Vintage Sub question

[KFP55]

I’ve started looking at acquiring a 4 or 5 digit Sub (no date) and it a seems like prices are all over the place. I’ve fallen in love with the creamy patina on a few models I’ve seen online, but it appears to not really follow any specific timeline. And some from the 80’a are more “patina’d” than some from the 60’s. I don’t care about the collectibility (error dials, etc), just want the best bang for my buck for the vintage look. I’d wear it, not keep it in a safe.

So...which references should I prioritize and what should I look out for? Would have to assume a 30-40 year old model would have had some parts replaced over time if it’s been service properly. Assume box/papers are not worth it given the premium? And I’ve heard the pre-sapphire crystals are much more fragile than today’s - what year did they switch?

Thanks for the direction - starting the journey and any info is helpful!

[sensui]

Pretty broad request/question......my suggestion is you start getting a better idea of "budget"/market pricing by checking big vintage seller sites like hqmilton, lunaroyster, iconicwatches, rolexpassionmarket etc etc and browse different types of submariners. Not only will this give you a better idea of what to expect for your budget it also gives you an idea of which references you fancy more. After you determine a more realistic goal (aka you like red subs but your budget is under 15k so that's probably not going to happen with any decent example), then start doing research on that type of submariner in general to determine what you can accept and what you can't (condition, originality, completeness of the set etc) and hunt from there. Good luck and have fun.....the research and knowledge is really all the fun.

To quickly answer some of your questions:

1) 30-40 year watches having replaced components is quite prevalent. Question comes down to if the parts are period correct/service parts/fake parts/non-period correct......that will determine the value ultimately and you have to do your research.

2) Box and papers worth the premium? Only you can determine that......it goes up exponentially for having a complete set as you move up the vintage food chain because of the rarity. AKA a complete set premium for a 1675 isn't going to be anywhere near the complete set premium for a 6263.

3) Depending on the reference, the sapphire crystals were introduced to Rolex references starting from the early 80's.

[CPRWATCH]

Firstly welcome to the crazy world of vintage watches .Be warned though it's a rabbit hole that is full of twists ,turns & both good & bad surprises .I would recommend doing some searches on this forum first regarding vintage subs, & get an idea of which sub you prefer , this forum is a goldmine of knowledge ( trust me this will pay dividends in the long run ) . Then when you have a couple of choices in mind, you can narrow your search down & have a good idea of what looks right & what doesn't within your budget . Im sure someone will add that buying the seller is always recommended & go into more detail as to why for obvious reasons . But I would highly recommend a 16800 matte dial as a good starting point for a Vintage sub suggestion , it's got a sapphire crystal which is less likely to scratch, has open six date wheel & last of the matte dial subs. It certainly holds up to daily wear also & mine gets worn weekly as I don't own any safe queens

[sillo]

Check out 5513, 5512 and 14060.