Month: July 2019

The Bob’s Watches vault is like an adult candy store for people who love watches. We can buy all kinds of things here, from brand new luxury watches to vintage watches, and all kinds of collectibles. Today, we’re going to highlight the vintage watches that everyone on Bob’s team loves to talk about. Once you have a look at it, you will be fascinated by it. Friendly reminder: shop rationally.
Rolex’s Submariner is one of their most popular models for obvious reasons. This watch is cool and durable. The number 5513 was so popular that it has been in production for a long time, in part because of the watch’s natural affinity. The ref. 5513 has been in production for nearly 30 years, making it one of the most common vintage Rolex sport watches on the market. However, we have a special watch in this line that will make you want to invest in one anyway.  
Let’s start with the bezel, which you might give a second look. In the industry, we call it the “ghost” bezel, and its unique fade finish naturally occurs from years of wear. Despite its “worn” look, the ghost bezels are indeed popular among collectors, and the nice lighter blue/gray color of the bezels is a huge advantage. Most importantly, it’s a fat font with a “kissing 4” bezel that makes it even more collectible. Look at the Mk1 tritium meter – the first dial you’ll notice that those wonderful creamy lume plots have also aged for years. If you want to buy a one-of-a-kind vintage submarine, this is your best choice.
Back in the 1950s and 1960s, when the GMT Master was a relatively new watch, Rolex made it with a glossy dial with gold-plated lettering. Because these “gold-plated” dials were only used in the early days of the GMT Master, they have become increasingly rare and popular over the years. The replica watch shown here was released in 1966. It was actually made in the last set of GMT masters watches, which come with these shiny gold dials.
But aside from the fact that it has a unique dial, we can’t ignore the fact that the markers have aged to an incredibly creamy-yellow color that has collectors swoon. Of course, we know and love its iconic red and blue Pepsi bezels. While many vintage watches (especially sports ones) will show some stretch in their bracelets, this only shows how much fun they have been over the years.
You’ve flipped, haven’t you? There is a vintage Daytona on any collector’s list – but Paul Newman’s Daytona is the real holy grail. Demand for Paul Newman’s Daytona watch only grew after it sold for $17 million in 2017. But don’t let their high prices scare you away, as these vintage watches are an investment in your bank account and your heart.
How can you not love this new three-color Paul Newman dial? Condition is everything to these replica watches, and in this example, all the lume plots are complete, the original bezels wear minimal, and its tritium handset matches perfectly. In a way, the stainless steel case seems slightly polished, but with the rest of the watch in such beautiful and undamaged condition, the s vintage Rolex Daytona still has great value — and some serious investment potential.