'78 Birth Year Options...

[Grumpy Badger]

Hi guys.

I'm after some options to be thrown into the pot for the purchase of a birth year watch.
My current 14060m is my only Rolex and I'm happy to knock merry hell out of it every day, but I've caught the vintage bug BAD!
I figure I might as well kill two birds with one stone and go for a birth year for my first vintage and I'd appreciate your thoughts/pics...

My initial leaning was to a Root Beer and that is currently top of my hit list but I'm not rushing into this so it's worth looking at all the options. I'm only interested in true tool watches so only Exp, ExpII, Sub, SD, and GMTs please!

Cost wouldn't be the most important factor but I don't know if reds/double reds would even be an option for '78...

The DREAM would be a MilSub but, when I say cost isn't the most important factor not being gelded by the Long-Haired General for spending every penny I've got on a watch IS!

I know the whole "serial number/date thing" isn't an exact science but can you advise what would give the best possible chance of it being a '78?

Thanks, Mark.

[matt4hand]

I would go for a white 1680. They can be found for under $5,000. I miss mine that Eric88 stole(bought) from me. As for the serial number I think you are looking around 5.75 mil and 6.25 million. I think that will get you right in the ball park.

[Grumpy Badger]

Originally Posted by matt4hand

I would go for a white 1680. They can be found for under $5,000. I miss mine that Eric88 stole(bought) from me. As for the serial number I think you are looking around 5.75 mil and 6.25 million. I think that will get you right in the ball park.

Would you say it would be as simple as looking for the closest I could to 6 6mil to give the best chance of a '78, then?

[MonBK]

I'd say between 5.2 - 5.7 would be accurate for a 78.

[BH13GMT]

Mark

you are lucky you were not born the red zone, if you go for a 1680 it will be a lot cheaper.
I think the GMT Pepsi would be a nice alternative to the 14060 you already have. Both can be had for under £5k. Seadwellers will be big bucks but you will be buying a very rare watch.

[buffy]

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<------------------- A 1680, 78, with VB clasp code! but I am not selling mine!

[Michael M.]

A 1680 White or 1675 would be the cheapest, or even a 1016.

[alanski]

from my knowledge 1978 is circa 5.2 to 5.9 million
but then again all depends what guidlines you are using

sold this full set 1680 two weeks ago from 1978
5.6mill bang on 1978 manufacture
and erm im in cold ass scotland too :-)

theres a few watches from 1978 manufacture , 1680 , 1675 , 1665, 1655 and the 5513
seeing as you already have a nd subby id go for one of the others




heres my other own one from 1978 bought from the widow of original owner 5.7 mill
pic taken when i got it earlier in the yr too just back from rsc london ,



my fave watch a 1665 there can be no other ,



trusty old 1655 gone but not forgotten



a nice maxi 5513 cant go wrong ever with a 5513 in any form



this one thrown in for good measure

[eparisini]

I'd say a 1665 mk1 or Rail

[Grumpy Badger]

Thanks for the replies, fellas!

I think you are helping to clarify my thoughts...

Love the thought of a 1016, don't see many around but not silly money.

I'm actually GUTTED that I don't fit into the Red Zone... I love them, they are rare and while on the pricey side, they aren't CRAZY money.

Exp II... Am I right that the orange hand is merely a glorified 24 hour indicator and can't be used for a second time zone?

1680's getting a lot of love (and rightly so) but I'm just not feelin' it.

The 'dwellers are gorgeous... Can I trouble you for ball-park prices?

As to GMT, I know the Pepsi is an icon, but I always wanted to be Clint Eastwood more than Tom Selleck! The Root Beer is still the GMT for me... Am I right in thinking I'd have the choice of maxi or nipple dials for '78?

Thanks again!

[The Joker]

Hi Mark, not that I'm gonna be much help to you here, as not that knowledgable about vintage.

But I just can't understand the sentiment about owing a birth year watch. Why let that restrict what watch you can buy. And with some of the serial numbers quoted here can you be absolutely sure that it was made in 1978. What does that actually mean anyway. When the case was made, when the movement was assembled, when it left the factory?

If it is a watch that you want and the price is right why does it matter if it is made in 1978 or 1973? So if the red sub is what you want I'd go with that.

[Grumpy Badger]

Valid point, Wes mate!

I suppose I don't really know why I want a birth year, I guess I just have it in my head that it's kinda cool!

With the root beer or the 1016 I guess I would just feel that they are watches I really like in their own right and, if I was to buy one anyway, I might as well make it seem that little bit more special by having a birth year.

As far as the Reds go, I've never been a fan of the cyclops, especially on black dialed watches, so I'd then be into Double Red SD territory. If I was spending that kind of dough, it would be easier (in my own "speshule" world) to justify if it had the added relevance to me.

Like the majority of folks money is a bit of a limiting factor in my watch purchases but I also have it in my head that I don't want to own "a lot" of watches... I'm not sure the exact number I'd be happy with but I think it would be 2-5, tops. As a result of this I'd like each watch to tick as many of my boxes as possible in one go. (ie a Root Beer would potentially give me vintage/birth year, TT, GMT function all in one watch rather than having 3 to fulfil those wants)

Hope that makes a bit of sense!

[tuonor]

According to doubleredseadweller.com, the DRSDs go to a ~5.2mm serial which some will consider a '78 and others will not. It can be helpful to look at clasp codes as well if the bracelet is original since all of this is triangulation. No-one knows for sure so if you can find a watch you are happy with and the serial is close enough to believe, go for it!

On the birth year thing, I'd tend to agree its a bit over-rated. I started in vintage on that path, and it took literally months to find to find a single example from '74. I eventually found a 5513 (not surprisingly the most common reference). However, after enjoying the 5513 for a while, I decided I'd rather have the best possible example (or perhaps most interesting variant) of a reference then restrict myself to a specific year. Its obviously a personal thing -- but thats my take.

[toph]

personally, without spending an obscene amount i would go with the root beer or a pepsi 1675.

[alanski]

the 1665 is my personal favourite watch it optimises what a rolex dive watch should be and it has a date to boot

the 1675/3 rootbeers have a cyclops too you know that right ?

all depends on budget but my advice is take you time , look to try as many peices as possible and then decide later on ,

the one that makes you smile the most will be the one you will buy

Al

[Grumpy Badger]

Yip, I know the GMTs have the cyclops but for some reason it doesn't bother me as much on the Root Beer... Don't know why but, to my eye, it seems to blend in better than it does on the black faced watches.

[cruvon]

I love the Rootbeer and Pepsi! There are offcourse the Daytonas too you could look at for 78.

[Warnsboy]

Originally Posted by Grumpy Badger

Thanks for the replies, fellas!

I think you are helping to clarify my thoughts...

Love the thought of a 1016, don't see many around but not silly money.

I'm actually GUTTED that I don't fit into the Red Zone... I love them, they are rare and while on the pricey side, they aren't CRAZY money.

Exp II... Am I right that the orange hand is merely a glorified 24 hour indicator and can't be used for a second time zone?

1680's getting a lot of love (and rightly so) but I'm just not feelin' it.

The 'dwellers are gorgeous... Can I trouble you for ball-park prices?

As to GMT, I know the Pepsi is an icon, but I always wanted to be Clint Eastwood more than Tom Selleck! The Root Beer is still the GMT for me... Am I right in thinking I'd have the choice of maxi or nipple dials for '78?

Thanks again!

Only Nipples in 78 on the Root Beer