What's Selling Here - July 5, 2024
By Charlie Dunne
Rolex Padellone Reference 8171 Unpolished
This Rolex "Padellone" reference 8171 is an exceptional timepiece. It features a non-luminous dial made by Fabrique de Cadran Stern Frères and feuille hands with an English calendar. The dial is in fantastic condition, considering many of these timepieces were subject to water ingress and humidity. The blue numerals on the outer track are extremely attractive and complement the moonphase. We believe the case is unpolished. It measures 38mm in diameter (47mm lug to lug). Wearing the 8171 is very nice, due to the large dimensions. This example dates to circa 1952.
The watch came from the original owner. It does not come with box and papers. It was recently serviced and it is running well.
Rolex Concorde GMT-Master 1675 in 18k Yellow Gold
The Rolex GMT-Master was originally designed for Pan Am pilots in the 1950s and continues to be a flagship model for Rolex to this day. The present watch is an awesome example of a GMT-Master in 18k gold with an extremely rare straight hour and minute hands nicknamed the "Concorde" due to its appearance in a Rolex advertisement about Concorde pilots from the late 1960s. The watch dates to circa 1967. with a 1.74M serial The case has been polished, but an attractive example. The GMT hand is a later replaced example. It was likely an aesthetic choice of the original owner to remove it. I have seen this in the past.
To learn more about the Rolex GMT-Master you can watch the ‘Reference Points: Understanding The Rolex GMT-Master' video and corresponding article I produced.
The watch does not come with box and papers. The service history is not known, but the watch is running well.
Rolex Ladies Diamond Dial Datejust Reference 69178 18K Yellow Gold Unpolished
This Rolex Ladies Diamond 18K Yellow Gold Datejust is a very beautiful watch. This watch features diamond hour markers on the dial and a fluted bezel. This Datejust also features a “champagne” dial which is so warm and attractive. It is worn wonderfully on a Jubilee bracelet. This Ladies Diamond Datejust dates back to 1989 and measures 26mm in diameter.
It does not come with box and papers. We do not know the service history, but it is keeping excellent time.
Rolex Ladies Datejust Tapestry Dial Reference 6917 18K Yellow Gold Unpolished
This 18K Yellow Gold Ladies Datejust has an outstanding Tapestry dial which is extremely beautiful. This example features a case back sticker on the back. This watch is in excellent condition and is unpolished.
This Ladies Diamond Datejust dates back to 1990 and features an E serial. It measures 26mm in diameter.
It does not come with box and papers. We do not know the service history, but it is keeping excellent time.
OMEGA Speedmaster Reference 2998-6 Unpolished Full Set
It is no secret that I love vintage OMEGA Speedmasters. This particular reference 2998-6 is an awesome example. It has an unpolished and crisp case along with its original bezel and crown. The hands have been relumed previously, but match well. The lume on the dial is original and beautiful. It is a super attractive example that I would be thrilled to have in my personal collection. The watch was sold in July of 1963 at the Air Force base in Metz, France to a member of the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) and includes the receipt from the base.
This watch comes with the original box and papers, has a manual-wind movement (Caliber 321 made by Lemania), and is 39.5mm in diameter. The watch came from the original owner and has been in a private collection for several years. We do not know the service history. It came from the family of the original Royal Canadian Air Force pilot. The rare early OMEGA box has sold for over $10,000 by itself and has a corduroy interior. It has a RCAF sticker on the side of it, which is unbelievably cool and not something I have seen.
This is a watch that should be in the OMEGA museum and would be a great addition to any serious collection.
To learn more about the Omega Speedmaster, you can read my ‘Reference Points: Understanding The Omega Speedmaster’ article and corresponding video with HODINKEE.
Rolex Black Dial Two-Tone Air-King Reference 5501 with Papers
This two-tone Rolex Air-King reference 5501 is a great watch with a beautiful black dial. The steel case measures 34mm in diameter. This example is worn beautifully on a two-tone oyster bracelet. This Air-King dates back to circa 1986. The case has been lightly polished, but is attractive.
The watch comes with papers. It recently passed a water resistance test of 5 bar.
It does not come with box. The watch comes with papers. It recently passed a water resistance test of 5 bar. We do not know the service history, but it is running well.
Rolex Destro/Sprite GMT-Master II Reference 126720VTNR on Jubilee Full Set Brand New Stickered
The Rolex “Destro” or “Sprite” GMT-Master reference 126720VTNR is a watch that took the world by storm last year. This example is in brand new condition with stickers.
To learn more about the Rolex GMT-Master you can watch the ‘Reference Points: Understanding The Rolex GMT-Master' video and corresponding article.
It comes from the original owner with box and papers. It was sold in December 2022.
IWC Aquatimer Reference 812AD on Gay Frères Bracelet Unpolished
This IWC Aquatimer reference 812AD is an amazing example. The case is unpolished and the watch is in exceptional condition. These cases were produced by Ervin Piquerez SA (EPSA). The case measures 37mm by 44mm lug to lug. It is paired on a very rare IWC bracelet made by Gay Frères dated to the fourth quarter of 1969. The watch was produced circa 1969. We are thrilled to offer this watch and are excited for the lucky new owner to enjoy it!
It does not come with box and papers. We do not know the service history, but it is running well.
Jaeger-LeCoultre Golf Pocket Watch in 18K Yellow Gold Unpolished
This Jaeger-LeCoultre pocket watch is a very attractive example in 18k yellow gold. The case is unpolished and measures 39mm in diameter. It features a beautiful Florentine finish and an angular bow. It is likely a “golf watch” or “montres golf” designed to go in a person’s pocket during a round of golf.
It was just serviced and is running well It does not come with box and papers. We believe it is from the 1960s. It has beautiful gold markers and hands. The hour markers at 12, 3, 6, and 9 are extremely cool and offset markers that feel straight out of the Space Age.
This is a super rare and unusual and priced just above the “melt weight” of the 18k gold.
Heuer Autavia Reference 1163 Unpolished w/ Parnelli Jones Provenance
I’m thrilled to offer this Heuer Pre-Viceroy Autavia reference 1163. It is an amazing watch with provenance given from legendary driver Parnelli Jones to a member of his “Vel’s Parnelli Jones" racing team during 1970-1971. The Vel’s team won the Indianapolis 500 in 1970 and 1971 with Al Unser as the driver. Parnelli Jones is known as a legendary racer, but also the frontman for the Viceroy Autavia appearing in the advertisements promoting the watch and cigarette collaboration. You can read more about it in an article by Jeff Stein here. 1971 was a tough year for sales for Heuer and it’s possible that Parnelli’s purchase of these watches for his team helped inspire Heuer and Viceroy to hire him as the frontman for the Viceroy Autavias introduced the following year in 1972, which helped save Heuer during that period.
The Viceroy Autavias differ from this earlier model, which is sometimes referred to as a Pre-Viceroy or “Derek Bell”, as they had a fully demarcated hour register displaying 1-12 whereas this displays 3-6-9-12 only.
The dial is in great condition. The case is crisp and unpolished. The tachymeter bezel appears to be original and has a beautiful fade matching the condition of the watch. It comes on a black leather rally strap with a signed modern Heuer buckle.
The watch does not come with box and papers. We do not know the service history, but it is running well. This is truly a piece of racing and Heuer history that should be in the TAG Heuer museum!
Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso Tribute to 1931 Full Set Unpolished
The Jaeger-LeCoultre “Tribute to 1931” Reverso models are among many collector’s favorite models of the iconic timepiece. These models harken back to the original sterile or anonymous dials with simply “Reverso” font. This example features the very cool sword hands. The case is unpolished. This particular example dates to 2012.
The watch comes “full set” with box and papers. We do not know the service history but it is running well.
Rolex Silver Dial Datejust Reference 16014 Unpolished
I absolutely love steel Rolex Datejusts. I recently wrote about them in our blog ‘Don't Sleep On This: The Simple Vintage Rolex Datejust In Steel’. I’m constantly amazed by the quality and differentiations of the dials that Rolex used in vintage Datejusts over the decades. I have found the Rolex Datejust to be one of the most versatile watches a person can have.
This Datejust features a silver “soleil” dial that has a beautiful warmth color that is shown in the light. This watch dates back to 1985 and measures 36mm in diameter.
It does not come with box and papers. We do not know the service history, but it is keeping excellent time. It recently passed a water resistance test of 5 bar.
TUDOR Submariner Reference 7928 Unpolished
I’m excited to offer this extremely cool TUDOR Submariner reference 7928. We believe the case is unpolished. It measures 40mm in diameter (47mm lug-to-lug). The lume on the hands and dial is particularly attractive. The serial is a 571,XXX dating to circa 1967. It is paired on a Rolex rivet bracelet with earlier 65 end links for a Big Crown Submariner, but it fits nicely. It features a very attractive long 5 bezel insert which is original to the watch. It also has the correct and original crown without the Triplock dots under it.
The watch does not come with box and papers. It passed a pressure test for 3 bar. We do not know the service history.
It is extremely difficult to find vintage Submariners in this condition, whether from Rolex or Tudor.
Rolex Datejust Reference 16030 w/ Silver Dial Unpolished
I absolutely love steel Rolex Datejusts. I recently wrote about them in our blog ‘Don't Sleep On This: The Simple Vintage Rolex Datejust In Steel’. I’m constantly amazed by the quality and differentiations of the dials that Rolex used in vintage Datejusts over the decades. I have found the Rolex Datejust to be one of the most versatile watches a person can have and the simplicity in this silver-dial reference 16030 is so beautiful. The hands and dial have a very nice warm lume.
The watch dates to 1984 and features a 8.19M serial. The case measures 36mm in diameter and is paired on a Rolex Jubilee bracelet.
The watch is in excellent condition with an unpolished case. It does not come with box and papers. We do not know the service history of this watch, but it is running great and keeping excellent time. It just passed a 5 bar water resistance test.
OMEGA Speedmaster ref 310.30.42.50.04.001 Full Set Unpolished
The Speedmaster is, of course, one of the most iconic and important watches ever made. This reference 310.30.42.50.04.001 is a super cool example. The case measures 42mm in diameter. We believe it is unpolished. To learn more about the Omega Speedmaster, you can see my ‘Reference Points: Understanding The Omega Speedmaster’ article and corresponding video.
This watch comes with box and papers from the original owner. We do not know the service history, but it is running well.
Patek Philippe Reference 5140P-001 Single Sealed Box & Papers
The Patek Philippe reference 5140 is one of the most beautiful complicated watches. This example is in platinum with a tremendous blue dial. The watch dates to 2011. It is powered by the calibre 240 Q.
The watch is “full set” and includes its original box and papers. It is single sealed in brand new condition.
Rolex Kermit Submariner Reference 16610 Unpolished Full Set
This Rolex Submariner “Kermit” Submariner Reference 16610 is an awesome sports watch. We believe the case is unpolished. The service history is unknown, but it was recently put on a time graphed and is running well. The watch comes with box and papers.
To learn more about the Rolex Submariner, dive into my ‘Reference Points: Understanding The Rolex Submariner’ video and corresponding article.
Patek Philippe Reference 5236P-001 Full Set Unpolished
The Patek Philippe reference 5236P is one of the most beautiful complicated watches. This example is in platinum with a super attractive blue dial. The watch dates to 2021. It is powered by the calibre 31-260 PS QL. For those looking for a complicated and elegant timepiece, this is a great option.
The watch is “full set” and includes its original box and papers.
Breitling SuperOcean B20 Automatic 42 Reference AB2010 Heritage Full Set Unpolished w/ Extra Bracelet
The Breitling SuperOcean B20 Automatic 42 is one of the best values in sports watches. This example features the very attractive blue dial and bezel. It comes with a mesh steel bracelet and rubber strap.
The watch is in excellent condition with an unpolished case. It comes with box and papers. We do not know the service history of this watch, but it is running great and keeping excellent time. We do not know the date of production.
Rolex Datejust Reference 6305 in 18K Yellow Gold
The Datejust is one of the greatest watches introduced in 1945. While we’ve highlighted the great value in steel Datejusts in our past article ‘Don't Sleep On This: The Simple Vintage Rolex Datejust In Steel’, models such as this 1954 18K yellow gold example are awesome. This example has the roulette date wheel which is very cool for the red numerals in the date window complementing the faded “Officially” text on the dial which has developed a beautiful patina. Additionally, it has remarkable “dagger” markers and “alpha” hands.
We believe the 18K gold case is unpolished. It measures 36mm in diameter and 44mm lug-to-lug.
The watch does not come with box and papers. We do not know the service history, but it is running well.
Heuer Autavia Mk II Reference 1163 Unpolished
This Heuer Autavia reference 1163 is a great watch. This is one of the earliest automatic Autavias made. It is in outstanding condition. We believe the case is unpolished. It is a Mark 2 dial with ridged hour markers and full steel hands.
The Viceroy Autavias differ from this earlier model, which is sometimes referred to as a Pre-Viceroy or “Derek Bell”, as they had a fully demarcated hour register displaying 1-12 whereas this displays 3-6-9-12 only. The later versions also had different hands with a red stripe down the center whereas this model is all steel. This has an MH “Minutes and Hours” bezel that is original to the watch. This watch does not include the original box and papers, has an automatic movement (Caliber 11 made by Heuer-Léonidas), and is 42mm in diameter. The serial places it in the 141,XXX range, making it one of the earliest automatic Heuers ever made and very close to the Chronomatic Autavia range that immediately preceded this watch and sells for many times this example.
We do not know the service history, but it is running well. It is paired with a Heuer buckle on a Honey Wind rally strap made by Nick Gabarro. It is, quite frankly, one of the nicest early Autavias we have seen. We can sell an early Gay Frères beads of rice bracelet with correct early HLD end links for $1950 to pair with this watch if of interest.
Early Rolex Oyster w/ Guilloche Dial in 9K Rose Gold
This is a very early Rolex Oyster model dating to the 1920s. The rose gold case is 9K and features Wilsdorf & Davis marks on the interior. The case measures 29mm in diameter (32mm lug to lug). For those fascinated by Rolex history, this is an amazing timepiece.
We do not know the service history, but it is running well. It does not come with box and papers.
Audemars Piguet Royal Oak 15400ST.OO.1220ST.02 w/ Box
This Audemars Piguet Royal Oak is an awesome watch. The stainless steel case measures 41mm in diameter. It measures 52mm lug to lug. The case has been polished.
We do not know the service history, but it is running well. It does not come with papers. We do not know the date of production. It comes with a box.