OVERVIEW

Nowadays it seems rather unusual for anyone to work at the same company for a very long time, but those who do rarely receive more than a pat on the back and maybe a plaque (or movie tickets & a Starbucks cup if you work at Burger King for 27 years). There was a time though when companies really rewarded loyalty and it wasn’t uncommon to get something like a nice watch after long years of service.

This Rolex Datejust once belonged to a man named Nicholas F. De Pasquale who joined IBM in 1961 in Dayton, NJ as a second shift printing press operator which gave him time to run his own lawn service during the daytime. After 25 years of work with the company he joined IBM’s Quarter Century Club and was awarded this watch on April 17, 1986. He and his wife Netty, who also worked at the company, would go on to work for IBM until they retired.

Nick was a devoted husband and dad and loved traveling with his family and tinkering in his workshop. He was known as a fine craftsman and was also known to help his neighbors with projects around their home and yard as well. Neighbors would visit him to borrow tools because he pretty much had anything and everything you needed. He was THAT guy.

Nick just recently passed away November 2022 at the ripe old age of 93, leaving behind his wife, daughters, and many grandchildren.

And somehow I now have his watch.

I love a good vintage Datejust and Buckley dials are one of my favorite, but what I love most about this watch is knowing that Nick earned this watch as a token of IBM’s appreciation for 25 years of dedicated service and that he actually wore this thing. While not perfect, its worn but sharp condition is indicative of the type of man I would expect to have owned it. Caring, but not fussy.

He didn’t choose this watch for himself, but I think a Rolex is the perfect gift for someone who shows up to work almost every day for 25 years. Both the watch and the person are things you can rely on.

CONDITION NOTES

CASE: Unpolished, sharp & lightly worn. ‘Nuff said.

DIAL: Lovely and unique grey “Buckley” dial is in good condition with light patina visible at certain angles. All the remnants of the lume plots are still in tact but such is the case with most Buckley dials, they’ve mostly deteriorated.

HANDS: Orignal perfect hands with lume matching the dial.

MOVEMENT: In great shape and running accurately.