Tag Archives: Rolex

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — 1969 Rolex ref. 1016 Explorer w/Beautiful Mk 1 Matte Dial

Click here to contact me and make this beautiful vintage Rolex Explorer yours today!  SOLD

Up for sale is this classic vintage Rolex reference 1016 Oyster Perpetual Explorer Chronometer featuring a beautiful Mark I matte dial, aka “Frog Foot” due to the shape of the coronet, with creamy original Tritium luminous markers and a perfectly matching Mercedes handset.

This Explorer has a 2.1 million serial number and dates to 1969, as per the matching inner caseback date/quarter stamp. This great 1016 comes on a Swiss-made 7206 rivet Oyster bracelet with model-correct 58 endpieces that has a later (and very uncommon!) service replacement clasp & buckle assembly with “VC” date code (circa 1978).

The watch itself is no safe queen and has clearly been worn and enjoyed throughout its long life, with a case that is still Very Good by vintage standards.  But it’s the stunning original matte dial & matching handset that really makes this one special, with just a subtle ring of hard-to-see “frosting” along the outer right edge of the dial keeping it from being perfect.

One of the most versatile of the great 20th-Century Rolex Sports models, this wonderful 36mm vintage Explorer is ready to accompany its lucky new owner on any and all of their own future adventures. Contact me here to make this great 1016 yours today!

Click here to contact me and make this beautiful vintage Rolex Explorer yours today!  SOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage Rolex 18k YG Datejust 6605 w/Spectacular NO LUME Dial

Click here to contact me and make this beautiful vintage 18k Rolex Datejust yours today!   SOLD

On offer from my personal collection is this classic Rolex reference 6605 Oyster Perpetual Datejust with solid 18 karat yellow gold case, semi-coin edge milled bezel and super elegant and scarce non-luminous dial & hands. This circa 1958-9 gold Datejust has acquired a lovely case patina and it comes equipped with its original 18k Rolex-signed buckle mounted on a genuine modern Rolex dark brown crocodile strap.

Overall, this beautiful gold DJ is in Excellent vintage condition for an over 60-year-old gold watch, with fantastic Near Mint dial & hands, and its uncommon caliber 1066 movement with butterfly rotor is running like a champ. 

With its semi-coin edge bezel, classy mid-century markers and dauphine hands, the 6605 Datejust represents the end of an era in Rolex design language, as the 1960s saw them homogenize their dress watch line with the sticks hands, stick markers and fluted bezels that we know today. IMO, you can put this particular Datejust up against any Patek of the era in terms of elegance and purity of design, and the 18 karat 6605 also represents the top of the pyramid, as these gold versions were also made in 14k and even 9k depending on the market.

Despite the fantastically unmolested case and case patina, the star of the show is the absolutely stunning gold sunburst pie pan dial with beautiful faceted yellow gold arrow and tri-bar markers in remarkable Near Mint condition. Most notably, this dial is a rare non-luminous version for an extra clean and elegant presentation. Simply a stunning dress watch design from what many consider Rolex’s golden age and pure golden magic on the wrist!

Click here to contact me and make this beautiful vintage 18k Rolex Datejust yours today!   SOLD

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage Rolex ref. 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

The beautiful June weather is finally here so now’s a good time to pick out a suitable watch companion for the summer… and all the seasons thereafter, for that matter. My vote would have to go this timelessly elegant yet sporty Rolex Datejust Turn-O-Graph aka the Thunderbird.

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

One of Rolex’s most interesting and innovative designs, this classic model features a fine engine-turned elapsed time bezel that rotates just like those on the Submariner or GMT. But being cast in solid white gold this Turn-O-Graph bezel is obviously a more discreet and under-the-cuff option for the well dressed man who also enjoys his fair share of sport.

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

This example, an early reference 6609, dates from 1958 and has a slightly later 1960s-era Tritium dial that is in absolutely stunning condition with wonderful matching patina to the lume plots and hands. Strap this versatile and distinctive classic Rolex Datejust Thunderbird on and you’ll be ready for office, holiday or motoring to the beach on weekends in equally fine style.

Vintage Rolex 6609 Thunderbird Datejust

Check out the complete ad with many more pictures and full condition report over at Vintage Rolex Forum’s stalwart Market section — it’s getting hard to find good Datejusts at reasonable prices these days and this one checks both boxes!  SOLD

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale – Vintage Rolex 18k PG ref. 6284 JOYERIA RIVIERA

There’s rare and there’s truly rare. That word is thrown around a lot these days in the vintage watch world but this sweet vintage Rolex definitely earns the honorific. Just one look at the double-name dial on this beautiful pink gold ref. 6284 will tell you why. Two little words — Joyeria Riviera.

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

Click images for full size gallery

Back in the day Joyeria Riviera was a top Cuban jewelry retailer, the Tiffany’s of Havana if you will, and they were forced to move their operations to Puerto Rico when Fidel Castro and the communists took power in 1960. Therefore, finding a pre-Castro Rolex signed with their name is a major coup, much less a lovely pink gold semi-Bubbleback Oyster Perpetual in such wonderful condition. Click here for a great Rolex Passion write-up for further reading on the great history of Joyeria Riviera.

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

Obviously the main event on this stunner is the original factory printed honeycomb guilloche dial with pink gold dial furniture that has aged beautifully and varies in tone from an off-white ivory color to an almost butter yellow depending on the light and angle. The oh-so-rare Joyeria Riviera signature is perfectly intact below Oyster Perpetual and on the wrist this amazingly warm toned double-signed dial in this lovely pink gold watch is an absolute knockout!

Rolex Joyeria Riviera 6284

As you can find out by doing just a little research online, a Joyeria Riviera-signed Rolex is a real blue-chip purchase with historic significance and the trajectory for these elite double-name watches has only been ever upwards. This is a special chance to add a genuinely rare watch to your collection that instantly commands respect from Rolex and non-Rolex aficionados alike. So don’t miss it, as these Joyeria Riviera Rolexes simply don’t appear that often.

Newly offered at an AMAZING CRISIS REDUCTION — Contact me for more info on this beautiful Joyeria Riviera Rolex  SOLD

CLICK HERE FOR MANY MORE PICTURES AND COMPLETE CONDITION REPORT

Getting ready for the 2019 Rolex 24-Hours at Daytona

That great harbinger of a new year’s racing season gets underway today — the Rolex 24-Hours at Daytona. The official start of IMSA’s ultra-competitive Weathertech Sportscar Championship, America’s answer to the WEC, and the unofficial starting gun for the feast of motorsports that lies ahead of us in 2019, this year’s Rolex 24 will feature a dazzling array of high tech cars and the world’s best drivers.

The grueling overnight marathon inevitably attracts top talent as third and fourth drivers for teams with deep pockets and this year is no exception. In the Prototype class, Acura Team Penske will add Indy stars Simon Pagenaud and Alexander Rossi to their regular two-car lineup of Juan Pablo Montoya & Dane Camron and Helio Catsroneves & Ricky Taylor respectively. Meanwhile Wayne Taylor’s redoubtable #10 Konica Minolta Cadillac gets a serious infusion of star power with Toyota WEC teammates, Le Mans winners and former F1 aces Fernando Alonso and Kamui Kobayashi bolstering regulars Renger van der Zander and Jordan Taylor as they try to defend their overall Weathertech Championship in this crucial first contest. Continue reading →

Vintage Tudor ref. 7016 Snowflake Submariner

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — Vintage Tudor ref. 7016 Snowflake Submariner

It’s the last day of October and what better match for Halloween that this Tudor Snowflake Submariner with amazing pumpkin patina? This rugged beauty is all original, unpolished and dates to 1970. It’s a first generation Snowflake dial as you can tell by the exceedingly rare SWISS-only signature below “6.”

This 7016/0 Tudor Sub, a reference which started with Rose dials before transitioning to Shield Snowflake dials like this one, is obviously no safe queen and seems to wear every one of its years on this planet with a well-earned mark or nick to its Oyster by Rolex case. These first generation Snowflake dials were also prone to a “bubbling” effect to the surface due to a reaction between the paint and the plate, which you can clearly see on this example. While the wabisabi on this devil won’t be to everyone’s tastes, I love it because it just shouts unmolested vintage authenticity. Ad isn’t that really what its all about?

Top all that ugly beauty off with period correct bezel with fat font insert, Tropic 19 domed crystal and even the original no-dots big Twinlock crown and you have an amazing 48-year-old survivor that was clearly used like a toolwatch should be. And did I mention that stunning deep orange patina? As unique as a many-times sharpened hunting knife, this Tudor Snowflake is ready for its next adventure. Only this time it’ll be on your wrist as you impart your own unique history to this already great and long-lived Submariner.

Check out the complete ad now over at Vintage Rolex Forum’s Market section with many more pictures and complete condition report to make this stunning, patina-rich Snowflake Sub yours right now!  ON HOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — August selection, Pt. II

August and summer are winding down but there are still hot watches to be had. Case in point — this beautiful vintage Rolex reference 1625 Datejust with engine turned white gold elapsed time bezel, aka the Thunderbird Datejust.

This beautiful T-Bird dates from 1962 and a has slightly later but nonetheless stunning silver dial with Sigma markings flanking the T SWISS T annotation. The Sigma symbols indicate solid gold markers and were only used by Rolex for brief period in the late 1960s and early ’70s. This lovely silver sunburst dial is Near Mint and its original Tritium lume is all intact and has developed a lovely patina.

Under the hood is the somewhat uncommon caliber 1565 Chronometer movement complete with its rare “balance guard,” a cool little vestigial detail. It is ticking away like a champ just like a Rolex should.

Coming on its likely original Swiss made rolled Jubilee bracelet this T-Bird presents beautifully on the wrist. With its handsomely crafted elapsed time bezel in solid gold the Thunderbird Datejust is the perfect blend of tool watch and elegance — a Sports watch for the board room, if you will — and certainly one of Rolex’s most interesting and innovative designs. And IMO, the white gold & steel version is the one to have. So grab it while you can!

Check out the complete ad over at the redoubtable Vintage Rolex Forum’s Market section for many more pictures and complete condition report. You surely be glad you did!  SOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — April selection, Pt. II

Making good on my promise that there will be a passel of special watches appearing in the coming  weeks here is another vintage beauty as we get ready to exit April — a stunning Jumbo Tudor Prince Oysterdate from the early 1970s.

With the same 38mm case as Rolex’s iconic 1019 Milgauss this model 9018/4 Oysterdate wears like a delightfully beefed up Datejust. Its silver dial is just as classic and the oversized white gold bezel gives it the same sort of elegant punch, albeit with a bit of a sportier feel due to the overall increased size of the watch

Powered by a robust ETA 2784 movement with quickest date this classic Tudor deserves props in its own right and not just as a junior member of Team Rolex. With the same build quality and design aesthetics — only supersized! — this is definitely another instance where the Shield gives the Coronet a run for its money. Strap it on for yourself and you’ll see just what I mean.

Check out the complete ad with many more pictures and complete condition report over at the newly revamped but still awesome Vintage Rolex Forum’s Market section.  SOLD

tomvox1’s Watches for Sale — April selection

Keep your eyes on this space in the coming weeks because I’ll be offering a fantastic selection of great watches. And perhaps first among equals is this stunning 1968 GMT-Master. Featuring an absolutely Mint first generation “Long E” matte dial and gorgeously aged magenta/faded denim bezel insert this is the kind of vintage Rolex GMT that serious collectors dream about.

The late ‘60s GMT-Master with Mark I matte dial is one of the hottest vintage watches out there right now, finally getting its due after many years of being overshadowed by Submariners, and this beautiful example is in wonderfully well preserved vintage condition for a 50-year old watch with just the right touch of lived in charm and hard earned character.

The killer Tritium dial and gorgeously aged insert make it a very special Rolex for the discerning collector. It comes on a period correct folded Oyster bracelet and was last serviced late in 2015 and so is running like a top and ready for action on the wrist of its new owner.

Check out this great GMT now over at the newly revamped Vintage Rolex Forum’s Market section. If you’ve been on the hunt for this all-time classic Rolex tool watch you’ll be glad you did!   ON SALE

Race Alert — The 2018 Rolex 24-Hours at Daytona is on!

The green flag has just dropped on the unofficial official start of every new year’s racing season, the legendary Rolex 24-hours at Daytona, the top multi-class sports car event in the USA. This year’s race features new IMSA entries from Penske running Acura power and featuring his veteran Indycar driver, Hello Castroneves, who retired from the open wheel series at the end of the 2017 season. Joining Castroneves at Acura Team Penke is series champ Ricky Taylor, who left his father’s team and his brother, Jordan, after their 2017 title campaign for the chance to drive for the Captain. Should be interesting to see Wayne Taylor’s Cadillac going to to toe with his talented son in the Acura and Penske’s second team car for this race features 2016’s Indycar Champ Simon Pagenaud and legendary hot shoe Juan Pablo Montoya. So it looks like Penske has come to Daytona Beach with the clear intent to take home the trophy and the watches one way or another.

Also spicing up this year’s contest is 2-time Formula 1 World Champion Fernando Alonso, who is competing in the top Prototype category for Untied Autosports. Alonso is also scheduled to run the Le Mans 24-Hours this summer so despite the massively different circuits the Spaniard should still gain valuable endurance experience on the high banks of Daytona during his several stints over the 24-hours. Frankly, the grid is stacked with great professional racing stars from many different disciplines even if they’re not all household names and the action at this deceptively complex road course is always hot and heavy and well worth checking out.

Here’s the complete broadcast schedule for watching this great race across the Fox networks for the next 24-hours:

Saturday January 27

Fox: 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM (Green Flag will drop at 2:40 PM ET)

FS2: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

FSGO: 10:00 PM – 11:00 PM

FS1: 11:00 PM – 1:00 AM (Sunday)

Sunday January 28

FSGO: 1:00 AM – 8:00 AM

FS1: 8:00 AM – 10:30 AM

FSGO: 10:30 AM – 1:00 PM

FS1: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Enjoy the unpredictable multi-class action and let the 2018 racing season begin!