Looks like a battered piece of crap to me.....I`m sure others will see it differently.
I know a number of the members are interested in rarities , this one could prove interesting when it comes up for auction on the 13/12/23.
I have spoken with the auction room and they have been informed this is a one owner watch from new & clearly it has had a life !
Viewings available by appointment with the auction room if required, prior to listed viewing dates .
I hope this information helps any member who maybe interested.
I hope I’m not teaching the members to suck eggs , however the buyers premium at auctions can be significantly reduced from that advertised on Saleroom.com by registering and dealing with the listing auction house directly.
I hope you enjoy this glimpse into the past , as I did .
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...e-b0ba0118c687
Last edited by Norbert; 15th November 2023 at 16:34.
Looks like a battered piece of crap to me.....I`m sure others will see it differently.
Ooof, was that a Rolex once??
At least it has a sensible estimate.
I guess that GBP in the price stands for Great British Pence.
Best Regards - Peter
I'd hate to be with you when you're on your own.
At least you could wear it without the worry of getting robbed.
The thieves wouldn't recognise it!
Send that off to Rolex for a service, new dial, hands, bezel and polish and it would be spot on ...
If 'found in the bottom of grandad's tool box' was a watch.
If that was on eBay it would be described as "in good used condition, some marks".
I like that a lot, an old tool watch that looks like it's actually been used and not pampered or over-restored.
"A man of little significance"
I like it, not sure the bezel insert will remain in place for long though.
I would rather this one than a shiny new one.
One careful owner……….who lost his hammer many years ago :)
Yes, I most certainly do. I also own a decent collection of vintage watches that are all in very good condition and wear as they did when new.
This Rolex is a battered piece of crap, the fact that some idiots perceive it to have value doesn’t change that. The watch is knackered, if it was in nice condition it might be desirable, but it isn't.
I’ve never seen the big attraction with dive watches, it’s all a bit wannabe in my opinion, and I certainly can’t see any attraction whatsoever in battered scruffy ones.
You OK with that?
Used for timing average detonation of landmines.
No-one likes a battered car (or most stuff) so why a watch?
Agreed, I`ve never understood the appeal of either! I like old cars and I like old watches, but I don't like scruffy old crap regardless of the makers name.
Kings New Clothes?........the aficionados have been conditioned to believe they like stuff like this battered old Rolex, some idiot will pay strong money to buy this thing and he'll get applause from similar like-minded 'enthusiasts' who despite keeping their money in their pocket will enjoy extolling the virtues of this piece of tat on forums like this.
Seriously, how can anyone derive pleasure from owning this?
I like vintage and I don't mind some honest patina, but dear me that's a mess. No one's buying that 'because of the stories it could tell' or other BS. The dial needs major work for a start and once you go down that rabbit hole... No doubt it'll resurface in a couple of years time in one of the top auctions, looking splendid and with a 50k+ estimate and Perezcope will be all over it like a fat kid on chocolate.
Original paint and interior can be a huge deal on a high end classic. Your average 60's Ferrari is probably on it's second or third resto by now, so finding something that's never been painted or pranged and has been well looked after is unicorn material for some, even if it does look a bit tired from the outside.
Last edited by Dynam0humm; 16th November 2023 at 02:27.
We can all have opinions and likes and dislikes. The market is something we have no control over so we have to accept it, ranting is pointless. That watch is much too far gone IMO and it wouldn't be a pleasure for me to own. As a young kid in the 60's my dad gave me some of his coin collection to "start me off". The first thing I wanted to do was get the Duraglit out and polish those black victorian pennies to a nice copper shine. He stopped me of course. It would polish away any value or future interest from anyone else. One lesson learned that things could be different to the way you think best.
It's good to field what others think. I just don't enjoy those that use a hammer and chisel to put their opinion into peoples minds.
It's completely subjective.
I have a battered old Navitimer that I actually prefer in its well-used state. No way would I contemplate having it restored to look like new.
But this Rolex to me is way beyond being worn as it is; it would probably be bought for restoration. Not my bag, but if someone else chooses that route then I wish them luck and happiness.
Will be interesting to see if this proves a good opportunity to pick up a big crown sub at a good price or if bidding gets carried away. They're not difficult to get hold of (in much better condition) if you're willing to stump up.
Judging from the condition of the outside it’s highly likely the movement is in similar poor condition ie knackered. Have to smile when folks say it’ll need a ‘service’, if it’s rebuildable it’ll need major restoration and there’s a chance that it won’t be fixable, that’s not my definition of ‘a service’!
Despite my earlier comments I don’t mind a watch that shows some patina, but this thing needs too many rare/expensive parts swapping out to bring it back from knackered to reasonably patinated.
Ironically I’m wearing a watch that I restored from a poor starting point, a gold- capped Omega C cased Constellation that I got for next to nothing as it was seriously water- damaged. This one cost me very little to restore to nice wearable condition, it’ll never be a top- grade example, but it fills a spot in my collection for very little outlay. This Rolex is the exact opposite, it’ll cost megabucks to get into anything like decent condition and, like my Constellation, it’ll never be a top grade example.
If you want the best, go out and buy the best. Unless you really know what you’re doing it’s a mistake to buy something crap because it’s (relatively) cheap, this applies to all antiques and collectibles. You have to buy with head not heart.
There is a photo of the inside of the case back, they could have taken one of the movement ...
And (unsurprisingly) the inside of the caseback looks pristine. Is that a '71 service mark I see??
One of the advantages of old dive watches is that they are generally a bit more everything-proof than other styles of watch, so often the movements can survive in better condition. (The obvious exception being one that has been flooded).
I think that (when appropriately finished) will be truly lovely. But the bezel and insert will be a particularly hard rescue to pull off successfully
On a different note, what I really do not understand in the comments here is a total lack of acceptance of the other point of view.
"battered crap" that "others see differently"
"do you find happiness in life?"
"idiots perceive it to have value"
Really?
Can we all just concentrate on playing the ball, not the man.
It is this kind of rubbish that is part of the decline of this forum, imho.
No-one is an idiot here for looking at this watch as a potential beauty.
Nor does anyone need to insult someone who doesn't agree.
Let's try and keep on topic, and off-insult, especially here in WT
The owner certainly didn’t baby this watch. I would love to see the estimate if this went back to Rolex for a service.
Anyone on here daft enough to bid on it?..........come on, don’t be shy!
I hope someone on here does buy it, Paul.
I would love to follow its journey and to see the end result.
One more member of the "Embrace the Batter" squad would be welcomed by me.
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/a...e-b0ba0118c687
Having revisited this thread and the original auctioneers listing ( as above ) this morning , I now note that there is an image of the movement , plus a more detailed and interesting provenance.
I am not qualified to make any horological observations other than , I suspect this movement is in better nick than mine , yes it’s a birth year watch for me , 66 years old , I only wish the watch could reveal what it has experienced in its life time !
Enjoy or not as the case maybe , however the forum is here for all forms of polite discussion and sharing of our hobby / passion/ experiences / knowledge , this is what makes this such a great asset to us all .
I only wish I had the funds to purchase this item that shares the same year of arrival.
HAGWE
Sent from my iPad using TZ-UK mobile app
Last edited by Norbert; 17th November 2023 at 20:03.
Can`t draw any conclusions from pictures of the movement, it doesn`t look horrendous but there's no way to assess the degree of wear. It will be restorable at a price.
How much would someone have to pay to buy a good example? I see no attraction in scruffy old Rolex dive watches so I don`t follow the market, but this has made me curious. I know folks pay silly money for tatty old crap where Rolex is concerned but I`ve absolutely no idea what one of the better examples would cost.
I`m almost as old as this watch (6 months younger) but I think I`m in far better condition. Mechanically I`m still functioning well and meeting design criteria, albeit not to the same level of performance as in days gone by. Cosmetically I`m still in decent condition despite the inevitable patina, I wear my years well which is more than can be said for this watch.
I could almost 'get' the birth year thing if the watch being chosen was a decent example that similarly wore it's years well, but why get something that looks totally knackered like this watch? By the same premise, someone who perceives themselves as looking knackered might be more comfortable with a watch in similar condition, a bit like dog owners subconsciously choosing a dog that resembles themselves. Food for thought?
This is a project watch, it will be bought by someone to renovate to make a profit, I can’t see anyone buying that to preserve it as is.
It would be good if the buyer came back and showed us how it turns out.
Paul, I think you have just helped me to understand why I like my battered old Navitimer so much!
Newsflash: different people like different things.