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This Rolex 116234 Datejust 36 is Rolex’ modern take on their most classic dress watch. It has a 36mm stainless steel case with a fluted 18ct white gold bezel and a stainless steel Jubilee bracelet. The white Roman dial is classy and understated and it looks great on the wrist of both men and women.

The condition is excellent all round and the movement has been tested by Rolex certified watch specialists <a href="https://www.michlmayr.com/">Michlmayr &amp; Co. </a> Waterproof and running within COSC spec, this Datejust 36 shouldn’t need to be serviced for several years yet.

Complete with boxes, papers, books and tags, it also comes with the original purchase receipt.

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Rolex 116234 Datejust 36 White

This Bremont Williams WR-45 is one of a limited edition of 244 watches made in collaboration with the famous F1 team.

This watch was sold by a UK AD in 2024. It has never been worn and is unmarked. No longer available from Bremont this is a good opportunity to grab a discontinued model.

It comes with the original box and Bremont watch roll as well as all the papers and booklets that came with the watch when it was made.  As a special bonus it also has a once used wheel nut from a Williams F1 car.

Just tested by Rolex and Omega certified watch specialists Michlmayr &amp; Co  this Bremont Williams WR-45 is running within COSC spec.

The design of the WR-45 embodies Bremont’s maxim of being ‘Tested beyond Endurance’ bringing together high performance and extreme durability.  It comes on a black Alcantara strap, a material traditionally used for racing car steering wheels.

Bremont Williams WR-45

This is a lovely Rolex 116528 Daytona in 18ct gold on a matching 18ct gold bracelet.   It has a factory fitted black dial with diamond hour markers and is 100% original.

In excellent condition all round, there are no dents anywhere on the watch and only a couple of very slight marks on the clasp and bracelet that you can’t see on the wrist.  It is genuinely in really good condition.  These 18ct gold Daytonas are pretty special in the flesh and when you hold one you can tell immediately that you have your hands on something rare and unusual.

Complete with the boxes, papers and books.

Just tested by Rolex certified watch specialists <a href="https://www.michlmayr.com/">Michlmayr &amp; Co</a>  this Rolex 116528 Daytona is running within COSC spec.

Rolex 116528 Daytona

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Oakleigh Watches was born from a combination of a love of luxury watches and a passion for customer service. 
We will guide you through the buying process with honest advice helping you to find the best luxury watch for you. 
For us it’s all about giving you a great experience!





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Zenith El Primero Captain Winsor

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This Zenith El Primero Captain Winsor was Zenith's first model to integrate an annual calendar function into the renowned El Primero movement. This calendar only requires adjustment once a year on March 1st, which is quite an achievement for a watch at this price point.

With a stainless steel case and a beautiful silver guilloche dial with contrasting gold hands and hour markers, the overall look is very classy.

The complexity and sophistication of the annual calendar El Primero movement is bit  special so it's great that you can see it through the sapphire case back.

This watch is 99% perfect in every way and I would be surprised if it had been worn more than a few times and then very carefully.

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Rolex is one of the most coveted luxury brands on the planet, known for quality, durability, style, and prestige. Such an aspirational timepiece comes with a hefty price tag and therefore it’s of no surprise that the business of fake Rolex’ has become very lucrative. Therefore, knowing how to Spot a Fake Rolex is crucial when making such a high value purchase.

These days, some fake Rolex’ are so good that they must be partially disassembled before they can be identified as counterfeit and can even fool the experts!

And trust us they’re good!

Most of the fake watches that we come across are pretty easy to spot with a trained eye but there are some – that could fool most experts under normal scrutiny.  And I’m not talking about across a room or even across a desk, I mean in your hand and with a loupe. Plus some very clever fakers have adopted a ‘two from one’ practice…

Imagine you have one real watch and one ‘super fake’.  The real one is worth say, £10,000 and the super fake is worth nothing.  They swap the movements so they now have two watches; A real case and bracelet that pass all tests and a movement that won’t be discovered until the back is removed, and a very good fake that might prompt you to open the caseback just to be sure… when you do, the movement is real so it must all be ok…

(Papers can be faked more easily than watches so they’re both ‘Full Sets’.)  They sell them both at ‘bargain prices’, say £8,000 each for a quick sale and they’ve turned £10K into £16K.

‘Caveat Emptor” as they say in Rome.

<strong>Here are our 10 tips on how to spot a fake Rolex:</strong>

<strong>1) Unauthorised Sellers</strong>
<h4><img class=" wp-image-7980 alignnone" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/FAKE-ROLEX-1-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="321" height="214" /></h4>
Buying a Rolex is a serious investment, whether for pleasure or business, it’s a lot of money to part with. Therefore, our most important piece of advice is – only buy a luxury watch from a trusted seller or dealer.

Trust is very important when buying a pre-owned Rolex and here my friend, Google is your best friend.

ALWAYS choose a trusted, legitimate/authorised seller over a random individual you find on the internet. There might be a slight increase in cost but that’s the price of reassurance.

Look at the dealer’s selling history and reviews – especially trusted review affiliations such as Trustpilot.

Buying via international watch selling platforms such as Chrono 24 and Watchfinder, are a good place to start as the due diligence has already been done on the sellers.

eBay has recently launched a luxury goods arm and we sell via this platform. However, we are vetted as a Trusted Seller and any watch over £2000 will be sent for eBay authentication. Note – you do not have this security with individual sellers and sites like eBay and Craigslist can be rife with fake Rolex from’ bob666@gmail.com’.

Buying online can be a minefield, especially if not from a reputable seller. Therefore, if you decide to go down this route, you absolutely need to see the watch before you part with any cash. Below are some more physical clues on how to spot fake Rolex watches.

<strong>2. Movement</strong>

<img class="alignnone wp-image-7981" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Image-16-07-2023-at-16.33-300x180.jpg" alt="" width="515" height="309" />

Carefully open the back of the watch – a fake simply cannot match the craftsmanship and precision of a true Rolex calibre. Plus, each genuine movement will have “Rolex” engraved on it.

However, thanks to modern technology it is much harder to tell the difference, refer to our previous example of the “Super Fake”.

Another clue – if it’s a quartz movement, alarm bells should start ringing as all Rolex watches other than the Oysterquartz of the 1970’s to 1990’s have mechanical movements.

<strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;">3. Seconds Hand</span></strong>

On a genuine Rolex, the ticks of the seconds hand are so smooth, it looks like it’s gliding. If there is any stutter – it could be a fake.  You can also try listening, a real Rolex will be silent.

Rolex has made a small number of battery-powered watches in the past. These were called ‘Oysterquartz’. Rolex has never made quartz versions of the Submariner, GMT-Master or other popular models.

<strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;">4. Weight</span></strong>

Since 1989, Rolex has used the best steel on earth called “Oystersteel” (904L stainless steel), which is rust and corrosion-resistant and importantly – it’s heavy! If the watch you’re holding feels light, it was likely built with cheaper metal and is a fake.  The difference is subtle, but you can definitely feel it.

However, it gets a little tricky with older watches with Oyster bracelets from the 1980’s and earlier as these have hollow links made by stamping. These hollow bracelets are much lighter than the current range.  However, the ‘head’ of the watch should still be heavy and feel sturdy. Also, the bracelet end links on a pre-2000 sports Rolex are hollow and can feel a bit rattly after a few years wear so that’s not necessarily an indication of a low-quality replica.

<strong>5. The Crown</strong>

Even the crown on a Rolex will be identifiable by the craftmanship. Only the high-quality steel used by Rolex can hold the intricate details you find on a genuine Rolex watch. Therefore, a smooth, plain, or brushed over crown will be a sign it could be a fake Rolex.

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<strong>6. Dial, Hands &amp; Clasp</strong>

The most obvious tell is misspellings, however as we’ve already mentioned, these days fakes can be excellent.

A genuine Rolex will be perfect when made, and fake Rolexes will be much less refined. So, get the magnifying glass out and check the hands, hour markers, dial and clasp for uneven fonts, inconsistent spaces between the lettering/numbers and smudges.

Even the tiniest imperfection on a new Rolex dial is incredibly rare so if it isn’t absolutely perfect, it’s very probably dodgy.

It’s a good idea to have an official photo of the exact model you’re buying to compare.

<strong>7. Case Back</strong>

Most genuine Rolex case backs are smooth and rarely factory engraved or transparent.

Some exceptions are.

-Rolex Sea Dwellers that are engraved.
-Milgauss’ are engraved.
-Comex Submariners and Sea Dwellers are often engraved.
-Vintage lady Datejust models 6917, 69173, 69174 – engraved with ‘Stainless Steel’
-‘Registered Design’ Military watches …. but if you’re shopping for a 5514 then hopefully you know what you’re doing.
-Since 2023, some models such as the Daytona have had sapphire case backs

Of course, some people do have their watches personally engraved (we advise you not to, if you’re thinking of buying for investment), but this should be obvious by the engraved content.

<strong>8. Laser Etched Crystal</strong>

<img class="alignnone wp-image-7985" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/LEC-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="384" height="256" />

Time to get your magnifying glass out again!

Some Rolex watches produced from the early 2000’s onwards will have a tiny laser etched crown at the 6 o’clock position on the crystal. The precision of this detail has made it difficult for counterfeiters to replicate – so it can be a good sign of authenticity (or not).

But beware, while the presence of the etched crown should mean that the crystal is real, it doesn’t mean that everything is.  Also, not even Rolex can tell you which references from which years should have the etched crystal (I’ve asked several people on several occasions), so don’t rely on this particular element.

<strong><span style="font-family: 'Arial',sans-serif; color: black;">9. The Big Date</span></strong>

The cyclops (bump) over the date on many Rolex watches is part of the brand signature. Its purpose is to magnify the date by 2.5 times.

If the glass over the date is flat and/or doesn’t seem to magnify very well then, it’s highly likely be a fake Rolex.

As always there are exceptions and the 40mm Rolex Sea Dweller and Deepsea Sea Dweller do not have a cyclops lens, despite having a date function. (They couldn’t make a glue strong enough to stand the pressure until 2019)

<strong>10. Model &amp; Serial Numbers</strong>

This is perhaps the best way to authenticate a Rolex watch. Briefly – every Rolex has a serial and model number which are deeply engraved and symmetrical, clear to read and even shine in the light at certain angles.

On the contrary, fake Rolex watches will have a stamp that appears a little messier. It will either look like several tiny dots or etchings and if acid etched it will have a sandy/grainy appearance.

For more information on checking serial numbers and Rolex serial number tables, read our comprehensive <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/watch-serial-numbers/">Guide to Understanding Watch Model and Serial numbers</a>.

<strong>In Conclusion</strong>

You really need to know your stuff. Knowing how to spot a fake Rolex is a crucial part of the buying process. If in doubt, refer to point 1 – always buy through a trusted/authenticated pre-owned watch seller.

Oakleigh Watches’ office is based within<a href="https://www.michlmayr.com"> S.Michlmayr &amp; Co</a> who have a Rolex certified watchmaker on the premises available to check all of our watches for authenticity.

We’d be happy to help and guide you through the process. Visit our collection pages for current stock and sign up to receive our regular newsletters and stock drops.

If you can’t find what you’re looking for, we also offer a <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/sourcing-your-watch/">Sourcing Service </a>and are experts at finding your dream ‘genuine’ watch.

10 Tips on How to Spot a Fake Rolex

We celebrated our 10-year anniversary on 1st of November 2023, and I was asked to reflect on what I’ve learned over the past 10 years, creating, developing and running Oakleigh Watches.

I think I can confidently say, after 10 years, I am a luxury watch expert. So, keeping with the ‘10’ based theme, here are 10 of the most important things that I’ve learnt running a successful business.

And …… because I couldn’t resist – 10 of my favourite watches from the past ten years.

&nbsp;

<strong>1. Believe in yourself</strong>

I once overheard a conversation where someone asked when I was “going to stop messing around and get a proper job?” That was 10 years and £20m in watches ago. Just because they don’t believe in you, don’t let them knock yourself belief.

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<strong>2. Customer service is everything</strong>

I’ve got into this business because I couldn’t find a watch seller who was interested in anything other than money or watches. I love both of those things, but without our customers, we would have neither so we must always remember that customer service is paramount.

&nbsp;

<strong>3. Concentrate on the 'doing' not on the 'winning'</strong>

To be honest, this is a phrase that has been in my mind for the past 35 years. What it really means is that if you do the absolute best that you can, every hour of every day then the end result will take care of itself.

&nbsp;

<strong>4. Honesty is vital</strong>

It’s crucial to both buy well &amp; sell well. Repeat customers are absolutely vital, so it’s important to do right by everybody, all the time. A quick buck can lead to an early demise. Remember to pay it forward.

&nbsp;

<strong>5. There's a wrist for (almost) every watch</strong>

We all make mistakes sometimes (even watch experts), but generally speaking, every good watch will find a home eventually.
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<strong>6. Brand integrity is key</strong>

Somebody who I respect &amp; like enormously once told me that I “inhabit my brand”. I think what they meant was that I believe in the brand of Oakleigh so deeply that I live and breathe it, and with that comes authenticity.

&nbsp;

<strong>7. Enlist the help of experts</strong>

Understand what you do well and get other experts for everything else. No one is good at everything, so you should find somebody equally as talented in their field as you are in yours to do the things you can’t do. Never try and wing it because it will always end in tears.

&nbsp;

<strong>8. Online and offline are as important as each other</strong>

The future of successful retail is the combination of a great website with personal service. Just because your website is good, doesn’t mean you don’t need to be able to back it up. If you get your SEO right, make your shop window reflect your values and back it up with great customer service you should be onto a good thing.

&nbsp;

<strong>9. Do the right thing!</strong>

Own your mistakes and honour them – if you’re wrong, you’re wrong, so do everything you can to make it right as quickly as possible. Then you will have nothing to be ashamed of and will have earned the right to stand up for yourself when it’s right to.

&nbsp;

<strong>10. Love what you do</strong>

Then it won’t feel like work, and your success will be all the sweeter.

If you want to know how it all started 10 years ago, visit our <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/aboutoakleigh/">About Us </a>page and watch our short video.

&nbsp;

<strong>In Conclusion</strong>

So, there you go. It’s all very well learning these things, but of course even a ‘watch expert’ must apply them consistently as well. I’m sure that’s not something that I achieve 100% but it is my aim and I do my best.

If you’re reading this, I hope that you’ve experienced the benefit of some of these key things over the last 10 years, and you can rest assured that I will do my utmost to keep serving you for the next 10.

Visit our <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/the-oakleigh-collection/">Collections Pages</a> for our current stock or <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/contact-us/">get in touch</a> if you need some luxury watch expert advice.

10 Years & 10 Lessons Learned

There are a few reasons we can think of why people might be looking at luxury watch alternatives. The most obvious is budget. If you don’t have the budget for the best, what is a good entry point into the world of luxury watches?

The second most popular reason is style. Maybe you don’t want to wear the same watch as everybody else. Amongst watch enthusiasts, the GMT Master ‘Pepsi’ is quite a common watch and deservedly so. However, for those with an individual flare, something a little bit different might be more suitable.

Whether it’s budget or style, you’ll be pleased to hear that there are alternatives. What you’ll find below, are what I consider to be genuine alternatives to five of the most popular luxury watches on the market today.

Please note the prices are ‘pre-owned’ not ‘retail’prices as that’s a whole other article!

<strong>Rolex Datejust - £6,000 'v' Omega Aqua Terra - £2,000</strong>

Starting with the market leader in the gents luxury dress / daily business wear category for decades – the Rolex Datejust. The reason for this is because they are superb at what they do. A perfect size for an understated business or dress watch, the 36mm Rolex Datejust exudes good taste quality and style. And they have ‘Rolex’ written on the dial.

In the negative ledger, you can expect to pay around £6000 for a really nice one and you are likely to spot more than the odd one around on the wrists of colleagues and contacts. And maybe you don’t like that they have ‘Rolex’ written on the dial.

As an alternative, you could consider the 36mm Omega Aqua Terra. The Aqua Terra is a very high quality watch with some equally tasteful styling touches. The case and bracelet are beautifully made and with dials in white, black or blue among other colours. The whole thing quietly declares its class and style.

Compared to the Rolex Datejust, you’ll see very few around and the kicker is that the Omega Aqua Terra starts from about a third of the price. Leaving you spare money to buy more watches…

<strong>Rolex GMT Master 11 - £14,000 'v' Tudor Black Bay GMT - £3,000</strong>

Probably the most famous watch design ever, the GMT Master ‘Pepsi’ is instantly recognisable with its blue and red bezel insert. It’s the choice of champions – “The Gentleman’s sports Rolex”. Magnum PI wore one. Fidel Castro wore one. I wear one.

Once again though, you might find that they are a bit too commonplace for you and of course the price has gone through the roof. You can’t buy any kind of decent Full Set for much under £14,000 these days.

Enter the Tudor Black Bay GMT. Introduced a few years ago, this watch succeeded immediately in bringing the blue and red pilots’ watch to a different audience.

Still very popular today, you might even find a new one and shouldn’t have to pay much over £3,000 for a minter.
Ok so they’re not as refined as the Rolex but they do offer similar styling on a much more affordable budget.

<strong>Audemars Piguet Royal Oak - £40,000 'v' IWC Ingenieuer - £5,000</strong>

Designed by Gerald Genta in 1972, the original AP Royal Oak quickly became a design classic, much copied and much admired. These days a nice Royal Oak ‘Jumbo’ (39mm) can easily set you back £40,000. Plus, they are of course pretty much impossible to buy from ADs.

Consider as an alternative the IWC Ingenieuer, one of the lesser known models from the classic International Watch Company. Made in relatively small numbers since 1955, the Ingenieur was originally designed with a Faraday cage inside for genuine engineers.

These days its angular styling, relative rarity and sheer quality make it a great alternative to the Royal Oak from around the £5,000 mark.

<strong>Rolex Daytona - £30,000 'v' Omega Speedmaster - £5,000</strong>

When the Rolex Daytona was first made back in the mid 1960’s its most obvious rival has always been the Omega Speedmaster. Somehow however, almost immediately the Daytona began to pull ahead in the race for popularity and desirability. Even the incredible cache of being the First Watch On The Moon couldn’t help Omega to catch up.

Fast forward over a quarter of a century and the situation has escalated to proposterous levels for both vintage and new models of these close bedfellows. Let’s be honest here, there’s really no big difference in quality between the Speedmaster and the Daytona, and there never has been, and yet …..

The Daytona is impossible to buy in stores while the Speedmaster is often in the ADs window.
<ul>
 	<li>The Daytona retails around £10,000 while the Speedmaster is around £6,500</li>
 	<li>Pre-Owned a current model Daytona sells for up to £30,000 while a Speedmaster sells for around £5,000</li>
 	<li>An early 1970’s (non Paul Newman) Daytona will cost around £60,000 while a similar Speedmaster can be had for less than £10,000</li>
</ul>
This situation is beginning to correct itself with Speedmaster prices steadily on the rise but there’s still a LONG way to go. This makes the Speedmaster an excellent luxury watch alternative to the much hyped and high cost Daytona.

<strong>Patek Phillipe Calatrava - £25,000 'v' Jaeger LeCoultre Master £7,000 - £10,000</strong>

Patek Phillipe is one of the best known and most coveted horological brands ever. The company’s classic strap line :

<em><strong>“You never really own a Patek Phillipe, you simply look after it for the next generation”</strong></em>

has been around since 1996 and sums up the brand perfectly. A Patek Phillipe really IS far more than just a watch.

All of this brings with it a high price, low deprecation rates and long waiting lists. Consequently, they’re very hard to get new and can be very pricey to buy pre-owned.

I’ll be honest, there can also be a bit of ‘them and us’ reverse snobbery in the watch world when it comes to PP.
The owner of a Platinum Calatrava or blue dialled Nautilus can sometimes be seen as a ‘level above’.

Now if I could afford a blue 5711 on my wrist I honestly wouldn’t care what anyone else thought. I would just be looking at it all day! But not everyone is like me, so what’s your alternative ?

Enter centuries old Grande Maison, Jaeger Le Coultre and their classic lines. Probably best known for their Art Deco Reverso models, they also do a very fine line in more traditional dress watches in the Patek Phillipe style.

At between £7,000 and £10,000, a pre-owned JLC Master has all the heritage, quality and class of a Patek Phillipe Calatrava but without the price ticket or occasional baggage. Well worth a look.

<strong>In Conclusion ...
</strong>
Of course a subject like this can’t really be tackled in a few paragraphs and for every one of us, the questions and considerations will be different.

However I hope that maybe this article has made you think a little. If you want to discuss any of the luxury watch alternatives that I’ve raised here, I would be delighted to hear from you.

We have two collections, the original <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/shop">Oakleigh Watches Collection</a> where you’ll find a range of high end pre-owned luxury brands and <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/shop/online-only">Alderleigh by Oakleigh Watches</a>.

Our Alderleigh collection launched last year giving us the opportunity to offer quality used watches at a more affordable level. We love the idea of helping people get their foot on the pre-owned luxury watch ladder. Plus, we get to welcome old stock back as customers <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/watch-trades">trade up</a> to the next level.

<strong> </strong>

&nbsp;

<strong> </strong>

5 Luxury Watch Alternatives

Breitling has been producing seriously made, aesthetically pleasing watches since 1884. The “Made by Breitling” label implies uncompromising testing, the finest materials and strict quality control. It stands for more than a century of expertise and timeless designs. So, when you buy a Breitling watch you are safe in the knowledge that you are getting a timepiece of exceptional quality.  However, pre owned Breitling watches cost considerably less than other luxury brands for the same quality. Plus, if cared for correctly, it will retain its value too.

&nbsp;

Below are 5 key things to consider when buying a pre-owned Breitling.

&nbsp;

<strong>1. Investment, Pleasure or Both? </strong>

&nbsp;

If you’re buying purely for investment, then you don’t need to worry about the style of watch. Rather, you need to focus on whether a model is desirable now and whether it is likely to be so for the foreseeable future. So, my top three tips …

&nbsp;
<ul>
 	<li>Always go for a watch with the widest appeal and the most limited supply.</li>
 	<li>If it’s purely for investment purposes, buy the very best example you can find. After all you don’t have to worry about damaging it if it’s only going to sit in your safe.</li>
 	<li>Make sure you buy a Full Set – box, papers, service records and accessories.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

If buying for pleasure and or both pleasure and investment – keep reading.

&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8376" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/navitimer-world-1b.jpg" alt="" width="943" height="530" />

&nbsp;
<h4>2. Style</h4>
&nbsp;

Breitling know how to market to both the style-conscious and sporty audiences but not at the cost of substance. Their impressive history of partnerships makes them one of the most ‘stylish’ lifestyle watch brands in the world. The list of Breitling celebrity ambassadors includes the likes of Charlize Theron, Brad Pitt, Adam Driver and footballer Eerling Haaland.

&nbsp;

In 2017, Breitling reorganised their products into three focused main categories – air, land, and sea – designed to extend Breitling’s reach beyond the aviation crowd. Using those categories as a guide, seven distinct collections were born: Aviator 8, Navitimer and Avenger for ‘air’, Superocean Heritage and Superocean for ‘sea’, and Premier and Chronomat for ‘land’.

&nbsp;
<h4>Air</h4>
&nbsp;

The most classic of all aeronautical inspired Breitling’s is the Navitimer. The dial is complicated, the watch is extremely capable and contains multiple functions that most people will never use. It’s classic Breitling styling as it’s best.

&nbsp;
<h4>Land</h4>
&nbsp;

The Breitling Chronomat is more traditional looking daily watch, that would look as good with a dinner jacket as with jeans and jumper. With multiple dial colour options, it’s a versatile choice. Plus, you have the choice of either Chronograph or Standard options.
<h4>Sea</h4>
&nbsp;

This is perhaps the area where Breitling have truly surpassed themselves lately. The Supercocean range comes in a variety of case sizes, from 36mm to 46mm and some of the designs have become instant classics. For example, for a smart purposeful tool watch, the military inspired Superocean Automatic is outstanding.

&nbsp;
<h4>3. Size</h4>
&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8369" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Breitling-Size.jpg" alt="" width="943" height="530" />

&nbsp;

Does it matter when it comes to watches?

&nbsp;

It all comes down to confidence and perspective. Just because you’re small in stature, doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t carry off a larger timepiece. In fact, it’s very much the fashion for women to wear oversized men’s watches.

&nbsp;

For a man, it’s all about confidence. If you feel comfortable going big and will wear a 46mm + proudly, then a Super Avenger might suit you. If you’re going to be self-conscious, then pick something classic like a Superocean.

&nbsp;
<h4>4. Vintage or Modern</h4>
&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8370" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Breitling-vintage-modern.jpg" alt="" width="943" height="530" />

&nbsp;

The choice between a vintage or modern watch is partly one of personal taste and partly one of robustness. We mentioned above about the fact that vintage watches tend to be smaller, so if you like a slightly smaller look, then something older might be for you. Such as classic Navitimer or a Top Time Chronograph.

&nbsp;

On the other hand, if you want to wear your Breitling every day, then you should probably go for a newer one as the movements from the 1960’s and 1970’s can be more fragile and expensive to repair than later versions.

&nbsp;

Bracelets have also changed over the years and newer ones are more hard wearing and comfortable so may be more suited to regular as opposed to occasional wear.

&nbsp;

Servicing costs for a vintage watch can be higher and parts hard to come by – two important considerations when choosing between modern and vintage pre owned Breitling watches.

&nbsp;
<h4>5. Fashion or Function</h4>
&nbsp;

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8371" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/Breitling-fashion-function.jpg" alt="" width="943" height="530" />

&nbsp;

What do you want your pre-owned Breitling for? Assuming of course you’re not circumnavigating the world, is it simply to tell the time or do you need it to fly?

&nbsp;

If you want a pilot’s watch because you are a pilot, Navitimers are the best place to start.

&nbsp;

If you’re simply looking for a fantastic watch made to the highest of standards, then you can have some fun choosing.

&nbsp;

Ps. the above watch was our first ever Oakleigh sale and where it all began! If you want to find out more about our history visit our <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/about-us">About Us</a> page.

5 Step Guide to Buying Pre owned Breitling Watches

Pre-owned Bremont watches tend to hold their value well and some of the limited edition Bremonts have increased in value quite dramatically over the years. This is particularly the case with their Military issue watches that are made in relatively small numbers and therefore can be collectible.

New Bremont watches tend to depreciate quite quickly but their values then hold steady, so if bought pre-owned, they can be a sound financial decision.

Prices of pre-owned Bremont watches can start at between £1,500 and £2,000. Collectible editions can run into tens of thousands of pounds. As always condition, originality and completeness make all the difference to value.

Below are 5 key things to consider when buying pre owned Bremont watches.

&nbsp;

<strong>      1. Investment, Pleasure or Both? </strong>

If you’re buying purely for investment, then you don’t need to worry about the style of watch. Rather, you need to focus on whether a model is desirable now and whether it is likely to be so for the foreseeable future. So, my top three tips …
<ul>
 	<li>Always go for a watch with the widest appeal and the most limited supply. Within the Bremont range, you’ll be looking at the limited-edition military watches such as an MBI.</li>
 	<li>If it’s purely for investment purposes, buy the very best example you can find. After all you don’t have to worry about damaging it if it’s only going to sit in your safe.</li>
 	<li>Make sure you buy a Full Set – box, papers, service records and accessories.</li>
</ul>
If you’re particularly focused on buying a UK watch, Bremont watches are made at ‘The Wing’, a state of the art manufacturing and technology centre in Henley-on-Thames, UK. Bremont have used a variety of Swiss made movements that they customise themselves. More recently they have developed their own in-house movement – the ENG-300.

If buying for pleasure and or both pleasure and investment – keep reading.

&nbsp;

<strong>      2. Style</strong>

One of Bremont’s proudest claims is that they are “Tested Beyond Endurance”.  They are extremely hard wearing and robust, while still being incredibly stylish and certainly a luxury brand.

Bremont have a wide range of collections to choose from but when it comes to pre-owned the main collections are – the standard pilot’s range, the standard diver’s range, the limited-edition range, and the military issue range.

The standard ranges are those that are available in normal production like the MBIII for pilots and the Supermarine for divers.

The limited-edition range tends to be made in very small numbers and often feature components from aeroplanes or ships. For example, the Bremont Victory contained a small piece of wood from the hull of Nelson’s famous warship HMS Victory.

The military issue range is only available to various divisions of the Armed Forces. However, they do appear on the pre-owned market on a surprisingly regular basis and make a different and attractive collectible watch. Over the years we’ve been privileged to find new homes for four MBI’s alongside watches made for the Royal Navy, Royal Marine Commandos, and various fighter squadrons.

To help you choose a pre-owned Bremont with staying power that is a solid financial choice, we stick to a mix of traditional designs with the occasional Military model.

&nbsp;

<strong>  </strong><strong> </strong><strong>  3.Size</strong>

Does matter when it comes to watches?

It all comes down to confidence and perspective.

Just because you’re small in stature, doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t carry off a larger timepiece. In fact, it’s very much the fashion for women to wear oversized men’s watches.

For a man, it’s all about confidence. If you feel comfortable going big and will wear a 43mm + proudly, then it will look good. Something like a Supermarine S2000. However, if you’re going to be self-conscious, then pick something classic like a Solo.

&nbsp;
<h4>    4. Vintage or Modern</h4>
While Bremont have only been around for a little over 20 years, some of their very early watches can be considered vintage, such as the BC-S2. They have a classic styling that sets them apart from the current range and so they have a unique appeal.

These older models were made in relatively small production numbers, watches like the BC-S2 are rare. However, except for limited editions and military pieces, regular ‘vintage’ Bremonts are not guaranteed investment watches.

&nbsp;
<h4>    5. Fashion or Function</h4>
What do you want your pre-owned Bremont for?

Perhaps you want something with military links or an actual quality watch to dive in or maybe something with familial sentiment. The answer is completely unique to you.

If you’re looking for a fantastic watch made to the highest of engineering standards, then you can have some fun choosing with Bremont.

5 Step Guide to Buying Pre owned Bremont Watches

IWC is a highly respected watchmaking brand and is known for being one of the more exclusive watch companies or even the “International Watch Company.’ An IWC really is a watch lover’s watch – their watches appeal to owners who appreciate craftmanship and individual design. Pre owned IWC watches are steeped in history and often have a story to tell.

It is also one of the most innovative luxury watchmakers today, known for pushing the boundaries, and constantly evolving with its watchmaking techniques, its designs, and its calibres.
Below are 5 key things to consider when buying pre owned IWC watches.

<strong>1. Investment, Pleasure or Both?</strong>

If you’re buying purely for investment, then you don’t need to worry about the style of watch. Rather, you need to focus on whether a model is desirable now and whether it is likely to be so for the foreseeable future. So, my top three tips …

• Always go for a watch with the widest appeal and the most limited supply.
• If it’s purely for investment purposes, buy the very best example you can find. After all you don’t have to worry about damaging it if it’s only going to sit in your safe.
• Make sure you buy a Full Set – box, papers, service records and accessories.
If buying for pleasure and or both pleasure and investment – keep reading.

<strong>2. Style</strong>

American President of IWC, Edouard D’Arbaumont said in a 2016 interview that “We don’t think anybody is buying our watches to tell time. It’s all about the DNA, the history of our product, and what is behind our watches. We must tell stories, like in the film industry.”

As such, IWCs watches are more about the exclusivity and sense of occasion they bring to the wearer, and while watches do tell the time, this makes perfect sense for all luxury watches, which many times are worn as a piece of jewellery, craftsmanship, and history.

IWC have several flagship collections including the Portugieser, Aquatimer, Ingenieur, Da Vinci and Portofino. However, they have been forever associated with military, particularly Pilot, style watches since their ‘Special Pilot’s Watch’ was launched in 1936.

The three main types of IWC watch are.

1) The Mark Series – these are very plain and straight forward military style watches. A historically accurate representation of the famous IWC military watches of the mid 20th Century. Case sizes tend to be relatively small and dials simple and easy to read. Usually found on leather straps, very occasionally available on a bracelet.

2) The Pilot Series – this is IWC’s modern take on the classic Pilot’s watch, made with a larger case than the Mark Series. These often have added chronograph and date functions. Again, usually found on leather straps.

3) The Dress Watches – the IWC Portugeiser and Portofino watches are some of the finest dress watches available today. Case sizes tend to be on the large side, especially with the Portugeiser. They are characterised by their beautiful clear dials often coloured matched with high quality leather straps.
Their first luxury sports watch – the Ingenieur was designed in 1976 by Gerald Genta, designer of several iconic watches, such as the Patek Philippe Nautilus and Audemars Piguet.
The Ingenieur is a relatively rare sighting compared to the other models. It offers excellent value for money compared to other Gerald Genta designs, if you can find one!

<strong>3. Size</strong>

Does matter when it comes to watches?

It all comes down to confidence and perspective. Just because you’re small in stature, doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t carry off a larger timepiece. In fact, it’s very much the fashion for women to wear oversized men’s watches.

For a man, it’s all about confidence. If you feel comfortable going big and will wear a 46mm proudly, then a Portugeiser Chronograph will look good. If you’re going to be self-conscious, then pick something classic like a Mark XVI.

<strong>4. Vintage or Modern</strong>

The choice between a vintage or modern watch is partly one of personal taste and partly one of robustness. Vintage models tend to be smaller, so if you prefer this look, then something like a 1970’s Tuning Fork would be a lovely choice (see above, it’s not literal).

On the other hand, if you want to wear your IWC every day, then you should probably go for a newer one as the movements from the older models are more fragile and expensive to repair than later versions. More modern IWC’s tend to have bracelet options if that is your preference.

Servicing costs for a vintage watch can be higher and parts hard to come by – two important considerations when choosing between modern and vintage pre owned IWC watches.

<strong>5. Fashion or Function</strong>

What do you want your pre-owned IWC watch for? Assuming of course you’re not circumnavigating the world, is it simply to tell the time or do you need it to fly?

If you do want a pilot’s watch because you are a pilot, the 3706 models are the best place to start.

If you’re simply looking for a fantastic watch made to the highest of standards, then you can have some fun choosing.

5 Step Guide to Buying Pre owned IWC Watches

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1x1-7523

Can I go swimming in a luxury watch?

1x1-7523-mobile

“Can I go swimming in a luxury watch?”

This is a question that I am often asked by our clients. Of course what they are referring to is whether their watch is water resistant – will it leak and ruin the movement, dial and hands?

There are usually three areas that need to be considered when the water resistance of a watch is under examination;
<ul>
 	<li>the caseback</li>
 	<li>the glass</li>
 	<li>the crown</li>
</ul>
During testing, these three components are checked for condition and damage or corrosion. Next the seals fitted between the component and the case are inspected and often replaced. The watch is then pressure tested using a purpose built piece of equipment. When it passes – voila! Your watch is waterproof.

So yes, if it passes the test, you CAN go swimming in a luxury watch. But hang on, there’s another question that needs to be asked ……

<img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-8735" src="https://cms.oakleighwatches.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Swim2.jpg" alt="" width="943" height="530" />

<strong>“SHOULD I go swimming in a luxury watch?”
</strong>
All the watches that we sell here at Oakleigh Watches are superb examples of their type and are all of course very valuable.

I can’t imagine a more hostile environment for a luxury watch than a beach with its salt and sand, or a swimming pool full of chlorine, steel and ceramic tiles. And that’s before you even mention the water! So our advice would be – “yes you can swim in a luxury watch but NO, you probably shouldn’t.”

If you’re at the pool or the beach – relax, forget about the time! Or, if you’re like me and feel a bit lost without something stylish on your wrist, switch your luxury time piece for a much more practical G-Shock!

Oakleigh Watches works alongside local Rolex and Omega service agents <a href="https://www.michlmayr.com/?_ga=2.204148883.2033394945.1721402847-623201293.1721402847">Michlmayr &amp; Co.</a> All of our luxury pre-owned watches are tested to ensure they are water resistant and comply to COSC spec. Some of our more vintage stock will not be water resistant and this will be made clear in the description.

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the-tudor-big-block-listing

The-Tudor-Big-Block-listing

In 1970 Tudor entered the chronograph market with a watch that was very different from its Rolex Daytona brethren – The two incarnations of the ’Monte-Carlo’ were bold, bright and colourful and occupied their own place in the Rolex family lineup, as a slightly inferior model to the Daytona.

Then in 1976 there was a shift and the ‘Big Blocks’ were born. Far from establishing a point of difference from the Rolex Daytona by continuing with the ‘fun’ slightly ‘junior’ theme, Tudor made a watch that was similar to the Daytona and in one key way, actually superior….

As well as toning down the colour palette and producing monochrome chronographs (although exotic-dialed 9000-series ‘Big Block Monte Carlos’ were made), Tudor adopted the Valjoux 7750 movement, not only adding an extra chrono sub dial but also a quick set date and an automatic movement. This automatic movement made the Big Block the first self-winding chronographs from the Rolex group – it would take Rolex themselves well over ten years to make an automatic Daytona and 25 years to make one with an in house movement.

As well as an advanced set of features, the Valjoux movement brought with it the necessity for a deeper case than its predecessors to house the self-winding mechanism and rotor, hence the nickname “Big Block”.

The first Big Blocks were the 9400’s consisting of three references that gave the option of three different bezels:
<ul class="ul1">
 	<li class="li1">9420 with an acrylic tachymeter bezel</li>
 	<li class="li1">9421 with a 12-hour calibrated rotating bezel</li>
 	<li class="li1">9430 with a steel tachymeter bezel</li>
</ul>
In the late 1980’s, the 9400 series was replaced by the 79100 series of Big Blocks and again, there were three references with three bezel types:
<ul class="ul1">
 	<li class="li1">79160 with a black plastic tachymeter bezel</li>
 	<li class="li1">79170 with a black graduated 12-hour rotating bezel;</li>
 	<li class="li1">79180 with a steel tachymeter bezel.</li>
</ul>
<p class="p1">By the mid 1990’s Montres TUDOR S.A. was 50 years old and they started to made decisive moves to differentiate themselves from their Rolex brothers. As a consequence the direct references to Rolex were steadily disappearing from the cases, winding crowns and bracelets of Tudor watches to be replaced with own brand alternatives and the day of the Big Block was over.</p>
<p class="p1">An important watch and often overlooked, the Big Blocks are one to watch that’s for sure</p>

The Tudor ‘Big Block’

Understanding Watch Model & Serial Numbers

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rolex-16570-polar-2010-listing

Rolex-16570-Polar-2010-listing

Rolex have made several versions of the Explorer II since its launch fifty years ago but here we are mainly concerned with The Rolex Explorer II 16570. We will cover other references but this blog is designed to help you understand why you really should be considering a 16570.

When I first thought of writing this blog piece in the autumn of 2020, the Rolex Explorer II 16570 was one of the most overlooked and undervalued of all modern Rolex sports watches. A few months later I realised that the correction had already begun so I thought I had better get on with the piece

<strong>The Rolex Explorer II 1655 – 1971-1984</strong>

So firstly, let’s deal with this ‘Steve McQueen’ thing. The first incarnation of the Explorer II was the 1655 and at some time after its launch in 1971, it gained the nickname ‘Steve McQueen’. As no photo has ever come to light of ‘The King of Cool’ actually wearing a 1655 (he was a 5512 man), the reason why remains a mystery.

However, here are a few things that we do know about the 1655:
<ul>
 	<li>It was launched in 1971</li>
 	<li>It was designed mainly for cavers or ‘spelunkers’, hence the massive luminous GMT hand that told you not only the hour but splits of 2 1/2 minutes too, even in the dark.</li>
 	<li>Unlike the Submariners of the time, the Explorer II had a 39mm case.</li>
 	<li>Despite having the same movement as the GMT Master, a pattern that continued until 2011, the 1655 only told the time in one time zone. The ‘GMT’ hand was fixed with the hour hand so it told the same time, just REALLY clearly.</li>
 	<li>Its other nickname is ‘Freccione’ from the Italian word ‘Freccia’ meaning ‘arrow’.</li>
 	<li>Production was discontinued in 1984</li>
 	<li>There were five different dial variations over the 13 year production run</li>
 	<li>It was a popular watch in Germany and the USA but apart from that it was thought a bit of an ugly duckling and sales were disappointing (Great news for collectors and those who have had them from new….)</li>
</ul>
The Rolex Explorer II 16550 – 1984-1989The 16550 is what the watch world refers to as a ‘transitional model’ although to be honest, I’m not sure that the description really fits the bill. While it wasn’t made for very long in Rolex terms, it was made for almost five years so that’s not really a transition.

The thing that makes the 16550 particularly interesting is the dial – for the first time the Explorer II was available with the option of either a black or white dial and while the black dials were fine, the white ones were nearly always faulty. Instead of staying a lovely bright white as Rolex intended, most of them turned a creamy colour, giving them the nickname ‘Panna’ (Cream in Italian). A LOT of these have been replaced by Rolex with lovely shiny white ones, making the remaining cream ones highly collectible and valuable.

There are also some ‘Rail Dial’ examples out there – a Rail Dial is one where the words “Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified” line up perfectly with an even gap through the middle – like train tracks. These are rarer still and command a higher price.

The hands were changed from the ‘unusual’ design of the 1655 to the more ‘normal’ Mercedes style and this helped to create a look that was more acceptable to the masses.

Again using the GMT Master movement, this time the 3085 from the 16760, the 16550 now had an independent GMT hand so that it was a two time zone watch. The case was made from 316L steel as was the norm in the day and this makes it slightly less bright than the later models – the cases were also made slightly fatter than the later ones to accommodate the 3085 movement.

By the end of the 1990’s Rolex had a new movement and were working with improved 904L steel so they took the opportunity to fix the dial issues and launch a new model.

<strong>The Rolex Explorer II 16570 – 1989-2011</strong>

This is where things get interesting and lead us to the purpose of the piece that I alluded to way up there in the introduction.

The Rolex Explorer II 16570 is a very similar watch to the 16550. It has a slightly slimmer case that’s made from a different type of steel and an improved movement but apart from that it’s basically the same watch but less than half the price and that’s a situation that’s unlikely to last for long.

16550s aren’t going to get any cheaper so when the price gap closes, and it will, it will happen through an increase in the price of the 16570.

So, there are four main types of 16570, all available with either a black or white dial:
<ul>
 	<li>1989 to 1998 Tritium dial – expect to pay between £9,000 and £12,000. These are the early watches and prices have already risen alot recently – there’s lots more room yet though.</li>
 	<li>1998 to 1999 Swiss only dial – expect to pay between £8,000 and £10,000. These are the rarest of all Explorer IIs and again, prices are rising sharply.</li>
 	<li>1999 to 2007 Swiss made dial with 3185 movement – expect to pay between £8,500 and £10,000. These are the bulk of 16570s as production numbers were higher in the 2000s and they were made for eight years.</li>
 	<li>2008 to 2009 Swiss made dial with 3186 movement – expect to pay between £10,000 and £12,000. These watches have the updated GMT movement and engraved rehaut and are sought after by those who like the most recent versions of things.</li>
</ul>
<strong>The Rolex Explorer II 216570 – 2011 to date.</strong>

Also available with both black and white dials like the 16550 and 16570, the 216570 is something of a fusion of old and new.

The 216570 still has the fixed bezel that Explorer IIs have always had and now they have brought back the oversized orange ‘GMT’ hand – so that’s the old. The new is that the GMT hand moves independently and the case size has been increased to 42mm in keeping with modern tastes.

This brings us to the statement made at the beginning of the piece about how the Explorer II 16570 is a classic, appreciating asset.

You see, the 1655 isn’t to everyone’s taste, it’s properly vintage and it’s priced well out of most people’s reach.

In January 2022, a nice 1655 Full Set will set you back something north of £20,000

In its original Panna form, a Full Set 16550 Rail Dial costs over £25,000 these days and even a nice Full Set Polar with a replacement dial can be £17,000 or so (admittedly, black ones are less) and prices are still rising.

Prices of the last 16570s made with the engraved rehaut and the 3186 movement have risen sharply too but the ‘standard’ 16570s, whether Tritium or Superluminova are still great value – it won’t last long though as these things have a way of correcting themselves so if you fancy one then my advice would be not to hang about….

To see the Rolex watches in our current collection <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/brand/pre-owned-rolex">click here</a> and you can see the current range of new Rolex watches <a href="https://www.oakleighwatches.co.uk/shop/new-in?pa_brand=170">here.</a>

The Rolex Explorer II 16570

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