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Old 31 May 2015, 10:44 AM   #1
Bhutton
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getting a sub the year of your birth silly?

Just looking for opinion - I was born '81 - to my knowledge, nothing particularly special about sub's in '81.

I think it'd be kind of cool instead of a new LN, has some character etc. (if i can find a no date all the better being a diver I appreciate the lack of Cyclops)

this silly? My first venture into the vintage world... (and just the recent dissolving of my goal of the holy trinity of modern sport watches... Getting married - sacrifice i'm glad to make :) so need to be focusing on cool and unique over 45k patek's.

Thoughts? or am i better to go for a single red sub and say screw the '81.

also - full kit for vintage - is this super important? Paper/box.. obviously a plus but seems like it's a lot less important in vintage.? again new to this appreciate the feedback

Thanks!
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Old 31 May 2015, 10:56 AM   #2
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not silly, many people like a birth year watch.
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:02 AM   #3
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Love 'em

A rare advantage of being older and having more to chose from ;)
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:22 AM   #4
Bhutton
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But is it a better call to go right for the grail Red sub?

or is it one of those "its a nice novelty" thing, but Red is the smarter money etc

Like i said pretty new to this whole thing :)
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:27 AM   #5
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Go for the Red Sub as it seems like that is what you really want. Box and papers are important to some folks but don't have much value to me. It's all about the watch.
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:29 AM   #6
Bhutton
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Oh i'm just learning and asking questions - like an '81 sub is cool and i like the idea. But if it's silly and i'm better to just get an LN i appreciate the feedback or go for a red sub.. like i don't know what value to place on this other than sentimental - trying to read through all the great posts in this forum and it's some serious reading.
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:36 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bhutton View Post
Oh i'm just learning and asking questions - like an '81 sub is cool and i like the idea. But if it's silly and i'm better to just get an LN i appreciate the feedback or go for a red sub.. like i don't know what value to place on this other than sentimental - trying to read through all the great posts in this forum and it's some serious reading.
An '81 maxi 5513 or matte dial 16800 is not silly at all. Would certainly be cheaper than a Red Sub. You're certainly doing the right thing by reading up and trying to figure out what you really want before pulling the trigger. The hunt's half the fun.
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:33 AM   #8
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I think birth year watches are cool.

Here's mine from 67
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Old 31 May 2015, 12:12 PM   #9
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Get a birth year! 1974 for me.
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Old 31 May 2015, 01:04 PM   #10
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'81 here too but 1980 watch was closest I could find:



BZ
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Old 2 June 2015, 07:49 AM   #11
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'81 here too but 1980 watch was closest I could find:


BZ
I say it depends when you were born. If you were born September or prior in 1981, you were "made" (aka case stamped) in 1980. Hopefully you were never sold.
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Old 31 May 2015, 01:58 PM   #12
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Sooner or later, u will get both. 😁 IMO get the red sub first as its harder to find n getting more expensive everyday. 👎🏻


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Old 31 May 2015, 02:20 PM   #13
DCheeta
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Birth year watches are cool. It's fun to wear something that's been around for as many years a you have.

I'd get a 16800 if I were you. Damn cool watches. But then, red Subs never did anything for me.
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Old 31 May 2015, 02:25 PM   #14
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Silly no...but personally I would prefer to get a watch that I really wanted over focusing on a specific year. Especially if that year was 1981...much better options from the 70's
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Old 31 May 2015, 02:57 PM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bhutton View Post
Just looking for opinion - I was born '81 - to my knowledge, nothing particularly special about sub's in '81.

I think it'd be kind of cool instead of a new LN, has some character etc. (if i can find a no date all the better being a diver I appreciate the lack of Cyclops)

this silly? My first venture into the vintage world... (and just the recent dissolving of my goal of the holy trinity of modern sport watches... Getting married - sacrifice i'm glad to make :) so need to be focusing on cool and unique over 45k patek's.

Thoughts? or am i better to go for a single red sub and say screw the '81.

also - full kit for vintage - is this super important? Paper/box.. obviously a plus but seems like it's a lot less important in vintage.? again new to this appreciate the feedback

Thanks!
It's not silly if it is a Comex 1665 from 1981. Those are pricey though, so perhaps consider a 6263 Daytona instead....
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Old 31 May 2015, 05:18 PM   #16
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It's not silly if it is a Comex 1665 from 1981. Those are pricey though, so perhaps consider a 6263 Daytona instead....

U r a funny guy, Q. Lets show em. 😜


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Old 31 May 2015, 06:23 PM   #17
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With a birth year you can grow old together and see who ages better
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:16 PM   #18
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With a birth year you can grow old together and see who ages better
Or you can trade up for a younger model every few years, no need to get conjugal. Trust me!
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Old 31 May 2015, 11:33 PM   #19
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Buy the one you like.
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Old 1 June 2015, 01:30 AM   #20
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It is, if you were born in 1963......Lol!
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Old 1 June 2015, 03:15 AM   #21
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Not silly...1954 was a great year.
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Old 1 June 2015, 03:30 AM   #22
Mark020
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If only I had one.





I mean: I have more than one :-)
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Old 2 June 2015, 08:07 AM   #23
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If only I had one.





I mean: I have more than one :-)


Well-played
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Old 1 June 2015, 04:08 AM   #24
Michael M.
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Nothing wrong with getting a birth year Submariner, I just helped a collector complete his 'birth year' set (5512, 1675, 6263,). Just know that some years may be slightly more difficult to find than others, but 1980/81 shouldn't be too difficult. Best of luck with the search!
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Old 1 June 2015, 05:00 AM   #25
Bhutton
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It's all interesting - i may grab an 81 sub - just because honestly i can get it and a JLC MUT 39 both within my budget & have 2 completely different looks and then save up for a red or double red.

seems that it's incredibly difficult to find and will take some time to find. Esp in a Mark 1-3 dial & with papers.. (Found one already but missing pearl, 3 spots of water damage on dial & date wheel replaced (biggest issue IM0) and even with that they want 15k (whole budget :()
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Old 2 June 2015, 07:41 AM   #26
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Quote:
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It's all interesting - i may grab an 81 sub - just because honestly i can get it and a JLC MUT 39 both within my budget & have 2 completely different looks and then save up for a red or double red.

seems that it's incredibly difficult to find and will take some time to find. Esp in a Mark 1-3 dial & with papers.. (Found one already but missing pearl, 3 spots of water damage on dial & date wheel replaced (biggest issue IM0) and even with that they want 15k (whole budget :()
Hi... Interesting thread!
If you bought a Red up to your budget you'll always be hankering after birth year watch. So, IMHO get a feet first lovely Red that hits the spot (probably with no papers) and an '81 16800 or a 5513. There ya go, I've had my little say! Let us know what you do and post us pics of both the watches!!!!
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Old 1 June 2015, 05:12 AM   #27
ratty
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Not silly at all to me.

I would really like a 1963 Sub, does anyone have a picture of a 63 Sub?
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Old 1 June 2015, 06:07 AM   #28
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I would say it's silly if it's only to have a watch from that specific year. First decide what model and year you like and if that correlates to your birth year it's a good idea if you can find a great example matching your preferences. Personally I had a perfect birth year 6263 which I let go as it just wasn't me. I prefer earlier models and even if the one I had was great and probably the best possible watch from 1979 I just didn't enjoy it as much as others. It therefore had to go.

Best of luck with your decisions.
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Old 1 June 2015, 06:14 AM   #29
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How to date a vintage watch? By on of the serial / year of production lists, that differ from one another. Or by the papers? Watch could be produced the year before.

While it is difficult to date a vintage really precisely, a watch from your birth era would be a smooth approach.
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Old 4 June 2015, 05:28 AM   #30
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I've been looking for one, but everyone want's to much? that's the problem being born the same year as the Submariner! I will have to settle for the 1953 Corvette


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