stainless steel Archives - The Watch-Collector Leeds

Hands on Breitling Avenger 2 Seawolf Ref: A17331

Posted on January 3, 2018 The W-C

Hands on with Breitling Avenger 2 Seawolf Ref A17331 this a big chuck of dive watch courtesy of Breitling a current model you can buy in the shops. The Avenger 2 Seawolf is a true divers , watch is water resistant to 3000 metres / 10,000Feet which is a long way down for any watch to go. But not like Rolex deepsea Challenge standards 12000 metres but still very good as a third of the price of the Rolex Deepsea 116660.

The avenger is mainly brushed steel and small areas polished, the bezel is nice brushed satin with luminova top 60 marker, the dial is very nice shade of black called Volcano Black. The size of the case is 45mm on the pro3 bracelet which is Breitling’s latest version of double locking bracelet. The movement is in-house Calibre 17 Automatic, a great piece for the money big, thick, tool watch for everyday use always love Breitling’s for the money.

Breitling always be good value watches for pre-owned market as not every one has big bucks to buy Rolex’s, Patek Philippe, AP etc…. Omega have a lot of similar priced watches too.

Hands on with Panerai Luminor Marina 312 1950 3 day

Posted on May 2, 2017 The W-C

Hands on with the Panerai Luminor Marina 00312 1950 3 day, this was a watch I owned one of the best all round Panerai’s in my opinion. The 312 has 1950 case size 44m which looks far nicer than the older style case. The watch houses the lovely p.9000 in-house movement with a see through caseback which is always a nice touch.

The finish works really well polished bezel with satin shoulders and sides, dial is a black matt finish with date window at 3 o clock with the infamous Panerai trademarked crown guard and has a slightly curved sapphire crystal. The lume on Panerai’s are fer-nominal they really not hard to see the time at night time its probably one of the best lumes you will get.

The 1950 case has the small button on the shoulders on the caseback side for easy strap change as Panerai have plenty of straps options for all occasions, I also thought it was so comfortable to wear everyday for a big watch. The Panerai is not the smallest watch but overall a great piece and no doubt will end up with one again or similar sometime in the future.

Hands On With The Rolex Datejust II 116334

Posted on April 9, 2017 The W-C

Hands On With The Rolex Datejust II 116334 stainless steel with white gold bezel continuing the Datejust theme thought it would be a good piece to post about. This model has also just been discontinued by Rolex following Basel 2017.

This model was never a hit with Rolex hence why they said goodbye I did like this model but felt the proportions was all wrong big watch big bezel little small crown. Size was 41mm with a white gold bezel on a oyster bracelet with a option of a jubilee bracelet at point of sale. But wore big with a diddy little crown Submariner are 40mm but have big crown and looked correct.

The dial looked well thou stunning blue with baton hour markers and date window at 3 o clock, I did try one out but never bonded with the watch. Rolex must have listen to folk and more than likely sales of the actual piece, they was not a best seller also very expensive at last Rrp was around £6850 ouch!! They have just launched a 41mm Datejust with white gold bezel so that is to fill the gap for saying fare well to the Datejust II. So do not be running out to buy one thinking it will be a future collectors piece as I doubt it will. It seems the latest crazy when a watch they finish production of.

Hands on With Rolex Datejust 116200

Posted on February 28, 2017 The W-C

Hands on With Rolex Datejust 116200 Stainless steel with smooth bezel, I thought there has not been a lot of blogs regarding Rolex’s best selling model instead sports usually takes the limelight. The Datejust goes back a long way too and has so many variants so my next few series of blogs will be Datejusts models only more the newer versions I had in the past.

This one is kinda the base model Datejust 36mm in size with a stunning blue dial and baton hour markers on a Jubilee bracelet, there is option of oyster or jubilee bracelet at point of sale. The jubilee is slightly more in price but is very clean classy look with a concealed clasp and the Rolex logo showing. They started producing this datejust model around 2005/2006 with the rehaut Rolex Rolex Rolex around the inner bezel ring as extra security measure by Rolex they newly introduced.

As Rolex had to keep ahead of the fakers as the fakes are getting better and better. This particular datejust is simple but nice clean look with a date wheel with red and black alternate numbers like a roulette wheel which works well. A nice mix of polished and satin finish great for everyday smart watch for work or play. Looks great with a suit on but to be fair all Rolex’s look well with a suit on for all types of occasions but has partly been a part of their success.

Women are increasing more finding the 36mm Datejust model are more suitable than the 26mm smaller models bigger watches easier to see the time and a lot more watch presence on the wrist!!

Hands On With Rolex Daytona Cosmograph 116500LN Panda Dial

Posted on February 4, 2017March 17, 2018 The W-C

As the title says Rolex Daytona Cosmograph 116500LN White Panda dial probably the watch of 2016 from Rolex very much loved and anticipated by every collector worldwide. The frenzy started after the basel show 2016 where Rolex showed the piece off since then the waiting list become impossible to get on everywhere in the world with the original RRp of £8250 pre price increase. To add to that never you will never see one in a Rolex Authorized dealer anywhere.

The watch is very similar to the older pre ceramic version which had stainless steel bezel with white dial and silver sub dials, the Rolex 500 (short for this model) has Cerachrom bezel in ceramic is the biggest change that is deeply loved and having a white dial with black subdials is a true Panda dial. Panda dial these days in any watch brand everyone wants!!!

The bezel I totally get after having the older model it is very easy the scratch, the ceramic bezel a lot tougher to mark when you are very OCD about your watches as most collectors are. The Rolex Cosmograph was loved by various stars Paul Newman was a great fan and true ambassador to the cosmograph brand dating back to the 1970’s which probably gave the watch its collector status today. Paul Newman Daytonas are fetching over £100k these days not bad for a £300 £400 watch in the 70’s. But to be honest vintage market gone through the roof last few years anything matt dial of gilt is the way forward.

To be honest I really loved the watch but at the cost of well over RRp I was very underwhelmed with the watch to be honest once I got one, this may be down to all the hype and build up to getting the watch and wanting one so bad!! But as waiting lists are totally non existent on this model for the next 15 years you after pay the premium to own one unfortunately as being Daytona fan had to try one. The pictures do speak volumes.

vintage watch buyer

Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 3570.50.00

Posted on January 8, 2017March 28, 2018 The W-C

As the title says following are recent blogs of the SpeedMaster Moon watch, this is the modern version of the moonwatch st 145.022 it has not changed much since the previous model st145.022. They has been a few subtle changes the dial is luminova rather than aged tritium dials which started around late 90s. The bracelet has been updated to modern style and feel with brushed and polished finish and a lot more robust. The movement has been updated from Cal 861 to 1861 not sure what they did more than likely a slight modification on the Cal 861 which has been in moon watches for over 20 years.

The look is still the same with hesalite crystal and tachymetre bezel also the caseback is the same as previous model st 145.022, the changes overhaul are very minor, the biggest change is the look modern or vintage which just comes down to taste personally vintage look for me always. The luminova dials glow really bright in the dark as the vintage stuff does not glow at all as tritium loses its luminosity the longer it ages.

There is actually an newer version to this model, made a few years back only difference is they gave this a new model number and updated the bracelet with screws and a pins instead of the pin and tube just to make it easy to remove links and possibly less chance of age related stretch. However they added a huge briefcase style box that weighs a ton and bumped the price up to £3390 from around £2700 but the actual watch head stayed the same.

If your are looking for a modern speedmaster moonwatch this is the one to buy 3570.50.00 if you want a vintage moonwatch then look for the st 145.022 as prices are still good and not gone crazy yet. The earlier moon watches are stupid crazy money and hard to find.

Omega Moonwatch Moonphase ST345.0809

Posted on December 30, 2016 The W-C

This is the first Omega speedmaster Professional Moonwatch Moonphase 1985 made in limited numbers 1300 in total so makes these model very hard to find and very special these days. The Moonphase reference is ST345.0809 and it based on the standard moonwatch but with a calibre 866 and nowadays is calibre 1866 after a upgrade in 1990,s which is basically a calibre 861 with a moonphase / date module added.

This model has a clear clean caseback with the seamaster logo in the middle like many of the other seamaster models. The moonphase does not have the “first watch worn on the moon” engraved or a fancy limited edition caseback as most moon watches do have either. The moonphase was re-introduced around 1999 but with a few upgrades luminova hour markers on the dial not tritium and a modern speedmaster bracelet instead of the vintage 1450 bracelet also they used a modern tachymeter bezel with slight change with a modern font.

I have owned the new and the old moonphase and the vintage one is far better tritium dial lovely patina, and can see this being the one to have as been made in such small numbers, I think a lot of watch brands made watches in the 70,s and 80,s and never realized how nice and stunning they would be in the future.

The speedmaster will always be a loved watch by many collectors and enthusiasts and something will always go down in history as first watch watch on the the moon although there was rumors that Buzz Aldrin did have a Rolex Gmtmaster on his wrist as well as the moonwatch when on the moon, but Rolex was not bothered for the lime light.

“Speedmaster Tuesday” Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch 3569.31.00

Posted on December 27, 2016 The W-C

As the title says “Speedy Tuesday” this one of the many Limited Editions Omega made which is probably in the 1000s, The Moonwatch has always been a favorite of mine does not get much better in conversation as “The first watch worn on the Moon.” This particular model the Omega Speedmaster Moonwatch Apollo II 35th Anniversary was made around 2004 and limited to 3500 pieces and is the standard moonwatch 42mm with the hesalite crystal and Calibre 1861 movement which is slight update of the 861 movement that they put in the original moonwatch.

The apollo II is a cracking looking piece which I think will be a future collector’s “got to have piece”, as the watch has some very nice touches that most speedy fans will like:

firstly the Panda Dial silver dial black subdials always goes down well in any watch.

2nd. The applied Metal Omega Logo as the first pre moon watches that date pre 1969 hence “pre moon” had the applied logo then after the dials all made with the painted logo in white. The caseback not to shabby either all together a very nice piece that is modern with a few twists from the old Moonwatch.

3rd Th red writing on the landing 20 July 1969 all in all works well.

The apollo Limited edition were made every 5 years from the first moon landing on 20 July 1969 to commemorate the landing and I think this definitely one to have in the apollo II editions. To be fair all moonwatch are great pieces in general well respected watches that loved by millions if you like winding them up every 48 hours. If you get the chance to purchase one do not hesitate in purchasing there getting harder to find.

Vintage Rolex Gmtmaster 16753 Bi Metal

Posted on December 14, 2016December 19, 2016 The W-C

Vintage Rolex Gmtmaster 16753 Bi metal 18k gold and steel on a jubilee bracelet, a great watch by Rolex the Gmtmaster loved by pilots for years great versatile watch that we all know and love. The Gmtmaster bi metal is a variant of the steel version which came into production much after the 1st Gmtmaster in the 50,s with a gilt dial with radium then in the 60,s they switched to matt dial with tritium hour plots then on to gloss dials with tritium white gold hour markers. They finished with the glossy dials with luminova hour plots with white gold surrounds started around 1999 and used to this current day. Rolex always did the option of a jubilee bracelet or oyster bracelet which looks more sporty.

The vintage Gmtmaster have been become very collectable over the years the older the better matt and gilt dial win win to be honest, I do not think Rolex back then realized how nice and sort after the vintage Rolex would be in the future the world has gone vintage Rolex Mad. Love all vintage watches.

The Thirteen Mil Submariners of Grahame Fowler

Posted on November 21, 2016November 21, 2016 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!

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