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Pleased Friday, and welcome again to Carry A Loupe! With Watches and Wonders kicking off subsequent week, at present’s article can be your final dispatch from the land of classic, for now. We’ll be skipping our weekly column subsequent Friday amidst the insanity. If something superb pops up on eBay or elsewhere, I am going to you should definitely report the information the week after subsequent.
Talking of reporting, I am delighted to search out that each one 5 picks from final week have discovered a brand new wrist and/or pocket! The, to steal the phrases of commenter barrykm, “breathtakingly lovely” Patek Philippe ref. 1589J has been marked as offered; the asking value was $20,850. Our Cartier “pocket gambler” went for £2,200 at Chorley’s Auctioneers. Over on LoupeThis, the malachite-dialed Vacheron Constantin offered for $11,000. And on Ebay, somebody hit the Purchase It Now on the ex-Hodinkee Store Mulco at $2,500 and the Movado Ermeto triple calendar offered for $1,563.63.
And let’s get into this week’s picks!
1969 Omega Speedmaster Ref. 145.022-69BA Offered to NASA Astronaut Gus Grissom
So you might have heard the information of Neil Armstrong’s commemorative Omega Speedmaster developing for public sale with an estimate of $2,000,000+, nicely right here we’ve got one other instance from the run of NASA Astronaut-linked, gold Speedies.

Nicely, let’s rewind and set the scene. You may additionally have heard that the Omega Speedmaster went to the moon on the wrists of Apollo 11 astronauts in 1969. NASA’s choosing of the Speedmaster modified the watch world ceaselessly and, even then, Omega thought it was a giant deal. To have fun, they turned their newest mannequin, Speedmaster, gold and kicked off the manufacturing run with both 28 or 34 (relying on who you ask) commemorative watches.
Gold Speedie #1 and quantity 2 had been provided as presents to the President and Vice President of america, Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew, respectively, however had been turned down because the watches had been “too priceless.” Watches numbered 3 to twenty-eight had been offered to NASA astronauts who achieved an area mission. On November 25, 1969, an Astronaut Appreciation Dinner was held in Houston, and the watches had been doled out. So, precisely 26 of those Omegas got to NASA astronauts at that dinner; we all know that quantity to be true.

2023 was a wild yr for these watches, coated on Hodinkee again then, seven of the 26 offered all inside months of one another. Costs had been in every single place as collectors determined which astronaut meant extra of a premium and, extra typically, how a lot one in all these watches is value — I imagine the monetary gurus name this a whipsaw. The instance we’ve got at present was one of many seven out there again in 2023, when it offered for $375,000 at RR Auctions.
Virgil “Gus” Grissom was one in all seven “unique” astronauts, dubbed the Mercury Seven. Grissom holds the distinctions of being each the second American in house (Liberty Bell 7, 1961) and the primary man to go to house twice (Gemini 3, 1965). Tragically, he and his fellow astronauts Ed White and Roger Chaffee had been killed in a cabin hearth throughout a pre-launch take a look at on January 27, 1967, prepping for the Apollo 1 mission. Grissom’s household obtained the watch in Houston in 1969, accepting it on his behalf, and it stayed within the household for years.

The jury remains to be out on Armstrong’s Speedie, the public sale ends on April seventeenth. This one, out there now, is barely much less traditionally vital however might see an increase in curiosity due to the assumed massive quantity that the Armstrong instance finally ends up going for.
The vendor, Adam Golden of Menta Watches in Miami, has listed Gus Grissom’s ref. 145.022-69BA to his web site. It’s “Value Upon Request” and upon requesting, I discovered the value to be $415,000. You possibly can view the itemizing in full proper right here.
2007 Rolex GMT-Grasp Ref. 116718LN In 18k Yellow Gold

From one commemorative all-gold sports activities watch to the subsequent, I’ve at all times had a gentle spot in my vintage-leaning coronary heart for the fiftieth anniversary Rolex GMT-Grasp in yellow gold with a deep “Rolex” inexperienced dial. You may already be scrolling as a result of “tHIs ISn’t VinTAge, RicH!” however guess what? It is 20 years outdated and technically, on the planet of collectibles, that is all it takes for one thing to be “classic.” I am nicely conscious of the frequent definitions for classic watches far pre-dating 2005, don’t fret. Simply having a bit of enjoyable. However perhaps my thoughts is on trendy Rolex with 2025’s releases to hit the press wire subsequent Tuesday. Okay, I am carried out explaining why I put this watch right here, in the event you do not prefer it, please transfer to my subsequent decide.
Classic or not, it is a nice, nice watch. I want this precise remedy was how Rolex celebrated all of its sports activities mannequin anniversaries. All of it makes excellent sense given the skilled instrument watch to luxurious watch transition that the model has gone by over the previous half century plus. The all-gold, closely polished case and bracelet paired with the distinctive inexperienced dial leads to one thing that’s so “trendy Rolex” that I simply have to understand it. A strong gold GMT-Grasp is a glance however that is one I’d proudly put on.



When you think about the pricing for different ceramic-bezeled Rolex and trendy Rolex generally, this reference has at all times appeared extraordinarily nicely priced within the pre-owned market. Frequently buying and selling below $40,000, whereas that may be a massive quantity, you would be onerous pressed to search out one thing else from the Crown that’s this engaging and, as a plus, it has a little bit of a narrative behind it as a result of anniversary connection — I can think about that story will age nicely.
The vendor, Curtis of Gray and Patina in San Fransisco, has listed this Rolex ref. 116718LN to his web site with an asking value of $39,500. Get all the particulars proper right here.
Sixties Rolex Oyster Perpetual Ref. 1002 With Shiny Gilt Dial

A pleasant palette cleanser in the event you had been appalled by the final decide, this Sixties Oyster Perpetual is definitely fairly unusual and onerous to search out in nice situation. For classic Rolex collectors, you are inclined to both lean in direction of the later matte dials for his or her iconic flat look or you’re drawn into the “old skool” manufacturing technique of the shiny “gilt” dials of Stern Freres Creations. I am the latter and, with that, I maintain a eager eye on gilt Rolex available in the market. Discovering a watch with one in all these dials with out “matteing” — the place age makes the gloss end fade to extra of a matte look — or scratches from clumsy servicing is extremely tough.
Oyster Perpetuals like this ref. 1002 are probably the most accessible of all Rolex gilt dials. Datejusts are inclined to commerce extra in direction of $10k than they do $5k and once you transfer into the sports activities fashions, nice gilt examples development above $20k simply. However with the OP you get many of the dial appeal, a slim Oyster case, and that basic classic Rolex look with out digging too far into your piggy financial institution.

Situation right here seems to be strong. The dial seems good and shiny within the solar and the case is powerful. Fitted on a period-correct-at-least rivet Oyster bracelet, it is a full package deal. The supply right here is nice, a vendor who has dealt with extra classic Rolex than simply about anybody. If that is your factor, it might be some time earlier than you discover one other one.
The vendor, Carl of Veralet Watches, has listed this gilt-dialed Rolex OP by way of the Pushers.io app with an asking value of $5,500. Test it out proper right here.
Sixties Eterna Tremendous Kontiki Ref. 130 FTP-3

I am unashamed to inform you proper now that the rest of this week’s choice all have shiny gilt dials, sue me. In 1947, a Norwegian explorer named Thor Heyerdahl and a crew of 5 drifted a balsa-wood raft, known as “Kon-Tiki,” from Peru to the Polynesian Islands. This begs the query: Why? Nicely, there was a thesis that Polynesia was settled from the east reasonably than the west. By drifting this path for 101 days, simply as people would have been able to doing centuries in the past, Heyerdahl and his crew proved this principle potential.
Heyerdahl’s journey was a giant deal again then and obtained quite a lot of press. We’re speaking concerning the years proper after World Struggle II and many years of wars world wide. The Kon-Tiki journey aimed to remind the world of human’s inherent want to discover. It was a really feel good story again within the day.

In basic watch model vogue, Eterna claimed that members of the Kon-Tiki crew wore one in all its watches. This has by no means been confirmed however what we all know to be true is that Eterna began making water resistant watches bearing the identify Kontiki in 1958. By 1960, the Tremendous-Kontiki was launched as Eterna’s flagship dive watch. These Tremendous-Kontiki are tremendous nicely made and have a novel dial structure with massive arrow-shaped luminous indices and “12,” “6,” and “9” numerals left non-luminous inside their respective markers.
Right here we’ve got a pleasant instance of the third technology, ref. 130 FTP-3, Tremendous-KonTiki. You actually should be careful for reluming in these watches, this one seem to hold its unique materials. It is a classic dive watch that the majority classic lovers have by no means seen earlier than, constructed to the identical requirements as one thing like a Submariner or Seamaster 300 of the interval. Plus, the unique “brick-link” bracelets, just like the one right here, had been supplied by Homosexual Frères.

An eBay vendor in Hollywood, Florida, has listed this Eterna Tremendous-Kontiki for public sale, ending on Wednesday, April 2nd at 9:00 am ET. On the time of publication, no bids had been positioned on the opening provide of $5,900. Get all the particulars proper right here.
Sixties Titus Calypsomatic “Mid-Measurement” Ref. 7987

The Titus Calypsomatic is one other lesser-known classic dive possibility. I am going to say this, the construct high quality shouldn’t be as excessive because the Eterna Tremendous-Kontiki however that may be a excessive bar. Made in a spread of sizes, the Calypsomatic is the most effective different to the Rolex “Huge Crown” Submariner ref. 6538 for manner, manner much less. Plenty of the identical particulars are current from the shiny gilt dials to the large guard-less crown and the big triangle at 12 o’clock on the bezel. It is the identical search for exponentially much less.
A real challenge eBay discover, this ref. 7987 is within the article as a result of the dial seems to be so, so good. A slight trace of tropical ageing will be seen by the crazed crystal, that is the type of watch you purchase with some threat because it would not look nice now. However my seasoned eBay eye is telling me that with some TLC, a brand new crystal, a bezel from one other instance (which you’ll be able to supply from eBay fairly simply), and a easy service to the ETA motion, this factor could be killer.

Know this earlier than working to bid, it is a “mid-size” reference checking in at 32mm diameter and 41mm lug-to-lug. So, it is smaller than you may assume however in the event you can pull off a smaller watch, I’ve a sense you are going to love this one.
An eBay vendor in Glendale, California has listed this Calypsomatic for a Purchase It Now value of $500. Test it out in full proper right here.

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