[Closed] Rolex Explorer 1/Milgauss

The Migauss is a lovely watch but quite plain. Are they worth rrp, only you can answer that.
I've recently purchased a deep sea dweller at terminal 5. I picked up a hefty discount plus paying with an Amex blue I saved another 1%. Every little helps 🙂

IF you can buy at the right price selling for a minimal loss/ gain are an option.

Other brands - if you intend paying this for a watch I'd suggest just going to a major store and trying a few.
Buy the one that's right for you 🙂
It sounds a little like you've decided to drop some money on a watch and just thought of the two biggest brands, omega, rolex.
Try looking at Tudor as a potential alternative.

[url= http://www.blowers-jewellers.co.uk/more_2.htm ]Ian Blowers[/url]

You could always buy pre-owned. There are some Explorer and Milgauss in the link.

You can buy new for the price they charge for used items.

I would say the Explorer 1 is the least brash and gansta of any watch, so don't worry about that. Any gangsta these days worth his hoes is rockin a Richard Mille or AP ROO.

Worth it? Depends, buy right (ie not from AD) then you're off to a good start. Residual value better than most although Exp 1 is not as good as the Sub for retaining it's value it's still better than most.

It's the most low key rolex out there. Can you live without a date? May not seem a big deal but I miss the date when wearing a no date Sub 5513.

Unless you're particularly large, don't consider the big Exp 1, get the older 36mm one. I'm not a big fan of the new larger version. YMMV of course. Preferably go proper vintage in fact, late 60s 1016.

I too am circling a Milgauss gv, the other on my radar is an Iwc Portuguese. Iconic watches get pretty decent reviews, good discount and a bricks and mortar store if you prefer, http://www.iconicwatches.co.uk

http://www.swisswatchesdirect.co.uk also give good discount and good reviews

Explorer 1 is great, and I have been sorely tempted, but can't get over an apparent (and too obvious for me to ignore) flaw in the designed when they changed the size from 36 to 39mm.

Instead, I'm holding out for a Grand Seiko. Similarly understated to the Exp 1 and Milgauss.

I think rappers have moved on from 'rolley's' anyway. Jay Z has been partnering with Audemars Piguet for a few years now. Although i think the whole cash money bunch are probably still 'throwing them up'.

Grand Seiko is (imo) nicer than my Sub

Explorer 1 really small unless you have girly wrists. Best Rolex at the minute IMO is the new 42mm explorer 2. Lurvely!!! Rolex were always a little small for my wrists and now they've sorted themselves out and started making decent sized watches I can no longer afford one!!

Yep, I agree. They have always been too small. Some nice stuff now.
I've been living in geneva for a few months with plenty of watch stores to dribble over. Most brands, omega, bell and Ross etc are making stupid 47mm+ watches which are plain silly.
42-44mm are now "normal" sizes. 5-10 years ago they would have been huge.

If one day i woke up realising that all the common sense had left my body, i would probably buy a Jaeger Lecoultre Memovox Polaris.[img] https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcS2mHQSAm3dWOJg20ZFB3oC5T7VyRNJAUuB0Vj3ViLOwAFfjPCr-g [/img]
Rolex sell over one million watches a year, if you like the idea of people seeing you've got a rolex then thay's the one to go for, the smart choice would be an Omega,Longines,Lecoultre,Vacheron or Patek from the 50s or 60s.

Bremont are shite IMO. Some speculators bought the name with a bit of history and started knocking out hideously overpriced watches for what they are. Don't waste your money and get a Rolex, if you're tastes change you can always sell it for at least what you paid.

As mentioned above, Grand Seiko are also stunning watches.

Not at all like what your considering, but what the hell. This is what I shall be pointing towards in a couple of years when 40 rears it's head. No doubt boring to some, but it's each to their own with watches.

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thegreatape - I love the look of the Nomos watches. And rather conveniently* there's a dealer in Liverpool.

Am also thinking the inevitable "get to 40, buy a watch". Grand Seiko feels like the leader, but a Nomos would be superb (and then a Grand Seiko).

*possibly not for my wallet

Rolex every time. They are like having some savings but you get to wear the savings, enjoy the savings, but still have the savings.

Bought an Explorer 1 in 2007 (slightly different to today's one)paid just shy of 3k for it brand new, I sold it this year to a dealer for £2800 I could have got my money back if I had waited & sold privately. I don't know many things you can buy new & get your money back on after 6 years. Keep them long enough & they will make money.

I think your right that the Explorer is not your gangster rap or car dealer type, Milgauss is nice too, but think the anti magnetic thing is all a bit gimmicky unless your work in a very specific field where you need anti magnetic watches. So just buy it because you want it.

OMITN - There's a shop called Orro in Glasgow that does them, plus some really nice jewellery too. I like the Ahoi as well - ever so slightly less formal so perhaps better for everyday.

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tinsy - Member
Rolex every time. They are like having some savings but you get to wear the savings, enjoy the savings, but still have the savings.

I totally agree. That's why I purchased mine at the age of 37, not 40.
My money was doing nothing in the bank......... Then again the rolex isn't doing much in the watch box 🙂 looks nice though.

My friend had one of those Rolex as a gift on his wedding day from his Greek in laws. Ffw a few years and they divorced (she was cheating on him). They asked for it back! They had loads of fancy watches in a safe and it was all a vulgar show. He thought about telling them no way before accidentally stampinig on it and posting it back!

Rolex every time. They are like having some savings but you get to wear the savings, enjoy the savings, but still have the savings.

On the VFM front, I've worn my stainless steel GMT Master II every day for twenty years. It was £2,200 then. I had it valued for insurance purposes before Christmas and it's now worth £3,500.

Do not keep your watches in a box, do not keep multiple watches in a display box as if you are unlucky enough to get burgled they find them all in a nice handy carry case. Take this as advice from one who knows.

I had an Explorer 1 (39mm) a couple of years ago. It was my first 'proper' timepiece. I bought it with some inheritance money as I love the simplicity and the heritage of the watch. First timepiece to the top of Everest (well, sort of. It was a white Oyster Perpetual Edmund Hillary wore, but the Explorer is its spiritual successor).

However I got utterly utterly tired of people asking or immediately assuming it was fake. I was 27/28 at the time so maybe not Rolex's typical customer. Really spoiled it for me. I have an IWC now.

I really like the Nomos and I'm near a dealer too. Vacheron/IWC have caught my eye. Looks like a weekend going round the boutiques and trying some on to see what I like best.

Explorer 2 here, white face.

It was for my 50th, 5 years early as they weren't going to get any cheaper and I realised that the second hand ones on line were dearer than the original purchase price!

Mine won't be worth that much in 25 years though, it's not in a box every day, it's on my wrist.

IwC?

I'm 40 in May but because of waiting lists picked my GMT II up in January

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I love it

MM

thegreatape - you won't be disappointed, I treated myself to this last year and absolutely adore it. This was always what I was going to get but I did view / hold / try a few different designs and they are all fabulous.

An odd aside maybe but the Cordovan strap is completely lush!

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Pissed off I sold my last Rolex. I just like to chop and change too much.

thegreatape - I love the look of the Nomos watches. And rather conveniently* there's a dealer in Liverpool.

Regards Rolex my money would be on a previously owned one rather than the premium for owning new.

Regards Bremont a lot of haters out there ,seems to be more about the ETA movement used and the price charged therein.

Personally I really like them and love the case design and they are supposedly working on a in house movement.

What does the STW hive mind think of the Omega Aqua Terra 15000 Gauss (aka their Milgauss homage)? I ought to hate it for being a naff imitation, but actually I think I prefer it to the Rollie.

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The daddy:

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Milgauss definitely nicer. Plus it retains its value much much better than an Omega. Omega would kill for the brand image that Rolex has, they've moved right next to them on prices in an effort to try and achieve it, but the resale values don't lie and Rolex slaughters omega for retained/resale value.

All true. But the bumble bee second hand is cool 😉 (and only as gimmicky as the lightning strike on the Milgauss).

One thing I dislike about some of the sporty Rolexes (GMT, Milgauss) is the polished midlinks on their bracelets. I had a Datejust for a while and even on a dress watch they scuffed up in no time.

Tried on a Grand Seiko this morning. Very nice. I'm quite attracted to the subtleness and understated look of it. Almost unasuming and I like the fact it probably won't attract too much attention as folk would probably assume it to be a fairly inexpensive piece.

@ finbar

Modern Rolex's use 904L steel which is much harder and far less prone to scuffing/wear than the 316L that most other watch brands use.

If you're going for a Rolex, I would definitely go for Explorer 2..nice design, not too out there. If I could afford it, I'd be getting that one.