That all changed in the 1970s when the global watch industry saw a considerable shift from mechanical watches to those powered by inexpensive quartz movements. The brand’s professional series watches were among the finest on the market, offering unparalleled accuracy and durability. It was an era of incredible innovation and success for the company that had become a key player in the luxury watch industry. Rolex introduced many of its pillar models during the 1950s, including the Submariner, GMT-Master, and Explorer. 16234Ĭlick here for our complete buying guide on Rolex Watches. These 1980s Rolex watches will likely never quite catch up to quite the same levels of value and collectibility as their older counterparts, but as general interest in them (and prices) have been on the rise, they make for highly attractive options for those that want a vintage Rolex but who don’t want to necessarily invest as much as what is required to obtain one of the legendary blue-chip models from the earlier years of Rolex’s history. With that in mind, here’s a handful of Rolex models from the New Wave and Synth-Pop era of the 1980s. What does this mean for collectors? Well, among other things, it makes for an entire decade worth of Rolex watches that are still more attainable than their older counterparts (at least for now). Sitting right at the boundary of what could be considered vintage Rolex watches, the various references from the 1980s often don’t carry quite the same cachet as pieces from the ‘60s and ‘70s however, a number of incredibly important vintage Rolex watches first appeared during the 1980s, and they have become increasingly popular in more recent years. It also didn’t suffer nearly as badly through the decade either, compared to many of the other brands in the industry. That said, Rolex was never one to try and reinvent the wheel or throw out past design codes. The ‘80s weren’t a pretty time for watchmaking – or for design in general, for that matter. As a result, the watch wears very well, even on the smaller-wristed among us.Let’s face it. One of the most enamoring aspects of the reference 1655 is that it sports a mid-sized case, measuring in at a diameter of 39 mm. To further legibility, the 1655 features a funky triangle-shaped orange 24-hour hand, earning it the Italian nickname ‘Freccione’. Small rectangles outside the minute track correspond with the 24-hour hand. To assist with the watch’s 24-hour display, the dial features 12-hour as well as 24-hour markings. This comes in handy when you spend your days in caves or during the dark days of winter in Svalbard. The Explorer II features an extra 24-hour hand and an engraved 24-hour scale bezel so that the wearer can easily distinguish between day and night. The Rolex Explorer II was made to address this very problem. Due to its location, the sun doesn’t rise in Svalbard for 84 consecutive days each year. Svalbard is a Norwegian archipelago located at 78˚ North, the northernmost inhabited place in the world. You might wonder what the hell Svalbard and the Rolex Explorer II have to do with one another. If you plan on visiting Svalbard this winter you really should get this watch. The watch seems to be preserved very well, with razor sharp lines and shiny thick chamfered edges, yet still beautifully displaying it has been carefully enjoyed in the past. ![]() The condition of the case is the absolute star of the show on this particular watch. The orange hand faded to a very subtle color, fitting to the overall looks. ![]() Both the matte-black dial and the handset are still supplied with the original tritium. 1655 dates back to 1982 and features a spotless MK V dial. A 40 year old, aesthetically satisfying toolwatch that proudly displays the adventures it was intended for.
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