What time is it? Watches and horology

Put it like this, I just had a quick browse on ebay for 168000, considering this is a submariner, the ford escort of Rolex watches, there are TWO listed in the world. Both in the US.

Now it's only a matter of time before instagram strikes with the 168000. At some point James Dowling aka misterrolex or another vintage collector is going to mention and hashtag the ref. 168000, alerting every potential vintage submariner buyer to it's existence. The supply will dive and demand will go though the roof.

Although you can manufacture your own hype by posting a glossy picture with "look how rare this (insert model here) actually is because (insert facts here). And then tag every collector on instagram.

They will want to be the first to break the new hype so they will all repost it or buy their own and then post that and so the madness begins.

Yep, I do! All 3 of my watches have slide rules.

Very handy for back of the envelope calculations when you don't have an envelope. Also currency/unit conversions. Being able to multiply and divide to 3 significant figures is pretty handy quite often!

Don't believe there's any use for the flight calculations though. Either an electronic system or a full-size E6-B would be used for that.

Maybe I'm missing something about this particular model here but there are 25 168000 on Chrono24.

But sure, its an incredibly collectible watch and a full set one must be even rarer. It looks pristine. I'm just trying to work out if it is as rare as some say it is, or whether its just very collectible.

This one, for example has the cracked dial that seems to affect lots of them

https://www.chrono24.com/rolex/submariner-date-168000-transitional--id7451015.htm

Considering you still need to know how to use an E6-B to become a certified pilot, I'd like to think they'd know how to use it ;)

Though like I said, the likelihood of a pilot relying on an E6-B these days is pretty minimal, let alone a scaled down version worn on a wrist.

Though in terms of use as a calculator, I'd still say it's more useful than the electronic calculator watches. At least if you don't need ridiculous levels of accuracy.

Its a bit of both, not too surprised to see 25 on C24, that's where I do most of my buying/selling. Big jump from ebay though.

Cracked dials plagued this generation, it's almost to be expected, now depending on how bad it is, Rolex will demand it gets replaced during a service. Replacing the dial can really kill the value.

It is rare, but the real hype is yet to begin, it's too early. It's still a black bezel sub at the the end of the day. Give it 10+ years, then things will really pick up.

On C24 you might notice the 10k+ listing, that's from the first batch of 168000, that has a matte dial. Notice all the others are gloss, it will just take a bit longer for the gloss models to catch up to the price of the matte.

I was on G-Shock earlier and I noticed they have gone insane
£4500 seems a bit steep for a G Shock, regardless of fanciness.

Fair point; I should perhaps have said 'mainly know how to use it in theory' (because you've got an E-6B in the flight bag, haven't used that in a decade, and played with the watch a few times after you bought it...)

Oh don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are a ton of people out there who buy it purely for the looks and have never used it regardless of whether or not they know how to.

(Though I still maintain a tachymeter is a lot less useful yet is never questioned why it's on a watch)

Though if you want to go all out on your fancy scales around the circumference, you have to go with a telemeter. To judge the distance of something given the difference in time between seeing it and hearing it:

My idea of “rare” is something like only 1000 pieces made, decades ago. I have a Smiths watch of which only a few hundred were ever made around 1955/56. That’s pretty rare.

My Precista might be pretty rare one day. Only 50 made, the only 50 watches to be made with that particular movement with those complications.

oooh you go away for five minutes after posting and theres loads of chat when you get back.
The 168000 Submariner was bought in for stock so will be for sale, have two people coming in today.
Got to keep the wolf from the door ..........

It is really lovely, and in stunning condition for age.
The info you provided backs up exactly what I discovered.
Watchfinder have 2 16800 not triple zero and neither have papers and both are sitting at £9k. which is a premium over the even very slightly later replacement.
I am torn now about sitting on it , but have an Apollo 17 Speedmaster on order and cant really afford that let alone both.

I don't think I have seen a 1980s sub in better condition than that, thats for sure. Its a real collectors piece.

So much calculator nerdgasm. Now I'm searching for an E6-B. Probably grandad had a couple in the toolbox (being a 'proper' engineer and all). Probably uncle robbed them already.

Get a Curta mechanical calculator- I've been lusting after one for years now.

Fwaaaarrrr. We need a calculator thread.

That is lovely, I have to admit.

You thinking about strapping one to your wrist? ;)

Well if it's good enough for Spock...

speedmaster automatics are 38mm

And Speedmaster First Omega in Space is 39.7mm.

Thanks for that.

Quite like this:

What's with all the climbing gear in the background?

Colour Matchy matchy