My First post - My first Rolex - The new Explorer 1

[VacherObsessive]

Excuse my grammar for any errors, as I am posting from my phone and I never was very good at phone typing especially on a touch screen iPhone.

I will be open and honest, I am a lover of dress watches. Conservative, Clean dials, under 39mm, clean lines, leather straps and discrete metals. My dream watch is a perpetual calendar patek, but i do have a VC patrimony for now..

I had been reading the boards for some time as i have been looking for a good daily watch which I can wear to the pub and to the office in a suit, the VC is just too formal for most occasions especially at my age (29).

I've had my eye on the explorer 1 and 2 for some time, long before I knew a 39mm explorer existed. I liked be explorer 2 for the 2 time zone feature as I work abroad most of the time, it seemed like the ideal choice and was one of the more discrete models. But I kept going back to the explorer 1 as the 2 was just not discrete enough, With the orange hand and the big numbers to 24 were a bit too cluttering.

Forgetting all about the situation as I am between projects and just recently married, my wife and I are taking a few months off travelling through asia overland, from Indonesia to India. We were in Bangkok last week and I stumbled across a few (legit) rolex resellers and pawn shops (these stores are used by local thai businessmen they are not tourist traps, I know Bangkok very well)

Well I asked which models come with box and papers, one was an explorer 39mm. I was actually only interested in the 36mm model, but it unfortunately didn't have box and papers.. So it was out of the question for me. Either way I was going to take it to the official rolex store on wireless road for a checkup to ensure it didn't have a Frankenstein movement. Either way, I left the place and we went on about our business.

Later on, on our way back out of the mall, I walked past again and thought to myself.. Shall I just try on the 36mm and see how the price is, if it's a great price and it works out to be an untampered movement then it could be a good buy.. So we went in and my wife says "why don't you try on the bigger one?" So I thought fu*k it I'll give it a go. I put it on and WOW! It was very cool, really striking but discrete enough for conservative me. I quickly took it off and tried the 36mm on.. My wife said "no.. You have to get the 39mm! It's your watch!" I put the 39mm back on again and I was so impressed, I was really giving it some serious thought.

So I left the shop with the promise that if everything on line checks out ok about his store (HONG in MBK) it'll be worth a punt, and I'll get it check out at the rolex service centre in wireless road and checked over, if any dodgyness the movement, I'll take it straight back.

Well we went back to the hotel and by that time I was very much sold on the model, I checked online for retail prices in the UK and used prices and definitely on both accounts I was getting a good deal. I said to the wife, how about I go to an official rolex dealer in Paragon mall (one of the poshest malls in asia) and see what they can do.

Following morning we went to Paragon, mrs waited in the food court. I went into the rolex store (after having a quick drool over in the patek shop next door), and enquired if they had an explorer 1 in stock. Yes they did

To cut a long story short(er) they did a 10% discount on retail and I got the watch for 192,000 baht (£3450) which is about £900 off list in the UK. Why would I bother getting a used model with all that hassle and the fact it's used, just for saving a few hundred £ on something so special to me? All the standard rolex trimmings you would expect, 2 year guarantee, tags, box, docs, even got a cup of tea thrown in.. And the sales assistant could have easily been miss Thailand she was stunning

Back to the watch.. Well she is an absolute beauty, and I feel absolutely proud and honoured to have this strapped to my wrist. I have almost 3 months left on the road, yesterday we just crossed the thai boarder into Cambodia and we'll be in Vietnam by the end of the week. We've already got our Tibet permits so we'll be set to visiting Mount Everest by end of August.. What better watch could I have for the occasion??! I absolutely f*cking love it



Here I am on the train in 3rd class on the way to Cambodia, shorts and tshirt

[Friar]

Great choice! The do anything, look at home anywhere watch. My first Rolex as well.

[Urosfan]

Nice pickup

[TAKUYA]

Simply beautiful watch! Congrats!!!

[joli160]

Nice write up Enjoy the trip with your new classic one.

[VacherObsessive]

Thanks so much gentlemen !!!

[shaunylw]

It's beautiful, it has been growing on me! I foresee one in my future. Congrats!

[Psmith]

Congrats!

[VacherObsessive]

Thanks again team!

[sea-dweller]

Congrats!

[Airman]

Beautiful, my next choice…Happy hours !

[Hairdude1]

Congrats!

[Jack T]

Congrats, you could not have made a better choice for a first Rolex. Versatile, low profile, fits the bill for so many occasions. I love mine, I'm sure you will too. Enjoy!

[brandrea]

Very good choice! Sometimes the simple things in life are the most pleasurable

[nickb732]

Congrats! Thanks for the write-up.

[VacherObsessive]

Thanks again guys! Have it for almost 2 weeks now I can safely say it is a pleasure to wear. So incredibly comfortable even in this heat and humidity. We crossed into Vietnam 3 days ago and yesterday was in the cu chi tunnels where the viet cong used to fight off the Americans. Couldn't think of a better watch to have in this environment! (as a tourist at least..). It is a real pleasure to look at as well

[SMB]

I feel the same way about my Rolex Explorer. It has the right feel and is very accurate.

[ltdsands]

Another convert, #congrats

[Ryuden]

Nice story of the Explorer journey...

Congrats.

[Mick P]

Chaps

I find that Explorers attract nice people.

Regards

Nice Mick

[pixels_poet]

Great choice mate.

[MATCH1969]

Perfect choice

[nyyankees]

Very nice choice

[mikli]

Nice story. I also remember my first Explorer 1 before my collection started to build. Cheers.

[knageeb]

I loved the watch, but did not buy because it is missing the date. I got DJII instead.

Congrats.

[dysondiver]

explorer looks great , so does the trip ,,,

[otisc]

Great watch, Very classic in every way.

[Jimmy boyle]

Beautiful watch!

I'd forgotten how classy they look!

Jimmy

[mschafer]

Late to the party, but thanks for sharing, thank you're wife for enabling such a great watch purchase. Something you'll never forget, an explorer acquired on an actual trip,exploring SE Asia, genius. Congrats on all of the above and for clarifying the "is it save..." That pop up here once in a while.

[sturgeon123456]

Excellent write up!!!!