Ben Bridge Jeweler — Attraction in Tigard

"Buckle up for my melodramatic odyssey chasing the Rolex Panda Daytona 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟—a watch so unattainable it’s like waiting for a unicorn to lead a leprechaun parade through Tigard’s soggy suburbs 🦄🍀. I’ve been tethered to my phone, desperately awaiting the call from Ben Bridge Jeweler in Tigard, Oregon—rated a smug 4.8 out of 675, probably from folks who actually got something shiny. This official Rolex retailer’s waitlist is longer than the line at a Portlandia audition, and I’m starting to think ‘Ben Bridge’ is code for ‘Bend Over, You’re Not Getting It.’ Rolex treats these Pandas like they’re forged from Sasquatch tears and unicorn hoof clippings, so the grey market’s out there laughing all the way to the bank like a plaid-clad lumberjack with a side hustle 🌲💰. Why? Because nobody’s got 47 rainy seasons to waste on a ‘maybe’!

This Panda’s a freakin’ masterpiece: white dial so pristine it could star in a Wes Anderson flick, black sub-dials glowering like a bear who’s tired of your hipster nonsense 🐼, and a ceramic bezel so slick I’d trade my entire collection of artisanal kombucha and vintage vinyl for it 🍵🎶. It’s the Daytona of my damp Pacific Northwest dreams—ticks like a metronome on a caffeine bender, chronograph smoother than a fixie gliding down a freshly paved bike lane, and a flex so loud it’d make a Subaru-driving, Patagonia-wearing Tigard dad jealous. But scoring one from Ben Bridge in Tigard? I’ve got a better shot at convincing a barista to stop judging my ‘large black coffee, no oat milk’ order. I’m out here refreshing my inbox like a conspiracy theorist tracking Bigfoot sightings, muttering to myself in the drizzle while the 4.8-star staff probably sip lattes and laugh at my desperation ☕😭.

Thank the watch deities for WatchBucks and CRM in Miami—they’ve got the Panda and the Pepsi on deck, no need to grovel through Tigard’s suburban sprawl or decode Rolex’s cryptic ‘we’ll call you’ promises 🌴✨. Five stars for this wrist-bound unicorn ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐, a big fat goose egg for my odds of hearing ‘come pick it up’ from Ben Bridge before I sprout a Gandalf beard and start whittling my own watch out of driftwood 🚫🧙‍♂️. I’d pitch a tent outside their Tigard storefront with a soggy cardboard sign—‘Will Trade My Soul, My Dog’s Soul, and My Prius for a Panda’—but why bother when WatchBucks and CRM swoop in like caped crusaders of horology? The grey market’s the chaotic hero we need, thriving because Rolex won’t stop playing gatekeeper with these mythical timepieces. Meanwhile, I’m still here, staring at my phone in the Oregon mist, wondering if Ben Bridge’s 4.8 rating includes a category for ‘expert-level teasing.’...

The morning before my retirement, I dropped by the Ben Bridge at Washington Square to ask if I could be put on a waitlist for a Rolex sport watch to commemorate my 37 years as a manager at Costco. Shalla (the manager) welcomed me in and asked how she could assist me. I let her know specifically what I was looking for. Given the current market demand, I assured her I had no expectation of getting my request any time soon. She smiled and invited me to sit down so we could chat about my trip in. It was my first luxury watch inquiry and the process was making me a bit anxious. She was professional and put me at ease. Shalla listened attentively while I recapped the first 60 years of my life, even taking a few notes. She told me that she was going to work to make the watch a reality for me. She gave me a hard back Rolex catalog with her business card tucked inside. I left the store feeling great, I was retiring, made a friend and got the impression that at some point in the future I would have the Rolex I wanted. After running some errands, I was relating my experience to a friend when unexpectedly Ben Bridge came up on my caller ID. Excitedly, I hung up on my friend, but had still missed the call from the store. I called back immediately and Shalla answered. I assumed she needed more information from me or was going to give me an idea of the wait time for the model I requested. She asked me when my last day at work would be, and I let her know that I would get my last check the following day. I was impressed that she remembered so much of our conversation and maybe she was going to send a retirement card. She then told me she had something at the store that wanted me to have for my retirement day. It was only then when I realized that she had the watch. Over the phone, Shalla sounded like she was as happy to get me the Rolex as I was to get it.

The next day, I was there at opening, Shalla and her associate Cindy greeted me, offered refreshments and fitted me for my new watch. I was introduced to the rest of Shalla’s team, who she spoke about like family. They took a photo with me under the Rolex sign and made the effort to ensure sure I would recall my experience at Ben Bridge as my retirement celebration. I have been in retail management most of my adult life and have witnessed the profound impact a great employee can have on a customer’s day. I know firsthand how rare it is to find someone who possesses both the ability and inclination to do so. Shalla was that kind of manager and I look forward to giving her and her staff my...

High praise to the folks over at Ben Bridge Washington Square, especially Anela Flynn! I'm in the PDX/Beaverton/Hillsboro area on holiday with my wife, visiting a relative in the area, and we found ourselves at Washington Square mall this afternoon. Was meandering around the mall with no agenda and wandered into Ben Bridge where I was immediately greeted by someone behind the counter who was already helping another customer. Note: I was definitely not dressed for any sort of high-end shopping (comfy T-shirt, traveler's pants, and worn-out Birkenstocks.) Despite this, I was greeted with great enthusiasm and respect.

Looked around the cases, and what an amazing selection! Most of the watch shops in my area do not carry such great inventory, especially with regards to Tissot, Tudor, and even Rolex (on exhibition.) In fact, I just got back from a trip to Kyoto/Tokyo, and the Rolex shops that I encountered were mostly empty.

After perusing the cases, I then want to see if I can take a closer look at a few of the Rolexes and I wave down a salesperson. The first salesperson I wave down tells me he isn't able to get me into the Rolex displays, but he then goes and fetches someone who is able. I had the privilege of working with Anela, Assistant Manager! Despite not being dressed for the occasion of high-end watch shopping, she offers me a bottle of water ("sparking or still?"), which I gratefully accept. She then takes out a black sub as well as a blue/black GMT Master II on a jubilee bracelet for me to take a look at! I was ecstatic, to say the least! Many Rolex stores don't have this inventory to begin with (yes, I know it's exhibition only, but many stores don't even have the pieces for you to LOOK at), and quite a few of the ones that do have such a weird vibe to them. (I once walked into a Rolex boutique in Southern CA, dressed much nicer than I was visiting Ben Bridge, OR, and the salesperson behind the counter wouldn't even give me the time of day, pun intended!) Anela treated me like a VIP disregarding my overly casual attire, and showed me not only the Rolex pieces I was interested in, but also Tudor and Tissot. She even read my mind when I was going to ask to take one of the Rolex magazines and offers one for me to take home before I could get the words out of my mouth! I walked out of Ben Bridge beaming after finally being able to try on a few pieces that I've only ever seen online and have dreamed of trying.

Thoroughly impressed with the folks at Ben Bridge Washington Square - I definitely will be back for future watch and...