50 year old Rolex

[JumboBeef]

Please can I ask the collective their opinion on a 50 year old Rolex?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=1...

Is it worth the money?

Thanks.

[nikaiyo2]

Pretty garish re-dial, I would avoid personally, it will be very difficult to re-sell. For a few hundred £ more you could get this...

http://www.watchfinder.co.uk/Rolex/Oyster%20Precis...

Much nicer IMHO, but if you like the other one why not.

[JumboBeef]

Thanks. I know nothing about these watches I do own a TAG F1 which is about 7 years old.

You say re-dial, so is it not original?

I was looking for a 1965 watch as this would be a 50th birthday treat to myself.

£1,500ish is really the top of my budget and that includes selling my TAG to cover it (otherwise around a grand).

[RichB]

JumboBeef said:

You say re-dial, so is it not original?

Yes that's exactly what he means. I know nothing about Rolex as they don't interest me but I wouldn't see that on your wrist and think it's 50 years old, well other than the small size. Surely there are watches from 1965 that have that 60s look about them if that's what you want?

ETA: Go to Chrono24 https://www.chrono24.co.uk/ and search on 1965 see what you get. Then you can refine your sarch by manufacturer, Rolex, Omega etc. there are hundreds of options on there.

Edited by RichB on Saturday 7th November 08:54

[Dicky Knee]

It's worth taking a look at Chrono24 for a year specific watch. You can use the advance search to find watches by year of manufacture and there will probably be quite a wide choice especially if you widen the search to other brands-Omega for example.

[JumboBeef]

Thanks.

What do you think would be a good buy for a grand from 65?

[Dicky Knee]

I'm not holding myself out to be an expert on vintage watches so from that vièwpoint I have no idea. As a birth year watch I would be looking for something I like and I would wear. I would think that most of the watches will hold their value over time although these things do go in and out of 'fashion'.

For me, and I'm a 1963 baby, the issue is the size of the watch. Most from this era are around 35mm case size against the current trend of 40mm plus so I personally would find the watch would spend more time off my wrist than on although I do like the 1960's look.

I've never really aspired to a Rolex so for me I would look at Omega, Breitling, JLC and IWC. I don't think the last two would fall into your budget.

If you live in or near London there are a couple of dealers in The Burlington Arcade who specialise in this kind of thing so might be worth doing some window shopping there to see if you like the look and size 'in the flesh'.

[Du1point8]

what about Heuer?

Before it sold out to tag? I know this is a lot more but its only a 30 second google to find an Heuer rather than a Tag.

http://www.vintageheuer.com/products/heuer-militar...

[13m]

JumboBeef said:

Please can I ask the collective their opinion on a 50 year old Rolex?

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=1...

Is it worth the money?

Thanks.

That one, no. 50 year old Rolex generally? Fine, providing you understand:

1. It will be as knackered as you are. If it isn't it will cost a lot more than you want to spend.

2. Your timing sucks. 50 years is a landmark birthday for many people with disposable income and sellers are playing up to it. Some are even advertising their watches "50th Birthday". Wait a couple of years and you'll get a better deal I think.

3. Rolex is the brand you'll pay the biggest "it's my 50th present to myself" premium for.

I am older than you, by the way, before you think I am being a cheeky young pup.

Edited by 13m on Saturday 7th November 11:08

[RichB]

Dicky Knee said:

It's worth taking a look at Chrono24 for a year specific watch. You can use the advance search to find watches by year of manufacture and there will probably be quite a wide choice especially if you widen the search to other brands-Omega for example.

Indeed, you can even refine your search by case size e.g. 1965 and 38mm,39mm,40mm etc.
There's some nice Brietlings on there if that's your thing. I noticed a very nice '65 JLC Memovox for under £1,500 but it's gold on a leather strap and you may not want that given your initial suggestion.

[GCH]

I have a watch from 67 (if that is close enough) for sale within your budget, and it doesn't have a dodgy re-dial either

[horacethefrog]

13m said:

2. Your timing sucks. 50 years is a landmark birthday for many people with disposable income and sellers are playing up to it. Some are even advertising their watches "50th Birthday". Wait a couple of years and you'll get a better deal I think.
[/footnote]

Please tell me that was a joke?

[anonymous-user]

horacethefrog said:

Please tell me that was a joke?

No, I've seen that sort of thing about and know at least one person who's thought about it.
Makes sense in my opinion, quite special.

[RichB]

GCH said:

I have a watch from 67 (if that is close enough) for sale within your budget, and it doesn't have a dodgy re-dial either

Save it until 2017 and jack the price up

[13m]

horacethefrog said:

13m said:

2. Your timing sucks. 50 years is a landmark birthday for many people with disposable income and sellers are playing up to it. Some are even advertising their watches "50th Birthday". Wait a couple of years and you'll get a better deal I think.
[/footnote]

Please tell me that was a joke?

No. Why?

[BrabusMog]

horacethefrog said:

13m said:

No. Why?

Well, if we assume that the birth rate is more or less constant then the number of people chasing a watch manufactured in 1965 for their 50th birthday in 2015 is going to be much the same as the number chasing one in 2017 that was manufactured in 1967. Only if there was a massive spike in births in 1965 would it be better to buy later (or earlier). Or am I missing something here?

I think he means any 1965 watch turns 50 this year, meaning people may pay a premium to "treat" themselves to a birth year watch right now as they are hitting a milestone birthday. Leave it 1,2, 3 years and it's back to "normal" birth year watch prices.

I have no idea though, I'm just guessing.

Edited by BrabusMog on Saturday 7th November 23:51

[horacethefrog]

BrabusMog said:

horacethefrog said:

13m said:

No. Why?

Well, if we assume that the birth rate is more or less constant then the number of people chasing a watch manufactured in 1965 for their 50th birthday in 2015 is going to be much the same as the number chasing one in 2017 that was manufactured in 1967. Only if there was a massive spike in births in 1965 would it be better to buy later (or earlier). Or am I missing something here?

I think he means any 1965 watch turns 50 this year, meaning people may pay a premium to "treat" themselves to a birth year watch right now. Leave it 3 years and it's back to "normal" birth year watch prices.

I have no idea though, I'm just guessing.

OK, I get it now Are there really that many people out there buying birth year watches that it affects the price?

[Nohedes]

Dicky Knee said:

It's worth taking a look at Chrono24 for a year specific watch. You can use the advance search to find watches by year of manufacture and there will probably be quite a wide choice especially if you widen the search to other brands-Omega for example.

+1 for vintage Omegas in this price range - Austin Kaye on The Strand tend to have quite a few in stock (no connection etc). If you want to keep the budget below £1k, I think vintage Longines are worth a look too.

[13m]

horacethefrog said:

BrabusMog said:

horacethefrog said:

13m said:

No. Why?

Well, if we assume that the birth rate is more or less constant then the number of people chasing a watch manufactured in 1965 for their 50th birthday in 2015 is going to be much the same as the number chasing one in 2017 that was manufactured in 1967. Only if there was a massive spike in births in 1965 would it be better to buy later (or earlier). Or am I missing something here?

I think he means any 1965 watch turns 50 this year, meaning people may pay a premium to "treat" themselves to a birth year watch right now. Leave it 3 years and it's back to "normal" birth year watch prices.

I have no idea though, I'm just guessing.

OK, I get it now Are there really that many people out there buying birth year watches that it affects the price?

I haven't made a detailed study of it, but it appears that sellers of 1965 watches are attempting to cash in, yes.

[mikeveal]

Here we go, some options from Chrono24. I searched from £900 to £1800 on anything listed as 1965. £900 would allow the OP to keep his TAG. £1800 is initially over budget, but there will be room to bater the price down. OK probably not £300 worth of room, but this is the watches forum. We're not good at keeping to budgets!

34mm Oyster precision £886


Piepan Constellation £981


TopTime £1004

(Get it off that grotty strap and onto a sharkmesh.)

Zenith £933

But is it a redial?

Zenith again £1511


Rolex Precision £1686


Memovox an optimistic £1722


Lots of choice in that era. You should be able to pick up a Jaeger Reverso for around that budget, but I couldn't find a 60's one.

You're almost spending too much. Omega Seamasters are a lovely classic watch for ~£300-£700. Take a look at the Bulova Spaceview, Rado Diastar Chrono (not the gold ones). Today I popped on a gold 21J automatic Rotary that was given to my uncle as a 21st birthday present in 1965, it's gorgeous but worth only £70 or so.

My advice would be to head over to ebay and search the watches forum for 1960s. Set the search to worldwide and use -Favre -HMT to weed out most of the nasty stuff from India. Find something you like, report back here and we'll appraise it for you.

Personally, I'd advise against a Rolex Oyster / Submariner / Reverso or similar for a birth year watch. These are watches that have been produced from the 30's, 40's and 50's. They're still made today and they still look the same. They are great watches, but they are not "from 1965".

HTH

Edited by mikeveal on Monday 9th November 09:08