These Rare Vintage Rolex & Omega Watches Are Hitting The Auction Block

Collectible pre-owned timepieces from the Bob’s Watches “Family Jewels” collection.

Heirlooms, especially luxury watches, tend to change hands over time, but some things are worth keeping close to the chest. Until now, that was the idea behind an upcoming auction of four envy-inducing Rolex and Omega timepieces, each being sold by the original purchasing families.

The aptly named Bob’s Watches Spring 2024 “Family Jewels” offering serves up covetable pre-owned timepieces in one-of-a-kind fashion, with each watch (three Rolex timepieces and one Omega) “meticulously selected to represent the pinnacle of vintage craftsmanship and design.”

“One of the best parts of my job is finding these watches and talking to the original owners and original families about them; I love hearing the stories firsthand,” said Brandon Frazin, Director of Vintage at Bob’s Watches.

The offering spans the history of two iconic watch brands, both as noted for their place in pop culture as in watchmaking heritage.

What exactly will hit the auction block from March 8th through March 12th? Plenty to bid on (or merely view from afar), including a vintage Omega Speedmaster 145.022, which Bob’s Watches notes is “a testament to the brand’s enduring legacy in space exploration and precision timing.”

The circa 1970 timepiece boasts a handsome tropical brown dial, faded from years of wear in rather enviable fashion, and a complementary Italian leather strap, with a 42mm stainless steel case and plenty of other classic Omega touches.

And while Rolex is known for its multi-tone GMT watches, like its famed red-and-blue “Pepsi,” timepiece, the GMT-Master 1675 “Root Beer” is about as hard to find as it gets.

The circa-1979 timepiece could fetch as much as $20,000, according to Bob’s Watches, and in addition to the distinctive dial, it also boasts a two-tone Jubilee bracelet for an even more distinctive touch.

The “Root Beer” GMT-Master, “with its distinctive color palette and dual-time zone functionality,” is billed by the auction house as “perfect for the worldly traveler,” and that’s likely an understatement.

The auction lot takes on a further rarified air with the inclusion of the Vintage Rolex Submariner 5513 Maxi Dial, a circa-1981 timepiece with rugged appeal and utility.

The timepiece is, as Bob’s Watches notes, “an iconic diver’s watch that has captivated collectors for decades with its robust design and deep-sea capabilities.”

The Submariner has particular sentimental value, Frazin said.

“The 5513 in the sale is coming from the wife who got it for her husband on their wedding day,” he said. “She picked the Sub because they were divers, and she had the caseback engraved to commemorate the day.”

And while styles like the Omega Speedmaster and Rolex GMT-Master have long been on the radar of collectors and watch enthusiasts, the  Vintage Rolex 1016 Explorer “Full Set, Frog Foot” boasts a history all its own.

This particular timepiece was in fact a Christmas gift to the original owner, Bob’s Watches notes. It includes meticulous details and supporting documents, including a  punched Official Chronometer Certification and a punched “Your Rolex Oyster” booklet with a corresponding case number.

Frazin called the “Frog Foot” a “super full kit,” noting that the original owner “kept everything, and when going through all the goodies it’s like a time capsule.”

The Mark I “Frog Foot” dial  boasts a distinctive patina but remains in great vintage condition, and Bob’s Watches notes that it could fetch as much as $20,000.

Whichever timepiece strikes your fancy will come at a cost, but the collection represents the “elegance of yesteryears” while encapsulating “the essence of time itself.” Mark your calendars for March 8th.