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Help me choose between an Ed White and a Red Sub

Faz
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As much as I love Speedmasters and especially the straight lug versions, the choice is clear...the Red 1680. Ed Whites were a pain before the bubble and even more so today. Finding a good one was always an issue and once you have one, not as versatile as the red subs as they are tough as nails and...imagine that....dare I say, cheaper than an Ed White.

But if you value the hunt for either, I agree that the Ed White will give you a good ride for your money compared to the red sub.
 
omegastar
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U ulackfocus
Oooooooooooooooooooo..... a DOUBLE RED!!!!!

( 馃檮 )

That does to Rolex Fan Boys what a Broad Arrow does to Speedmaster Fan Boys! ......I think. 馃槙

The Red Sub is like a transitional 861 Speedmaster. Just an iteration.
 
Faz
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omegastar omegastar
The Red Sub is like a transitional 861 Speedmaster. Just an iteration.
Of course...and the 105.003 is certainly not "just" an iteration of the CK 2915, neither are all the others?...:whipped:
 
T
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As I learn more about the Omega brand - thank you OF - being primarily a Rolex collector, I have seen the Red sub series go from prices beyond $10k to under $10k and extremely back up over the $10k range in the present. All this in 15 years plus..
The interest in the Red Sub is sort of an entry point into the Rolex vintage world.. I fell for it, at one point - I owned five red subs and now own none.
I am not familiar about the Ed White price evolution in comparison to such a price variation in over a decade. I would like to hear about that, especially since this model dates to the mid 60's.
I personally would not buy a red sub at the current prices.
We are collectors but price conscientious and investors as well..
Just my 2 cents..
 
Archer
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U ulackfocus
Why not both? Or make a franken Red White? 馃槣

Or even better, NEITHER and get a watch with class like a GP 1966 or JLC Master Ultra-thin? 馃憤

Bloody tiny dress watch fan boys suggesting totally inappropriate watches in a Sub v Speedy thread!
 
omegastar
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Faz Faz
Of course...and the 105.003 is certainly not "just" an iteration of the CK 2915, neither are all the others?...:whipped:

I was saying this because a Red sub is a 1680 with a red line on the dial as a Transitional is 145.022 with a metal logo. They are iteration in the sense that they are not models or evolutions of a model with a proper reference number. Which has led to so many frankens.
 
Swissgmt1675
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Ed white....Though i like red subby too....But Ed much rarer in my book...
 
M'Bob
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Archer Archer
Bloody tiny dress watch fan boys suggesting totally inappropriate watches in a Sub v Speedy thread!

Dennis, either will help:

image.jpeg
 
Bill Sohne
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omegastar omegastar
I was saying this because a Red sub is a 1680 with a red line on the dial as a Transitional is 145.022 with a metal logo. They are iteration in the sense that they are not models or evolutions of a model with a proper reference number. Which has led to so many frankens.


HI
I have to disagree... the Red Sub was the FIRST Sub w DATE. Rolex later did away with the red printing and opted for White ( dont know why ). But The First Sub with date was a Red Sub 1680 . Would not classifiy it as a transition but that is just me.

Long ago before I started to collect I read an article about wrist watches... I said to myself that would get three watches after reading the article ( I was about 10 years old maybe younger). The watches I read about mentioned a Rolex Bubble back and Sub . My brother was given a Speedy ( from 1966) for his birthday so I wanted that one also ( he gave it to me in 1992) .... So my original top thee wants was 1) Speedy 2) bubbleback and 3) a Submariner !

Good Hunting

Bill Sohne
 
jens0125
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Ed white , way rarer , even if red sub ... Every body will ask if it is real.... Have not seen a Chinese Ed white
 
watchknut
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It really comes down to what you prefer and where the watch fits into your collection.

If you plan on wearing the watch often, go for the Sub, they are indestructible. I have had mine for 10 years, and up until a year ago it was my beater...literally never took it off.

Of course I have changed my tune recently!

The Ed White, especially a good one, is super hard to find. I am with @Spacefruit buy both. Subs and Speedies go together like peas and carrots.
 
t_swiss_t
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I've owned both, still have the Ed White, and sold the Red Sub (with B&P) within two months of getting it.

I think that the clean design of the Ed White offers a much different style than the next lower price bracket in the Speedy world, the 105.012 and 145.012s, due to the lack of professional and straight lugs.

The Red Sub, on the other hand, is just a line of red text on a white 1680 for an extra 5k, which I understand even less after owning one given how many at least decent examples there are in the world. More rare references like a 6536 with red text are a different story since those are less common by several orders of magnitude. I'll also make a big exception for a tropical meters first Red Sub, but that is a much different appearance (and price). Aesthetically I think the Red subs are a bit clunky with the cyclops date and don't hold up to the clean lines of the Speedy.

A better comparison to a good condition Ed white would be a late gilt 5513, which I think has a much cleaner design and holds enough difference vis a vis the later versions to justify the higher price. That would be a much harder choice for me.

Good thing I've got an Ed White and a 5512 馃槈

IMG_1432.JPG
 
Faz
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omegastar omegastar
I was saying this because a Red sub is a 1680 with a red line on the dial as a Transitional is 145.022 with a metal logo. They are iteration in the sense that they are not models or evolutions of a model with a proper reference number. Which has led to so many frankens.
I don't get your logic. The red sub is the FIRST iteration of the 1680 reference which is the the first sub with a date. Same as the 105.012 was the first iteration of the twisted lug "Professional" Speedmasters. The 145.022 was originally equipped with the metal logo before the painted dial.
 
M'Bob
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Bill Sohne Bill Sohne
the Red Sub was the FIRST Sub w DATE.

One could argue some sort of iconic status given that point. But the bigger question is whether it was any improvement over the previous iterations, either crown-guard, or non-crown-guard models.

Many believe the addition of the date spoils the Sub's aesthetics, and I have to agree - certainly, the Bond Subs and the later 5513 and 5512 are more refined without the date window; the same could probably be said about the Patek Nautilus: nice Gerald Genta design, and the silly date window kills it.
 
Screwbacks
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Faz Faz
As much as I love Speedmasters and especially the straight lug versions, the choice is clear...the Red 1680. Ed Whites were a pain before the bubble and even more so today. Finding a good one was always an issue and once you have one, not as versatile as the red subs as they are tough as nails and...

i wish the red sub was also tested by nasa together with the other failed brands.
 
Faz
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Screwbacks Screwbacks
i wish the red sub was also tested by nasa together with the other failed brands.
What's your point?
 
Bill Sohne
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M'Bob M'Bob
One could argue some sort of iconic status given that point. But the bigger question is whether it was any improvement over the previous iterations, either crown-guard, or non-crown-guard models.

Many believe the addition of the date spoils the Sub's aesthetics, and I have to agree - certainly, the Bond Subs and the later 5513 and 5512 are more refined without the date window; the same could probably be said about the Patek Nautilus: nice Gerald Genta design, and the silly date window kills it.


Hi bob
,....ok I hear and see where ya coming from.

Think of it this way , It was a big step for rolex to add date to the sub... as a tool watch it always form follows function .... I guess the real balance is the Sea dweller with date and no cyclops ....

A date feature 40 years ago was a great thing to have ... think of it no cell phones .... I bet marketing was demanding that feature on any new models and I could even see that the date could have been added as an after thought on a lot of designs . I bet patek did it go the Nautilus without asking Genta ! The previous is only a wild guess on my part!,,

Good hunting

Bill Sohne
 
Screwbacks
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Faz Faz
What's your point?

just curious if a sub will take the test by nasa 馃榿
 
watchknut
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Screwbacks Screwbacks
just curious if a sub will take the test by nasa 馃榿
Probably not, NASA only put things into space and never under the water...at least not intentionally.
 
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