You’ve already found the answer; Air King.
Stupid, boring, fanboi thread, sorry.
Trying to find the perfect boring daily. I’ve probably been through about 20/25 failed office watches from Rolex (4 and 5 digits), Seiko, Grand Seiko, Tudor and Omega but none of them seem to stick. Equally the ceramic bezels, polished centre links and cyclops are a bit much at times.
I’m really tempted to buy another Exp 1 214270 mk2 and call it quits but the current prices Vs what I sold for hurts.
Idea is no cyclops and brushed bracelet are the best bets but with doner kebab wrists the options are limited. Air King is the logical choice but I'm really not into the Morrisons logo.
Contenders are:
- Exp 2 in white
- Milgauss GV and maybe brush the bracelet
- DJ41 in blue or black on oyster with a smooth bezel
- OP41 in black or blue
- Wait for Watches & Wonders and/or get over yourself
Apart from "there is more to life than rolex" is there anything I'm missing? Seems like the forum is missing a :loser: icon.
Last edited by wileeeeeey; 9th March 2023 at 16:01.
IMHO the OP41 black dial fits your requirements the best.
It will do anything you need it to do, and somehow manages to be extremely basic and boring, yet classy and attractive.
Nothing special about it, no complication, no exciting handset… that should fit the bill nicely?
If you can cope with the PCLs and the cyclops I would personally pick a datejust over the OP but all comes down to personal tastes
If youve been through 20/25 Rolex as failed office watches, I doubt youre going to stick with "the most boring one you can find"
Rather than dumping multiple thousands on the most boring thing for the office why not rotate your current stock or brush the links of the blnr or something?
That said, out of your list, white exp2
Why most boring though? Don't you want something that you'll look forward to wearing every day but not be overly* concerned about? I never wear my 39mm Exp, just too boring. I have recently been mulling over the Yachtmaster II (steel/blue), albeit would want to brush the bracelet. Thinking that would solve the boredom factor. Or a Skydweller.
* depends how important this is, given you live in / around London.
Got to be OP41 back dial surely? Not the bright blue though, that's a stunning dial in the flesh. I don't agree with Exp2 either. I just got the black dial and its far from boring but would be a good one and done.
What are doner kebab Wrists?
The answer is a tudor ranger or bb36
White op36 I think
Simple OP 39 - white dial
If you don't want a cyclops, why is the Explorer II on the list ?
or you could just hang a clock on the sodding wall...
The only interesting modern Rolexes are Tudors so you are really quite spoiled for choice for boring Rolexes.
This.
They are ALL boring; the most trite, predictable possible watch choice and savagely overvalued. Why'd you think you've never bonded? They're the grey Porsche 911 of the watch world - good, no question, but also safe, unimaginative, conformist and dull.
Buy something you actually like. Or just accept you got more flipper in you than a horny dolphin...
I don't know about modern Rolex, but I've recently been wondering if there is such a beast as a nice modern watch. By that, I mean a watch that is actually new, isn't a bodge of styling cues from the history of watches or fugly.
The only thing that comes directly to mind is Eddie's own beastie with the crown at 12 - it's made of case hardened marmite, but at least it's original and at least arguably an elegant solution.
When it comes to Rolex, they appear to me to be the company most at fault for producing increasingly elaborate copies of their earlier watches. Like everyone else...
To directly answer the OP's question yes, it's the airking. Preferably a vintage one.
The Explorer is, on paper, the perfect watch. In reality, I never looked at mine with lust. I sometimes think of looking for another but it'd be a folly, Rolex is a brand that makes inherently boring watches. Of course, this is part of the secret of their success, take few risks, but there's little to set the heart alight.
Given you’ve stipulated no cyclops, brushed bracelet, boring (presumably conservative) design, not too small (kebab wrists) and currently in production then the only answer is the black dial OP41.
Great watch, I had the black OP39 which from what I understand wears about the same as the 41 in reality.
Easy win for the OP41 here. I prefer the term 'understated'
36mm Explorer, Datejust or OP are the only Rolex models that remotely tempt me, I`ve owned all 3 over the years and let them go. Much as I`m a fan of the 36mm cases I think it would've made sense to keep the 39mm Explorer 1 in production alongside the current version, that would keep the chunkier monkeys happy.
Hadn`t realised the OP was on a 'journey' through watchland; if he likes the 39mm Explorer maybe the right thing to do is go out and buy the best example he can find and forget about previous sales etc. The later ones with the 'right' hand length were fine, just a bit too big compared to the 36mm for my taste.
Or how about the current larger size OP? Now the lugs have lost some lard the design works OK in the larger size....... not as good as the 36mm but that's me expressing my opinion (even though, as usual, I`m right)
To be clear I haven't been through 25 Rolex. At least not yet I don't think anyway.
A 4 line 14060M would be the dream if I had normal wrists or a 214270 if I was willing to suck up the price. Maybe a brushed Milguass isn't so bad.
Whole idea is just to have something which isn't ostentatiously Rolex.
Custom Explorer?
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
The only Rolex that speaks to me is an OP. Maybe I’m boring, maybe I find the rest of the modern catalogue a bit much. Fortunately, I’m blessed with not having the budget for such considerations, anyway.
OP, we don’t know each other, and haven’t interacted on the forum much but you strike me as something of a trend follower. I don’t mean any offence by it but you always seem drawn to the most hyped watches, including whatever Tudor has just released, any Rolex one can’t buy at the AD, a Royal Oak, the moonswatch, the CW Bel canto etc.
I don’t think getting a ‘boring’ watch is what you need, maybe you just need to find what you like, rather than chasing what’s hot and then losing interest when it’s not.
Again, no offence meant, just a well intended observation.
Yes I would go with the black dial 41 op too. A fairly recent out of production would be a 116600. No pcl, no cyclops.
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From previous posts you mentioned that your wrist is 7.5inches (19cm) . This isn’t really that large , in fact same as mine and I can wear a 39mm watch no problem. Get the 4 line sub that you mentioned and enjoy it:)
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I can relate to that. I love vintage, but I’ve seen them all now, and I‘m tiring of slightly plastic looking modern recreations. I’m starting to yearn for a modern watch that actually looks like it came from the 2020s. Unfortunately that’s probably an Apple Watch, as mechanical watches are inherently retro. The GS Omiwatari is one of the few that hits that spot.
As for the OPs question, I’d agree that it’s probably a silver dialled Oyster Perpetual 36, but luckily their most boring watch is also one of their best. That or a Sub, surely that fits the brief ;-)
Mr Boring (sandwich) your thread has arrived…🤣
Last edited by Satori; 9th March 2023 at 22:10.
When you look long into an abyss, the abyss looks long into you.........
911s are absolutely beautiful and far from boring.
They've gotten a bit big granted but those lines!
Had one of the clouds GS but it was too dressy for me.
Do like the GS divers but I think 6-8k with a stamped clasp is a liberty. I'd rather spend the same bracket on a 214270.
OP41 in black is the only correct answer IMHO.
No date/cyclops
5 year warranty (assuming new)
Brushed bracelet so not too blingy
Black dial quite understated
41mm* so a decent size
Likely to retain its value
I don’t see a downside?
AirKing is far too busy by comparison (although I do like it for a change, when I had mine I found I never wore it…..)
*not actually 41mm
This was going to end one way. What a forum!
No! The OP39 is a definitely more boring, I had the OP39, it's the Rolex Vanilla flavour, it should be beige. No lumed numerals and no aspirations of being a mountain climber. I definitely prefer the Explorer, but with a name like that it can't be the most boring watch Rolex produce.
Absolutely not the most boring Rolex! Looks great, hope you are happy with it.
D
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Thanks guys. Now for the final new watch ritual, YouTube videos while wearing it.
Mark, hope you're finally home!
Big, bold and brash sum up Rolex for me. Great tool watch, tough and reliable too.
I’ve my name on “ze list” for an Explorer ll. But in exploring alternatives - like Chopard, Breguet etc Rolex just don’t cut it. Over 1 million a year is hardly exclusive is it?
I’ve decided to invest (wrong word) in something more under the radar so will cancel my “interest” but can understand those who swear by them. Just not my bag I guess.