Watches from 1971

[Exigeowner]

I am hoping to buy a watch that was made in 1971 which is my birth year, Is there a definitive watch from the early 70's that I should be looking at, not fussed about the brand if I like it I like it.

[Fittster]

I've never come across a complete list of watches released in a year.

My suggestion for a watch from 1971,an Omega Flightmaster. Nice retro jet on the back of the case.

[PH5121]

Have a look at the Heuer Boy site.
He has various vintage watches and their production dates, including a couple of Autavias and a Carrera from 1971.

[ross-456]

Exigeowner said:

I am hoping to buy a watch that was made in 1971 which is my birth year, Is there a definitive watch from the early 70's that I should be looking at, not fussed about the brand if I like it I like it.

This is potentially a really interesting thread as I have recently started to consider doing the same thing (although I'm 1979).
I figure the key brands that you could still from that year are Rolex, Omega and Tag. Out of the three I'd prob go for Rolex (just my personal taste). If you too are interested in Rolex, a good place to start would be here...
http://www.vintagewatchcompany.com/ (you can serch by decade!)

IMO that site is good for research but very overpriced.
In answer to your 'definitive watch' question a Rolex Daytona 'Paul Newman' would be up there. IIRC they were made in late '60s/early '70s (but not as late as 1979) - very pricey though! What's your budget do you think???

[wax lyrical]

Exigeowner said:

I am hoping to buy a watch that was made in 1971 which is my birth year, Is there a definitive watch from the early 70's that I should be looking at, not fussed about the brand if I like it I like it.

Without a doubt, go for a vintage stainless steel Rolex sports watch. Plenty of choice from the early 70's, solidly built and very reliable. Still serviced by Rolex UK too!

Best of all, they will appreciate in value over time - this is a certainty. The model you buy (Submariner, Sea Dweller, GMT, Daytona, Explorer), depends on your budget!! Nice examples can be bought from £3k upwards, through to £100k (Military Submariners, early COMEX SeaDwellers, early Daytonas)!!

The Explorer below would be about £9/10k. The 'Red' Submariner, about the same! The ('double red') Sea Dweller is an early 'thin case' model, so about £25k. However, all will increase in value over time (15% p.a. minimum)!! Patek is the only other brand that will do this (but the entry price is a lot higher).















The no-date Submariner (reference 5513) above would be the cheapest (at £3k) but is also VERY classic and understated.

I'd go for a Rolex!! You CANNOT go wrong.

[993rsr]

wax lyrical said:

Exigeowner said:

I am hoping to buy a watch that was made in 1971 which is my birth year, Is there a definitive watch from the early 70's that I should be looking at, not fussed about the brand if I like it I like it.

Without a doubt, go for a vintage stainless steel Rolex sports watch. Plenty of choice from the early 70's, solidly built and very reliable. Still serviced by Rolex UK too!

Best of all, they will appreciate in value over time - this is a certainty. The model you buy (Submariner, Sea Dweller, GMT, Daytona, Explorer), depends on your budget!! Nice examples can be bought from £3k upwards, through to £100k (Military Submariners, early COMEX SeaDwellers, early Daytonas)!!

The Explorer below would be about £9/10k. The 'Red' Submariner, about the same! The ('double red') Sea Dweller is an early 'thin case' model, so about £25k. However, all will increase in value over time (15% p.a. minimum)!! Patek is the only other brand that will do this (but the entry price is a lot higher).















The no-date Submariner (reference 5513) above would be the cheapest (at £3k) but is also VERY classic and understated.

I'd go for a Rolex!! You CANNOT go wrong.

You're under on £ for the Explorer II straight hand (£15k+), and a Comex went through at the recent Antiquorum Auction @ just shy of $250k USD.

I would agree that certain Rolex Vintage watches represent excellent investments.

[Fittster]

wax lyrical said:

The Explorer below would be about £9/10k. The 'Red' Submariner, about the same! The ('double red') Sea Dweller is an early 'thin case' model, so about £25k. However, all will increase in value over time (15% p.a. minimum)!! Patek is the only other brand that will do this (but the entry price is a lot higher).

I'd go for a Rolex!! You CANNOT go wrong.

My advice would be to think very carefully about buying a Rolex or anyother make of watch as an investment. Plenty of other non-traditional investments, such as classic cars, wine and stamps have been very poor bets. Any investment can go wrong.

[Exigeowner]

Its not really an investiment im looking for but rather the price go up than down I just fancy owning a watch thats same age as me, in theory I would like to own it forever and then pass it on to my son.

I like the vintage Daytona alot, for the other Rolexs they look fairly modern to me, maybe all watches from early 1970s will appear rather modern than overly vintage.

Budget would be fairly flexible but poss around the 2K mark