Rolex

My very first vintage watch arrived today!

 

I can't describe the feeling... Buying the very first vintage watch - half blind and just trusting a couple of good people. But let's see what I got:

The box looks okay. But what might be inside?

Oh, Submariner 5513 - that watch is something I really like. It is having a good balance between the original spirit of Rolex Submariner and a price even I can afford.

What else?

The box looks nice. But something else is also inside the cargon box.

Nice to have the tag! But the anchor seems to be unopened! I guess the original owner did not like that.

But now the whole package is mine and it is high time to release the anchor.

Oh, it looks so cool with something green. Perhaps some paperwork.

Official?

Is it still valid? Better to check the translation.

Valid for one year - just one year. I can trow these papers away. No Guarantee anymore!

This I can surely throw away. Both 1988 and 1989 are gone a long time ago. Perhaps there is something useful...

I have so many Rolex Oysters that the above is not really needed. And what's next?

I know Submariners. Garbage again! But this looks at leat interesting:

Ahaa, service papers, receipst. This is at least interesting. So what do we learn?

Okay. On March 3rd the original owner paid a deposit of £ 76.00 for the watch. But how much did it actually cost those days?

But this was a real RIP-OFF! I paid MUCH more that the original price. Now I feel cheated! Perhaps the original owner had other costs which would make me feel better...

Good! At least additional £ 140.00 was spent on 31st March 1995. And it looks like something was spent also in 1996...

Haa, it does not feel THAT bad anymore - the original owner had to spend some money - £ 202.50 - on 22nd July 1996. And I am luckilly finding further evidence of costs:

Good! A full service on 18th September 2008. But the guarantee is not valid anymore. I can throw these papers away!

But what about the watch?

Looks good! I was promised that the watch would be just like new - perfect the seller said. So I'll have a careful look at the watch:

I took the watch carefully to my hands. No scratches and everything is very sharp. The bottom shines like a mirror and the bracelet feels very good and tight. BUT...

I notice something. I start to realize that I have been cheated! The watch was supposed to be like new but rubbish - it is not. The color of the hands and indexes: THEY ARE NOT WHITE BUT A LITTLE BIT BROWNISH CREAM! I knew that everything was not correct. I paid much over the original owner's costs and this is what I got!

Time to have a last look. Sorry, I can't show the dial. I feel cheated!

I started to feel the influence of VINTAGE-VIRUS during the process of buying this watch. But I will fight agains that. Everything is closed back to the box, tomorrow the box goes to the bank vault and one day I will sell this watch which was not like new.

 

LESSON LEARNED: VINTAGES ARE NOT FOR ME!

Best, Kari