Great option. I love the model.
Alongside a Sub, I'd be tempted with a DJ, or maybe a new model Air King if you like the size etc.
Last Thursday, it was the 40th anniversary of me starting a professional career: earning money for a living. I'd been to the uni to become a teacher but then there was hardly any work for a teacher! So I decided to join the army. I went to the barracks on July 11th, 1979 - and I ultimately became an infantry platoon sergeant. My first job. But I wanted to be a 'real teacher' and so on...
Now, 40 yrs later and semi-retired, I think it's time to reward myself with something nice. My wife and I discussed the various options like a holiday, a dinner at a 3*** Michelin Restaurant and so on. Until she said: well, why don't you buy yourself a Rolex, next to your Sub? That was the best plan of the evening. Since it's my 40th anniversary, I've set a max amount to spend of 4K. There's a limit to what I want to spend!
The first suggestion on my list: Explorer II, the 39mm model. But, I'm more than happy to read your suggestions as well!
Menno
Last edited by thieuster; 13th July 2019 at 19:38.
Great option. I love the model.
Alongside a Sub, I'd be tempted with a DJ, or maybe a new model Air King if you like the size etc.
It's just a matter of time...
New or pre-owned?
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For £4K, even the basic OP is out of reach. It’ll have to be ore owned and even then probably OP, Datejust, Explorer or Air King.
Any one of the above us s great choice although personally I’d go for an explorer of the latest Air King.
Out of the current range, my choice would be the Oyster 36, or 39 if you prefer a bit more size. Both are just the wrong side of £4k.....but not by much. Shouldn’t be too difficult to get hold of too.
I’m not 100% sure but I think most Explorer ii’s are beyond £4K now. Good choice though if you can get one in budget.
OP is a classic in my opinion, very understated and versatile. I’m sure there will be plenty of choice in the £4K territory
I'd go for a very nice DateJust. It's a special occasion watch so it'd be nice for something you won't wear all the time.
Or,
If you'd like new, is a 36mm OP above budget these days? I paid £3600 for one five years ago so I'd guess they are around £4K now?
I was looking at a freshly serviced TT Oysterquartz today at just shy of £4K.
I thought it a big pricy though!
On MJ Watches there is a 2016 Air King which is just over budget at £4195.
I’d go and view all the items mentioned by others here, then having settled on your choice look around for a pre-owned example. The quality of these watches are such you will get the same benefit even pre-owned.
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What size is your wrist? How does the Rolex you currently have wear on you for size? What are you not willing to consider? Two tone etc?
I already own a 14060 and the size of that watch is more or less perfect for my wrist (and my likings). 1mm larger or smaller wouldn't be a problem, but a 36mm or less and over 41, 42mm would be problematic. I like most styles and dial colours. E.g, a blue dial is okay. A mother-of-pearl not... I suppose that the Explorer II is right up my alley. I like the Air King, but it's too small and I just found out (here) that there's a new Air King I need to check out.
M
I'd suggest a DJ, smart enough to be sporty, sporty enough to be smart. From an ex rifleman, congratulations on your service.
The new AK is 40mm so within your size needs but you seem keen on the explorer II.
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You might have to extend your budget slightly ?
QUOTE=thieuster;5148580]Last Thursday, it was the 40th anniversary of me starting a professional career: earning money for a living. I'd been to the uni to become a teacher but then there was hardly any work for a teacher! So I decided to join the army. I went to the barracks on July 11th, 1979 - and I ultimately became an infantry platoon sergeant. My first job. But I wanted to be a 'real teacher' and so on...
Now, 40 yrs later and semi-retired, I think it's time to reward myself with something nice. My wife and I discussed the various options like a holiday, a dinner at a 3*** Michelin Restaurant and so on. Until she said: well, why don't you buy yourself a Rolex, next to your Sub? That was the best plan of the evening. Since it's my 40th anniversary, I've set a max amount to spend of 4K. There's a limit to what I want to spend!
The first suggestion on my list: Explorer II, the 39mm model. But, I'm more than happy to read your suggestions as well!
Menno[/QUOTE]
This is a feast for the eye as well, I think! (From the Rolex website)
Latest air-king is the sweet spot at £4K IMHO
I would second’ extending your budget. That way you will get the watch you like. No point in settling for second best. I’m still on the hunt for my first Rolex. I won’t skimp on the model nor purchase one off a certain auction site as it could be money down the drain. If it means waiting so be it (just as well as it’s an in demand model!)
I'll be off to Maastricht later this summer. Maastricht is the southernmost town of the Netherlands and the most 'mondaine' (Forget Amsterdam, Maastricht is much nicer). Anyway, Maastricht houses 5(!) vintage watch shops with high-end items and two Rolex dealers with new watches. It will be worth the look. And knowing my wife, she won't mind watch-shopping. (After all she bought her Rolex within seconds after spotting it in the window of one of these vintage watch shops).
For now, I'm more and more turning to the blue dial'd Oyster Perpetual. At first I was thinking about the Explorer (as I stated above) but the blue dial is very tempting!
What about a nice Oysterquartz for something a bit different?
You may be lucky & source a 1979 model year watch!
______
Jim.
No not a Quartz. Not for the technology, but for the shape of the watch. The '1979-angle' is a nice one! Something new to think about!
Menno
2018 Explorer 1, Basel version, yours for £4K, full set, 95%. You need to collect from France. Forum gesture.
Last edited by Skyman; 14th July 2019 at 18:37.
Blue dialled 36mm Oyster Perpetual with Arabic markings is lovely. Explorer(esc) in appearance with the sunburst colour behind.
Might also be relatively easy to find.
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Thanks for the heads up. The big smoke is currently out of my way. (I’m also a carer so my free time is precious - hence the wish to buy a Rolex) I’m already registered to a WOS elsewhere & I’ve heard through the grapevine its counterproductive visiting another branch or even Goldsmiths/Mappin & Webb if you are registered as it will get (wrongly) flagged up as a flipper.
*Update*: I had a 36mm Explorer on my wrist. I know that a lot of people like the 36mm-size, but it's too small for my likings. So, it narrows down to the 39mm models.
Menno
Good choice, I love my 39mm Explorer, it does wear a little larger than 39mm in my experience however - just something to consider.
Still love it mind , good luck with the hunt :)
I would second the tt oysterquartz
Amazing value and something different
+1.....I owned a post 2006 Datejust for a while and it wore bigger than the 36mm Explorer 1 which I also owned.
My strong advice is to try the various models on the wrist and keep an open mind, this will be an emotive purchase and you’ll probably know immediately when you see the watch that looks just right.
You might want to check SC for an Exp 1 right now before it goes...
Indeed, cracking price, it wont hang around!
I agree with this. My 114270 is the last of the 36mm Explorers and is almost perfect IMO. Ask me 2 years ago whether I'd own a watch as 'small' and I'd have dismissed it immediately.
I had a 39mm Exp but just found its proportions out of sync, too much dial and bezel. Swapped it for a 14060m (which wears smaller BTW) which I loved but couldn't stop thinking about the simple elegance of the Explorer, so decided to try one in 36mm. IMO, it takes a week to get used to the wearable size of a watch, my Exp is now perfect for me and has ignited a preference for more modestly sized watches now.
I agree that the current 36mm 'Supercase' will wear bigger than they appear and would be my recommendation. Just a tad over budget in 116000 spec, even these are getting harder to source if my local ADs are anything to go buy. The established UK online retailers are now starting to charge over list for these too !