1/02/2009
Some Vintage Rolex Watches
A new and branded watch on the wrist gives an elegant look. It sounds quite appealing and makes you feel out of the world, if you are the first one to purchase such a branded new model. It has a high status symbol and looks very graceful. However, a vintage watch from a well known watchmaker is a thing of great value. Though not as costly as today’s high end watches, yet a vintage watch serves as an asset of yours.
A vintage watch may be considered as an old and worn out watch of your grandfather’s times, built in the early 20th century. A person going for a vintage watch, rather than the new branded watch in the market, these days has a high sense of knowledge and knows the value of it. It is considered as a great accessory. The most important elements of a vintage watch are recognition, workmanship, and value per solar of the watch. A vintage watch offers great style and is a very useful investment. Let’s have an insight into some of the vintage watches.
Rolex Steel Datelust
Rolex is a great brand in vintage watches. Though costly, yet it carries great elegance, with black dial, stainless steel case and brown leather strap.
Omega Speedmaster Pre-Moon
This is a classy watch issued to astronauts for Apollo program and moon missions. This watch is a symbol of confidence. One wearing this feels a great sense of honor.
Patek-Philippe
This model came in 1939 and carries a determination to preserve craftsmanship. It is considered as a very elegant watch.
Omega pocket watch
It actually doesn’t sound good to have a pocket watch with jeans and t-shirt. However, all carry mobiles in their pockets to see the time. So, why not have a real pocket watch? Omega has great name and fame. It has great reputation in building quality watches. This model came in 1900s.
These were some of the classy vintage watches that have very nice features, thus enabling them to last longer than even a person’s life. So, don’t waste time and go for an investment to buy a vintage watch.
The Vintage Serpico Y Laino Rolex Explorer
We love the idea of co-branded watches, where prestigious retailers have their name printed on high-end timepieces. We have featured a few, like the Cuervo Y Sobrinos Rolex and Breitling and the Tiffany & Co Explorer II. Today we feature a vintage Rolex Explorer with the name "Serpico Y Laino" printed on the face. Serpico Y Laino was a very well known Venezuelan retailer, commonly referred to as the Tiffany & Co of South America.
This watch has no major faults, comes with an oyster band of 12 links, and even features the SYL punched guarantee papers. Dual-branded watches are exceedingly popular and rare among collectors and this is a truly great piece, especially considering its all original condition and punched certificate. The price is POA but we would expect this watch to have a sizeable premium placed on it because of this unique face.
HIstory of Rolex Submariner ?
The Rolex 6204 was fitted with a Rolex caliber A296 semi-bubbleback automatic movement and was waterproof to 600 ft. This model was followed by the 6200 and the 6205.
In 1957, these models gave way to the Submariner models 6538 and 6536/1, which also had the new caliber 1030 movement and a larger case and better crown, which boosted the depth rating to 660 ft for the 6538, but dropped the 6536/1 to 330 ft.
The late 50’s was a transitional period for Rolex and the Submariner, as they introduced updated models using the 1500 series of movements running concurrently with the short lived caliber 1030 series. The first Rolex Submariner to use the caliber 1530 was the model 5510, using the oversized crown of the model 6538. This model 5510 is one of the rarest of Vintage Rolex’s and was only produced for a year or two.
The Rolex model 5512, also using the Rolex automatic caliber 1530 and depth rated to 660 ft, quickly replaced the 5510. The 5512 was the watch that gave the Rolex Submariner its most identifiable face, with the crown guards, Mercedes hands and large waterproof case. This model was put up for sale alongside the replacement for the Rolex model 6536, the model 5508 which still did not have crown guards and was only depth rated to 330 ft. When the 5508 was retired, the 5512 was fitted with a chronometer rated Rolex movement, the caliber 1560 and a new model, the reference 5513 was introduced using the venerable Rolex caliber 1530. The Rolex 5512 was marketed until the late 1970’s and the 5513 was finally retired in 1990.
All the previously mentioned vintage Rolex Submariners were no-date models, a Submariner model with a date window was introduced in 1965 with the debut of the Rolex model 1680.
The Rolex Explorer Version
I have done a lot of researches on two Rolex Explorer II replica watches, one is Vintage Edition, and the other one is Upgrade Version, just wanting to share their nice features with you.
They both use Top quality Asia Automatic Movement (21 Jewel), share the same case construction, 40 mm at diameter and the same finished over the case and the bracelet.
The construction of the fixed bezel, basically, is the same, with nice polished at the edge. Obviously, the 24-hour markings is not the same, the vintage uses smaller numerals, looks more classical.
Both version uses sapphire crystal, the magnifier bubble over the date window at 3:00, the same in-depth rehaust and black dial.
However, we can see these two versions different in details. The vintage version replica watch applies yellow markings with luminous application, while the upgrade version uses raised white luminous markings. The design of hands, especially, the GMT hand, is totally different. Personally, I feel the GMT hand on the vintage edition is more impressive. And the GMT hands are independently adjustable through the screw in crown. The watch has Hack mechanism so the second hand second hand stops when crown is pulled out to set the time, which is the standard feature on all genuine Rolex watches.
Personally, I love Vintage Edition over Upgrade Version, but both versions are excellent timepieces for daily use, especially for travelers. And they are one of the finest looking Rolex watches to wear casually or with a suit.
Fake Rolex ?
A good example of a finicky movement is the quite common Chinese copy of the ETA 7750 chronograph movement. The genuine 7750 is a very robust movement used as a base for many manufacturers. Everyone from Rolex to Breitling has relied on the reliability of the 7750 for several of their well-selling models.
The Asian 7750 is a clone of this genuine movement. While they may have copied the functional aspects of the chronograph they did so with an eye to reduced costs. This means that the Asian version of the 7750 uses stamped-steel parts that aren't machined to the same levels of tolerance that they genuine ETA piece is held to. This results in uneven wear and a greater rate of failure in the fake movement.
Several replica watches on the market today use this Asian 7750 clone. Replicas of the Breitling Navitimer, Rolex Daytona, Panerai Daylight, and other chronograph copies use this movement extensively because of the lower cost. This makes these watches less reliable than replicas that use the genuine 7750 instead (there are both available on the market). How can you tell the two apart? The genuine 7750 has an ETA logo engraved on the movement. This of course means you have to take the watch apart...
Never fool yourself: a fake Rolex may LOOK like a Rolex, but the similarities are only skin deep. 
Many replicas suffer from poor crowns and crown stems. Since the crown seal is the most vulnerable portion of the watch in terms of water resistance this can result in water entering the watch. If the crown does not screw down tightly and seal against the crown stem the watch has little or no resistance to water.
Poor crown stems can result in the whole crown/crown stem assembly literally lifting out of the watch. I have had several replicas, otherwise well built, suffer from this malady. When the crown stem pulls out from the case the watch is pretty much useless until it is repaired. Also, a poorly threaded crown (or the wrong sized crown) can also result in stripping the crown stem over time, resulting in a crown that won't screw down. This means you need to replace the crown AND the stem.
Other failures that can be exhibited by fake watches: Poor watch bands that break over time, poor gold plating that wears off or fades, terrible clasps that stop working, and even case backs that seize up so you can't service the watch.
Never fool yourself: a fake Rolex may LOOK like a Rolex, but the similarities are only skin deep. Even though that fake states on the dial that it's rated for 600 meters for water resistance remember that's what the ORIGINAL watch is rated for, not the fake. As River, a friend of mine, always states: "A replica is a replica". Genuine watches are always held to a higher standard of quality than the original.
Why Vintage ?
Today there is a strong trend towards producing more accurate vintage replicas, especially Rolex Submariners and Sea-Dwellers. Why? Because vintage watches are known to have a high intrinsic demand and value, and people are more willing to accept "flaws" in vintage pieces than new models.
Rare Rolex watches such as the famed "Double Red" Sea-Dweller and the "Red" Submariner are known to fetch $10,000 to $20,000 depending on their condition. That's a huge mark up for a watch that only cost a few hundred dollars new. Naturally demand exceeds the supply of these watches, which is where replica makers spot an opportunity to make a profit.At first copies of vintage watches were fairly easy to spot. They were made with modern-style cases with laser printed dials that emulated the look of the older pieces. These were obviously new watches simply "made" to look like the older pieces. Back in the 70s, for example, Rolex did not use sapphire crystals or laser engraves their Sea-Dweller case backs!
Recently the trend in the higher end of the replica spectrum is to use special purpose-made pieces in vintage replicas. This means replicating the thicker cases that differ from the modern designs. It also means using different crowns and crystals that better emulate the older style parts. Some of these replicas are within tight enough tolerances that you can actually use OEM parts as replacements, making them even harder to spot.
Still, flaws abound on even these high end fakes. Incorrect bezel pearls, poor date magnification, and badly shaped crown guards are common on vintage Rolex watches. Also, Rolex tended to use thick acrylic crystals that are hard to duplicate. Still some replicas get around this by actually using OEM or aftermarket acrylic crystals themselves.
Buying any watch online requires caution. Buying a vintage watch usually requires even more caution and knowledge about the history of the piece you're buying. I recommend buying these watches only from widely known dealers with a good track record. Buying a $20,000 vintage Rolex sight unseen from an unknown individual requires a lot more effort (and risk) than I think is acceptable.
The quality of fake watches improves daily, while the means of detection of these watches lags behind. Be aware of and assess the risks before you buy.
The Story With Vintage Rolex
This story begins not with the purchase of my 1984 Rolex Datejust model 16013, but rather with the purchase of my wife's 69173 Datejust as a wedding gift (we were married just a few months ago on 1/28/06). She absolutely loves the watch, and I love to see her wearing it. She still has a lovely mother of pearl Wittnauer watch which she also loves...but now only sees about once a week wear, if that. Go Rolex! Now, my wonderful bride has some definite opinions about my watches...from my Yacht-Master, which she really likes, to my Daytona which she thinks is "too busy." But since getting her Datejust, she's been wanting me to find a matching men's model. My recent birthday in April proved to be an excellent excuse... errrr... opportunity to please my wife and add another watch to my collection. Husbands out there...are you taking notes here?
Admittedly, I have far more experience with contemporary Rolex models than I do vintage. Ironically however, my very first Rolex was a 1970 Oyster Precision. While I no longer have the watch, I did gain an appreciation for how timeless the Rolex design is, and how well constructed their watches are... that vintage OP performed flawlessly. So when I spotted a smokin' hot deal on a 1984 16013 from a trusted dealer in Singapore, I immediately contacted him and a wire transfer of funds shortly followed (this same fellow sold me my previously mentioned Oyster Precision). It took a bit over a week to arrive from Singapore, but it was well worth the wait.
For those who don't know, Rolex basically has two categories of their watches. The Oyster Professional lines (Submariner, Sea-Dweller, GMT Master II, etc.) and the Oyster Perpetual line (the Datejust, Day-Date, etc.). People often write and ask me why there's so much information out there on Submariners, Daytonas, and GMT Masters, but very little written about the Datejust and Day-Date models. Historically, the Oyster Professional watches were purchased by a younger, more active demographic, while the Datejust and Day-Date models are more associated with an older demographic. Since it's that younger generation that's most active on the Internet, you see much more written about the Oyster Professional watches, than the Oyster Perpetual models. But don't let what you read on the Internet skew your perception of reality. Most experts agree that it's the Datejust, and not the much celebrated-on-the-web Submariner, which is Rolex's best selling model.
One of the first things I did when receiving my watch was to verify that the watch was not a fake. I think this is an important step for anyone who purchases a pre-owned Rolex - even from a trusted source like I did. Why? A seller can unwittingly pass along a fake watch if the seller was themselves duped when they acquired the watch. Now, I'm not an expert in spotting fakes by any stretch of the imagination. But, I'll share the techniques I use to determine authenticity on a watch. One of the first ways is to remove the bracelet of the watch, and examine the serial number.
Now, I've digitally obscured part of the serial number (wouldn't want those nasty counterfeiters to have a legitimate serial number now would we?) but you can see my watch's serial is an 89xxxxx number which places it's production around 1984. Now, most contemporary Rolex models have a letter preceding the serial number - that practice didn't start until 1987. Now in most cases, most fakes won't have a serial number engraved in the lugs - some of the better fakes do, but the process they use looks different than a real engraving so those are fairly easy to spot. At this point, I was more than satisfied that my watch wasn't fake, but there's a second step I normally take which is ever more certain to help determine if a watch is an authentic Rolex timepiece - examining the movement. Now, this step is more difficult, and requires one to purchase some special tools (readily available from most watch tool suppliers) to remove the case back. If you're a novice, I don't recommend your attempting this step - better to take a watch to a qualified watch technician and have them remove the case back. Either way you go about it, by removing the case back and examining the movement, one can easily discern if the movement is in fact a genuine Rolex movement.
Many Rolex fakes will have quartz movements, so those are easy to spot by the lack of a sweeping second hand on the watch dial (a quartz watch has distinct "ticks" while a watch with a mechanical movement "sweeps"). But some better fakes use actual mechanical movements. Of those, some use cheap Japanese movements which don't have the same beat speed as a Rolex. Most modern Rolex movements are "high beat" movements with a beat speed of 28,800 beats per hour (BPH). The Japanese movements used in many fakes have a lower beat speed (between 17000 and 21000 BPH, which translates into a second hand sweep which isn't as smooth as what would be found with a watch containing a genuine Rolex movements. However, some higher end fakes use movements produced by the Swiss movement manufacturer ETA which have a beat speed which is the same as most modern Rolex movements - 28,800 BPH. However once the watch is opened and the movement is revealed, it's a simple matter to identify a true Rolex caliber. Notice the red anodized reverser gear in the first movement photo. It's very unique to Rolex and I know of no non-Rolex caliber that has this feature. The slotted pattern on the rotor of the self-winding mechanism is also a unique Rolex tradition. And while most Rolex movements are not finely finished to the level of Patek or Vacheron, there is finishing and decoration present that would not be in a fake movement. Note the rhodium plated "oeil-de-perdrix" decoration visible in the second photo - very distinctive. The Rolex 3035 was used by Rolex from about 1977 until 1988 when it was replaced by the currently in service Rolex 3135. The 27 jewel Rolex 3035 is a self-winding, mechanical movement, and features Microstella adjusting screws and a freely sprung Breguet balance spring - features which carried over to the 3135. Even after 22 years of service, the chronometer grade caliber 3035 in my Rolex Datejust keeps excellent time - +3 per day, which is well within COSC specifications.
This is my first experience with a Rolex "jubilee" bracelet. The Rolex Oyster style bracelet is my favorite, but I'm surprised at how much I like the jubilee on my Datejust - it's light, and very form fitting. As great a shape as this watch is in, the bracelet does exhibit what is known as "bracelet stretch." Basically, the hollow center links of this bracelet begin to elongate and "stretch out" over time. Gold jubilee bracelets seem to be particularly susceptible to this phenomenon. Perhaps the stretch in my bracelet isn't severe because it doesn't really seem to be all that noticeable when I wear it, but perhaps some day I'll look into replacing it.
In the shot above you also get a bit of a close up view of the fluted bezel on my Datejust. The Datejust can be had with a smooth bezel as well, which looks nice, but the fluted bezel really sparkles in the light - quite the attention grabber.
It's really fun having a vintage piece in my collection, and the fact that the watch matches my wife's makes it all the more special. I anticipate wearing it ocassionally through the week as a dress watch, and on our "date nights" through the week. The two-tone quality of the watch, along with the gold dial really make it a classy, dressy piece that I'll treasure for years to come. Pre-owned Rolex Datejusts and Day-Dates are some of the best values (in terms purchase price compared to retail price) on the secondary Rolex market. I highly recommend you pick one up!
The "rare" Rolex
Rolex
Really stand out from the crowd with a vintage Rolex. The Vintage Watch Company specialises in rare collectables and classic designs dating as far back as 1910. This delicate number is a rare 1920s watch. It's probably not one for wearing poolside, but for thosewho have 17 grand spare, it's an irreplaceable and beautiful investment piece.
Vintage Watch Company (www.vintagewatchcompany.com) - £16,900
The Vintage Lizard Band
NEW!
This is a custom made 20mm. lizard band with a solid 18k. rose gold deployment buckle. The deep rose gold (hallmarked and tested) 18k. gold buckle is a deep rose tone and is pristine. This buckle could be fastened on any size band by simply having a jeweler trim one end on a band and re-fastening. The 20mm. lizard band is very high quality and unused. This will complete the look of your pink gold watch! Only $395.
click here to buy this 18k. rose gold buckle
TUDOR OYSTER PRINCE SUBMARINER 7016
NEW!
Here is a RARE and ALL ORIGINAL TUDOR OYSTER PRINCE SUBMARINER 7016 with the VERY RARE 7528 case back dating to1968. This transitional case back was only used in 1968 and is extremely rare to find. The 39.5mm. stainless steel, reference 7016 case is in very fine shape overall... It gleams...some tiny dings from years of use. The military style dial is original, having creamy toned markers with original and matching hands.The bezel insert is also original to this watch. The fine TUDOR (By ROLEX) was just cleaned and is accurate. Finding these watches with the original dial, hands and bezel is becoming quite difficult and rare. The 7528 case back 7016 is a highly collectable TUDOR watch that rivals the 5513 SUBMARINER for looks and is much rarer! We purchased this fine TUDOR from the original owner. This is a desirable collectors' piece that will surely appreciate in value over time. Only $2695!
Vintage Ladies Watches
ON HOLD!
Here is a vintage, circa 1939, SOLID YELLOW GOLD (14k.) BULOVA with a curved, ART DECO style case and dial! This was meant to be sold to men in its' era, but we think it looks great as a ladies' watch! The adjustable gold filled bracelet really completes the look! The head of the watch is solid 14k. gold with semi-circle fixed lugs all shimmering and without scratches. Ladies, this is NOT a small watch but a fashionable and easy to read 20x43mm. full sized vintage watch that looks absolutely gripping on the wrist! The two-tone Art Deco dial has the slightest scratch-clearly visible in my pictures, but really is barely noticeable with the naked eye. After all, this watch is about 70 years old! We plan on having this sold in time for Christmas.... at $695 for a solid gold Art Deco Bulova-it will!
Vintage Chronograph Watches
This vintage, 1950's, 18k. oversized rose gold CHRONOGRAPH made by ERZER is as clean as you will find! The 18k. pink gold case measures a LARGE 38mm. across and is in VERY fine unpolished condition; with all hallmarks clear and visible, no major dings or scratches! The watch retains its' original metal dust cover. The original dial is enhanced with matching rose gold tone markers and hands. The manual winding LADERON 48 movement was recently cleaned and is accurate, with all functions working perfectly. This is my present to you this holiday season....only $1195 for an 18k. rose gold oversized chrono!
Rolex " SubMariner"
Rolex " SubMariner" New Arrival
Really nice Rolex Submariner in all stainless case with black dial and insert. Model is 14060 with X serial number produced in 1991 with sapphire crystal and is 100% authentic and original. No box or paperwork but a great watch and it's ready to go!
$3795.00
From : http://www.timelyclassics.com/
The Rolex Submariner
The Rolex Submariner was introduced at the 1954 Basel Fair. The Submariner was the first truly water resistant watch. That first production model (reference 6204) was water resistant to 200 meters, and immediately became the de facto diver's watch. Not surprisingly, the 1955 Basel Fair saw Submariner clones from leading brands, a trend which has not abated after 51 years! -- the Submariner is the most copied watch extant (not to mention outright fakes). The Submariner has evolved over the years, with many interim model reference numbers, dial variations, and other aspects which make collecting Submariners fun and interesting. Today, in 2005, vintage Rolex Submariners are not only popular, they are also attractive investments. Vintage Rolex Submariners pay historical witness to the evolution of not only dive watches, but to the evolution of Rolex itself and to diving in general. The Rolex Submariner is a special watch, and the popularity of the modern models is overshadowed only by the fascinating world of vintage Submariners.From http://www.vintagesubmariner.com/