Buying a Rolex or Chronosport

[Styles Bitchley]

The Rolex Pepsi GMT was Selleck's, wasn't it?

There are some old threads here that address this exact question (there used to be some very knowledgeable guys on the boards about stuff like this). Probably worth searching to find, but my memory seems to indicate that no, it was not his watch. Although he did acquire one or more later on. I've seen photos of him in recent years sporting a modern GMT. He did choose the GMT for Magnum, however. He loved the idea of the blue matching the ocean and red matching the Ferrari.

[Styles Bitchley]

Here's a screen grab from the pilot (the scene that we all know from the opening sequence). If you look carefully, you can clearly see there is no 3, 6, 9 on the dial. Also, the word QUARTZ is in all caps (not so for the later version).



Here's a better photo of what that early variant looks like. I've called it a "mark 1" dial in my guide.



I don't have any definitive dating on when these were manufactured/sold, but I've roughly narrowed it to '78/'79 for the no numbers variant, '79/'80 for the "Quartz" variant with numbers, and '81-'83 for the "Sea Quartz 30" variant. I've found this information from sales receipts (when available) and models with the jubilee bracelet have the year stamped on the bracelet.

[Styles Bitchley]

I realize I wrote 3, 6, 9 above. Should be 6, 9, 12, of course.

[To The Regiment]

Here's a screen grab from the pilot (the scene that we all know from the opening sequence). If you look carefully, you can clearly see there is no 3, 6, 9 on the dial. Also, the word QUARTZ is in all caps (not so for the later version).



Here's a better photo of what that early variant looks like. I've called it a "mark 1" dial in my guide.



I don't have any definitive dating on when these were manufactured/sold, but I've roughly narrowed it to '78/'79 for the no numbers variant, '79/'80 for the "Quartz" variant with numbers, and '81-'83 for the "Sea Quartz 30" variant. I've found this information from sales receipts (when available) and models with the jubilee bracelet have the year stamped on the bracelet.

Absolutely fascinating. Incredible detective work, Styles. Kudos!

Without the numerals, the Squale Militaire bears a much closer resemblance to the original that TM wore.

To The Regiment

[eagle]

Absolutely fascinating. Incredible detective work, Styles. Kudos!

Without the numerals, the Squale Militaire bears a much closer resemblance to the original that TM wore.

No kidding about the detective work! So awesome.

And, totally agreed about the Squale -- I dig it. Maybe I need to add a Squale to my collection at some point.

[To The Regiment]

Fellow horological sleuths, do we know how long Magnum wore the older version of the Chronosport? Was it only for the pilot episode, or did he wear it longer?

Cheers!
To The Regiment

[Styles Bitchley]

It’s impossible to tell, really. There are only a few episodes where you can see it well enough to see the details of the dial.

[Tobi]

That one big sale seems to have raised the bar substantially on prices (or at least expectations).

It’s a later model, so not exactly like the two variants magnum wore. But still correct.

Oh wow, I didn't realise he wore two versions! Thanks for the heads up!

[eagle]

By popular request: a post with a few pics of my Chronosport on its new Tropic strap.

[Styles Bitchley]

By popular request: a post with a few pics of my Chronosport on its new Tropic strap.

Looks fantastic. That's the way it's supposed to look.

[To The Regiment]

That one big sale seems to have raised the bar substantially on prices (or at least expectations).

It’s a later model, so not exactly like the two variants magnum wore. But still correct.

Oh wow, I didn't realise he wore two versions! Thanks for the heads up!

Me neither. Personally, I think the version with the numerals on the dial looks much better. It's a sportier look that befits Magnum's style. That older version just lacks personality, IMHO.

Best,
To The Regiment

[To The Regiment]

By popular request: a post with a few pics of my Chronosport on its new Tropic strap.

Now THAT...is an incredible looking Chronosport Sea Quartz. Very nice. Kudos and enjoy!

To The Regiment

[Pahonu]

I just have to say that the knowledge of watches on this forum is very impressive. I still wear a watch daily which itself seemed to almost disappear a decade or so ago, so I’m glad they have not disappeared. I have no where near the interesting knowledge I’ve read here, though!

I also wanted to mention that I read an LA Times article recently (in the hard copy I still get!) about a very complicated pocket watch made for the Gilded Age financier JP Morgan that disappeared after his death and the search for it. It was fascinating and informative.

https://www.latimes.com/world-nation/st ... ?_amp=true

[eagle]

Now THAT...is an incredible looking Chronosport Sea Quartz. Very nice. Kudos and enjoy!

Looks fantastic. That's the way it's supposed to look.

Thanks, guys. I am seriously super impressed with this -- I think it looks amazing, and it looks like it should look. I'm reminded of the time I added an anti-sway bar to my 2003 VW Jetta 1.8T: after that install, the car drove the way it should have driven from the factory.

I'm glad I made this Chronosport purchase, and I'm glad to now have it on the Tropic strap.

I'm especially glad to have bought when I did, since we have seen that sellers are now much more proud of their watches! It seems I might have gotten the last of the "reasonably" priced Chronosport units, and there's no way I could convince my, ahem, budget coordinator to spend today's asking price for one!

I just have to say that the knowledge of watches on this forum is very impressive. I still wear a watch daily which itself seemed to almost disappear a decade or so ago, so I’m glad they have not disappeared. I have no where near the interesting knowledge I’ve read here, though!

Agreed -- SB & TTR truly blow me away with their knowledge. I mean, I know a little bit, but nowhere near what they know.

I also wanted to mention that I read an LA Times article recently (in the hard copy I still get!) about a very complicated pocket watch made for the Gilded Age financier JP Morgan that disappeared after his death and the search for it. It was fascinating and informative.

I don't have access to LA Times, but that does look like it would be a very interesting piece.

[To The Regiment]

Now THAT...is an incredible looking Chronosport Sea Quartz. Very nice. Kudos and enjoy!

Looks fantastic. That's the way it's supposed to look.

Thanks, guys. I am seriously super impressed with this -- I think it looks amazing, and it looks like it should look. I'm reminded of the time I added an anti-sway bar to my 2003 VW Jetta 1.8T: after that install, the car drove the way it should have driven from the factory.

I'm glad I made this Chronosport purchase, and I'm glad to now have it on the Tropic strap.

I'm especially glad to have bought when I did, since we have seen that sellers are now much more proud of their watches! It seems I might have gotten the last of the "reasonably" priced Chronosport units, and there's no way I could convince my, ahem, budget coordinator to spend today's asking price for one!

I just have to say that the knowledge of watches on this forum is very impressive. I still wear a watch daily which itself seemed to almost disappear a decade or so ago, so I’m glad they have not disappeared. I have no where near the interesting knowledge I’ve read here, though!

Agreed -- SB & TTR truly blow me away with their knowledge. I mean, I know a little bit, but nowhere near what they know.

I also wanted to mention that I read an LA Times article recently (in the hard copy I still get!) about a very complicated pocket watch made for the Gilded Age financier JP Morgan that disappeared after his death and the search for it. It was fascinating and informative.

I don't have access to LA Times, but that does look like it would be a very interesting piece.

For the watch enthusiasts wanting to learn more about vintage models and collecting, I highly recommend these sites:

https://www.hodinkee.com

https://thegreynato.substack.com

https://wornandwound.com

Cheers!
To The Regiment