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As luck would have it, I was able to acquire another Tornek Rayville which my watch agent knew its whereabouts but the owner would not sell until yesterday when he finally relented. It was touch and go for a while because of the steep asking price but we were able to agree after an hour of intense negotiation.

The watch is in original untouched condition. I never bothered having the watch cleaned of all the grime and dirt. Even the acrylic glass is unpolished and has a lot of surface scratches and cracks. It was owned by a retired US Navy diver who has lived in the Philippines for a long time since after the Vietnam war. I believe he wore the watch everyday. It also has a custom masonic solid stainless bracelet. I plan to preserve the watch the way I got it.









My other Tornek Rayville

 

So IIRC these were made with Blancpain movements? Are the bezels the same as period 50-fathoms? I noticed via google that these were going for what I would consider "very strong" money back in 2012 - has the market swung even further up since then?

http://www.antiquetrader.com/antiqu...stwatch-brings-36735-in-clock-and-sciencesale

*edit* read your previous post, as well as the blip in the article by James Dowling. Very interesting!

 

As far as I know they are Blancpain movement and the bakelite bezel is identical to the 50 Fathoms. Check the link for the result of the latest auction of a Tornek watch. https://auctions.bidsquare.com/view-auctions/catalog/id/1417/lot/495144

 

Bad-ass watch, especially with the bracelet!

 

Wow! I would give my left......... well......... I would love to find one.

 

Skinner sold one again this year for 92.5k. I registered in the hope no one had seen it. Boy was I wrong..

Btw Congrats are in order not once but twice. The rest of us need to apply rule 15. htfu. NOT OFFICE FRIENDLY...

Sent from my D5803 using Tapatalk

 

Yes they are called "Olongapo" bracelet. Olongapo is the city where the Subic Naval Base is located. The story goes that some of the US Navy guys taught the locals how to make these watch bracelets and until now they still continue making them. Most are being sold on ebay and military watch forums.

 

$300 for the bracelet?

 

Congrats to the OP, these are pretty rare birds & to find two.

That watch broker of yours is earning his keep.

The only broker in my watch deals is me - after buying them, I'm "broker."

I'm sure the seller threw it in for free.

 

An absolutely rarity, congrats for this beautiful example of TR. I've seen only one from live 5 years ago and is really amazing on the wrist.

 

Never seen one in the wild. Only under glass

 

Going over to the "You might be a noob" thread........YMBANI.........you don't have a watch agent!

 

Here's a question - is this the only case you can think of where the little known name watch is worth significantly more than the same period vintage "Big name" watch? Obviously this isn't just a re-brand - but a military Blancpain Milspec 1 from the same period isn't a $100K watch.

 

History + rarity + demand = $$$$$$$
I can't think of any other example other than some of the "almost" moon watches but don't fetch near the price.

 

Actually, I wouldn't mind if that trend caught on

This being the little known name watch



And this its famous dead ringer

 

My Waltham is also a dead ringer and it is a fact that Blancpain made watches for the Waltham brand.

 

I finally decided to have the TR900 cleaned and the movement overhauled. Pictures below of the watch after I got it from my watchmaker. It definitely looks 10 times better than when I first got it but I need to replace the acrylic crystal soon because it has plenty of surface cracks already.

 

My twin Tornek TR900

 

Its been more than 5 years since i wore this Tornek. Just had the movement cleaned and timed again. Should wear it more often plus the other one too. Maybe its time i should thin the herd a little bit?

 

Get an Olongapo bracelet and have it auctioned by Phillips in Geneva. The Tornek bezel is a different fit from the normal 50 FF and most movements are A. Schild mvmts. with the BP /TR stamped Rotor . I had 2 over the last 30 plus years. Good luck ! Achim