A couple of WIS mates popped round for dinner last night. There were a lot of nice watches changing hands, albeit there was always an unspoken intention to see if a couple of them might be suitable for a trade.

The one I was after is below, and is now mine (yay :)). It’s a stardust Triple 6 – marmite, I know, but highly prized amongst vintage Rolex collectors – and I really like it; although I have both the original and another black insert together with a virtually new bracelet this is how it’ll be worn… heat-treated insert and chestnut NATO. It’s quite something in the metal and whilst I don’t think I’ve managed yet to do it justice under the lens these will do for now. When the sun comes out, though…

And a few more in natural light…

What’s your excuse?

Well, I’ve achieved something today, in that a journey that started the best part of a year ago has finally been completed. It was then that I first tried to acquire a Red Submariner; although I came very close on a few occasions, bought one and returned it, and drove over a hundred miles only to find the watch I’d gone to collect wasn’t the one for me, a beauty now sits on my wrist. I’ve sold three watches in order to fund this one watch, in fact, so it’s fair to say that I was pretty motivated, but I’m very happy with the decision I’ve made.

So, what is it about the red Sub that makes it so collectible? I guess it’s partly the fact that its far more scarce than the white; it was made in smaller numbers, and being older by definition there are likely to be a lower percentage of those produced that are still in circulation (at least in unadulterated form). Aside from that, though, the addition of a single line of red lettering has the most remarkable impact on the overall look of the dial, and therefore the watch. It really does seem to pop and I think it transforms the 1680 from a very, very good watch to something exceptional.

This is what I mean…

WISdom its different things to different people, but I generally try to plough my own furrow, thinking hard about what I want and waiting (often for quite some time) to find the best example that I can, at a price I consider to be realistic. Ive gone from new and primarily Rolex; to all-vintage and a variety of manufacturers; and now to a mix of old and new, and with a reasonably eclectic approach albeit what makes up my collection. So, to the latest incoming – which despite the normally measured approach described above came as something of an unplanned surprise, and followed an irresistible impulse that had me raiding the bank account.

A while back, a friend on TZ-UK posted about his new love, the Orange Hand, Freccione or McQueen Explorer 1655. Im not sure that the McQueen reference is actually valid (in that he is said to have worn this watch in private whilst wearing something completely different in his movies, although this seems to have been no more than an advertising ploy) but theres no question that this slightly quirky watch has become one of the more collectible of the vintage Rolex models. Ive been admiring it for ages whilst not really having had any intention of buying one, but the opportunity to grab an example with the fullest set youll ever find including the original sales receipt (indeed, a member of the Vintage Rolex Forum actually met the original owner, who had received the watch as a gift from his wife); and with provenance from the venerable Mike Wood to boot; meant that another classic vintage has now joined the two 1960’s vintage Rolex stunners that I already had.

Its a remarkable and historic watch, with a genuine wrist presence and a completely unique look that sets it apart from the much more generic styling of the rest of the Rolex sports range. Although Ive bought this one (a Mark 5 dial with Mark 4 bezel) as a longish-term investment as well as to wear (well, its a lot nicer to look at than a bank statement) its such an amazing watch that I suspect it may well become close to a daily companion.

Some photos..

Oh, and a full set that includes both boxes, the punched Rolex Certificate of Authenticity, two service certificates, the two books (the one relating to the 1655 itself is actually quite rare), the original sales receipt for £560 (!) from F A Buck of Stoke-On-Trent, a later receipt from The Old Watch Shop, the chronometer seal, calendar, translation booklet and wallet 🙂

I think the Oysterquartz is, without a doubt, the best looking Datejust there is. The 36mm case wears a little larger in this guise due to the integrated bracelet, and those clean lines so reminiscent of an earlier era just work perfectly with the classic dial & handset, and the smooth bezel. So, if you mistakenly sell one of these beauties, immediately regretting your actions, what should you do?

Well, buy it back, of course.