Estimated Value of 1969 submariner

[henrylee]

Originally Posted by Jsorof

Seems like the consensus is that someone stole his original watch. I feel sad for him because he has cherished that watch for so long. I won't be telling him...

Maybe he kept in the drawer all this time because he knew it was a fake?

[cajunron]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

The weird thing is, per post #10, it’s a fake replica of a 1990s watch. Meaning that it has features of a watch that came much later than 1969. For example, the lume plots are surrounded by metal, which didn’t exist back in the 60s or 70s. So, if somebody truly faked to this watch back in the 60s, they would’ve had to “see the future” of what Rolex was going to do design-wise 20-30 years later. Not likely. Additionally, I don’t think these watches were faked back in the 60s.


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Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Also, caseback says 18K for gold, and it's got a flat glass crystal. This is a fairly modern fake, though they have been around since at least the late 1930s (I have a Hong Kong newspaper cutting from 1940 about people being arrested for selling them).

I agree, this watch is much more recent than the late sixties. As these two very knowledgeable members have stated; if it were that old, it would have a plastic crystal and hour markers without the silver surrounds.

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by Jsorof

Well, that is indeed a surprise. I have my own watch collection so I am not that emotionally invested in this watch but I know my father-in-law is. I won't tell him!

I know for a fact that he received this watch in 1969 as gift from his wife and has been keeping it in a drawer for 50 years. He has always assumed that it is authentic. Were people making fake Rolexes back then as well? I have never paid much attention to the replica market but does that story add up? How can one tell that it is fake?

Deleted. I should’ve read the thread before responding. Apparently I’m the seventh smartest person in this room.

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[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Jsorof

Likely my last post on this topic as it seems this watch is clearly a not very good replica, although there is still some mystery around how this came to be at all. After cleaning, here is what it is.

Your grandpa or grandma could have had a time machine…..went to the future and landed in New York city 30 years ahead, bought the fake and returned home on the time machine……..if that’s the case it’s a rare fake indeed!!!!!

[433]

Does your father-in-law not think highly of you?

[Jsorof]

Funny comments in this thread. All I can say is that if you knew my father-in-law, you'd know that he would not be capable of "playing" me. He was practically in tears when he gave the watch to me. Made me promise to make sure I gave it to my son when I no longer had need for it. As someone previously said, very Pulp Fiction (ROFL). I feel sad for him that he thought he had such a special watch and someone likely stole it from him. That's life...

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by Jsorof

Funny comments in this thread. All I can say is that if you knew my father-in-law, you'd know that he would not be capable of "playing" me. He was practically in tears when he gave the watch to me. Made me promise to make sure I gave it to my son when I no longer had need for it. As someone previously said, very Pulp Fiction (ROFL). I feel sad for him that he thought he had such a special watch and someone likely stole it from him. That's life...

So someone stole the real watch and replaced it with the fake in the pictures????? And he never knew???? Man it keeps getting better

[Subterranean]

A low life in the know stole the original watch,replaced it with a Saturday morning flea market special.
Greedy people in this world..I feel sorry for the family members that were going to inherit grandad's lifelong special piece. Sad story.

[asiparks]

Originally Posted by 1665fan

So someone stole the real watch and replaced it with the fake in the pictures????? And he never knew???? Man it keeps getting better

to 99.999% of normal people on this planet, a steel watch with a turny bezel thing and "Rolex" on the dial is the same as any other turny bezeled steel watch with Rolex written on it.
Quite plausible that the old guy had a Rolex back then, stuck it away in a drawer and, as long as he saw a silver watch when he opened the drawer, he was obliviously happy, unaware his scoundrel nephew had legged it with the original...

[1665fan]

Originally Posted by asiparks

to 99.999% of normal people on this planet, a steel watch with a turny bezel thing and "Rolex" on the dial is the same as any other turny bezeled steel watch with Rolex written on it.
Quite plausible that the old guy had a Rolex back then, stuck it away in a drawer and, as long as he saw a silver watch when he opened the drawer, he was obliviously happy, unaware his scoundrel nephew had legged it with the original...

Sure……..

[BrazenC5]

Sorry to hear your father in law may have been swindled. If you see a family member or family friend wearing a watch like this, you'll know who took it.

1969 Submariner



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[just1time]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

The weird thing is, per post #10, it’s a fake replica of a 1990s watch. Meaning that it has features of a watch that came much later than 1969. For example, the lume plots are surrounded by metal, which didn’t exist back in the 60s or 70s. So, if somebody truly faked to this watch back in the 60s, they would’ve had to “see the future” of what Rolex was going to do design-wise 20-30 years later. Not likely. Additionally, I don’t think these watches were faked back in the 60s.


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Back to The Future :)

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by just1time

Back to The Future :)

One of my top 10 movies of all time!


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[edisonstar23]

Sad to see that someone might of taken advantage and swap it.


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[Azadwatches]

Thanks for sharing. Unfortunately not real...

[Rori]

Originally Posted by Letsgodiving

I guess it's possible someone could have realized the value of the original and switched it out with a fake thinking the owner would not notice the difference. They are similar to an untrained eye. That would unfortunately point to a family member or close friend. Hopefully that's not the case

My exact thoughts!
Someone may have switched the original with a fake!


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[pablobaq]

Wow - sad story. and someone got away with a real watch who knows when...

[lear60man]

Were real Rolex's watches abundant in Vietnam in 1969?

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by lear60man

Were real Rolex's watches abundant in Vietnam in 1969?

Yes


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[Al1969]

So we have moved past grandfathers ‘handing down’ fakes.

[lear60man]

Originally Posted by southtexas

Yes

Learn something new every day.


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Originally Posted by Al1969

So we have moved past grandfathers ‘handing down’ fakes.

Got to admit...this thread has been entertaining to say the least.

[Oyster Al]

Originally Posted by lear60man

Were real Rolex's watches abundant in Vietnam in 1969?

That’s one of my favorite parts/eras of this hobby. Can you imagine what these guys went thru with their trusty subs and gmts on their wrists? It just gives me chills.

[AlabamaLawyer1988]

I bet DB Cooper had something to do with this.


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