April 19, 2025

1972 Rolex Datejust 1603 36mm $5,200.00 CAD. 505-00509

The classic good looks of the Rolex Oyster has to be the most enduring of any design in the watch business. This style and the Datejust model have been around for 80 years. The name Datejust likely sounded a little strange the first time you heard it, but it accurately describes how the calendar quickly flips the day of the month display at midnight making the date true or “just”. Most watches with date displays turn the day of the month over very slowly, often times taking several hours or more to fully reveal the next date. If you happen to be awake at the exact right moment you’ll see the date ring quickly rotate to the next day in a fraction of a second. The instantaneous date jump is accompanied by a satisfying audible click. A date display is almost expected today, but Rolex was the first brand to feature it on an automatic watch. The fact that the general look of the Datejust hasn’t changed much since 1945 is testament to the style. As far as classic looks go, tone on tone silver dial with all stainless steel case and jubilee bracelet is still on point and as popular as ever. At 36mm diameter it may seem a wee bit small next to the latest high fashion creation. When the size pendulum swings back to an easier size to wear, a 36 will be just right for most folks. Our model was manufactured in the first quarter of 1972 and is in very good condition showing a reasonable amount of sag in the super comfy jubilee bracelet. The engine turned stainless steel bezel is something Rolex no longer offer on any model. You can now only choose from a polished smooth dome style or the iconic gold fluted design. The machined steel bezel and taller plastic crystal are features that a sharp eyed aficionado will immediately recognize as vintage. This is a one owner watch that has been well maintained over the last 5 decades. The original 1972 Sigma/tritium dial and hands where replaced a few years ago with more modern service replacements. The new dial and hands are in perfect condition with the added benefit of being quite luminous in the dark. The silver tone hands and hour markers are actually made from premium 18 karat white gold made from Rolex’ own in house foundry using a proprietary alloy. The precision to which these tiny 18 karat components are manufactured is truly astounding, they exhibit perfect polish and edges as sharp as a razor blade. These are some of the details that help make Rolex the dominant Swiss watch brand. Powering the Datejust 1603 is a Rolex manufactured 26 jewel automatic winding movement known as the calibre 1570. They  movements operate at a leisurely 19,800 cycles per hour compared to a modern Rolex rate of 28,800. These old movements were introduced in the mid 1960s and powered many Rolex models including the Submariner of the era. Many consider these the last of the “hand made” Rolex movements. Several stages of the manufacturing process could only to accomplished by highly skilled watchmakers, especially when it came to timing and positional error adjustments.  Rolex still make a watch that looks practically the same as this 53 year old extra for the previously mentioned engine turned bezel. The current 36mm Datejust (model 126200) with smooth bezel on Jubilee bracelet has a suggested retail price of $10,050.00.00 CAD. Including a Bill Le Boeuf Jewellers 1 year warranty this classic Rolex Datejust is estate priced at $5,200.00 CAD. Stock #505-00509.

November 2023 Rolex Submariner 126610LN 41mm full kit. $17,340.00 CAD. 505-00487

This is the latest generation Rolex Submariner Date. We’ve had a few of the 126xxx series since they debuted in 2020 but most were sold before we even had a chance to post them. We don’t expect this one to last very long either. The Submariner Date is without doubt the quintessential sports watch to which all others are judged and the popularity of the model is unwavering. For 2020 Rolex installed their caliber 3235 automatic chronometer movement, which has a longer 70-hour power reserve and a proprietary Chronergy escapement, marking a serious improvement over the previous caliber. Rolex also claim this newest Submariner is accurate to plus or minus 2 seconds per day. If this were a quartz watch, that type of performance would be pitiful, but for a self winding, mechanical watch, that is about as good as it gets at any price point. Service intervals are now a rather lengthy 10 years. Hats off to Rolex for giving their new watches such an extended maintenance schedule. This is the first Submariner to measure 41mm in diameter, for decades they were always 40mm. You’re certainly not going to see the extra 1mm in the case, but they also increased the bracelet width a touch while at the same time thinning the lugs down a bit. This new silhouette better conforms to every other generation Submariner except for the previous generation 116610 series with the “bulky” looking case. You rarely see any threaded crown line up with the watch case. There is only a slim random chance to get one lined up, and this one is no different. As the crown and waterproof tube wear the alignment may change over time a bit. This one was purchased at an authorized Rolex agent in the late fall of 2023. It was hardly worn by a customer of ours and remains in original condition. No touchups, refinishing, or polishing has been done, the bracelet has never been removed from the case. It displaces only the most minor evidence of use in the form of tiny scuffs and scratches on the case, bracelet and buckle. The super hard ceramic bezel insert and sapphire crystal are perfect without blemish of any kind. Just a simple ultrasonic cleaning was all that was necessary in preparation for sale. The watch remains covered under the 5-year Rolex international warranty until the fall of 2028. It comes with the full compliment of removable links. The hang tags, endorsed warranty card, inner/outer boxes, booklets, instructions, wallets, protective white cardboard sleeve (not shown) and even the soft foam box liner are all included with purchase. Steel Submariners continue to be illusive at Rolex agents and are always on perpetual backorder with long waiting lists and unknown delivery dates. This hardly worn example is estate priced at $17,340.00 CAD. Stock #505-00487.

SOLD

April 18, 2025

1.00ct. VS1-JK diamond ring with tapered baguettes (0.10ct. tw.) 2.4gr. 14kt. sz.7. $2,800.00 CAD. 101-00604

Classic designed vintage engagement rings at great prices keep our estate department continuously changing. This style has been around for close to 100 years and is still a popular choice today for many brides to be. You’ll see examples of very similar designs from major jewellery manufacturers like Tiffany, Van Cleef and Arpels, and pretty much everyone else. This one likely dates from the 1960s when wire shanks like this were very popular. General design details also suggest this ring is around 60 years old. The sizing balls soldered inside the shank are a more recent addition to take up some room while still being able to slip over a larger knuckles that sometimes occur over time. Looking at the condition, style, and wear pattern, we can tell us a lot about how the jewellery was worn and treated. The previous owner likely took great pride in this ring and didn’t wear it every day or at least didn’t subject it to a lot of heavy work. The bottom of the shank shows some wear but is original and still offers decades of use. The four large heavy claws securing the centre stone are also original and have never been rebuilt, likewise the channels holding the tapered baguettes are in excellent shape. The natural centre diamond measures 6.4mm and has been calculated to weigh 1.00 carat, but likely weighs a bit more as the shank is engraved 1.02. Clarity of the centre diamond is a very good VS1 and the colour has been conservatively graded JK. Flanking the centre stone on each shoulder is a tapered baguette cut diamond of VS-HI quality. The ring measures a 7 and can be adjusted up or down a finger size or two. The gold sizing balls can be removed while you wait if they are not needed. Buying jewellery today isn’t inexpensive with the high price of gold and weak Canadian dollar, but our estate jewellery offers an attractive alternative, with a great story, and outstanding value. This vintage diamond ring is estate priced at just $2,800.00 CAD. Stock #101-00604.

April 17, 2025

1972 Rolex Date-Date 1803 President 36mm $18,360.00 CAD. 505-000593

Anybody got an extra $51,000.00 to spend on a watch? That’s what it’s going to take to buy a brand new Rolex Day-Date that looks pretty much the same as this 1972 model. If your bucket list contains a watch, there is a good chance the watch is a Rolex “President”. Introduced in the mid 1950s the Rolex Day-Date look has remained virtually unchanged for almost 70 years. Different bracelets styles have been added, along with technical improvements like sapphire crystals, quick set calendars, longer power reserve etc. but the basic look and 36mm case is still the same. If you’d prefer the larger 40mm size they are available new with a starting price of $55,900.00. Our latest Day-Date model 1803 is perhaps the purest of design. Silver dial, fluted bezel, concealed clasp and of course the president bracelet are styling features the model is famous for. Originally worn almost exclusively by men the 35mm case size is now seen on the arms of many stylish ladies too. Rolex Day-Date watches have only ever been constructed from either 18 karat gold or platinum, there is no such thing as an “entry level” Day-Date manufactured in stainless steel. This example is in good condition considering it is well over 50 years old. It shows significant wear in the gold bracelet but still has many years of service ahead of it. The worn screws and tubes can be rebuilt, but it’s an expensive process. A good way to check for wear in the links is to hold the watch case so the bracelet is horizontal and observe how much sag results. A couple of the links have minor dings but otherwise are in decent shape. The watch has a gross weight of total of 121.8 grams including the removable sizing links. A 53 year old Rolex like this may be one of the best values in the watch collecting world. It’s likely fully depreciated and is only expected to increase in value as Rolex plays catchup to the soaring price of gold. Any Day-Date is always in demand from people who appreciate a fine watch and realize the value only an estate item can showcase. The previous owner reports a full service was done by Rolex Canada not too long ago, including a complete overhaul to the automatic winding chronometer movement. At the same time a new service dial, a set of 18 karat gold hands, and a new crystal was installed. Since the service the watch only looks to have been worn a few times. The new plastic crystal displays perfect optics and still retains its sharp beveled edges. Likewise the iconic fluted 18 karat yellow gold bezel has been preserved better than expected. The corrugated coin edge pattern is still in very good condition. The watch comes with a period correct box in almost like new condition and a green Rolex service pouch. We are very confident in these old Rolex Date-Date models and are happy to provide the next owner a complimentary one1year warranty. The watch looks great in its wood lined vintage Rolex box. Estate priced at $18,360.00 CAD. Stock #505-00593.

April 16, 2025

4.50ct. Chrysoprase & diamond (2.00ct. tw. VS-HI) drop earrings, 8.7gr. 14kt. gold. $3,150.00 CAD. 211-00157

There a few gems with such a vivid natural colour than good quality chrysoprase. Despite the bright apple green hue and its low cost, you just don’t see these stones very often. They are a cryptocrystalline form of quartz consisting of a multitude of individual crystals intertwined, growing together to form a larger single gem. This type of growth in quartz makes them much more durable than a single fully transparent crystal. They are the perfect stone for use in jewellery. Larger specimens are available that can be carved into ornate and intricate forms. I can’t remember the last time we had a piece of chrysoprase jewellery pass through our estate department. This pair of drop vintage drop earrings are likely from the 1960s and appear to be hand made. They were crafted using close to 7.5 grams of 14 karat white gold. They draw some inspiration from the Art Deco period featuring geometric diamond shaped connecting sections, while the Florentine cross cut pattern on the top stud is more of a 1960s detail. The 36 round brilliant cut natural diamonds are more than just little accents, they are of significant sized and of the quality you only see in very expensive jewellery these days. They are very well matched and conservatively graded as VS-HI. Even the friction  butterfly backs are far better quality than what we usually see. Heavy gauge construction gives these backs more spring tension on the posts providing far more security. If you had to produce a pair of earrings like this today, you’d surely need to spend at least $6,000.00 to $7,000.00. They are in perfect condition and ready to glam up your next event. Estate priced at $3,150.00 CAD. Stock #211-00157.