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Silix "Cartier" White 1680

mojo2001

Known Member
14/3/07
125
0
16
Here'a an interesting item from Silix Prime, a white 1680 featuring a "Cartier" signed dial. This is ROLS037 on Silix' site.

I like the Cartier touch, which suggests a replica AD as well as a rep watch....a meta rep.

Overall quality is on par with general run of cn vintage ETA subs. However this one is free of the overly yellow dial markers evident on most vintage subs, which many cite as a significant drawback.

Bezel has no click action and a tiny bit of side to side play, which I have also noted in Trusty DRSD. Bidirectional, of course.

Movement is signed 2836 ETA with signed rotor...nice!

Since ordering this watch, I picked up a WM 1680, which is a much heftier piece (mechanically as well as price-wise), hence I'm not sure that I need to keep this one, but I am quite pleased with it. Like the Trusty DRSD that I also replaced with an MBW, these vintage subs seem *slightly* less solid than the modern $188 sub...but at Silix friendly price, I think it is a real good deal. The MBWs, obviously, are in a different league.

End links are vintage style and marked "455B" Non riveted Bracelet is marked "93250"

Surveying the marketplace, I did not find many white 1680s available. Here's one worthy of consideration, IMHO.

Is the MBW worth 3X the Silix price?....h'mm tough to say, but since I will soon be living in my car due to buying reps anyway, might as well be sportin' a fine MBW!!!


mojo



 

jiro

I'm Pretty Popular
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oh my.....look at that thickness of the crystal!!!!! :shock:
 

mojo2001

Known Member
14/3/07
125
0
16
Definitely, Bob... the rep crystal in this thing looks a LOT like the rep crystal in the MBW.

I'm wondering if one could pop in a nice aftermarket crystal or even a gen. THAT would be cool.

I tried to eyeball a helfands 127 by sitting it on top of the one that's in there, and it seems like it might actually work!
 

david-syd

Renowned Member
25/5/06
501
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Nice watch... I seen that one too on silix website..

I now prefer the older sub dials then the new s with the
markers sticking up....

the crystal on that is good vintage ones like u said similar to
the MBW1680.


thanks for the photos on this cartier...
 

smalls

Getting To Know The Place
9/2/07
73
0
0
Thanks for the pics, they look great. Does anyone know the history of this watch with the Cartier writing. I've tried finding any kind of info but can't come up with anything. Are these dials more rare than the red subs? 1680 will be my next rep, but I can't afford an MBW, this looks like a good option
 

mojo2001

Known Member
14/3/07
125
0
16
I would imagine the Cartier dial, if it even existed, is rare as hell...but strangely, it seems to make the watch less "fake" because it is so unexpected, and the extra line of text make the dial jump out more.

How many reps actually rip off two famous trademarks at one time? That, to me, is an accomplishment!!

Overall, I thought it looked quite good as a budget vintage sub alternative. The only thing I would like changed is the slightly wiggly bezel but that doesn't affect the looks.
Had the same issue with my Trusty DRSD.

mojo
 

frogman

Active Member
31/10/06
435
1
0
Mojo2001,

VERY nice sub my friend. I am in the market for one as well...and I have been looking at this one. I'm assuming you went with the ETA version....

Wouldn't this model have a "slow beat" movement in it?


FROGMAN
 

jdavis

Active Member
28/9/06
254
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0
I tried to order one of these from Silix a couple of months ago and was told that it was no longer available :eek:
The Tiffany model isn't as accurate because it uses the new 16610 case with the vintage dial!
Cartier and Tiffany both marked all the Rolex watches that they sold for many years. I understand that in the late 70s Rolex complained about the added logo script and apparently made some threats that ended the practice.
 

frogman

Active Member
31/10/06
435
1
0
???? WHAT ????

Doctorron....why wouldn't you? That is a great looking watch....but to each his own!
 

cosmic

Known Member
17/4/07
140
0
0
Shame the font on the Cartier isn't as per original, I would be the first to jump on one of these if the font was correct

dial.jpg