1016 to the layman doesn’t look particularly special, those “in know” will know it quite a rare variation. As you’ll likely know from my in-depth article on the 1016, I am a massive fan of the Explorer and while this ref. That said, it is likely the reason why it remained hardly unchanged for nearly 30 years. The no nonsense of the 3-6-9 p dial perhaps lends to its more simplistic nature and by virtue probably makes it more underrated and underappreciated. Lot 195: The Rolex Explorer 1016 has always been the Rolex sports watch that has somehow sailed under the radar, in comparison to the brands big hitters such as the Submariner, GMT and Daytona. Still, the Nautilus remains a classic today and this example is one of the most intriguing examples we’ve seen over the years, due to its incredible light tropical brown dial. The 1976 introduction of Patek Philippe’s Nautilus would shake up the high-end watch world – for the first time Patek Philippe would offer a true sports watch and indeed follow the path of a competitor in AP’s then four-year-old Royal Oak. The ‘Jumbo’ case with wide flat bezel, integrated steel link bracelet, and ultra-thin automatic movement had a masculine aesthetic compared to the smaller dressy gold mechanical watches of the time. The watch itself was named after Captain Nemo’s Nautilus submarine from Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Lot 167: Gerald Genta’s designs are iconic and the Nautilus and it is said he was inspired by the portholes of transatlantic ocean liners. Furthermore, it is accompanied by its Omega archives, confirming it was delivered to Italy. The case on this example is particularly well-preserved but what I think adds to the overall character and allure is its warm inviting patina. The 42mm case is fitted with period correct flat-link bracelet and features a 60-minute rotating bezel – demarcated all the way through to 60, displaying a nice build-up of patina over the years. Inside is the 24 jewelled, calibre 552 automatic movement. It features steel pencil minute and hour hands, also inlaid with tritium. This Seamaster 300 from 1966 sports a black matte dial, with Arabic numerals at 3, 6, 9 and 12, and tritium hour markers. However, these bombe lugs variants still demand respect. While run-of-the-mill Seamaster’s, such as this present lot, aren’t that rare, in my humble opinion are think they are still cool, though perhaps not as cool as the CK2913’s. It perhaps goes without saying that Military Omega Seamaster 300’s have become rather popular over the past few years and interest in them have grown. Lot 138: It’s not often we highlight bombe lug Seamaster 300s and while this one isn’t extremely special in any notable way I just couldn’t help but admire its overall excellent condition. While this piece is perhaps not as sought-after as the earlier 1950s Fifty Fathoms, it is still just as important. It is powered by a 17-jewel automatic, Blancpain Rayville SA, calibre R.310 movement. Being a mid-sixties piece, this model displays the very cool “no radiation” symbol at 6 o’clock adhering to the luminous markers, which have patinated to a warm yellowish-orange. This particular examples 41mm case, appears to be in excellent condition, with small signs of wear and a rotating Bakelite bezel is in similar condition. Thanks to this connection Blancpain agreed to make a very small series of Fifty Fathoms featuring Technisub on the dial. Technisub was a distributor of Professional diving equipment including Spirotechnique, one of Blancpain’s main clients. Technisub was founded in 1963 by Luigi Ferraro former combat diver of the famous Gamma group of the Italian marine. If you look closely, you’ll notice this example features the inscription Technisub. This Blancpain Fifty Fathoms is no ordinary example. Released before the Seamaster and Submariner, it is perhaps this reason that Blancpain today are so revered. Named the “Fifty Fathoms” after the British measurement of 50 fathoms, which was then considered the maximum depth a diver could make, with the oxygen mixture used during those days. Lot 82: Born out of the product of passion, the Blancpain Fifty Fathoms, as many of you may or may not know, is the original divers watch.
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