vintage explorer?

[bklynjoe]

I have a explorer. been wareing it for 23 years "or so" my father bout it for me used. I know it is real because i have had it serviced.

I recently looked to see what it is worth, my trouble is I can not find it anywhere. maybe somebody can help me.


I can find ones that look just like mine but mine just above the superalive cronometer (prob. didnt spell it right) it has in fancy scipt writting "cartier". is this special edition? any ideas???

Joe

[Lol-x]

Did Rolex service your watch?

It is very important that you post clear photographs of your watch for there to be any meaningful opinion given.

[Ivy League]

Cartier?

[bklynjoe]

Ok this is what i found out so far. late 60's rolex allowed Tiffny N co. and cartier to sell Rolex's at thier stores. something to do woth the staus symbol of those two name brands (so articles on it on line). it is authentic. called rolex and was told that it definitly was made along w the Tiff one however there where very few of of the cartier ones (which became apperent to me when nothing comes up in any searches, but plenty of tiff ones do)

i have had many dealers already contact me (over weekend sat, and sun, hmmmmmmmm) that want to buy it right away. saying to me i dont need to get cert papers or continue my investigation to the back round. makes me wonder. i know the watch is worth alot (apperently) just dont know how much yet. did i find the missing picaso in the attic?

funny thing is this is my daily watch, i work with it on, swim, snowmobile, exc... and have been doing so for the past 22years without giving it a second thought to the word cartier on.

[Atlanta]

Wow - it must really be worth a lot of money. I hope you get some PM messages with some really good offers.

Best of luck here at TRF!!!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by bklynjoe

Ok this is what i found out so far. late 60's rolex allowed Tiffany N co. and cartier to sell Rolex's at thier stores. something to do woth the staus symbol of those two name brands (so articles on it on line). it is authentic. called rolex and was told that it definitly was made along w the Tiff one however there where very few of of the cartier ones (which became apperent to me when nothing comes up in any searches, but plenty of tiff ones do)

i have had many dealers already contact me (over weekend sat, and sun, hmmmmmmmm) that want to buy it right away. saying to me i dont need to get cert papers or continue my investigation to the back round. makes me wonder. i know the watch is worth alot (apperently) just dont know how much yet. did i find the missing picaso in the attic?

funny thing is this is my daily watch, i work with it on, swim, snowmobile, exc... and have been doing so for the past 22years without giving it a second thought to the word cartier on.

Please post a picture of your watch,myself have never seen a Explorer with Cartier on dial.Tiffany was the last company allowed too Co brand except for Comex but Tiffany ended quite some time ago.You say you had many dealers contact you,so have you posted pictures to these dealers or advertised it somewhere ????.

[bklynjoe]

will take a diff. pic without the hands in the way of "cartier", when i can.

need new crystal (dont know if it affects the vintage status of it?). been wearing it everyday for 22years.

does having new hands put on change the status as well?

Joe

[Lamone]

I had a GMT cartier a while back.
The RSC in NYC refused to service it and wouldn't even authenticate the GMT, no service estimate either.
I then went to Cartier they were clueless about it.

[cody p]

try the vintage forum.

[Tools]

There are collectors who specialize in the branded Rolex watches. Original paper is almost required for Tiffany as they did not keep records, however, Cartier did keep records and it is much easier to authenticate.

Explorers are not as heavily collected as some models, and the market is only as good as what somebody will pay for it.. Certainly is would be worth more than the couple of thousand a typical Explorer would fetch.

If your interest is selling, I don't think that I wold change the hands as originality is almost always worth more. If you plan to wear it, I would change them...but I might try to source some early Tritium hands and keep the originals someplace safe..

Try the Rolex RSC in San Fran or Chicago if you want it serviced. A corporate owned RSC may not service with the "exotic" dial.