droptopman Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Good morning, After searching for a very long time, I have finally found my birth year grail watch. I have literally been checking multiple sites multiple times a day searching for an excellent example. Will not bore you with a overly long story, but he is the quick version. Started with Rolex in 1987 as a young man, for most of the last 30 years I would buy a new one every few years and trade in the old one. I found the rep forums while doing research for a 116610. I was still still stuck in the 5 digit models and was not sure about the 6 digits. Did not care for the new cases. Anyways I joined here to try a ceramic Sub and got a BK and tried a bunch of modern Rolex reps/frankens. I found that I did not care for the new cases or the new models in general. I stuck around and fell in love with vintage Rolex and being part of the watch collecting communities. I was always a 'watch guy" but not really WIS until I found this place. Did a bunch of really cool franken builds, but in the end went back to gens, but 4 and 5 digit models. All of this activity on the various forums really inspired me to find a birth year gilt piece. I was born in 1966 which is a transitional year so both gilt and matte Subs and GMT's from that year. In the end the 5513 Gilt Bart reference became the holy grail for me. Gilt dials just do something for me that other references do not. I have been close a couple of times to buying one, but it just did not work out. These are really hard to come by and rarely are for sale. It seems the collectors are hoarding these. So this week I was doing my usual search of sites and found a 66 Bart in excellent condition from a well known vintage dealer. I bought the head only, as I had a mint 1966 7206 bracelet just waiting for this piece. Watch will be here tomorrow, but I am like a little kid and wanted to share this experience with my watch collecting brothers. Pics from the seller. I will do some follow up photos in the next few days. 3
Bart Cordell Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Stunning ! I love Bart 5513. I'm searching without success a high resolution dial picture to reproduce it on decals. If one day you disassemble it, could you take a good picture for me ?
themannier Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Congratulation mate, thanks for sharing that, stunning piece !
konadoc Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Im thrilled for you and can't wait to see it on your wrist!!
netniet Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Very very cool watch. I am also started searching for my birth year grail (67) Rolex. My favorite for now is a 1675.
ubiquitous Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 First and foremost; congrats on the acquisition! That's a beauty of a gilt! However, I think we all know that the collecting bug dies hard, and while this will likely satiate you for a while, I am sure that you'll find that the journey is far from over. There will always be another watch... Another grail... to acquire It's an addiction I tell you, and a hard one to overcome. But... There are worse things to be spending one's money on! 1
ogladio Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Very happy for you mate! Marvellous piece, but sure to post wristies when it arrives.
jackflash Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Congratulations! Beautiful piece. Looking forward to seeing your shots when it arrives
lukenorris2011 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Droptop - I remember having this conversation with you last year. Congratulations my friend! Looks like me and you scored a grail piece in the same week! Wear in good health and with pride! Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Journey is never finished!
sgtguk Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Congratulations on a gorgeous piece sir love the simplicity if this dial, enjoy her
Phener9 Posted February 24, 2016 Report Posted February 24, 2016 Looking forward to seeing wristies when you can Very nice! Congratulations
Mike on a bike Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 Great piece so glad you scored it, wear in good health!
marrickvilleboy Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 gooood stufffffff Starting to believe trying reps to buy the real thing is a true and real transition. I'm looking at acquiring a 5513 too. 1
Nightwatch Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 Gorgeous Looking forward to the wristshot thread in the near future. Congrats on a beautiful watch and a significant milestone in watch collecting achieved.
lionsandtigers Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 congrats buddy. she's a beauty and a great seller you acquired her from. dont see many of those barts in such great shape. where her well.
Nanuq Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 What a beauty. This is the start of a very long relationship. Pretty soon it will be such a part of "you" that you won't even realize you own it anymore. It will just comfortably take its place in your life. Well done.
da_saint Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 Congratulations! A wonderful and stunning timekeeper for real. Wear the bart in good health, mate.
UmpaHimself Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 Wow, that is absolutely breathtaking. Congrats! Wear it well and often. That should not be a box queen.
droptopman Posted February 25, 2016 Author Report Posted February 25, 2016 Thank you for the nice words. Should be delivered to my office by 10:30!
droptopman Posted February 25, 2016 Author Report Posted February 25, 2016 Ok guys here is a quickie. Polished up the plexi and put on the rivet. I had to trade two of my favorite gens and a truck load of cash for this. She didn't disappoint. Dial is flawless. 1
Nanuq Posted February 25, 2016 Report Posted February 25, 2016 Beautiful!!! But...... are you sure that's a gen dial? 1
droptopman Posted February 25, 2016 Author Report Posted February 25, 2016 18 minutes ago, Nanuq said: Beautiful!!! But...... are you sure that's a gen dial? Pretty sure. Why you see something. I had several folks I trust evaluate it and it came from a very reliable vintage dealer.
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