Comments:
And here is the mandatory wrist-shot.
Jeff recently compared a fake dial with an original. It was frightening how close the two have become. Still, with a loupe one can still detect plenty of differences. But I have to say, it needs a loupe. Frightening.
Ricciardi Red...
So, having been on its original bracelet and then a suede strap. I decided to change mode on this watch. The watch merits something.....er.....red.
A strap with a "hint" of red to bring out the special nature of this watch.
Yep...... you guessed the 1680 Sub... Mk 2 dial.
And here is the mandatory wrist-shot.
Jeff recently compared a fake dial with an original. It was frightening how close the two have become. Still, with a loupe one can still detect plenty of differences. But I have to say, it needs a loupe. Frightening.
With this one, there are several other differences that make it unusual. The metres first is certainly a more rare version of the 1680. When I bought this one, I was looking for a MF version...so either a Mk1 or Mk2 dial really. This one became available with its original box and papers. What was a surprise was the origins of the watch. I will do a full follow-up version, but what I bought was in fact a Ricciardi Rolex, with its original Ricciardi box. To be honest, I did not have any idea of the meaning of the origins. But a good friend and collector from Munich said to me..."Hey, you just bought gold and paid the price of copper". I thought he was joking, but actually he wasn't. So yes, I stick my hands up and say I bought a rare one without really knowing it to be as rare as it is. As Forrest Gump and I have been known to say..."better to be consistently lucky than actually good."
The Ricciardi is one of my favourite watches to wear. I love having the strap pick out the red on the dial. Once I complete the work I will give a fuller view on just what the Ricciardi is and its relevance in Rolex world. Hope you like the scans
J
I saw a Double Red Ricciardi, recently, and thought about you.
It is a very nice Red Sub you have here. You just make me want to immediately go to the Bank, and pick mine from the safe...
Looking forward to reading more from you on this watch,
Best,
Nicolas.
A Ricciardi Double Red!
That I would love to see.
Actually, no....i must avoid seeing that. Save it for Tyler.
I'm behind you all the way.
Carefully avoiding the pain. As soon as I see anything that resemble the 1665 I stop reading. LOL
Regard
Tyler the golden monkey
Great Bubba Gump shrimp red strap! Looking forward to the Ricciardi story :) [nt]
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Stunning watch.....
I'm a big fan of side stitch leather straps and this combo is killer!
Looking forward to your full report.
Ross
Looking forward to your full report.
Ross
Awesome combo !
what a perfect choice !
Now you only need a Rolex tang buckle as the icing on the cake.
And a follow up article about the origins of the watch of course !
Check under the lugs
Ricciardi watches used to have a number engraved in the lug like this one. ;-)
This message has been edited by Peppo on 2013-03-23 17:03:02
This message has been edited by Peppo on 2013-03-23 17:03:02
Joyería Ricciardi -Buenos Aires, Argentina
Hello, Baron, congrats for such a nice finding! It is really stunning and, agree, it has an special origin.
Here you can find a complete article published last year in Rolex Passion Report telling the story of Joyería Ricciardi (with Serpico y Laino and Joyería Riviera were, probably, one of the most important in South America).
Kind regards
edit: external link removed by moderator as per forum rules
This message has been edited by DrStrong on 2013-03-23 23:42:52
Dear Baron, Hello! What a beautiful watch!! and with an...
... Argentine connection, it makes it double interesting for me.
My collector heart always beats faster whenever I see a watch originally sold down here, and ending in so far places from Argentina.
Nicolas showed his Mar del Plata GMT, a beautiful watch which was bought originally in the city of Tandil, by a customer from Mar del Plata, a sea side city in the Province of Buenos Aires, some 400 kms south of our Capital city. I´m happy that GMT is owned now by my friend Nicolas.
Now you show your Ricciardi, and I´m very happy this beautiful watch ended in your hands.
Joyería Ricciardi, is a very famous and prestigious jewellers store in the downtown of Buenos Aires City (Capital City). They are still in operation in one of their stores in famous Florida Street, and still are Rolex Official dealers.
They have closed other stores they has in the past, but keep this one, still selling Rolex, and other high end watches and jewells.
I have seen photographs of many Rolex watches sold by this store in the past, including some PN dialed Daytonas.
You got a gorgeous example of a Red Sub, and I wish you´ll enjoy for a long time!!
Receive my best cordial regards, Abel.
My collector heart always beats faster whenever I see a watch originally sold down here, and ending in so far places from Argentina.
Nicolas showed his Mar del Plata GMT, a beautiful watch which was bought originally in the city of Tandil, by a customer from Mar del Plata, a sea side city in the Province of Buenos Aires, some 400 kms south of our Capital city. I´m happy that GMT is owned now by my friend Nicolas.
Now you show your Ricciardi, and I´m very happy this beautiful watch ended in your hands.
Joyería Ricciardi, is a very famous and prestigious jewellers store in the downtown of Buenos Aires City (Capital City). They are still in operation in one of their stores in famous Florida Street, and still are Rolex Official dealers.
They have closed other stores they has in the past, but keep this one, still selling Rolex, and other high end watches and jewells.
I have seen photographs of many Rolex watches sold by this store in the past, including some PN dialed Daytonas.
You got a gorgeous example of a Red Sub, and I wish you´ll enjoy for a long time!!
Receive my best cordial regards, Abel.
Yes, Abel, this is very interesting!
I have seen many posts here as the one you mentioned (Tandil and Mar del Plata!) and also in other forums, of certificates and guaranties of Rolex sold in Argentina, and it is really exciting!
I remember, many years ago (when I was 17 / 18 years old) standing in front of the window store of Ricciardi´s in Florida Street, watching Subs, GMT and Explorer. A few blocks from Ricciardi there was (and still is there) another very well known Rolex Official dealer: Santarelli. Now my memories bring me back to another ROD: Antoniazzi Chiappe, in Av. Callao! I remember how many times I went into those stores asking to see in my hands, at least for a while, one of my favorites, at that time, (and mainly affordable) Rolex: an oysterdate ref 6694 with a silver linen dial.
As you know, Rolex in Argentina, especially from the 60´s to the 80´s, was, I dare say, really popular, but this is for another post!
Glad to share wit you this nice memories!
Un cordial saludo
Francisco
I don't know if I have to thank you, Francis and Abel.
Now that I read both of you, I have one more watch in my wish list: A Ricciardi GMT.
Best,
Nicolas
My dear friend Nicolas: You HAVE to own a Ricciardi GMT!! ...
... that would be a marvellous addition to your collection!
Un abrazo mi amigo!!
Con afecto, ABel.
Un abrazo mi amigo!!
Con afecto, ABel.
Hello Francisco! I don´t know how old are you, but...
... back then, when I was a teenager myself - that was in the early to mid 1960' s- it was my favorite "sport" to visit the street windows of all these shops to mention, just to see the Submariners and GMT exposed there! I was in a constant daydreaming in owning one of them! I had to wait till 1966, my 18th birthday, to get my first Sub!
With much regret we must say that all these shops are today so far from the splendor of past times. Many of them closed, or are owned by other people.
Times have changed a lot. Rolex was a coveted status symbol back then. Now it is a daring thing to wear a simple steel DJ in our streets!
I guess most Rolex watches spend more time inside Bank safety boxes, than on their owners wrists!
Nice to "talk" with you Francisco!
Un abrazo, Abel.
With much regret we must say that all these shops are today so far from the splendor of past times. Many of them closed, or are owned by other people.
Times have changed a lot. Rolex was a coveted status symbol back then. Now it is a daring thing to wear a simple steel DJ in our streets!
I guess most Rolex watches spend more time inside Bank safety boxes, than on their owners wrists!
Nice to "talk" with you Francisco!
Un abrazo, Abel.
You are rigth, Abel!
It is really sad, as you said. All these shops, most of them do not exist anymore, and the few that remains have lost their old charm. I am 51 years old, and I started very young with the Rolex passion. My brother (10 years older) had a ref 1500, silver dial, and I was fascinated with the cyclops, the silver dial colour, its brightness, well, you know what I mean what I mean...
As you point out, I remember very well my visits to the shpos, as you also say , daydreaming in owning one of them! as the tango lyrics "...de chiquiquilín te miraba de afuera, como esas cosas que nunca se alcanzan, la ñata contra el vidrio..." "staring with my nose against the window shop" "LOL! Leaving aside my melacholia, you are also quite rigth when you feel sorry for how things have change since the old days, not only because Rolex became a symbol of status, but for the risk of wearing them in our streets. Anyway, nothing can´t stop our passion for Rolex!.
Abel, It is really a pleasure to share this memories with you (sorry to the rest of the forum members) with a common past.
Very kind regards
Muchas Gracias por tus recuerdos y precisas observaciones
Te envío un cordial saludo,
Francisco
P.S. I forgot to include Bellisomi in my list of old shops! I was wrong, Bellisomi was in Avenida Callao, not Antoniazzi Chaippe.
