The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Vintage Rolex Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 10 February 2016, 09:55 AM   #1
traf
"TRF" Member
 
traf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: dave
Location: miami
Watch: me ride bikes
Posts: 1,938
1680 Incoming

Funny how things work out. So about 3 years ago I bought my first "nice watch" an omega speed master professional hesalite crystal/steel case back manual wind from around 2003. At some point I felt that I wanted more, so I began soul searching for my next piece. I tried on a 1680 and it just captivated me completely. I just loved the matte dial, the maxi lume plots, the eggshell patina, the top hat crystal, perfect proportions etc. it truly captures the essence of sport Rolex.

So after trying this watch on about 2 years ago at a small local mom and pop used Rolex reseller, I never saw it again whenever I popped in to browse, so assumed it was sold. I searched high and low for a comparable 1680 but something was just off about each and every one that I tried on. The lume was the wrong shade, or the hands were corroded unevenly... None of them sang to me like that first one.

Fast forward to last week, it had been quite some time since I had last stopped in to that old shop... And there it was. THE ONE.

I'm usually one to sleep on things when a large transaction is involved, but I did not hesitate this time.

So here it is, my 1978 5.3m submariner white dial 1680:








Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
traf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 09:57 AM   #2
brandrea
2025 TitaniumYM Pledge Member
 
brandrea's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Real Name: Brian (TBone)
Location: canada
Watch: es make me smile
Posts: 79,816
Awesome! Second times a charm, congrats!
brandrea is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 10:09 AM   #3
texex91
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: .
Posts: 17,898
Love it!! Looks great and congrats on finding that beautiful 1680 white!
texex91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:28 AM   #4
J!m
"TRF" Member
 
J!m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Real Name: Jim
Location: Connecticut
Watch: this! Hold my beer
Posts: 2,839
Sweet!

So what's the rest of the story? Was the store owner wearing it all this time or what?
J!m is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:38 AM   #5
Nothingfancy01
"TRF" Member
 
Nothingfancy01's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2012
Real Name: Tom
Location: New Jersey
Watch: Sub Date
Posts: 318
wow, very cool...just pull the trigger and sweat it later lol..
Nothingfancy01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:47 AM   #6
sea-dweller
"TRF" Member
 
sea-dweller's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Real Name: Dennis
Location: Bay Area - 925
Posts: 40,018
Congrats!
__________________
TRF Member #6699 (since September 2007)
sea-dweller is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:56 AM   #7
nick c
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Canada
Posts: 26,846
Very nice congrats!
nick c is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 01:31 PM   #8
fizz
"TRF" Member
 
fizz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: UAE
Posts: 388
Great find and congrats.

I too am curious to know where/how it disappeared for a couple of years and then resurfaced.
fizz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 01:34 PM   #9
s2kev
2025 Pledge Member
 
s2kev's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Real Name: Kevin
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Watch: Vintage
Posts: 2,886
Congrats Dave!
__________________
@vintage_kevin on Instagram
s2kev is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 01:35 PM   #10
LVSubmariner
Banned
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Watch: Submariner 114060
Posts: 411
Nice!
LVSubmariner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 02:41 PM   #11
traf
"TRF" Member
 
traf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: dave
Location: miami
Watch: me ride bikes
Posts: 1,938
Quote:
Originally Posted by brandrea View Post
Awesome! Second times a charm, congrats!


Quote:
Originally Posted by texex91 View Post
Love it!! Looks great and congrats on finding that beautiful 1680 white!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Nothingfancy01 View Post
wow, very cool...just pull the trigger and sweat it later lol..


Quote:
Originally Posted by sea-dweller View Post
Congrats!


Quote:
Originally Posted by nick c View Post
Very nice congrats!




Quote:
Originally Posted by s2kev View Post
Congrats Dave!


Quote:
Originally Posted by LVSubmariner View Post
Nice!

Thanks guys!! Much appreciated. 🍻




Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
traf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 02:53 PM   #12
traf
"TRF" Member
 
traf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: dave
Location: miami
Watch: me ride bikes
Posts: 1,938
Quote:
Originally Posted by J!m View Post
Sweet!

So what's the rest of the story? Was the store owner wearing it all this time or what?


Quote:
Originally Posted by fizz View Post
Great find and congrats.

I too am curious to know where/how it disappeared for a couple of years and then resurfaced.

Honestly I'll probably never know... I do know that the owner frequently rotates his inventory from safe to display case on a daily basis, so it's possible that it was just an off day each time I went in. I never asked for that particular watch since I assumed it had sold.




Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
traf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 05:24 PM   #13
rootbeer7
2025 Pledge Member
 
rootbeer7's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: london
Posts: 6,207
That is beautiful. It was fate! Hope the price didn't go up in that time?!
rootbeer7 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 10:52 PM   #14
traf
"TRF" Member
 
traf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: dave
Location: miami
Watch: me ride bikes
Posts: 1,938
Quote:
Originally Posted by rootbeer7 View Post
That is beautiful. It was fate! Hope the price didn't go up in that time?!

Funny you mention that... It was still priced the same from 2 years ago, which made it an absolute no-brainer!!


Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
traf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:06 PM   #15
PoderEsBueno
"TRF" Member
 
PoderEsBueno's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Real Name: peb
Location: Istanbul
Posts: 3,145
Love the look - enjoy
__________________
Instagram• ~ poderes.bueno
PoderEsBueno is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:36 PM   #16
J!m
"TRF" Member
 
J!m's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Real Name: Jim
Location: Connecticut
Watch: this! Hold my beer
Posts: 2,839
Two year old pricing!

Awesome!
J!m is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:40 PM   #17
JJL
"TRF" Member
 
JJL's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: US
Watch: 1680 Red & 16622
Posts: 2,449
Beautiful piece and it looks great on ya. It sounds like it was meant to be on your wrist. Congrats and enjoy it in good health
JJL is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:42 PM   #18
texex91
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: .
Posts: 17,898
Quote:
Originally Posted by traf View Post
Funny you mention that... It was still priced the same from 2 years ago, which made it an absolute no-brainer!!


Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
texex91 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10 February 2016, 11:53 PM   #19
theflywrist
"TRF" Member
 
theflywrist's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Stratosphere
Posts: 1,993
That is a remarkable story man!
What a stunning MK 1.
I for one love the 1680 white. Recently acquired mine and haven't been able to get her off my wrists that much.
Everything you described are the same reasons I love this reference.

Wear that beauty in best health brother!
theflywrist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 12:07 AM   #20
Vincent65
"TRF" Member
 
Vincent65's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Switzerland
Posts: 14,298
Very nice, congrats!
__________________
https://www.rolexforums.com/image.php?type=sigpic&userid=80782&dateline=139659  8629
Vincent65 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 12:30 AM   #21
lhanddds
Banned
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Watch: of course
Posts: 8,429
Good for you, same watch that got me started in vintage Rolex.
lhanddds is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 12:50 AM   #22
roll9
"TRF" Member
 
roll9's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Real Name: Dan
Location: California
Watch: 1016 & 16700
Posts: 368
Looks great. Congrats.
roll9 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 07:00 AM   #23
traf
"TRF" Member
 
traf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: dave
Location: miami
Watch: me ride bikes
Posts: 1,938
Quote:
Originally Posted by PoderEsBueno View Post
Love the look - enjoy

Thanks PEB! Your collection is to die for.

Quote:
Originally Posted by J!m View Post
Two year old pricing!

Awesome!

Felt like winning the lotto 🍾

Quote:
Originally Posted by JJL View Post
Beautiful piece and it looks great on ya. It sounds like it was meant to be on your wrist. Congrats and enjoy it in good health

🍻

Quote:
Originally Posted by theflywrist View Post
That is a remarkable story man!
What a stunning MK 1.
I for one love the 1680 white. Recently acquired mine and haven't been able to get her off my wrists that much.
Everything you described are the same reasons I love this reference.

Wear that beauty in best health brother!

Thanks buddy! Appreciate the confirmation that it's indeed a mk1

Quote:
Originally Posted by texex91 View Post

🍻

Quote:
Originally Posted by Vincent65 View Post
Very nice, congrats!

Thanks Vince! Love seeing your pics 👏🏻

Quote:
Originally Posted by lhanddds View Post
Good for you, same watch that got me started in vintage Rolex.

Appreciate it Larry. And how excellent your collection turned out 👍👍

Quote:
Originally Posted by roll9 View Post
Looks great. Congrats.

Thank you thank you 🍻


Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
traf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 07:21 AM   #24
AS1
"TRF" Member
 
AS1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: NYC / Milan
Watch: 6263
Posts: 3,938
well done, congrats on the new addition!
AS1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 11:35 AM   #25
Boaters
2025 Pledge Member
 
Join Date: May 2015
Real Name: Mike
Location: Pacific Northwest
Watch: 126710BLR 116610LV
Posts: 10,664
A real beauty congrats
Boaters is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 12:29 PM   #26
RJC1
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2015
Real Name: Jude
Location: Pennsylvania
Posts: 161
Congrats. Can't go wrong with a nice 1680!!
RJC1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 02:50 PM   #27
RLX-lvr
"TRF" Member
 
RLX-lvr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Real Name: Jeff
Location: Toronto
Posts: 1,947
Great 1680.

Big congrats,.Enjoy it.
RLX-lvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 10:53 PM   #28
Robbyvm
"TRF" Member
 
Robbyvm's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Belgium
Posts: 2,239
nice story and a great watch, congratz man & enjoy the hell out of it !
__________________
Instagram : robbyvm
Pinterest : robbyvanmele
Robbyvm is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11 February 2016, 11:36 PM   #29
Zoran
"TRF" Member
 
Zoran's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2013
Real Name: Zoran
Location: EU
Watch: 1655 Mark 1
Posts: 1,010
Killer 1680 and a story to go with it!
Congrats man
__________________
Zoran is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13 February 2016, 04:53 AM   #30
traf
"TRF" Member
 
traf's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2014
Real Name: dave
Location: miami
Watch: me ride bikes
Posts: 1,938
Quote:
Originally Posted by AS1 View Post
well done, congrats on the new addition!


Quote:
Originally Posted by Boaters View Post
A real beauty congrats


Quote:
Originally Posted by RJC1 View Post
Congrats. Can't go wrong with a nice 1680!!


Quote:
Originally Posted by RLX-lvr View Post
Great 1680.

Big congrats,.Enjoy it.


Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbyvm View Post
nice story and a great watch, congratz man & enjoy the hell out of it !


Quote:
Originally Posted by Zoran View Post
Killer 1680 and a story to go with it!

Congrats man


Thanks for the kind words gentlemen. The honeymoon may be a while with this one. Already going on a 7 day streak.



Sent from my  iPhone 6 using Tapatalk
traf is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

WatchesOff5th

DavidSW Watches

OCWatches

Wrist Aficionado

WatchShell

My Watch LLC

Takuya Watches


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2025, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.