My Rolex repair bill rant...

DrawbarFlats

I'M ----  KIDDING!!!! 

bhl2506

  April fools day was a couple of weeks ago!

Diver43

If you weren't kidding, I would understand

Linefinder

My dad always said don't buy anything you can't afford to fix. Great advice.

The few times I've ignored that advice, I've regretted it.

Mike

zorba

Linefinder said:

My dad always said don't buy anything you can't afford to fix. Great advice.

The few times I've ignored that advice, I've regretted it.

Mike

That *is* great advice, I'm going to remember that. It goes hand in hand with my mother's saying: "Something else to break".

And then I bought a Jeep, go figure...

Gila

One of the best ones is the guys who buy used BMWs for cheap, then find out the only people that can fix them are factory certified BMW mechanics.

Bigslug

Gila said:

One of the best ones is the guys who buy used BMWs for cheap, then find out the only people that can fix them are factory certified BMW mechanics.

Porsche doesn't even want someone who they haven't trained/certified even hooking up one of their cares to TOW.  Fun to drive, but REALLY???

GunNut

My buddy owns a Maserati.  He blew a tire on his car only to find out that NO ONE can change a tire in his car except for, you guessed it, Maserati.  Wanna guess what they charged him? 

Linefinder

A couple months ago I saw my first Maserati ever. Parked at Safeway, believe it or not.

Mike

GunNut

Linefinder said:

A couple months ago I saw my first Maserati ever. Parked at Safeway, believe it or not.

Mike

Beautiful cars.  Too nice for my wallet but damn they are nice...

Jeff in TX

I bought myself a Rolex Submariner the year I graduated college as a present to myself.  I paid a bit over a grand and it's worth over $10K now which is nuts.  I just keep my insurance policy up on it.  I still have it to this day though I don't wear it nearly like I did years ago.  I've always liked automatic watches.  When the wife and I were in Switzerland a year ago May, I bought myself Swiss Military automatic watch for a hair over $475 Euros.  I wear it everyday. 

GunNut

Jeff in TX said:

I bought myself a Rolex Submariner the year I graduated college as a present to myself.  I paid a bit over a grand and it's worth over $10K now which is nuts.  I just keep my insurance policy up on it.  I still have it to this day though I don't wear it nearly like I did years ago.  I've always liked automatic watches.  When the wife and I were in Switzerland a year ago May, I bought myself Swiss Military automatic watch for a hair over $475 Euros.  I wear it everyday. 

I did the same with my first bonus.  Cost me $800 and like you said it's now worth a heck of a lot more.  GREAT investment that I wore daily for decades.  Had Rolex refurbish it once a few years back and now I wear it occasionally but I'm mostly keeping it for my son. He already has my grandpa's Omega Seamaster.

Nowadays my everyday watch is the Godzilla of Diver's watches the Citizens Professional Diver.  It's a BEAST of a watch but it has kept great time for over 10 years now and it looks like the day I bought it.

shotgunshooter3

Part of me really wants to pick up a Rolex Air King. I appreciate the skill of craftsmanship, and the history of that particular model. However, I'd still probably wear my Garmin Instinct daily and that $6K could do a lot of good elsewhere. 

DrawbarFlats

GunNut said:

Jeff in TX said:

I bought myself a Rolex Submariner the year I graduated college as a present to myself.  I paid a bit over a grand and it's worth over $10K now which is nuts.  I just keep my insurance policy up on it.  I still have it to this day though I don't wear it nearly like I did years ago.  I've always liked automatic watches.  When the wife and I were in Switzerland a year ago May, I bought myself Swiss Military automatic watch for a hair over $475 Euros.  I wear it everyday. 

I did the same with my first bonus.  Cost me $800 and like you said it's now worth a heck of a lot more.  GREAT investment that I wore daily for decades.  Had Rolex refurbish it once a few years back and now I wear it occasionally but I'm mostly keeping it for my son. He already has my grandpa's Omega Seamaster.

Nowadays my everyday watch is the Godzilla of Diver's watches the Citizens Professional Diver.  It's a BEAST of a watch but it has kept great time for over 10 years now and it looks like the day I bought it.

Nice.

If I ever win the lottery this is my dream watch: Rolex Cellini Moonphase .

DrawbarFlats

shotgunshooter3 said:

Part of me really wants to pick up a Rolex Air King. I appreciate the skill of craftsmanship, and the history of that particular model. However, I'd still probably wear my Garmin Instinct daily and that $6K could do a lot of good elsewhere. 

I always liked the Air King. Beautiful watch. 

GunNut

shotgunshooter3 said:

Part of me really wants to pick up a Rolex Air King. I appreciate the skill of craftsmanship, and the history of that particular model. However, I'd still probably wear my Garmin Instinct daily and that $6K could do a lot of good elsewhere. 

Yeah... but if a loooooong history is any proof, that $6k will be worth $30k someday within your lifetime and your son and the next several generations will love you for it.

GunNut

DrawbarFlats said:

GunNut said:

Jeff in TX said:

I bought myself a Rolex Submariner the year I graduated college as a present to myself.  I paid a bit over a grand and it's worth over $10K now which is nuts.  I just keep my insurance policy up on it.  I still have it to this day though I don't wear it nearly like I did years ago.  I've always liked automatic watches.  When the wife and I were in Switzerland a year ago May, I bought myself Swiss Military automatic watch for a hair over $475 Euros.  I wear it everyday. 

I did the same with my first bonus.  Cost me $800 and like you said it's now worth a heck of a lot more.  GREAT investment that I wore daily for decades.  Had Rolex refurbish it once a few years back and now I wear it occasionally but I'm mostly keeping it for my son. He already has my grandpa's Omega Seamaster.

Nowadays my everyday watch is the Godzilla of Diver's watches the Citizens Professional Diver.  It's a BEAST of a watch but it has kept great time for over 10 years now and it looks like the day I bought it.

Nice.

If I ever win the lottery this is my dream watch: Rolex Cellini Moonphase .

Yo are a man of great taste 

DrawbarFlats

GunNut said:

shotgunshooter3 said:

Part of me really wants to pick up a Rolex Air King. I appreciate the skill of craftsmanship, and the history of that particular model. However, I'd still probably wear my Garmin Instinct daily and that $6K could do a lot of good elsewhere. 

Yeah... but if a loooooong history is any proof, that $6k will be worth $30k someday within your lifetime and your son and the next several generations will love you for it.

Couldn't agree more. Old Rolex watches, especially those that have a pictorial record such as military service, LE work, exploration, etc., sell for big bucks. Having the original box with all the paperwork from the time of the original sale is also in demand by collectors. 

Gila

I carry a pocket watch because I've never had one break in my pocket.  What I'd like to find is another quality self-winding watch, even if it is a wrist watch.

GunNut

Gila said:

I carry a pocket watch because I've never had one break in my pocket.  What I'd like to find is another quality self-winding watch, even if it is a wrist watch.

It used to be that self winding (automatic movements) were very expensive but technology has made that more affordable because they are now machine made.  There are a lot of good ones at reasonable cost out there.

GunNut

DrawbarFlats said:

GunNut said:

shotgunshooter3 said:

Part of me really wants to pick up a Rolex Air King. I appreciate the skill of craftsmanship, and the history of that particular model. However, I'd still probably wear my Garmin Instinct daily and that $6K could do a lot of good elsewhere. 

Yeah... but if a loooooong history is any proof, that $6k will be worth $30k someday within your lifetime and your son and the next several generations will love you for it.

Couldn't agree more. Old Rolex watches, especially those that have a pictorial record such as military service, LE work, exploration, etc., sell for big bucks. Having the original box with all the paperwork from the time of the original sale is also in demand by collectors. 

Yep, I bought mine in the Virgin Islands at an Authorized dealer.  At that time there was a very real price difference.  The common wisdom back then was buy it, have it adjusted to your wrist, throw the box out and cruise through customs so you don't have to pay taxes on the watch.  I refused to throw out the box but still just wore it right through customs with no incident.  Box and papers are still in my safe!!!  A few years ago I was inquiring at a Rolex dealer if they would take my submariner in trade for a Sea Dweller.  The FIRST question they asked was "Do you still have the box?".

Gila

GunNut said:

Gila said:

I carry a pocket watch because I've never had one break in my pocket.  What I'd like to find is another quality self-winding watch, even if it is a wrist watch.

It used to be that self winding (automatic movements) were very expensive but technology has made that more affordable because they are now machine made.  There are a lot of good ones at reasonable cost out there.

When I was in the Navy I had a Seiko diver,s watch, and that's the kind of quality I want.  I have a modern Seiko electric watch that cost 10 times more than the diver's watch, and the hands fell off of it during PT training almost 20 years ago.  I've carried pocket watches ever since.

GunNut

IIRC Seiko and Citizens now have Automatic watches that won't destroy the bank account, specially their divers watches.  I know my son has scored a few.  He inherited my love for watches and now has a very nice collection going.

Bigslug

Heck, with the lockdown, I've barely even worn my 11 year old Casio for over a month.  Nobody will even see you guys wearing your Rolexes.

earlyagain

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=JwYX52BP2Sk

10canyon53

I have been happy with my Seiko Solar.  Doesn't take much sunlight to keep it charged and didn't break the bank at $350.

GunNut

10canyon53 said:

I have been happy with my Seiko Solar.  Doesn't take much sunlight to keep it charged and didn't break the bank at $350.

Nice looking timepiece!  I like Solar watches.  The Citizen's Eco-Drive I posted above has been running non-stop for over 10 years!  I know at some point the cell will have to be replaced but damn that watch owes me nothing!  

Gene L

I bought a Rolex Explorer in Viet Nam in 1969 at the PX.  I paid $250 for it.  A great watch.  I had it rebuilt at the factory in 2004 or so and it cost more than I paid for it.  I lost it in a fight back when I was in a street cop, but went back to where I lost and found it covered in sand.  A good watch for years until it started to lose time, hence the rebuild

About ten years ago, I gave it to a really good friend.

Jeff in TX

My Rolex Submariner stays on a watch winder when I'm not wearing it.  I have it serviced every five or six years which runs me around $500.  Almost 30  years later and it still runs great. It's been a great investment and one I'll hand down to one of my boys one day!

Linefinder

I've never owned a watch that cost over $200 (most way less than that), but I've always worn one until last year. The last one was a $60 Timex digital that ate batteries like cat treats.

It finally hit me.....why was I even still wearing a wristwatch? I work in a toolroom....anything extranious to your flesh is a disaster waiting to happen. I have a cellphone. It keeps perfect time.

Bingo!

I don't wear a wristwatch anymore.

Another thing....I'm not real heavy, and small-boned to boot. Finding a mens watch that didn't look like a barbell-weight on my wrist was really difficult. I don't miss that either.

Mike

Gene L

I don't wear one either.  The new cheap battery wristwatches are way more accurate than a mechanical watch.  I looked up what I paid in 69, $250, and it's about $1758 in 2020.  I was amazed. I don't remember how I saved the $250 back in the day.