Tag: Matt Dial

vintage

Rolex Submariner 16800 Matt Dial Modern Vintage!

Posted on The W-C

As the title says Hands on with Rolex Submariner 16800 Matt Dial modern vintage, this watch is a cracking piece a transitional Submariner from 1980. Rolex decided in 1980 to go down the sapphire crystal route instead of the high top plexi glass (acrylic glass) on the 1680 models the previous model to the 16800. The Rolex 1680 was a stunning watch Matt dial with round Tritium hour plots, now vintage and looked vintage,  but the 16800 had some mods but retained the Matt Dial with t25 tritium hour plots.  The quickset date change with sapphire which makes the watch look modern and works and looks like the Submariners up to 2010 Pre ceramic.  Most watch manufactures moved to sapphire glass around the same time a lot tougher and more durable.

The Submariner is 64 years old now so tried and tested model in every way Rolex celebrated 50th Anniversary in 2004 with the Rolex Green Submariner 16610lv.
The 16800 with the Matt got phased out a couple of years after 1980 Rolex moved on to gloss dial with white gold surrounds on the hour plots which continued on to present day. But vintage watches have become like vintage cars very very desirable old aged patina on hour plots with plexi glass whats not to like? it only started growing on me as I got older.

But 16800 will no doubt be the Submariner if want to buy something perfectly wearable that looks modern but also has a vintage feel and look definitely a future collectible piece.  A lot of watch collectors love birth year watches so these would suit 38 year old chap. Great watch all round no downsides plenty of heritage the Submariner gone from strength to strength.

vintage16800 Vintage

vintage Breitling watch buyer

Hands on With Breitling ref 765 AVI ‘Raquel Welch’

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Hands on With the vintage Breitling ref 765 AVI ‘Raquel Welch’ Chronograph, the watch dates to the era early 1960’s.  Brietling made some lovely pieces and the 765 was made from 1953 to 1978 and now are well on the collectors to buy list which are going crazy for.  In 1953 Breitling was hoping to win the contract with french army but as the watch had no flyback function other watch brands stepped in instead.
This one dates to 1962/3 and nick named “Raquel Welch” as she wore one in the movie “Fathom” and comes with the “reverse panda dial” as round that time they changed from all black to “reverse Panda dial”  as they was plenty in 1962 with the all black dial.  The actual term “Panda dial” means a white dial with black sub dials, hence this one is known as “reverse Panda dial” black dial with white sub dials.
Breitling 765AVI
Breitling 765 RaquelWelsh
The watch was large for that time at 41mm and has stood test of time well has aged a lovely patina on the tritium markers on a matt dial. The hands are pretty big with a large hour hand with stainless steel bezel.  The distinctive feature on these Breitling’s is the 15 minute sub dial as most chronographs to date have a 30 minute counter. The movement is a Legendary Venus 178 chronograph movement modified to accommodate the 15 minute counter.  The reason Breitling had a 15 minter counter was their aviation roots knew it took 15 minutes for the pre-flight checks and also explains the unique tritium lume dash inside the sub registers to mark every 3 minutes.

The watches where anti-shock and anti-magnetic and later on in 1965 Brietling introduced 765 Co- pilot ‘Jean-Claude Killy’  which was nick named after Jean who wore this model in 1968 Olympics.  The model was updated slightly to the 765 AVI with a undated anodized black bezel instead on stainless steel and has become the one to buy.  Overall all the 765 models are great vintage Breitling’s to buy in all aspects they definitely are one to watch out for in the future.
Vintage Breitling buyer Buy Breitling765 AVIBreitling Raquel WelchHands on Breitling 765

Rolex Military Submariner

The Thirteen Mil Submariners of Grahame Fowler

Posted on The W-C

As the title says Thirteen Rolex Military Submariners of Grahame Fowler fantastic historic watches by Rolex that every collector would love to own one including myself.

Prices become silly on these in recent times topping £100.000 most collectors bought them when folk did not know what the watch was worth and most likely inherited. I know a chap who bought a few in the 1990,s for around £10.000 each and he has a nice collection too.

The watch was made for the ministry of defence and Rolex back in the 1950,s was the leading Brand on dive watches so no brainer to supply the divers in WW2 with A military Submariner. They wanted the watch to be different to the commercial Submariner hence the Mil Sub, at that time they wanted fixed spring bars and nato strap not steel oyster bracelet. This model was made in small numbers and is a piece that will stamped in the history of the finest Military collectible watch ever made. Enjoy the video!