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Old 1 May 2017, 06:14 PM   #1
nuno116600
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1655 or 1665, which is more rare?

I am thinking of buying a good vintage watch and found two that I really like.
One is a 1972 explorer 2 1655 MK-2, straight second hand. The other is a 1977 SD MK-1 with nice ghost dial. Both seem to be in original state and in very good condition. Price are similar at around USD 20,000.
I really like the ghost dial of the SD, but wanted to know which is more rare and valuable and might go up in price in the future.


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Old 1 May 2017, 10:16 PM   #2
Gina Marie
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I think they are roughly the same in regard to production numbers but I think the 1665 has a better future due to its size. 1655 is a little smaller. People today prefer a larger watch... hence the 1665 has better legs.
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Old 1 May 2017, 11:11 PM   #3
Sky21
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I would be careful about buying solely for possible future price appreciation, you are setting yourself up for lots of worry and potential disappointment that way. I would focus on which one you enjoy more right now. They are both somewhat rare and if the price is similar and both are original, then buy the one that speaks to you more. I prefer the SD myself and I do love the bezel on the example you posted as well.
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Old 1 May 2017, 11:11 PM   #4
KarlFr
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I prefer my 1655 because its thinner and goes nicely under a shirt. Your 1655 is also a straight hand, bit harder to find than a Mk1 SD I think.

Try them both on and see which one makes you smile
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Old 1 May 2017, 11:45 PM   #5
nuno116600
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Thank you for your advice. The delema is that I like the SD MK-1 more than the 1655 beause of the ghost besel, but think that it should be cheaper than the 1655 straight second hand. I have not seen many SD GW priced above 20K.
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Old 2 May 2017, 01:41 AM   #6
jdmi32
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Sheesh, 20K for either of these? I have both exact models but man, those prices are sky high.

IMO, fewer 1665s were made than 1655s and currently the 1655 carries a slight premium, especially considering that it's a straight hand. Just get the one that you like most, but for sure I'd negotiate like crazy. Future appreciation is a guessing game for all of us, but if I had to guess, I'd say that in five or ten years, SD prices will outpace the Exp II.
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Old 2 May 2017, 03:23 AM   #7
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I've just flipped my 1665 partly because of the size and the ridiculous prices. The problem with the 1655 is finding an all original one i.e. matching dial, bezel, hands etc.
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Old 2 May 2017, 03:34 AM   #8
1675-David
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I have an average sized wrist and the 1665 is way too bulky for my taste. I had the opportunity to get a nice example a few years ago but passed after trying it out for an afternoon. On my wrist the bulk makes it vulnerable for getting bashed into things in a way the slimmer altogether more svelte 1680, 1675 and 1655 aren't. The 1655 is a gorgeous timepiece and a bit under the radar from a Rolex point of view.
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Old 2 May 2017, 04:23 AM   #9
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The 1655 all day long ... and that's coming from a lover/owner of vintage Subs and SDs. There's nothing else like the 1655. So unique, so funky fresh 1970s. Orange hand pops, and the dial is super retro cool. My guess would be that fewer were made than the SDs. Just a guess, though, based on the popularity of the classic Sub/SD look through the decades.

The 1665s, while stunning, are Subs on steroids. I've owned and loved a couple of them, but to anyone but the WIS community, they're Subs, and quite common. My 1655 is the only vintage Rolex that I've gotten comments about in the wild, and I've been wearing them for a quarter-century.

All that said, get the one that sings to you. They're both amazing.
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Old 2 May 2017, 04:29 AM   #10
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I'm not sure which is more rare but I was hunting them for a good half year to a year before I found my examples.....I'd say they are definitely on the rare spectrum for vintage Rolex pieces (nice examples)....but not the uber rare like some of the pieces that go for $30k+ like tiffany pieces/comex/daytonas etc. While I think the 1665 is a great watch and wears nicely (maybe I'm too used to modern pieces, but I think it wears very well).....I'd agree the 1655 is definitely more unique and think the value will keep climbing for good examples of these (especially like the one you posted, good taste I also picked up an older early 70's mk1 with straight second hand). I was NOT A fan of the 1655 and one of my vintage enablers kept saying it would grow on me and he'll wait for that day.....hate to say he told me so but he was so right.
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Old 2 May 2017, 04:45 AM   #11
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I think $20k for either is entirely too expensive...
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Old 2 May 2017, 07:03 AM   #12
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Quote:
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I think $20k for either is entirely too expensive...
It'll seem like a bargain soon enough. Have prices ever actually dropped for high-end vintage Rolex sports models? The market perhaps has gone up and down a wee bit through the years, but in general, prices climb and climb. And yes, they're all too expensive.
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Old 2 May 2017, 08:00 AM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swish77 View Post
It'll seem like a bargain soon enough. Have prices ever actually dropped for high-end vintage Rolex sports models? The market perhaps has gone up and down a wee bit through the years, but in general, prices climb and climb. And yes, they're all too expensive.
Agreed, they're all way too expensive but as long as watches that pop up for large premiums get scooped up like hot potatoe in less than 24 hrs....it'll keep climbing....ask me how I know (a noob that got sucked into vintage in the last half year and have paid dearly for it lol).
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Old 2 May 2017, 08:30 AM   #14
nuno116600
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Thank you very much for all the information.
I guess one reason the vintage prices have gone up steeply is because every thing around us is becoming digitalized and people want to cling on to the good old days more and more.
This is a difficult decision, but the fun part.



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Old 2 May 2017, 08:53 AM   #15
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Might be a kissing 40 insert on the 1665. That brings a bit of a premium. In all honesty you can find a nice rail dial 1665 for way under 20k.

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Old 2 May 2017, 10:00 AM   #16
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@ nuno116600
Just a couple of comments: (1) Before you jump into the vintage market, take time and research various brands and their models/references as well as the production years. During this investigation you’ll start to understand what you like, and more importantly, WHY you like it. This segues into point (2) Buy what appeals to you, not what others prefer and certainly not for supposed (speculative) price appreciation.

Lastly, collectors don’t buy vintage watches to somehow replicate “the good old days” (whatever that means), instead collectors feel a strong connection to the brands they acquire. They become immersed in the intricacies of how and why a particular timepiece was developed (The Rolex Explorer, for example). It’s through this prolonged analysis that the collector begins to understand what is truly special and rare, and importantly how to determine condition and how to spot a fake.
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Old 2 May 2017, 10:04 AM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swish77 View Post
It'll seem like a bargain soon enough. Have prices ever actually dropped for high-end vintage Rolex sports models? The market perhaps has gone up and down a wee bit through the years, but in general, prices climb and climb. And yes, they're all too expensive.
You are right....its just crazy to think $20k is the norm for a nice example of either reference....A sad reality....Quickly becoming out of reach for people like myself...
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Old 2 May 2017, 05:22 PM   #18
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Both are nice vintage pieces.
Find a place where you can try both. Otherwise you could be dissapointed with yourself if you spend 20k and then don't feel in love with what you bought.

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Old 3 May 2017, 03:25 PM   #19
nuno116600
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Quote:
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Both are nice vintage pieces.
Find a place where you can try both. Otherwise you could be dissapointed with yourself if you spend 20k and then don't feel in love with what you bought.

Enviado desde mi SM-G950F mediante Tapatalk


IMG_1711.jpgIMG_1718.jpgIMG_1716.jpg

I went to the shop and tried both.
The SD Ghost fail really appealed to me.
Thank you all for your advice.



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Old 3 May 2017, 03:41 PM   #20
Gina Marie
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I hate to say it but the 1655 looks like a super strong case......better then the 1665....
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Old 4 May 2017, 05:12 AM   #21
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Wow, they're both stunning! I don't suppose you can buy both, can you?

Not sure you can go wrong either way. That insert of the 1665 is drool-worthy, but I'd still argue the 1655 is more special. If I had to nit-pick ... I don't like the crown guards on the SD. They're too polished for my liking. At this price point I'd want a stronger case on the 1665.

Get what sings to you!
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Old 4 May 2017, 05:42 AM   #22
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That insert on the 1665 is perfect IMO.....what a beauty. People here are super picky about cases, I respect that....but in reality it's also a very strong case and the dial/insert is exquisite. I'm going to agree with swish77 and do the 1655 just because it rocks more of a vintage vibe imo.....but if diver is more your thing, that 1665 is no slouch.
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Old 4 May 2017, 08:16 AM   #23
nuno116600
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Quote:
Originally Posted by swish77 View Post
Wow, they're both stunning! I don't suppose you can buy both, can you?

Not sure you can go wrong either way. That insert of the 1665 is drool-worthy, but I'd still argue the 1655 is more special. If I had to nit-pick ... I don't like the crown guards on the SD. They're too polished for my liking. At this price point I'd want a stronger case on the 1665.

Get what sings to you!


I wish I had the money to buy both. As you say, the case and every thing about it is perfect. It is very hard to find a perfect vintage watch these days. Thank you for your advice!


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Old 4 May 2017, 08:23 AM   #24
nuno116600
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Quote:
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That insert on the 1665 is perfect IMO.....what a beauty. People here are super picky about cases, I respect that....but in reality it's also a very strong case and the dial/insert is exquisite. I'm going to agree with swish77 and do the 1655 just because it rocks more of a vintage vibe imo.....but if diver is more your thing, that 1665 is no slouch.


Yes, I just fell in love with the ghost dial. I it made me smile. I have a 116600 so I will have two some what rare sea dwellers.


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Old 4 May 2017, 06:01 PM   #25
nuno116600
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Well, I just bought a 79's 1665 MK-4 dial with ghost insert today.
Thank you all for all your advice.
Here's some pictures with my SD 4K.
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File Type: jpg 2.jpg (93.0 KB, 627 views)
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Old 4 May 2017, 07:56 PM   #26
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congratulations !

the fact that you already own a dweller would have been enough for me to aquire the explorer...
very funky watch, under the radar and the straight hand is becoming very scarce if you ask me
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Old 4 May 2017, 08:17 PM   #27
nuno116600
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congratulations !

the fact that you already own a dweller would have been enough for me to aquire the explorer...
very funky watch, under the radar and the straight hand is becoming very scarce if you ask me


Thank you. It was a hard decision. As you can see same SD but totally different.


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Old 4 May 2017, 09:43 PM   #28
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Good move - both are beauties but SD just has that extra little edge! Enjoy!
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Old 4 May 2017, 10:22 PM   #29
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Nice SD, congrats!!
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Old 4 May 2017, 10:46 PM   #30
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That 1665 is excellent! Congrats!
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