Outside of perhaps fine art, celebrity memorabilia, and a very, very few extremely lucky collectible items (that Hotwheels surfer bus being one), I can't think of many things that appreciate to that degree in that short a time.
By comparison, Elmer Keith's one-of-a-kind No. 5 fetched 'only' $80,500.
What is that - something on the order of 165,000% return on investment for the Rolex? Lucky man indeed.
Awesome story as well.
Boss
A real life Sisyphus... "It's not the critic who counts..." TR Exodus 23.2: Do not follow the crowd in doing wrong... Despite some people's claims to the contrary, 5 lbs. is actually different than 12 lbs. It's never simple/easy.
April 27, 2020, 10:22 AM
copaup
It's a hand built device made out of springs and gears that winds itself when you move and manages to keep time within seconds a day. That's pretty neat. It is also a collectible prestige item from a historical brand that not only holds value, but often accumulates value over time.
Rolex wouldn't be my first choice, but I wouldn't pass on a no date Submariner or a GMT Master if they fell in my lap. My current grail watch is an Omega Speedmaster. I'll never question anyone what they choose to spend their money on. I certainly wouldn't want them giving me grief for what I've spent on guns and bikes over the years.
April 27, 2020, 10:58 AM
LimaCharlie
I had a Rolodex years ago, but donated it to Goodwill after I got a computer.
U.S. Army, Retired
April 27, 2020, 11:26 AM
wxl
Have one, wore it 24/7 for 20years. Still have it, in the safe. Wear a Citizen now after my Luminox wore out
April 27, 2020, 11:55 AM
9mmnut
Company I worked for gave employees a Rolex for 25 years service. I would have never bought one myself. Just not into that sort of thing. I think mine sold for $5500 at that time. Have wore it a few times. If it turns you on go for it. Now when it comes to a gun that a different song. A Sig is a lot nicer looking than Rolex.
April 27, 2020, 01:38 PM
HRK
quote:
A Sig is a lot nicer looking than Rolex.
Try to wear your sig on your wrist while out in public! You will get comments LOL
Bought mine in the 80's, it's worth more than I paid for it, and later bought one for the wife with diamonds on the bezel. It's her favorite.
I like a good heavier dress watch, Rolex can be worn with Suits or shorts and a Tommy Bahama shirt at the beach bar...
Like Harleys, if you don't get the why, it's hard to explain... Porsche, Lambo, Luxury Boats, Zturn mowers or having your own bulldozer, different strokes for different folks...
April 27, 2020, 03:32 PM
Sevo1967
I don’t own a Rolex, but I do have a Panerai Luminor Marina that I’ve worn for about ten years. So I understand the appeal of premium watches. (At least to me, this is a premium watch. Although not quite the same as a Patek or an A Lange and Soehne).
Someday, when the house is paid off and the little ones college fund is adequate to keep her out of student loan debt, I’ll probably try to get myself another Panerai, probably a submersible, and get my wife the Cartier she’s been admiring. Sean
------------------------------------------ Just because you can, doesn't mean you should.
April 27, 2020, 03:40 PM
9mmnut
Ever had to defend yourself with your Rolex? Just kidding. They’re just not my bag. I never look to see what watch anyone is wearing. The time within a couple minutes is just fine with me. My cheap (less than $100) watch and faded Levi’s and Chevy truck and cold Miller’s beer satisfy me. I am a simple man.
April 27, 2020, 08:24 PM
jimmy123x
quote:
Originally posted by 9mmnut: Ever had to defend yourself with your Rolex? Just kidding. They’re just not my bag. I never look to see what watch anyone is wearing. The time within a couple minutes is just fine with me. My cheap (less than $100) watch and faded Levi’s and Chevy truck and cold Miller’s beer satisfy me. I am a simple man.
No, but you can sell a Rolex anywhere in the world and get enough money out of it to get home......so there's that! hehehehee
April 27, 2020, 08:40 PM
r0gue
quote:
Originally posted by 9mmnut:...They’re just not my bag. ...The time within a couple minutes is just fine with me. My cheap (less than $100) watch and faded Levi’s and Chevy truck and cold Miller’s beer satisfy me. I am a simple man.
You are certainly not the target audience. And there's nothing wrong with that.
I just hope to dispel the myth that they are expensive. The TCO on a Rolex over two decade is less than damn near anything other tangible thing you might ever purchase.
April 27, 2020, 08:46 PM
stickman428
I actually understand the OP’s mindset. I don’t think he is trolling at all. I was there only a few years ago. I had a timex quartz watch that told the time accurately, didn’t cost much and lit up when I pushed a button. It was perfect. If I had not lost the watch while surfing I might have kept it forever. For a long time I didn’t understand why people would spend so much money on a watch or the fascination with watches in general. When I lost my timex I ended up replacing it with an obnoxious bright red G-Shock that added moon phase and tide features along with telling the time. My uncle who is a watch enthusiast would always make snide comments about my G-Shock which he claimed looked like a McDonald’s toy.
A few years later by chance I was with my wife at Costco and stopped at the watch counter. A gorgeous Citizen radio wave watch caught my eye. Being close to Christmas and hard up for ideas my wife actually talked me into getting the thing. That is what kicked off a hell of a fascination with watches.
A few weeks or months later a forum member here on Sigforum posted this video on a thread about automatic watches. I watched it and was convinced I had to try out an auto. Once I did I was 100% hooked. Now watches occupy a good deal of my attention and are a source of amusement and joy as the hunt for the perfect watch is a quest that I don’t think will ever be completed.
Originally posted by Voshterkoff: I think IWC makes a nicer watch.
Agreed. Nicer, as good of construction and best of all they fly under almost everyone’s radar at the same time.
Much broader ranger of styles/functions as well.
I also like IWC watches - as you note, very under the radar for most. However, for those who are less than impressed with the price of a Rolex - http://oceanictime.blogspot.com/
April 28, 2020, 07:44 AM
Woodman
I'll agree, IWC can make a tolerably attractive watch.
April 28, 2020, 08:19 AM
Voshterkoff
Only a few Rolex watches are appealing to me. I’d take an IWC pilot over any of them.
April 28, 2020, 08:51 AM
Scurvy
IWC posts F1 spoilers on social media so they suck in my mind. Fly away races in the far East end at like 4am in the USA and IWC is right there 3 minutes after to brag about how their racers did.
No care or concern that it's a sport watched around the world and you might need to give everyone a few hours to watch it.
