Today there is quite a high premium on original vintage pieces simply because they’re extremely rare and becoming increasingly harder to find. Decades ago, when people bought luxury watches like Rolex for example, it was perfectly normal for them to get the watch serviced, polished, or have parts replaced if you scratched or dented them up. The problem is that while they were done by the company with authentic later-era parts, they still weren’t original parts or features of the watch. Since this was such a common practice, today it’s really special – and highly valuable – if a vintage watch is totally original.When posed with the question of which watch to buy and when, every industry “expert” probably begins their answer with some variation of the same caveat: Buy for love, not for money. Watch collecting is a wild and unpredictable hobby. Auction prices for classic models have been known to hit eight figures (and then some), but most of the Rolex watches out there depreciate the moment you strap them on your wrist.I have a young friend who is ready to buy his first luxury watch. He’s been thinking about it for weeks (good boy), but every few days he calls me (bad boy) and labors the same point: He wants a watch that is an investment (even worse boy). There exists in modern watch collecting a problem: collectibility is now treated as a selling point. But the problem with everybody and their dogs knowing that something is collectible is that everybody and their dogs are quite likely to collect it.The most expensive wristwatch ever sold was the Rolex Daytona worn by Paul Newman himself. It fetched $17. million at a 2017 auction. That’s a pretty good price for a watch that was so unpopular when it was initially launched that it lingered on dealers’ shelves with relatively few actually making their way onto customers’ wrists. One of those wrists happened to be Paul Newman, who had reputedly been bought the watch by his wife, Joanne Woodward. And it isn’t that she made a sound investment, but rather her purchase created an investment piece by her gifting it to her stratospherically famous husband.
Many of you know Planet Ocean, which is a classic series of Omega, however, few people know this 1948 watch. So, what secret hidden in this Planet Ocean Liquidmetal that was only limited to 1948 pieces? And how about its replica? In this article, I will give a detailed introduction. Whether you are interested in genuine Planet Ocean Liquidmetal 1948 or this replica, this article will help you a lot.The protype of Omega Planet Ocean is Omega Marine, which is the first diver’s watch of Omega, it is also the first diving watch in the world, at that time, Marine was under Constellation series of Omega. However, the Seamaster we love more firstly appeared in 1948, so Seamaster has a rich history that was almost 68 years.The watch I am going to introduce here was published by Omega in 2009, it is limited to 1948 pieces and also the first watch uses Liquidmetal as bezel material. And for the next a few years, Omega neve used Liquidmetal as bezel material. Until the appearance of 232.90.46.21.03.001, Omega started to produce liquidmetal watches in a large quantity.Below are all components this watch will use. The three-piece case construction contains case, back and soft iron anti-magnetic cover.
Part of the brand’s collection since 1945, the Rolex Datejust is the ultimate everyday luxury watch. While the model comes in a vast assortment of styles including different sizes, metals, bracelets, bezels, and dial designs, what remains constant across all Datejust watches is its time and date functionality. The hour, minute, and seconds hands are always placed at the center while the date window is always found at the 3 o’clock position. In true Rolex fashion, the Datejust watch is easy to use and operate but there are a few things to keep in mind when setting the time and date. Read on for our quick guide on how to set the date and time on a Rolex Datejust.Earlier models of the Rolex Datejust did not yet have the quickset date feature. A quickset date feature means that the date can be set independently from the timekeeping hands. Conversely, on a non-quickset Datejust, the minute and hour hands have to be advanced past midnight to change the numeral in the date window.Rolex introduced the quickset date function to the Datejust lineup in 1977 with the introduction of Caliber 3035 movement. So if your Datejust was made in 1977 or later and is powered by Caliber 3035 or subsequent movements (Cal. 3135, 3136, or 3235) then it has the quickset feature.Regardless of when a Datejust was produced, they all come equipped with a screw-down winding crown to ensure the watch’s water resistance. Therefore, a Rolex winding crown must be unscrewed first before any adjustments can be made.
However, the 126710 Blue/Red GMT II which Noob just published saved face for them.In the past several years, Rolex GMT-Master Batman 116710BLNR has always been the most popular GMT watch. Till 2019, a lot of new Rolex GMT-Master II models were published, there were also a lot of factories manufacturing GMT-Master II, however, among so many watch manufacturers, no one is able to make them with 904L stainless steel and the same Rolex movement at the same time, except Noob. So, even you need to wait for a bit longer to get your ordered watches from Noob, sometimes it is worth to wait.Now, back to the review of this GMT-Master II, like other GMT-Master II from Rolex, this one is also measured to be 40mm in case diameter, the case thickness is 12.5mm. Both case and jubilee bracelet are made of 904L stainless steel, the bezel uses high quality ceramic material, it is in blue/red color, actually the red looks like brown, the bezel markers have platinum coating that will never fade. About movement, Noob installed a clone 3285 in this replica Rolex GMT, this is the first 3285 movement in our market that has correct hand stack and adjustable hour hand, its functions are completely the same as genuine Rolex 3285.Noob’s Rolex products are in good quality, some models represent the highest watch-making level in our market, some models have become the legend, for example, the black Submariner 116610LN. About this GMT-Master, if you pursue perfection in case design, dial details and even movement function, then choose from Noob. However, as I said before, the GMT-Master with Super Clone movement from Noob is not that stable, my clients who bought Noob GMT-Master before now all had some issues on their watches, what I want to say is that Noob still has not developed one movement for GMT-Master that is as stable as the Super Clone 4130 for their Daytona products.
In the world of luxury product acquisition, there are few things more distressing to the mind of a passionate collector than the thought of harm coming to their valued possessions. Yes, nothing in this realm can hold a candle to health or the well-being of one’s loved ones, but these small treasures, often rare or unique (and certainly expensive) hold a special place in the heart of one who has dedicated their time and effort to make them theirs.I am often asked if it is important to insure a collection of used luxury watches. In fact, I am asked it more often then makes conscionable sense to me, because the answer is simple: Yes, yes you should. And more to the point, if you own a luxury watch like a Rolex Submariner (let alone if you own numerous luxury watches) and you’re asking that question, you should save your breath for the insurance provider on the other end of the phone.And that’s really the best place to start. In this digital age, it seems we’ve all become a bit interaction-shy, but with a complex and potentially serious situation like making an insurance claim, it is always best to have set-up your policy having talked directly to another human being – an expert in their field. You really should leave nothing to chance. Don’t be afraid to ask stupid questions – insurance is complicated and rules and regulations vary from country to country (massively) and occasionally, even from region to region. If you move to a new area, don’t just assume that your previous policy will port seamlessly. Check it out. Trust me: It’s worth it.Having lived most of my life in the UK and Germany, I have intimate personal experience with moving a watch collection across borders. And the differences are stark. Some things are easier in some territories, and some things are harder, but the three things you should focus on first when looking into insuring your collection (or single watch) is the total value of your collection, how many “declarable” models you will need to put on your policy, and how all of this can affect your remaining contents insurance.So let’s start with the first point. This is relatively simple. Add up the retail value of the watches in your collection. When doing this, make sure you collate invoices and receipts (if possible) into a physical and digital folder. Scan everything, stick it in a PDF and email a copy to yourself rather than keeping it on your hard-drive alone (it stands to reason that if your property gets turned over your laptop may go the same way as your watches).
Although the Rolex Submariner began its life in 1953 as a sturdy no-frills stainless steel dive watch, today, this famed diver is considered to be one of the world’s greatest luxury watches – while still very capable of plunging into the deep to accompany aquanauts. The Sub’s graduation from utilitarian to upscale no doubt began when Rolex introduced the very first Submariner in solid yellow gold. Nothing says fancy like armor made of shiny precious metal. Let’s find out which reference was the first Rolex Submariner gold watch and lay out the details. When your life depends on a limited tank of oxygen strapped to your back, you are naturally more concerned about the passing minutes rather than what day it is. Which explains why early dive models from the 1950s (Fifty Fathoms, Submariner, Seamaster 300, Breitling Superocean, etc.) didn’t worry about putting a date window on the already limited real estate of the dial. The First Yellow Gold Rolex Submariner Not only did Rolex make the Submariner ref. 1680 in stainless steel, but the company also manufactured a solid yellow gold Submariner 1680. It’s important to note that the first yellow Sub is sometimes simply called the yellow gold Submariner 1680 or the Submariner 1680/8; however, it is not the Submariner 16808 – that’s an entirely different generation. Back to the yellow gold Submariner Date 1680. Rolex’s first gold diver made its debut in 1969, flaunting an 18k yellow gold 40mm Oyster case fitted with a matching 18k yellow gold Oyster bracelet. Early examples of the Submariner ref. 1680/8 featured a rotating bezel with a black aluminum insert and a matching black dial.
