Just acquired this 1680

[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by axb601

Agreed! I'm struggling to find nice examples for less than £12k on my hunt

I was seeing decent examples at 11k usd recently.
£12k seems very high for a white dial 1680.

[NickD1975]

Originally Posted by MrChamfers

I was seeing decent examples at 11k usd recently.
£12k seems very high for a white dial 1680.

U.K. prices all include VAT - it’s one of the reasons our prices are consistently higher than pretty much everywhere else.

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by MrChamfers

I was seeing decent examples at 11k usd recently.
£12k seems very high for a white dial 1680.

Where were you looking? So many people see deals but I don't.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by MrChamfers

I was seeing decent examples at 11k usd recently.
£12k seems very high for a white dial 1680.

Where did you see them? I've been looking for one for a friend recently and decent examples seem to be in the $13K - $20K range. And with the low end ones a service part or two.

[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Where did you see them? I've been looking for one for a friend recently and decent examples seem to be in the $13K - $20K range. And with the low end ones a service part or two.

They’re one on watchuseek for 11.9
Might be worth an offer.


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[ahyeung]

I found this insert and plan to replace the service insert. Please comment if this insert looks fine and period correct for my 1680? The seller ask for 1600usd.






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[XavierM]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

11.300 usd/9.700 euro isn't a good deal? Can you find me a similar one for a price lower than 11.3k like his?

Well, if you add 5/6k $ to get a clean dial (current one is damaged, not ruined but still…), a period correct insert and a service, not sure it is such a good deal.

If OP does not care about the damaged dial, why not, otherwise, I stand by what I said, I would not buy this watch with the aim of replacing the dial/hands.

[XavierM]

Originally Posted by ahyeung

I found this insert and plan to replace the service insert. Please comment if this insert looks fine and period correct for my 1680? The seller ask for 1600usd.
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Better pictures needed to help

According to Xeramic chart on VRF, you should be looking for the insert mounted on the watch that was for sale here https://www.hqmilton.com/timepieces/...d-papers-A3250

Kind regards,

[swaini3]

Originally Posted by ahyeung

I found this insert and plan to replace the service insert. Please comment if this insert looks fine and period correct for my 1680? The seller ask for 1600usd.






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The first insert you inquired about is better.

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by XavierM

Well, if you add 5/6k $ to get a clean dial (current one is damaged, not ruined but still…), a period correct insert and a service, not sure it is such a good deal.

If OP does not care about the damaged dial, why not, otherwise, I stand by what I said, I would not buy this watch with the aim of replacing the dial/hands.

Don't change the rules, now you start adding 5k for a dial. You simply can't find a similar example like his for that price. You get overpolished cases, bad bracelets and everything else that isn't what you really want.

If you want a perfect/showpiece example you can go out and start looking and buying the 15-25k ones.

[alwayshere]

I think solid 1680 for $11-12K are long gone now.

Despite the dial issue, the OP did well with what he paid for, IMO.

[XavierM]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

Don't change the rules, now you start adding 5k for a dial. You simply can't find a similar example like his for that price. You get overpolished cases, bad bracelets and everything else that isn't what you really want.

If you want a perfect/showpiece example you can go out and start looking and buying the 15-25k ones.

So people should buy vintage watches by your rules ?

A damaged dial is a damaged dial, it hurts the value…

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by XavierM

So people should buy vintage watches by your rules ?

A damaged dial is a damaged dial, it hurts the value…

What are you even talking about. I think you don't understand what I meant. If you are going to spend 16-17k (that's the 11k for the watch + 5/6k for the dial which you wrote) you can buy and look better examples instead of looking for parts to fix a watch. I think most people would be satisfied owning this watch for this price and leaving it like this. Not every watch is going to be 100 percent original or perfect after 40-50 years. Those collector pieces are out there, but also with a certain price tag attached.

I asked you to show me similar examples like OPs at 11k but you haven't, so I assume they aren't out there. The ones at the lower end of the market all have replaced dials, service hands, overpolished cases etc.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Wahlberg

What are you even talking about. I think you don't understand what I meant. If you are going to spend 16-17k (that's the 11k for the watch + 5/6k for the dial which you wrote) you can buy and look better examples instead of looking for parts to fix a watch. I think most people would be satisfied owning this watch for this price and leaving it like this. Not every watch is going to be 100 percent original or perfect after 40-50 years. Those collector pieces are out there, but also with a certain price tag attached.

I asked you to show me similar examples like OPs at 11k but you haven't, so I assume they aren't out there. The ones at the lower end of the market all have replaced dials, service hands, overpolished cases etc.

Exactly. There’s always gonna be the lower-priced vintage piece because the replacement parts and/or damaged parts reduce the value. I’ve been directed towards a couple of $11K 1680s after posting that I was looking at them for a friend, but both had issues that allowed them to be priced as such.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by MrChamfers

They’re one on watchuseek for 11.9
Might be worth an offer.


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Yes, and there was also one listed on Watchuseek recently for $10.9K, but both watches have issues.

I think mediocre examples of white 1680s can indeed be found in the $11K-$12K range, but good to excellent examples are a lot more.

If you're already above $10K, it's just not worth settling. Much smarter to stretch your budget for a better watch than buying a bargain Sub with problems.

[ahyeung]

I am now thinking to get that insert and trade-in my current insert, the seller offered 1100usd for the swap. Should I take that insert? It has some scratches and marks but its turning grey.

As for the dial I will not do anything, leave alone also the not matching 2002 claspe.


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[XavierM]

Originally Posted by ahyeung

I am now thinking to get that insert and trade-in my current insert, the seller offered 1100usd for the swap. Should I take that insert? It has some scratches and marks but its turning grey.

As for the dial I will not do anything, leave alone also the not matching 2002 claspe.


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Hard to help on the insert without a better picture
If you do the swap anyway, keep the lume pip that matches best with your dial

[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by swish77

Yes, and there was also one listed on Watchuseek recently for $10.9K, but both watches have issues.

I think mediocre examples of white 1680s can indeed be found in the $11K-$12K range, but good to excellent examples are a lot more.

If you're already above $10K, it's just not worth settling. Much smarter to stretch your budget for a better watch than buying a bargain Sub with problems.

True, but each watch is judged on its own merits. If the issues can be fixed for a few hundred, and you save thousands maybe it is worth it.
Not everyone is in the market for collector grade examples.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by MrChamfers

True, but each watch is judged on its own merits. If the issues can be fixed for a few hundred, and you save thousands maybe it is worth it.
Not everyone is in the market for collector grade examples.

Sure, but there's a big difference between "good" and "collector grade." I get it, sometimes a nice solid vintage Sub that has some minor imperfections is all you need to scratch that vintage itch. Those can be great to wear and enjoy.

What you want to avoid, IMHO, is a sub-par vintage Rolex that has very little appeal and issues that are either un-fixable or not worth fixing. Of those two recent examples on WUS , one had a badly over-polished case and the other had a service dial and hands, among other problems.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by MrChamfers

True, but each watch is judged on its own merits. If the issues can be fixed for a few hundred, and you save thousands maybe it is worth it.
Not everyone is in the market for collector grade examples.

What do you mean by “fixed”? Fixing the issue of an incorrect insert will cost you four figure. Fixing the issue of a wedding new hands that match the patina of the markers will cost you many hundreds. Fixing a terribly polished case can easily be another four figures.

[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

What do you mean by “fixed”? Fixing the issue of an incorrect insert will cost you four figure. Fixing the issue of a wedding new hands that match the patina of the markers will cost you many hundreds. Fixing a terribly polished case can easily be another four figures.

Fix, as in if you find a 1680. with a service insert for $11k and you replace it with a correct insert for $1500 then I consider that fixed.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by MrChamfers

Fix, as in if you find a 1680. with a service insert for $11k and you replace it with a correct insert for $1500 then I consider that fixed.

True, but I’m just quoting you when you said a “few hundred.” That’s a considerable amount more.

[ahyeung]

Originally Posted by XavierM

Hard to help on the insert without a better picture
If you do the swap anyway, keep the lume pip that matches best with your dial

Thats the bes pic I got from the seller. After looking at the internet I.think it is a correct mk3 insert.






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[MrChamfers]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

True, but I’m just quoting you when you said a “few hundred.” That’s a considerable amount more.

I did find a 1680 with aftermarket hands, got them replaced and color matched for a few hundred.

[ahyeung]

Just found a nice insert for my 1680!





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