London during the 1980’s how the the times have changed.

[Jcy90]

I was chatting with a buddy of mine’s father who lived in London during the early 1980’s he told me during those times the most popular models were 2 tone 36mm Datejusts and yellow gold Day-Dates. And that sourcing Day-Dates was actually rather difficult. He told me on the second hand market one could get two stainless GMT’s or Subs & even Daytona’s for the price of one 2 tone 36mm Datejust. Said people called the sports watches “the big ones” and they were undesirable. Insanity. Here is a photo of his 1984 Datejust that he wears daily since the very day he bought new from the AD. Crazy how times and the markets have changed.


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[thomaspp]

It’s a good reminder and I like to think dress watches and other will some day make a come back..... but a big part of me wonders if they ever will


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[Jcy90]

Originally Posted by thomaspp

It’s a good reminder and I like to think dress watches and other will some day make a come back..... but a big part of me wonders if they ever will


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I also asked my dad (same era only in NYC) and he confirmed the same trend was going on there too. Now his daily is a DJ41 2 tone on jubilee and tells me my 5 digit sports models look like $40 watches lmaooo

[huncho]

in nyc i see everyone wearing gold plated or two tone watches. i think the SS craze is only with WIS people

fashion wise 90s are making a comeback and so is gold

[Seaotter]

My father-in-law bought his 2nd Day-Date in 1970.
He received a steel Daytona for FREE !
He give it away to someone who worked for him.

[aczaja10]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

My father-in-law bought his 2nd Day-Date in 1970.
He received a steel Daytona for FREE !
He give it away to someone who worked for him.

That's pretty amazing and I love this thread. Pretty cool how these things change and then come back into style. I just bought a gold and black two tone GMT. I love it. Love the gold on the watch. I thought my affinity for gold was a function of my age. LOL!

[Jcy90]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

My father-in-law bought his 2nd Day-Date in 1970.
He received a steel Daytona for FREE !
He give it away to someone who worked for him.

No way!

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

My father-in-law bought his 2nd Day-Date in 1970.
He received a steel Daytona for FREE !
He give it away to someone who worked for him.

Yikes!


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[yannis]

Thanks for sharing. Nice DJ!

[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by Jcy90

No way!

Absolutely true !
And he still talks about the Daytona as an ugly strange thing, which you have to wind up by hand (manual wind). I told him that they are worth a lot nowadays, his reaction "they are crazy !".
Mid 80's I was a young boy, and I remember shop windows with 3 steel Rolex Daytona watches. The popularity of the Daytona started with the automatic Zenith 4030 movement.
There was even a (NEW) King Midas for sale for years & years (the same one that Elvis Presley owned).

Jcy90 You are absolutely right.

Times have changed !

PS
That's why I need a time travel machine !

[steeevvvooo]

Shows that you should buy what you can afford and love. Not what you can stretch to and want to speculate on.

[JackPine]

I grew up in the late 70s -early 80s. Im not sure if the styles and fashion trends will come back in style again. I like gold because I have always liked gold, its never been a trend for me.

The reason I don't thank that the styles will return is because I have not seen watch styles for the 40's and 50's return. I have my father's Elgin Delux watch from 1950 when he turned 20yrs. old. You talk about a small watch.

I think gold watches will be seen more as an investment in the distant future. Not too many people will be able to afford them.

[Jcy90]

Originally Posted by steeevvvooo

Shows that you should buy what you can afford and love. Not what you can stretch to and want to speculate on.

Agreed

[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by JackPine

I grew up in the late 70s -early 80s. Im not sure if the styles and fashion trends will come back in style again. I like gold because I have always liked gold, its never been a trend for me.

The reason I don't thank that the styles will return is because I have not seen watch styles for the 40's and 50's return. I have my father's Elgin Delux watch from 1950 when he turned 20yrs. old. You talk about a small watch.

I think gold watches will be seen more as an investment in the distant future. Not too many people will be able to afford them.

In the early 90's (here in the Netherlands) the rolex bubbleback was very popular and very expensive. Rolex sports watches / Professional totally not interesting.
I went to a second hand watch fair in 1989/90, the Tudor Submariner watches were thrown into a tray. Sold for prizes like HFL 350 / US$ 200.

[ArtNouveau]

My first Rolex was a SS Datejust, jubilee with fluted bezel, blue dial. Bought new for $975 in 1984. Traded in in for a similar two tone in 1986. Both are long gone and two tone’s not my bag anymore, but to think how timeless these watches can be. Makes all the histrionics to get a new one these days seem kind of silly.

[bayerische]

Originally Posted by Seaotter

My father-in-law bought his 2nd Day-Date in 1970.
He received a steel Daytona for FREE !
He give it away to someone who worked for him.

Well, I mean, like, who wants a Daytona anyway?

[77T]

Maybe the times have changed for those driven by fear of being out step with trendsetters. But the classics are still valued - DJ sales still surpass the “big ones”.

I’ve got love for mine...




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[Seaotter]

Originally Posted by 77T

Maybe the times have changed for those driven by fear of being out step with trendsetters. But the classics are still valued - DJ sales still surpass the “big ones”.

I’ve got love for mine...

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Engine turned bezel
I hope Rolex will bring them back..... someday.

[peterpl]

Everything in the world and in life in general works in cycles.

Life itself is a cycle, styles go in cycles and real estate and shares are all cyclic. Its just a question of when.

[LuminousMaximus]

I was only a wee lad then...

[AdamG]

Originally Posted by peterpl

Everything in the world and in life in general works in cycles.

Life itself is a cycle, styles go in cycles and real estate and shares are all cyclic. Its just a question of when.

Exactly!

[sgwatch]

I bought my first Rolex in 1983, a TT with champagne dial that was very common. Cost was $1,800. Got offered a YG day/date with black diamond dial the next year for $6,000, but thought it was a bit much (the look, and the price). Right! My how things have changed!

[DP63]

Originally Posted by 77T

Maybe the times have changed for those driven by fear of being out step with trendsetters. But the classics are still valued - DJ sales still surpass the “big ones”.

I’ve got love for mine...




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That bezel is stunning

[Evoss]

Dress watches back then were all the rave though. Like everything, the world goes inc circles and I presume one day we'll be back there again.

[timedate]

trust me, people in england are not as classy as they used to be, in general,

seeing somebody dressed nicely is getting scarce, dumbing down is winning,

why would people need dress watches when they cant even dress or converse properly?

If you showed a dress watch in london today you could be in mortal danger,

rumour has it that there are 'spotters' who look out for rolexes, and people can be targeted later when leaving a pub or club.

This goes for all high end watches and jewellery.


in 1980's london, the yuppies loved 911 3.2 or turbo, day-dates, red braces and filofaxes.

i love old ways and styles, nice watch, thanks for showing and good story.

[Swearengen]

Brits not well dressed

[Harry-57]

I worked in London in the 80s during the Rolex bling era. Anyone who was anyone in sales and marketing wore their fake yellow Rolex with pride. The people in top tier management and finance tended to own the genuine articles and didn't tend to flash them about. And wore them on bracelets of an appropriate length.

[AK797]

Sports craze is fuelled by SM with its drive for everyone to be forever younger and prettier and trendier. Dress watches will always struggle against that.

[ExPADIdiver]

In the 80's, the 36mm Datejust on a Jubilee TT or Steel was "The" Rolex to have. Right or Wrong. Smaller and thinner, the better back then.

[jaySL350]

Originally Posted by Swearengen

Brits not well dressed

Ha ha,,, “ karate chop old chap “ lol
Gotta love “ Jason King “ aka Peter Wyngarde,,,
Day date and Dj two tone were the 80s
Kings,,,


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