I bought my dream Rolex ...and it didn't work out.

More of a story time this week, rather than another review. I wanted to share my experience buying my 'dream watch' a Rolex Air King 116900, this was going to be my exit watch... my final piece in the collection. It didn't work out that way, but I learnt a few things along the way and am still grateful for my time with the Rolex.

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Picture credits:

© Yann Forget / Wikimedia Commons
SAC Scott Lewis/MOD, OGL v1.0OGL v1.0, via Wikimedia Commons

[doug]

Ive owned a Rolex Sub No date since 2014 . To this day I still Absolutely love wearing that watch.
Everyone is different. Thanks for sharing your story !👍

[g]

I didn't quite like the Explorer 1 36mm because of how slender and petite it is, but once I got the call and bought it from the AD, it's slowly winning over all my other watches, even my Reverso Duoface which I was so much in love. Now I wear the Explorer exclusively.
Sometimes the watch you hate will be the one you love the most.

[dennischen]

My first luxury watch was and still have till this day my Rolex submariner date. I purchased this watch as a celebration of my first real corporate job decades ago. It has all the wear scratches and patina today and traveled with me to many countries. Sure I would get tired of it after wearing it constantly for several months. But after a rotation with my other watches, I’m right back to the honey moon period of I when I first acquired this watch. I can never sell it even though I bought it for 1/3 what it’s worth today.

[michaelriera]

I picked up my dream watch Ex1 124270. It was perfect when I initially test drove it at the AD, but I just didn’t connect with how it wore on my wrist. It’s a small watch, but I felt in time I’d learn to appreciate it. After all, every review was so positive and I was sold on the “perfect dimensions “. 9 months later and it just never felt right and I had to let it go. Like you I simply recouped the price paid.

[txmogger]

“Watches I think are a little bit like shoes”…that’s what I tell my wife when she asks me why I need another watch as I stare at the 50 pairs in her closet. I completely understand your take on the Air King. I fully admit to having an unhealthy lust for a Milgauss, but I’m hesitant to save up for one. Buyer’s remorse (or losing the emotional connection) is a real concern, especially when spending that much time and money to get one. At least with the Rolex you had a better chance of breaking even after selling it.

[leandrorondeli]

I felt the same way about my OP41, which I've sold to get a DJ36 fluted bezel jubilee blue dial, it was love at first sight, still love it after some time, it's priceless, the dial keep changing colors during the day due to light effect, that takes the watch to another level of freshness

[tedblack]

Thanks for sharing the experience and the current watches you have are a nice bunch to enjoy the rotation of without the necessity of a grail , i think the head tries to convince the heart it wants it but if there's no feeling at least you gave it your best shot to try and make it mean something to the heart so you did the right thing without incurring much or any loss.

[bryce]

Man, I got the 126900 on "accident" (long story), but after wearing it here and there i definitely learned to appreciate it more and more- now I'm in love with it, always looking forward to the next wear. 🥰

[pth]

Indeed you really need to wear the watch and feel the connection. Fortunately for me, I made the right choice when I bought my Omega Aqua Terra back in early 2000 and I still love it till now.

[dixonstreetdrummer]

Got an air king yesterday and was feeling a bit apprehensive when I was buying it. But then the hard to describe satin like shine on the bracelet and the colours on the dial just killed me. Supreme watch.

[gaius_marius]

Fascinating story. I believe many of us face the issue of setting high expectations for a watch in our minds. When we eventually own it, the experience of wearing it often falls short of the idealized version we had envisioned.

[stephenmorrissey]

Go Flames!

My first watch was the Seiko Sarb033 and I after loads of research I purchased it and was so unenthused with it that I didn't wear it for years. Now it's one of my favs behind a birth year manufactured watch I purchased last year.

[RhetoricWolf]

I certainly appreciate your perspective here. I find myself wanting to go after this particular watch month after month, so I needed to hear these words! Seems to be such a great watch; however, I fear I’d feel the exact same way that you did towards it.

[Voltanaut]

My story is the opposite. I thought I'd just like my Heuer Monaco when I bought it, but I loved it. Then, I bought a metal bracelet for it, and now it's my main watch, and I doubt I'll ever sell it. Whereas the Tudor Pelagos I bought around the same time gets worn about once a week. And the watch I got for the hell of it, my Sinn EZM 13.1, is now my 2nd favourite. Weird how things work.

[gjonno]

If you didn't gel with it, then you did the right thing to sell it. I have the latest version of the AK and couldn't be happier. It's my go to daily ahead of everything else and I never get tired of that unique dial. Just shows that until you actually get the watch on your wrist, you can never be

[tonyable]

Just love the honesty in your videos. I bought an Omega second hand which i actually loved but sadly it didn't live up to the sales pitch and in fact stopped working. Fortunately I was able to get a refund and move on. I have had a similar experience with guitars where in fact the so-called grail instrument is a big let down and a less expensive model blows you away.

[dblh]

Great topic and new subscriber, here. I had the same experience with my SLA033; I have always loved the Willard more than any other and, once this very expensive ($4250US) L.E. was released in July of 2019, I had to own it. Well, all was rosy for a while - but my love for it faded after a couple of years. The problem I discovered gradually over time was that a slight breeze would scratch my shiny grail mercilessly. "Diashield" and "zaratsu" polishing - while sounding great - became meaningless. Unfortunately, these premium treatments weren't the least bit scratch resistant. I've always babied my watches and wore it daily for a year and a half. The bezel was an absolute scratch magnet and I quickly fell out of love with my SLA033. I recently sold it for a loss but, like you, learned through the experience. Cheers and love your channel.
James

[Vox-Populi]

I experienced the same thing when I bought my Omega Planet Ocean. Sold it and now wear a Ginault OR2.

[chriswatchreviews]

Cool take. I have a 2002 Rolex DJ with the Tapestry dial, and there was a time where it just wasn't getting much wrist time anymore. I eventually swapped out the oyster bracelet with the cheap clasp for a Jubilee with a better clasp, and it feels almost like a new watch again. Still doesn't quite get the time that some of my other affordable pieces get, but a keeper for sure.

[danielbercovici]

Agree with you, i got the call and when i tried it on, it didn't click....🤷‍♂