Have you seen what years of sunlight exposure – both direct and indirect – can do to stuff? Materials become brittle, dry, warp, and even melt. Also, the harsh rays can bleach the pigments out of colored surfaces. When it comes to timepieces, this often results in what enthusiasts call Tropical dials. Bob’s Watches happens to have four Rolexes with such features.
Timekeeping instruments – especially vintage examples – from the renowned Swiss watchmaker enjoy a healthy resale market. Depending on the demand for certain models, some Rolex watches can grow in value over time. In the case of Bob’s Watches, the release dates of these four classics range from the 1960s and the 1970s.
Nonetheless, as we detailed before, the Tropical dials on these lot are sure to command a good price before the auction ends this week. The oldest among the bunch is a 1966 Explorer 1016 and it shows through the heavy discoloration. There’s the uneven brown, faded lume, and scratches on the case and bracelet.
What follows is a 1969 GMT-Master 1675 which shows a chocolate brown hue on the dial instead of the original black. The lume on the hands and indices now appear off-white. Also, the Rolex’s dual color “Pepsi” bezel appears slightly pale blue on the edges, while the red has turned into a shade of fuchsia.
Next on the list is a 1970 Rolex Submariner 1680 with a formerly black dial degraded into a rich brown. Moreover, the bezel insert appears bluish-gray, while the lume is off-white. This is the only full set offering for this auction. Finally, the youngest in this Tropical collection is a 1972 Sea-Dweller 1665 characterized by the highly sought-after dial discoloration.
Bid For These: Here
Images courtesy of Bob’s Watches
