My first watch...

The first serious watch I purchased was a Rolex Explorer II. I bought it in 1998 from an AD called Schaap en Citroen in Eindhoven in the Netherlands where I lived at the time. A timeless watch IMO. It got fairly beat up over the years. Originally I bought it with black dial but last year sent it in for service and got a full refurbishment with new dial, crystal, hands, fixes to bracelet clasp as well as movement. Took a chance on changing the dial color from its original black to white. At first Rolex didn’t want to do but when I was able to show AD I work with original papers etc they agreed. On top I was given a 2 year warranty on work done. Not cheap at around $2000 but I must say I am very pleased with the results and it is one of my all time favorites. Feels brand new and good for another quarter century!

💰1882 Marketplace Listings for Rolex›

My first acquisition

By: ArmisT : March 16th, 2020-09:46

This was my very first nice watch that I bought about 18 years ago. Timeless classic. -Aymen ...

A Classic. I would be very interested to read how many of us got a Rolex as a first " serious "watch... [nt]

By: amanico : March 16th, 2020-10:20

+1. This was my first watch 15 years ago, with my first salary -- it was summer 2005 at what is still my favorite AD (and a good friend) to this day :-)

By: FabR : March 16th, 2020-11:13

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I found a nice 16700 as my first serious watch... [nt]

By: amanico : March 16th, 2020-11:51

bold and beautiful choice, Fab

By: ArmisT : March 16th, 2020-17:02

I didn’t have the panache to choose such a daring dial for my first watch. But that is a credit to your good taste and style.

I regret selling that one. Rolex wasn't the only brand I was interested in even though I was new to mechanical watches. During that time other choices were Zenith El Primero, and even a Concord Impresario which used the El Primero movement. For my first j...

One of the most popular and timeless watches to start this beautiful journey, I'm sure a DJ marked the beginning for so many of us here (myself included :-)! Thanks for sharing. [nt]

By: FabR : March 16th, 2020-11:10

My DJ 36 say hello .... timeless classic!

By: spudsunderground : March 16th, 2020-11:46

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very cool

By: ArmisT : March 16th, 2020-13:01

I didn’t realize how many people would have also sought out a Rolex, and more specifically a DJ, as their first serious watch. For me it was a sort of self-recognition of “achievement” [read: survival] after so many years hard schooling. Regarding modern ...