1655 Steve McQueen's value

[Alexhay1989]

Curious, why are these going up in value so fast? Wasn't that long ago that you could pick one up between 10-12k!

[05carbondrz]

Everything has gone up that much in the past few years.Nice Matte 5513’s can bring 20K,Same with 1675’s.

[Shaka2015]

Haven't these always been expensive?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Greg5512]

They aren’t “Steve McQueens”

They are 1655 explorer 2s

No association whatsoever with Steve McQueen

[elitejae]

Originally Posted by Greg5512

They aren’t “Steve McQueens”

They are 1655 explorer 2s

No association whatsoever with Steve McQueen

I thought they are colloquially known as that, similar to "Paul Newman" and "Batman"?

Or is your point we shouldn't be using colloquialisms?

[capote]

Originally Posted by elitejae

I thought they are colloquially known as that, similar to "Paul Newman" and "Batman"?

Or is your point we shouldn't be using colloquialisms?

The point is that the association with Steve McQueen is phony. It was an attempt to create hype around the 1655. Its a great watch in its own right though. (McQueen famously wore a Submariner).

[SubKing]

True, Still no proof McQueen ever wore a 1655.. So not sure exactly how that nickname ever started.

To the OP, I wouldn't say they were bringing 10 to 12k not long ago.. More like 14 to 16k range depending on era and condition. They have always been pricey. But now expect north of 20k for a nice example regardless of rail dial or not. The market is a hot one in general right now.

[saskmh]

Originally Posted by capote

The point is that the association with Steve McQueen is phony. It was an attempt to create hype around the 1655. Its a great watch in its own right though. (McQueen famously wore a Submariner).

This^^... It always irks me when people call it a McQueen...

But what can you do... we also have spider dials, stardust dials, lava dials, etc. All sales hype that is BS.

[Dan S]

Personally, I think that recently, 1655 prices have gone up LESS quickly compared to other matte-dial 1970s sport models. I remember a time in recent memory where 1655s were selling for $15k and 1675 and 5513 models were selling for half of that, or less. Now they are much closer in price.

[sensui]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Personally, I think that recently, 1655 prices have gone up LESS quickly compared to other matte-dial 1970s sport models. I remember a time in recent memory where 1655s were selling for $15k and 1675 and 5513 models were selling for half of that, or less. Now they are much closer in price.

This is what I've seen.

[mineral]

The explorer 1655 has 70s funky design, must see in person to appreciate its beauty


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Personally, I think that recently, 1655 prices have gone up LESS quickly compared to other matte-dial 1970s sport models. I remember a time in recent memory where 1655s were selling for $15k and 1675 and 5513 models were selling for half of that, or less. Now they are much closer in price.

X2 1655 haven't appreciated to the same degree as other sports models,

as far as the "McQueen" moniker goes, every time the "McQueen" name is used to describe a 1655 it causes an avalanche of posts pointing out there is no connection between the man and the watch. But there is more, crab stick for instance, what's up with that? Crabs have never been used to make crab stick!!! and the American Bald Eagle! Hallo, it's not bald, in fact it's got a full head of healthy feathers...really! I can go on, tin foil for example, made of aluminum, panama hats- are from Equador, Strawberries aren’t berries and neither are blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. Paris’s Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in the city, but its name still means “new bridge” and The Isle of Dogs in central London isn’t an island. Bombay duck is a fish, and the Babylonians had an understanding of the Pythagorean Theorem more than 1000 years before Pythagoras was born!

So the point I'm making is this. If everyone understand what you are talking about when using the McQueen label why all the drama?

[Dr. Robert]

I refer to this watch as il freccione

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

[donq]

Originally Posted by SubKing

True, Still no proof McQueen ever wore a 1655.. So not sure exactly how that nickname ever started.

This just in...no proof WHATSOEVER that Batman actually wore a GMTII!

Also...The Hulk wears a Seiko.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by donq

This just in...no proof WHATSOEVER that Batman actually wore a GMTII!

Also...The Hulk wears a Seiko.

Batman and hulk are nicknames drawn from a color scheme.. what does Steve McQueen have to do with a 1655? It doesn’t make sense and is actually not a clever nickname. I truly am in the camp that feels the “McQueen” thing was started to create more hype around a reference that was always a slow seller.

I own a 1655 and I am not trying to bash or bolster this reference. I love it. But the McQueen thing is a real head scratcher

[uncleluck]

I’m quite intrigued by the McQueen thing now. I’d always assumed it came from him wearing one.

So why would someone randomly just start saying McQueen wore one?

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by saskmh

stardust dials

I actually saw one this past week. What is that about? The dial looked ruined, don't make up it's the galaxy.

[jerryguo]

saw this from bob's watch regarding the naming:

"Additionally, the watch also acquired the “Steve McQueen” nickname due to a Rolex advertising campaign that featured the famous Hollywood actor. However, it should be noted that no proof exists that McQueen ever actually owned or wore this particular model; instead most photographs show the actor wearing a reference 5513 Submariner in his personal life."

Originally Posted by uncleluck

I’m quite intrigued by the McQueen thing now. I’d always assumed it came from him wearing one.

So why would someone randomly just start saying McQueen wore one?

[stmoore]

He wore a 5512 and didn’t have a 1655.

Originally Posted by 1675-David

X2 1655 haven't appreciated to the same degree as other sports models,

as far as the "McQueen" moniker goes, every time the "McQueen" name is used to describe a 1655 it causes an avalanche of posts pointing out there is no connection between the man and the watch. But there is more, crab stick for instance, what's up with that? Crabs have never been used to make crab stick!!! and the American Bald Eagle! Hallo, it's not bald, in fact it's got a full head of healthy feathers...really! I can go on, tin foil for example, made of aluminum, panama hats- are from Equador, Strawberries aren’t berries and neither are blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries. Paris’s Pont Neuf is the oldest bridge in the city, but its name still means “new bridge” and The Isle of Dogs in central London isn’t an island. Bombay duck is a fish, and the Babylonians had an understanding of the Pythagorean Theorem more than 1000 years before Pythagoras was born!

So the point I'm making is this. If everyone understand what you are talking about when using the McQueen label why all the drama?

[BrazenC5]

Originally Posted by stmoore

He wore a 5512 and didn’t have a 1655.

Little late to the party. ;)

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

[stmoore]

Originally Posted by BrazenC5

Little late to the party. ;)

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

“and the American Bald Eagle! Hallo, it's not bald, in fact it's got a full head of healthy feathers”

Just doubling down on the apples vs dump trucks.

[Greg5512]

He never wore one, it’s bs, it’s not true, it’s not interesting or intriguing it was made up. And there is no Rolex ad campaign with him wearing one.

Why the “drama?” Because it’s not true. And every so often someone has to stir the pot with the false assertions. Presumably to create forum drama. Or bolster a watch they want to sell.

Please. It’s not true and re-treaded bs.

[1675-David]

This is what is so fun about vintage Rolex watches, "The McQueen" 1655 is not only a super cool and sexy watch, (a bit like the man himself) it's an enigma, a misnomer, an oxymoron and a contradiction. It's a room divider, a trouble maker, a loner and a stirrer that never fails to wake strong feelings when ever and where ever it turns up on a forum.

It's not surprising that they command such a hefty price tag, but in response to the OP's question, not as fast as other sports models

[mineral]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

This is what is so fun about vintage Rolex watches, "The McQueen" 1655 is not only a super cool and sexy watch, (a bit like the man himself) it's an enigma, a misnomer, an oxymoron and a contradiction. It's a room divider, a trouble maker, a loner and a stirrer that never fails to wake strong feelings when ever and where ever it turns up on a forum.



It's not surprising that they command such a hefty price tag, but in response to the OP's question, not as fast as other sports models

Totally agreed with you mate!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by mineral

Totally agreed with you mate!




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

That watch is simply gorgeous, no matter what you call it

[lhanddds]

Sold mine 10 years ago for $20K so these figures are not new for a 1655.

[uncleluck]

Originally Posted by Greg5512

He never wore one, it’s bs, it’s not true, it’s not interesting or intriguing it was made up. And there is no Rolex ad campaign with him wearing one.

Why the “drama?” Because it’s not true. And every so often someone has to stir the pot with the false assertions. Presumably to create forum drama. Or bolster a watch they want to sell.

Please. It’s not true and re-treaded bs.

I didn’t see any ‘drama’ until just then to be honest

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Alexhay1989

Curious, why are these going up in value so fast? Wasn't that long ago that you could pick one up between 10-12k!

It's been a long, long time since 1655s were that price, even bad/mediocre examples. They've been consistently in the $16K-$22K and up range for awhile, depending on condition, originality, boxes/papers, etc ...

They are now increasing again, and good examples, especially straight-hand MKIs, are being listed in the mid-$20Ks. But I agree with the above that the increase has not been as much as some other sports models. For example, in years past red 1680s were always less than 1655s. That's not always the case now. I'm baffled by it because the 1655 is the coolest vintage Rolex with the date feature, IMHO. Unique, funky and screams 1970s. I find them very under-rated. Here's my "frog-foot" MKII.

[spoilsofwar01]

Enough Said.....

[swish77]

Originally Posted by spoilsofwar01

Enough Said.....

Are you sure you're in the right thread? The OP was asking about 1655 prices.