My Rolex Oyster watch.

[oneighty]

In US Naval Schools Underwater Swimmers, Key West Florida we students were issued a really neat diving watch made by Bulova Watch makers. It had an outside dial which could be used to keep track of bottom time if one could see it and remember to read it. The watch as are many US Navy things was all grey except the lettering and numbers which I am pretty sure were white. It was held in place by a grey plastic strap. The watch was a good conversation piece in the bar rooms over on Duval street. If one had that neat diving watch and a dollar or so you could buy a beer.

BUT, WE ALL WANTED THE REAL DIVING WATCH-A ROLEX. SO COOL. SO SHOWY. LIKE HEY LOOK EVERYBODY I AM A DIVER!

A year or so later while visiting the Mediterranean on a cruise ship the USS Detector, A 180 foot wooden hull minesweeper (Dragamina in Italian) I was able to buy a Rolex in the ship's store aboard a very large US Navy ship also on the Med cruise.

It was the last Rolex in their stock for about fifty dollars US. It was not the cool diver's model divers and drug smugglers covet but by golly it was A ROLEX OYSTER, good to 100 meters of water. It was all stainless steel in color. A nice looking watch. I never wore it.

Some months later while visiting my father I made the mistake of showing him my Rolex Oyster. He placed it on his wrist and as far as I know never removed it. Dad was ver proud of my Rolex which somehow became his.

When Dad passed away I removed the watch from his wrist. It had stopped running when he stopped. I took our Rolex to a jeweler and he later returned the watch to me in pieces saying he could do nothing with it.

Twenty five years or so later I saw an ad on TV by a company in need of Rolex watches in any condition. I sent the pieces of Dad's and my Rolex to them. They sent me $100.00.

Every time I get a Rolex E-Mail I think of this and my Dad so please whomever please stop spamming me with the Rolex ads.

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[trotsky]

1. Oneighty, I wish I could buy you a beer.

Your stories are always so cool.

Here's to the memory of your dad... :toast:

Damn spammers.

[oneighty]

2. Thank you

Right now I would drink it. Sigh.

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[TX-RAT]

3. Been wearing rolexs since 77

Currently have 3
Rolex oyster, which was my first. Still works perfectly, was sent back once to repair a cracked crystal.
A Submariner, which i currently wear, it was purchased in 83, never had a problem.
A 2 tone Daytona which was a gift, sits in the safe, only comes out for special occasions.
I would never let a local jeweler work on my watches, always send them back to Rolex, never seen one they couldn't fix yet.
The watch your talking about is worth about 1500 dollars in todays market.
Sorry you had such a bad experience.

[oneighty]

4. Wow! 1500 dollars.

Lot of our shipmates had the Submariner. They were not very expensive at the time. I did pick up a 'Blancpain" (Spelling) Diving watch in Spain which resembled the Submariner. It was not a good timepiece.

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