Russian watch

Vintage Russian military watches

These are vintage Russian military watches issued during the USSR CCCP days! In original box and in mint conditions! I remember being able to find these in boxes during the early 1990s. Now, many of these USSR military watches out in the shopes were in fact replica of these..many are in quart movement too!

Rolex 1680 night view

This is a beautifully taken photo of the Rolex 1680 reb submariner!

Tudor Submariner

I have found this Tudor Submariner in mint condition many years back. At that time, the price is about HK$7000 only. Now, the price has gone up to HK$20,000 owing to the great demand in vintage sports watch. However, the values of the watch is only valuable when one sells them! Since I have no intention of selling them, its just paper values! ha ha

The joy of finding!

Vintage watch collection is a very interesting hobbies as the "toys" are good for everyday use, easy to maintain and has great history behind every watches!

Untimately, its the joy of finding that gives one great satisfaction!

Rolex Submariner in service center - Waiting for the bracelet

I have not been active with vintage watch collection for the past 3 years since I moved to work and stay in Hong Kong. My "renewed interest" in vintage watches started as a result of seeing my fellow colleague Domink's Rolex 1680 red submariner one day.

It reminded me that I have a similar "red" submariner somewhere. My 1680 is without a proper bracelet. I took the watch to the Rolex center in Hong Kong, and after waiting for 3 weeks, the watch is being verified and an order has been placed for the metal bracelet. The watch was purchased at US$3000 (about HK$23,400) and it is currently being retailed at US$13,000 (about HK$104,000). Not a bad "investment" 345% increase in values !

Once the bracelet is here, I shall safe keep this 37 years old watch (1971) and wait for JJ to turn 21 and give him this watch in 2018! By then, the watch will be 47 years old : ) 

Wish Lists: 5513, 1680, 1675

Its lunch time, a good time for me to think of my vintage watch wish lists! : )

1) Rolex GMT 1675 (GMT after Ref 6542)

2) Rolex Submariner with date 1680

3) Rolex Submariner without date 5513

Men's toys

1930s Longines art deco watch with diamonds markers

The 1930s white gold Longines with diamonds markers..

Vintage Election pink gold watch

This is a 1950s Election solid Pink gold watch. These Election watches were quite popular in Asia as I saw a couple in Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong many years ago. I used to own a Election boy size calendar watch.

This Election watch was found in Hong Kong 3 years back when I first came to Hong Kong at a small antique shop at Shen Wan and it will always bring back nice memories for my watch hunting in HKG.

People Liberation Army (PLA) Chinese commander's watch

Collecting vintage watches need not be a "rich men's" hobby. These watches were from the 1950s-60s made specially for the military commander-in-chief. As such, these were People Liberation Army watches issuse by the Chinese military to the special priviledge few. These watches may not be "expensive" but it holds a special history which made it highly coolectable...for those who know..The More You know...the more you appreciate!

Vintage watch collection is about understanding what one is collecting!

Omega Triple Calendar Moonphase watch

During the 1980s, there were not many mechanical watches around as quartz were still the favourite then. This moonphase watches were considered "complicated" watch during the 1950s with moonphase, with month, day and date function and a small subsidiary second at the 6 o'clock position.

: )

Square Triple calendar Moonphase watch

This is another of my favourite watch which I have found during my work and stay in Ho Chi Minh city, Vietnam in 1997. This watch was sold to me by a Viet Kieu nmed Ah Tong (returning Vietnamese from USA). The watch was from USA ..but later immigrated to Vietnam with the Viet Kieu bringing it back..Now the watch has settled in Singapore.

Most moonpase watch is round in shape but this is a Square one!

20th aniversary of watch collection (1998 - 2008)

Time flies very quickly!

I have been collecting vintage watches since 1988 when I was still in school. I remember vividly that I have to sell away my hi-fi system, and many other things to raise money to buy my vintage watch.

This moonphase has very special meaning as it was my first "expensive" vintage watch. It was expensive as I was a student then. I can still remember the joy of owning the watch and wearing it to University. Many of my school mates were wearing the then funky and latest Tag Heuer and everyone remembered the slogan "Don't Crack Under Pressure), while I was the only odd one out wearing a vintage 1950s watch.

This watch is still with me as it will have a special meaning in my heart! 20 years has passed! Within these 20 years, many things and people have changed. This watch still remain the same. When I brought the watch home, the watch was 40 years old. Now, the watch is 60 years old!

I am glad that after 20 years, vintage watch collection still continues to give me the joy and happiness! The joy of "searching and finding" is really beyond words can describe! Many of my friends have already given up the hobby ...and I hope my son JJ can pick up this hobby together!

BE happy! : )

Rolex Submariners

6200 - Original Submariner
Launched in 1953. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with an 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner not printed on dial. Dial similar to Explorer style dials of same period. Non-Chronometer A296 movement with 18 Jewels. Larger case than the 6204 or 6205. Larger crown marked Brevet.
Updated in 1955. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with an 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. Included the Mercedes hands. Non-Chronometer A296 movement with 18 Jewels. Larger case than the 6536 or 6538. Larger crown marked Brevet.

6204 - Launched in two versions
Launched in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. Dial revised from 6200. Used the upgraded non-chronometer A260 movement with 18 Jewels. Smaller than the 6200.
Updated in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name "blacked-out." Non-Chronometer A260 movement with 18 Jewels. Smaller than the 6200

6205
Launched in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name not present on dial. Dial revised from 6200. Used the upgraded A260 movement. Same size as the 6204. Smaller than the 6200
Updated in 1955. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with 6mm crown. No crown guard however depth rating now printed on dial (white). Model name present on dial. A260 movement. Smaller than the 6200

6536
Launched in 1955. Upgrade of the 6205 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. First time use of the Mercedes hands. Movement upgraded to the non-chronometer 1030 with 25 Jewels.
Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 8mm crown. No crown guard however depth rating now printed on dial (white). Submariner also printed on dial. Non-Chronometer 1030 movement. First time Bezel contained markers for first 15 minutes.

6536/1
Launched in 1956. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. Chronometer 1030 movement with 25 Jewels. Bezel with markers for first 15 minutes. Triangle on Bezel painted red.

6538
Launched in 1955. Upgrade of the 6204 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with the 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name present on dial. Used the upgraded A260 movement.
Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. Upgraded to the 1030 movement. Case upgraded to same size as the 6200 (larger).
Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. 'Officially Certified Chronometer' now painted on dial. 1030 movement.

5508
Launched in 1958. Upgrade to the 6536/1 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with 6mm crown. No crown guard and depth rating on always printed on dial. Model name printed on dial. Upgraded to the new Chronometer 1530 movement.
Updated in 1964. Luminous markers not enclosed by circular border.

5510
Launched in 1958. Upgrade to the 6200 model. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard and depth rating printed on dial. Submariner printed on dial. New Chronometer 1530 movement.
Updated in 1964. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Printing on dial changed to white.

5512
Launched in 1959. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. 'Officially Certified Chronometer' printed on dial. Submariner printed on dial. New 1560 Chronometer movement.
Updated in 1965. Depth rating to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Superlative added to printing on dial.

5513 - James Bond Submariner (Live and Let Die)
Launched in 1962. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Non-Chronometer. 1530 movement. Dial marked with Swiss.
Updated in 1963. Depth rating to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Non-Chronometer 1520 movement. Swiss T<25 color="#000099">5517
Launched in 1971 for the British Marines. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Bezel with 60 minute markers. Soldered strap bars. Large hour and minute hands. Large T printed above depth rating to indicate luminous material as tritium.

1680 (White Submariner and Red submariner)
Launched in 1966. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. New 1575 Chronometer movement with Date. Raised and flat crystal. Submariner printed in red.
Updated in 1972. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. 1675 Chronometer movement with Date. Raised and flat crystal. All dial lettering printed in white.

16800
Launched in 1982. Depth rated to 1000 ft (300m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. New 3085 Chronometer movement with Date. Low-profile sapphire crystal. All dial lettering printed in white

Vintage Rolex Sports models

Rolex Explorer 1 1016 & 5504

Rolex GMT Ref 6542

The 1950s rolex GMT 6542 has its history with Pan-Am, where it commissioned a watch to be designed with specification, enbling the pilots to keep track of time in two locations. It has an additional hour hand that revolved once every 24 hours and a rotating bazel. The watch was designed by Captain Frederic Libby and Rene-al Jeanneret.

The Rolex 6542 was produced from 1954 to 1960 with distinct mercedes hands, and a transparent acrylic insert bezel (material chosen to cut down reflectivity for better legibility) as well as its distintiive feature of not having the crown guard (similar to the eraly James Bond submariners 6500, 6502, 6504, 6536, 6538, 5508 and 5520).

The Ref 6542 was later replaced by Red 1675, 16750 with the crown shoulder guard. The Rolex GMT was often known as the "Pepsi" bezel owing to the similiarity of colours!
For those who is keen to get one can visit:


http://www.chrono24.com/web/us/suchen/u/index.htm?myfunction=&myadcode=&do_suche=1&statbrand=0&debug=&BRAND_ID=0&MODEL=rolex+6542&SEARCH_PRICECURRENCY=USD&SEARCH_PMIN=0&SEARCH_PMAX=0&SUCH_MATERIAL_ID=0&LOCCOUNTRY_ID=&SEARCH_REGION_ID=&ENTERDATE=&SORTORDER=1

Rolex Red Submariner 1680

The early Rolex submariners consist of the early 6500, 6504, 6536, 6538, 5508 and 5510 followed by the 5512 an 5513. The Rolex 1680 submariner was the first subs that come with the date. It was not the first Rolex Sports watch to carry a date, this honour arguably goes to the Rolex GMT Master, Model Ref 6542

There are 2 versions of the 1680: mark 1 using cal 1556 and mark 2 using 1570 and the Ref 1680 weres produced from 1969-1978- 80. The 1680 series has a special dial using red SUBMARINER.

Within this 12 year period the Red Submariner is widely believed to be produced for the first 6 years, 1966-73. Many original Red Submariners have been serviced and as a result, many would have had their original red dials replaced with the standard white dials during the years making it quite rare to find the Red submariner.

As for the depth there are two versions one with the feet first while the other in meters depending on the region, I guess.The 1680 was succeed by the Ref 16680 using cal 3035, Ref 16610 using cal 3135.

http://www.chrono24.com/web/us/suchen/u/index.htm?myfunction=&myadcode=&do_suche=1&statbrand=0&debug=&BRAND_ID=0&MODEL=rolex+red+submariner&SEARCH_PRICECURRENCY=USD&SEARCH_PMIN=0&SEARCH_PMAX=0&SUCH_MATERIAL_ID=0&LOCCOUNTRY_ID=&SEARCH_REGION_ID=&ENTERDATE=&SORTORDER=1

Vintage watch hobby

The vintage watch collection hobby has been on a quiet side as the "fever" has not been as strong as during the 1980s-90s...those good old days!

However, there is a strong trend towards Vintage Sports watch collection (GMT, Submariner, Explorer, Daytona). The prices of these sports models have escalated so much over the years!

Recently, with the encouragement of my new colleague Dominik, I have began to take out my old collection and start to play with my watchs again! Thanks Dominik!

The hifi audiophiles are too political for my liking... Enjoy!