Opinions for this vintage insert for 1680..

[Jetkopite]

Hi guys hope you are all well.

I have been offered this insert for $1000 and wanted your expert opinion on it with regards to price and also authenticity and MK number 2 or 3??... Its for my 1680 RED (2.8m)

Thanks in advanced..

Andy..

[Vincent65]

Looks like an average, very dirty MKIII to me, with no pearl. A thousand bucks?!
If you want it that much, then go ahead. I wouldn't.

[Jetkopite]

Noted Karl thanks.

[Robbyvm]

Way overpriced if you ask me...

[JerimiahLee]

An MK III as noted. There are others examples to be found for less money.

[Jetkopite]

Guys I have been offered this one for $800 for my RED Sub... Ive been told its a MK3 insert..

Ive asked the seller also to put insert ontop of another Vintage watch to see what it looks like..

Opinions from the experts please..

[Vincent65]

Well, it's in better condition than the first one, but I think the font is thinner - and still no pearl... I think 800 bucks is a lot, when you factor in another 200 for the pip. Nice insert -it's what you want that counts.

[NukeMan]

Yeah, go fat for your red sub!

[stmoore]

Nice early and Fat MK3.

Note the "Whipple" in the edge of the 4.
(in my head, within the mk 3 - they went "whipple, soft 4, and the hard 4 (many rails and later 1665s had these).

That said, pretty sure that era of 1680 could have had a MK2 insert.

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

Well, it's in better condition than the first one, but I think the font is thinner - and still no pearl... I think 800 bucks is a lot, when you factor in another 200 for the pip. Nice insert -it's what you want that counts.

With regards to the pearl I am thinking of taking the nicely patinated pearl off the service insert I have and have a watchmaker put it on the new insert..

Also have these 2 inserts aswell up for consideration... They seem to have popped up all of a sudden and not sure which one to go for...

[jdmi32]

I prefer the very last one.

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by jdmi32

I prefer the very last one.

Hey Ky you mean the one on the right in the last picture?? What makes you like that one the best?

[jdmi32]

Originally Posted by Jetkopite

Hey Ky you mean the one on the right in the last picture?? What makes you like that one the best?

I like that level of fade, and it looks to be more even and not as splotchy as the one on the left.

My 71 Red has an insert that has faded very little and I sometimes wonder if a faded insert would look better on it.

[jdmi32]

Sourcing an authentic pip can be a pain as there are so many bogus ones out there. But if you want to use the one that's on your service insert, it's an easy job that you can do yourself. I use a round toothpick with the tip cut off and a piece of Lego that I flip over to support the insert's hole on all sides as I push the pip out.

[stmoore]

1680 unfaded (mk2 insert)


1680 faded (mk2 insert)

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by jdmi32

I like that level of fade, and it looks to be more even and not as splotchy as the one on the left.

My 71 Red has an insert that has faded very little and I sometimes wonder if a faded insert would look better on it.

Originally Posted by jdmi32

Sourcing an authentic pip can be a pain as there are so many bogus ones out there. But if you want to use the one that's on your service insert, it's an easy job that you can do yourself. I use a round toothpick with the tip cut off and a piece of Lego that I flip over to support the insert's hole on all sides as I push the pip out.

Ky I always thought a nice faded insert would look much better on a RED but having seen a few mint not too faded fat font inserts on REDs they also look amazing. By the way what do you use to stick the Pearl onto the insert once you have removed it?

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by stmoore

1680 unfaded (mk2 insert)


1680 faded (mk2 insert)

Steve they both look amazing faded and not faded... Which one do you prefer?

[JerimiahLee]

Originally Posted by stmoore

1680 unfaded (mk2 insert)


1680 faded (mk2 insert)

Steve - both look great, but I prefer the unfaded MK2 on your piece.

Personally, I think that a light/creamy patina combined with a faded insert looks great. Where a watch with strong or yellow patina looks much better sans fade.

[Jetkopite]

Originally Posted by JerimiahLee

Steve - both look great, but I prefer the unfaded MK2 on your piece.

Personally, I think that a light/creamy patina combined with a faded insert looks great. Where a watch with strong or yellow patina looks much better sans fade.

Jerimiah I agree with you.. Because my RED has very strong yellow patina I am leaning more towards a not so faded insert as I think it will compliment the watch better... Looking at Steve's REd above I prefer the non faded insert combo.