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7 May 2014, 03:40 PM | #1 |
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Steve McQueen Rolex
I took a wheelchair into the shop today to get some work done on it. I've known the owner for almost 23 years. He usually wears a Sub. Today while we were talking I saw on his wrist what looked like an Explorer II 1655. I couldn't resist myself so I asked him is that a Steve McQueen Rolex and he said yes. And I was the second guy to ask him that. A guy at an auction offered him $10,000 for his Steve McQueen and he said. My what? He didn't know they called it that. He said no thank you. The reason why was he purchased it in 1968 in Saigon for $800. He said he would never sell it. It looks like it was all original. He said when Rolex did the service on it they only worked on the movement. Everything else was left alone. I wanted to get a picture of it but he had to go somewhere. I will be back down there soon so hopefully I can get a picture. I've never seen a 46-year-old Rolex before. It was pretty awesome!
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7 May 2014, 03:45 PM | #2 |
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Thanks for sharing that. Yeah, $10K wasn't enough to get him to part with a watch bought in wartime and has stories and history associated with it. Don't blame him one bit.
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7 May 2014, 03:50 PM | #3 |
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Steve McQueen never wore a 1655. Try to find a pic of him with one. I think you'll find that you'll come up empty handed.
Cool watch nonetheless, and nice to meet an original owner.
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7 May 2014, 03:58 PM | #4 |
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Cool story! I've only seen one 1655 before, and that was at a TRF gtg. It's such an awesome watch. Thanks for sharing!
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7 May 2014, 04:07 PM | #5 |
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Something similar happened to me the other day Chuck. I started a conversation with a gentleman and noticed his 1655. I commented on it and we started talking. He purchased it NIB he thinks very early 1970s. He was pretty excited to tell me how much he purchased it for. I asked him if he had any idea what it was worth now and he said no. I showed him a couple of sites online and he looked like his head was about to explode. He also said that he'd never sell it. He did however just have it serviced by Rolex. They polished it and replaced the dial and hands.
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7 May 2014, 04:09 PM | #6 |
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I was reading about that. I guess some people still refer to it as Steve McQueen. It's still pretty cool!
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7 May 2014, 04:13 PM | #7 | |
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Quote:
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7 May 2014, 04:14 PM | #8 |
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7 May 2014, 04:16 PM | #9 |
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For sure. I'm always tempted when I see one but just can't seem to be able to bring myself to put up that much cash on one watch
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7 May 2014, 04:38 PM | #10 |
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Here's mine, bought new in '73.......worn a lot.....renovated in '04......
(p.s. I don't like old & beat to @#$%, I like concours.)
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7 May 2014, 04:41 PM | #11 |
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7 May 2014, 04:45 PM | #12 |
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Great story Chuck - looking forward to your next visit with this gent and the pics!
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7 May 2014, 04:46 PM | #13 |
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7 May 2014, 04:54 PM | #14 |
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7 May 2014, 05:16 PM | #15 |
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That's just wrong.. Seriously two nice looking watches!
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7 May 2014, 05:25 PM | #16 |
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Great story --- looking forward to the pic!!
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7 May 2014, 05:29 PM | #17 |
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The Doc isn't messing around apparently....
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7 May 2014, 07:49 PM | #18 |
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7 May 2014, 08:25 PM | #19 |
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Nice story
HAGOne Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk |
7 May 2014, 09:25 PM | #20 |
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Those are beauties, Bob. Did Rolex replace the dials somewhere along the way? There isn't a tritium notation on them.
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8 May 2014, 02:54 AM | #21 |
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I think sooner or later I need a 1655 ...
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8 May 2014, 04:38 AM | #22 |
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8 May 2014, 08:29 AM | #23 |
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Good question..
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8 May 2014, 08:59 AM | #24 |
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Well, 68 might be a tad early. It's generally felt the 1655 came out circa 1971 with the straight seconds hand.
Steve McQueen wore a 5512. His watch recently went at auction for 6 figures. |
8 May 2014, 09:07 AM | #25 |
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You beat me to the draw on this regarding the date of intro, Mike. No surprise, though, LOL!
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8 May 2014, 09:38 AM | #26 |
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I read that about the date. I'm just going by what he said.
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8 May 2014, 12:09 PM | #27 |
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This is going to sound crazy but I like my Tudor 76100 so much that I bought another one to wear while the original one is being serviced. Every 5 years I send it off to be oiled and I have another to wear while it is gone.
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8 May 2014, 11:55 PM | #28 |
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Here's mine - great watch to wear, however, the style of the dial and the 4 hands make it look 'busy'.
though I like the 'new' look of the previously posted pair of 1655s, seeing service dials (and other service parts), kinda kill it for me. I have service hands on my 1655, and at some point I'll find a nice set of original tritium hands and stick them back on the watch. Vlad |
9 May 2014, 12:16 AM | #29 | |
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Quote:
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9 May 2014, 04:39 AM | #30 |
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The are great watches, a little hectic but great, here's my contribution
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