the "real" mcqueen

[tuonor]

Happened across this piece at Hodinkee...then got curious and dug up the watch on antiquorum here.

I'm sure this is old hat to some, but being newish to the vintage scene, why does the orange hand 1655 (the so-called mcqueen) command such a premium to four-line 5512s?

Also, does Mcqueen's 5512 have a service dial or something? Seems it has a feet first dial in a meters first vintage case.

[HL65]

Not sure where you are getting that 1655's command premium to 4 line 5512. I can tell you that a mint gilt dial 4 line 61 5512 costs twice as much as even a mint early straight hand 1655. As for why people called 1655's Mcqueens- no idea why...Ps- Way too many variances in references to make price generalizations in vintage Rolex.

[tuonor]

Meant a 5512 like mcqueens. Which if I'm not mistaken is a feet-first, 4-line circa 1967 possibly with a rivet bracelet. Or perhaps the better terminology is a meters-first with the dial swapped out.

[cruvon]

Originally Posted by tuonor

Happened across this piece at Hodinkee...then got curious and dug up the watch on antiquorum here.

I'm sure this is old hat to some, but being newish to the vintage scene, why does the orange hand 1655 (the so-called mcqueen) command such a premium to four-line 5512s?

Also, does Mcqueen's 5512 have a service dial or something? Seems it has a feet first dial in a meters first vintage case.

Think I did read somewhere that that original Mcqueen 67" 5512 had some service parts but then again it's got huge provenance judging by the fact that it went for over 200k...I guess even if it was damaged it would have buyers queued up considering it's a celebrity watch. Seen 1967 5512"s(think they had something unique about them that year) go for about 6-7k without papers, a B& P example might be a bit more. My guess is the orange hand looks prettier so is more popular and hence dearer and more collectable than the 1967 5512. Could be that 67" 5512 is rarer but then it doesn't shout desireable to too many minds.

[Warnsboy]

I have a quesiton about the McQueen 5512 from 1961.....What is the S/N range for a 1961???? 3 months ago I looked at a 1.12M S/N, 4 line, 5512 in outstanding shape...all original, that was said to be a 1961 model.....is this possible? It was spectacular!!! still available and still on my grail list.

Thanks in advance for any info you can give......befor I get realy excited about this watch.

[TurboWatch]

that people associate the 1655 as Steve McQueen, but in my long years of collecting and learning about Rolex, I have yet seen a picture of him wearing the watch.

His 1967 5512 that was sold last year for a cool 225K even though it has a replacement feet first dial and hands ...

[LI Matt]

Originally Posted by TurboWatch

that people associate the 1655 as Steve McQueen, but in my long years of collecting and learning about Rolex, I have yet seen a picture of him wearing the watch.

Jake at RolexBlog has posted picture after picture of Mr. McQueen wearing a Sub, but he says he's never seen a pic with the Explorer.

The Heuer Monaco has a claim to the term "Steve McQueen Watch" because he wore it in a movie. The 1655 doesn't have that going for it either.

[adam78]

I just think that mistake has been perpetuated way too long. Some dealer probably called a 1655 that long ago and newbies caught it and threw it to each other for years without any thought or knowledge.

[Dr. Robert]

to me the 1655 is the "freccione"

[Rickster]

Originally Posted by Warnsboy

I have a quesiton about the McQueen 5512 from 1961.....What is the S/N range for a 1961???? 3 months ago I looked at a 1.12M S/N, 4 line, 5512 in outstanding shape...all original, that was said to be a 1961 model.....is this possible? It was spectacular!!! still available and still on my grail list.

Thanks in advance for any info you can give......befor I get realy excited about this watch.

Probably more from 67 not 61.

[SUBversive]

Originally Posted by Dr. Robert

to me the 1655 is the "freccione"

Double vision.

Double envy. Nice nice pieces. But not a McQueen.