and not at all desirable - I'm then staggered to find they cost £20k+ - just as well we're all different eh?
Perhaps I'll grow out of the Rolex - some posts seem to suggest that its simply a logical step to an even better piece - we'll see
A10 said:
Ive got a DSSD in my collection. I'm glad you enjoy your Rolex. I only took exception to speed badgers waffle about George Clooney, Le Mans winners, lust and never actually owning it.
I read speedbadger's post as "lusting after the watch while not owning it, and then finding a way of owning it" - the Clooney and LeMans references were simply that the brand is associated (rightly or wrongly) with celebs and Motorsport successEdited by Nigel_O on Friday 15th January 19:44
wombleh said:
Nice post glad you're enjoying it, are you going to be in trouble if the wife does notice? 
Not in trouble, but she definitely wouldn't understandShe's known I've wanted a good watch for years - she just doesn't know I've done it. Or maybe she does - my lads are crap at keeping secrets
Last time I broke the car was on the start-line at Santa Pod - wifey had been told before I crawled under the quarter mile gantry......
I'm not so sure - I have half a dozen watches, and the only one she ever notices is a 1961 (birth year) gold Smiths - she only ever notices it because it ticks so loudly it keeps her awake. Otherwise, she wouldn't notice whether I'm wearing the 7t32 Seiko, the Skagen titanium, or the fake Tag ( a pressie from my brother from a holiday abroad - hardly ever worn)
Heck, she didn't notice I'd shaved my beard off for a week.....
Heck, she didn't notice I'd shaved my beard off for a week.....
HairyMaclary said:
Im interested in what you guys think when you see a person wearing a lesser watch. Say you come to my office in central London for meeting and notice Im wearing a £15 casio digital watch or an £80 Apex diving watch?
I'd just think - "there's a person, who isn't a watch enthusiast" - no judgement, no opinions as to your disposable income or how well you did at schoolIts the same when you see someone driving a very ordinary, or even a bad car - PH'ers don't need to judge, they just think "not a car enthusiast..." and get on with their own life
There's another aspect of course - for example, I have no idea what a rebreather is, no idea why someone might want one, no idea why it should cost £10k and absolutely no interest in diving (which I guess is pretty ironic given the watch I'm wearing....) - when you find out I don't own a rebreather, do you pass judgement, or do you simply think "he's not interested in diving..."
Whilst I'm on a low rung of the watch ladder, I rather suspect that the further up you go, the less you are concerned about what other people think or what other people have on their wrist - as I mentioned in my opening post, I've now twigged that its a very personal satisfaction which would make no sense at all to most other people (wifey included...)
PS - your £15 Casio isn't "lesser", just "different" - its massively more accurate than my Sub, probably more resilient to knocks and scrapes, easier to wear, far less to worry about and easier to live with. It probably has the ability to tell you the time in other places, it'll tell you the day, date and month, it'll wake you up at a predetermined time. If you listed features and benefits side by side, the cost/benefit ratio of the Casio is off the scale compared with the Sub
I have an old black plastic Casio Illuminator in my collection somewhere - I wore it for a couple of years after I found it on a beach in South Wales - only stopped after the rubber strap broke
RogerExplosion said:
Unfortunately I'm paying for some past debt sins but have been working bloody hard building a business to catch up. Hoping this is the year I can reward myself.
Not dissimilar to my own circumstances = last year was my "pat on the back" year and the beauty of the Sub is that if I ever needed to, I could sell it and get a large portion of my money back (which was the biggest nail in the coffin of buying the Tag Carrera that I also liked)Sorry....
A couple of years ago, I REALLY wanted a Tag Carrera, but the money simply didn't turn up as expected, so I balled out.
By the time I found myself in the position again, two things had happened - 1) I had found this forum and the wealth of advice on it and 2) I had realised that whilst the watch is perfectly good, the cost was disproportionate to the quality
Still like the Carrera though......
A couple of years ago, I REALLY wanted a Tag Carrera, but the money simply didn't turn up as expected, so I balled out.
By the time I found myself in the position again, two things had happened - 1) I had found this forum and the wealth of advice on it and 2) I had realised that whilst the watch is perfectly good, the cost was disproportionate to the quality
Still like the Carrera though......
Zod said:
h, Roger, how could you? So judgmental! I like a nice watch as much as the next man, but posting a paean to your watch is a little odd.
Which proves to me that you've mis-read my post (or have chosen to mis-read it in order to get a bite)Re-read it - I didn't go on about the watch at all (not much point describing a Sub on this forum - most people know exactly what it is) - my post was about my experience of owning and wearing it for a year, after a lifetime of very ordinary watches. It was designed to be of possible interest to others looking to take the plunge on a proper watch. The fact that you see it as "odd" while everyone else saw it for what it is says more about you than me.
Countdown said:
Firstly OP - congratulations on having enough money to buy a Rolex - I gather they aren't cheap 
However there were a couple of things in your post which struck me as odd - how can something that loses 3 seconds a day be considered quality? My Casio manages to keep perfect time and costs nowhere near a Rolex.
Secondly If Rolexes (et al) are primarily jewellery then why do fakes attract vitriol?
What car do you drive? If its anything other than a 5 year old Corsa, a 10year old Micra, or a 20 year old E36, why? Each of these will happily move you around from place to place, with half-decent reliability and enough power to break any speed limit in this country. Why would you need anything more? Very likely the same reason I wanted a Sub, as well as my deadly-accurate, 20 year old Seiko quartzHowever there were a couple of things in your post which struck me as odd - how can something that loses 3 seconds a day be considered quality? My Casio manages to keep perfect time and costs nowhere near a Rolex.
Secondly If Rolexes (et al) are primarily jewellery then why do fakes attract vitriol?
As for fakes (ie something that is trying to fool others that its the real thing, as opposed to homages, which are merely trying to look LIKE the real thing) - one of the biggest reasons for the vitriol is where the funds might be going - would you be happy knowing that some of the £100-£200 you spent on the fake Submariner might be going to ISIS or Al-Qaeda? Nope, thought not....
Countdown said:
The only reason I can see for having a Sub is because it looks nice and you want to show it off.
In which case, you'll probably never buy one. You'll probably never buy a Porsche either, because "the only reason for having a Porsche is because it looks nice and you want to show it off". God knows what you'd think of a Ferrari. Or a Patek Phillipe.Some people buy nice things because THEY want to enjoy them, not because they want other people to see it.
Its a Civic diesel, isn't it?
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