The collaboration between two leading luxury brands, Tiffany & Co. and Rolex was born in the 50s and lasted around three decades. Tiffany & Co. sold Rolex watches at their stores and Tiffany’s logo was branded on the dial along with the most famous watchmaker’s logo. Today, these watches are held in high regard by vintage watch enthusiasts and collectors because these pieces were very limited in quantity. Tiffany & Co. sold watches produced by different manufacturers as well. But it wasn’t until the 50s that the brand started introducing their logo to these watches. As a result, the watches produced in cooperation with Rolex could be sent to either manufacturer for servicing. Finally, in the early 90s, the partnership between Rolex and Tiffany was over because of disputes regarding branding. People looking for a pre-owned Tiffany watch in San Diego often come to Leo Hamel’s asking for suggestions on which particular models they should pay special attention to. In this article, we’re bringing you three of the most interesting watches from this series.

Submariner 1680

This watch first appeared in 1966 and the production went on till the late 70s. It was the very first in the Submariner collection to feature a date window. The acrylic glass was equipped with a magnifying Cyclops lens. There are several variants of this model. The early models sported a red Submariner label, which was changed to white later during production. The meter and feet measurements were also reversed. All of them were branded with the Tiffany & Co. logo. The later versions also featured the Triplock waterproofing system instead of the earlier Twinlock variant.

GMT-Master 16700

One of the instantly recognizable timepieces sporting a Tiffany & Co. branding with a red and blue dial, the GMT-Master 16700 was made from stainless steel. The series was launched back in 1988 and replaced the outdated GMT-Master 16750. The new series also had a few new features, including a brand new case, a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, and the Caliber 3175 movement. The series’ launch coincided with the GMT-Master II by Rolex and was a more affordable alternative to the 16710.

Submariner 1680/8

Similar in many aspects to the 1680 series, 1680/8 was its yellow gold twin with the same capabilities. The particular series came with an attached gold anchor. The anchor featured two little engravings stating ‘200’ and ‘660’, which represent the watch’s water depth resistance. A particularly popular model from this series featured a black dial with gold hour markers and the ‘Tiffany & Co.’ branding.

Finding an Authentic Pre-Owned Watch in San Diego

Since both companies were in charge of printing the dial, there were many inconsistencies with the final products. Therefore, there may be counterfeit Tiffany & Co. branded Rolex watches out there, not easily recognizable by even the most passionate watch enthusiasts. This is why it’s important to only buy these rare models from reputable stores. If you are looking to buy an authentic, pre-owned Rolex watch, or any fine pre-owned watch brand, visit Leo Hamel Fine Jewelers at our San Diego Avenue location. Even if we don’t currently have the particular model you are looking for in our ever-changing selection, we promise to go above and beyond to find it for you, using our vast network of global connections.