Bring a Loupe: A Late Rolex Explorer 1016, A Rare Girard-Perregaux Olimpico, A Black Heuer Carrera Dato 45, And More

By Louis Westphalen

Some might use today’s Bring A Loupe to find a holiday gift at the last minute, so we made sure to feature a bit of everything, from the great classics to more under-the-radar picks. Among the obvious candidates, you will find two very coveted vintage wristwatches: the Rolex Explorer 1016 and the Heuer Carrera 3147N, with its peculiar date at 9 o’clock. We will also cover an interesting iteration of the Olimpico line from Girard-Perregaux, and a sexy blue-dialed Eterna. This is your Bring A Loupe for December 23, 2016.

A Rolex Explorer 1016, With Late Matte Dial

The reference 1016 is one that vintage Rolex collectors are always looking for, as it combines sporty look and dressy proportions. It was even the number one of John Mayer’s Five Best Buys In Vintage Rolex, back in 2012. Since then, prices have increased above the $8,000 threshold, especially for early examples with gilt glossy dials, so turning to the latter iteration with a matte dial can be a smart move. This often allows you to get a stronger case, and less pronounced patina, for much less money, while enjoying the very same case: a perfect 36mm Oyster case with slim profile.

The example here is an R-serial, meaning that its R840634 serial number indicates a 1988 production (while the F code engraved on the clasp of the Oyster bracelet stands for 1981; this part is therefore not original to the watch). More importantly, the case does not show signs of over-polishing, and the lugs have kept most of their original shape, both in thickness and curvature. The chronometer-rated automatic caliber 1570 guarantees worry-free functioning, true to Rolex’s reputation for accuracy and reliability. Lastly, the dial presents the painted numerals characteristic of the late Rolex 1016, just before this model was replaced by the reference 14270 in late 1989, marking the end of plexiglass crystals for the Explorer line – often seen as the true separation between vintage and modern Rolex.

Eric Ku, the dealer behind 10PastTen, and a previous Talking Watches guest, is selling this late Rolex Explorer 1016 for $8,800.

A Girard-Perregaux Olimpico Reference 8846, Made For The 1968 Olympic Games

The Olimpico chronographs have a cult following among dedicated collectors, and not only …read more