Where did you find your vintage Rolex?

[Coastal1]

There are a lot of members that have vintage Rolexs on the forum. What has been your best deal or find? How and where did you find it? (ex. retail shop, estate sale, garage sale(), individual sale, etc. I thought we would get some interesting stories out of this question.

I have been thinking about this for awhile and the thought of stumbling on to a old Rolex or any other desireable watch would be an exciting moment. Forgive me if this has been brought up before but I do not recall this question being asked since I have been around. For the record, I have not come across anything YET!

[LRRP]

Got my GMT in 1969 in a PX in SE Asia for $158.00. I still have it and the RSC just did a great job in bringing it back to it's original glory. I've been wearing it for almost 40 years!
Tom

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by LRRP

Got my GMT in 1969 in a PX in SE Asia for $158.00. I still have it and the RSC just did a great job in bringing it back to it's original glory. I've been wearing it for almost 40 years!
Tom

Impressive to hear.

I´m ready to give you the double that you buy it for, just drop me a mail.



Please post a pic of your watch if you can.

Jocke

[Gurmot]

My favourite vintage Rolex is a 1967 5513 Sub which I bought last year for my 40th birthday. After lots of research I decided on the model and year and then the search started. After chasing a few dead-end leads, I finally found one via a recommendation from another forum mod. I drove 4 hours to Dover, did the deal, and then drove back with a beautiful old submariner on my wrist.
I think I will keep it forever.

Cheers - Simon

[LRRP]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Impressive to hear.

I´m ready to give you the double that you buy it for, just drop me a mail.



Please post a pic of your watch if you can.

Jocke

Thanks for the offer of double what I paid!

Here's the pic.
Tom

[Jason Spring]

Most of the time on my wrist, why ?

[Ursa Major]

Originally Posted by LRRP

Thanks for the offer of double what I paid!

Here's the pic.
Tom

That's very sweet. Even with an RSC restoration, that's still impressive condition for a 40 year old watch that's presumably seen some interesting times based its point of purchase.

It's also pretty depressing evidence of 40 years of inflation.

[vukotab]

On Antiquity Fair,every weekend in Slavia Hotel in center of Belgrade!
You`ll be surprised(and amazed as well) what clever guy can find out there!

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Originally Posted by Jason Spring

Most of the time on my wrist, why ?

Nice pic, Jason, but somehow I always get sea sick when I am looking at it!

[Jason Spring]

So, what do you think about this one :

[SPACE-DWELLER]

Strangely enough, the green of the grass removes my feeling of Vertigo?

Nice pics and interesting angle!

Sorry about the

[Coastal1]

Vukotab, you have had great luck with finding some really interesting watches. Great work, continue to keep us updated.

[GraniteQuarry]

Of mine 4 came from eBay, 1 from a forum member here and 1 from an auction.

[redshirt1957]

On my wrist. It was not vintage when I bought it 35 years ago. Keep 'em guys as they will all become vintage at some point in time.

[Scarface]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

On my wrist. It was not vintage when I bought it 35 years ago. Keep 'em guys as they will all become vintage at some point in time.

True

[veefour]

I realized I've got a vintage watch a few months ago, when I found this forum. At the time I thoght I've only got an old Rolex.

[redshirt1957]

Originally Posted by veefour

I realized I've got a vintage watch a few months ago, when I found this forum. At the time I thoght I've only got an old Rolex.

Hey, the wife just thinks she got an old husband. Damn, how do I become vintage.

[unclesallie]

Originally Posted by redshirt1957

Hey, the wife just thinks she got an old husband. Damn, how do I become vintage.

you don't!best, dan

[Beef]

My first "Vintage", like LRRP, I bought new. Since then, I have bought several vintage Rolexes from established vintage dealers. It's the closest thing to buying from an AD. All have return policies and warranties (1 year.) More expensive than some other routes, but safer.

[T5AUS]

My GMT came from Ebay (New York). That was the most scariest adrenalin pumping few days of my life. To send a huge bank wire to some guy on another continent whom I had never met or worked with before was an insane calculated risk and not normally my style. (it's amazing how brave one becomes late into the evening after a few glasses of a good Ausie red!!) He had good references and feedback and I was very happy with the outcome.

My Tudor subs were all found here in Brisbane from general dealers or local sales (the blue dial date sub I did pick up at a local market !)

[Coastal1]

Nice tudor subs...

[Alcan]

All of ours have come from eBay. I'll go chronologically.

My oldest Rolex isn't exactly a Rolex, it's a 1908 Wilsdorf & Davis pocket watch. Quick history lesson, that was the same year that Wilsdorf & Davis registered the Rolex brand name. That would make this timepiece a significant milestone in the chronology of W&D and Rolex. It's currently out for a major restoration: movement, hands, case, bow. Should be an interesting piece when it's done:










This one's a circa 1940 British military pocket watch. Authenticated WW2 backup timepiece in a vessel or vehicle:






1950 Tudor. First revelation here on TRF, I bought this one a few days ago. Should be here tomorrow. For the Canadian contingent, the caseback engraving reads:

D.F. Schneider
25 Years Service
J.M. Schneider Ltd.
1951

They're a division of Maple Leaf Foods now. Makes it easy to date the watch, though. It'll be the next one to go out for restoration after the pocket watch is done. Sorry about the crappy pix, I'll have better soon.










Next would be Nancy's 1960ish gold cocktail watch, refurbished by the Toronto RSC last year. They still have every part to service its movement, and sent the case/bracelet out to their goldsmith to repair the bracelet over-stretches:










Then there's her 1960 or so Cellini. This'll run me about $600 or so next year for an oil change. It's in the rotation for servicing:




The rest of what we have are 90's and newer. Nothing interesting there vintage wise, just recent Rolex glam. Anyone with enough slack on a credit card can buy them.

[technicaldirector]

I found my Tudor Sub on Ebay:

[mike]

Some came from an AD--when they we new. A couple from trusted vintage dealers and known collectors.

[Dan Pierce]

My 1986 DJ was found on TZ. The Tudor Big Block chrono and Tudor DD both found on ebay.
dP

[freddyttt]

A place called touch of gold.

I wanted a DJ but did not like what he had. on my way out he said iv got a sub in your price range.

Took a look, liked it but wanted to read up on it before i purchased.

When I punched in the numbers at home i thought. NICE!!!

A 168000 for under 2500 with no box or papers. Hmmmmmm.

needless to say i jumped right back in my car and with-in 2 Hrs. this baby was mine. I truley felt blessed!!!

I love this watch and will never part with her.....

[Mandrake]

Originally Posted by technicaldirector

I found my Tudor Sub on Ebay:

I want one exactly (well, in colour) like yours!!!

Regards
Carlos

[Bobareno]

Nice pictures!