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Submariner · 1988 to 2009
“Bluesy”
Grade B · 77/100Today's call: Value buy
B: solid, selective. Ranked #56 of 129 references in The Crown Index vault.
| Original retail (2000) | $5,900 |
|---|---|
| Market today | $9,500 – $12,000 |
| Vs original retail | +82% |
| 1-year trend | +9% |
The steel-and-gold 'Bluesy' was dad-watch shorthand for decades; now the two-tone revival has flipped it into a fashion object.
Factory Serti dials (diamond and sapphire markers) are the sleeper configuration: once mocked, now hunted.
The 'Bluesy': two-tone Sub with a blue dial and bezel, the unofficial watch of 1990s golf courses and boat decks. Derided for years as a dentist's watch, which collectors now say with affection and rising bids.
Two decades of production mean plentiful supply, but the blue dials age into stunning soft shades, and the champagne 'serti' diamond-dial versions have become genuinely sought after. The two-tone comeback lifted this whole reference.
Our verdict: Riding the two-tone wave. Blue dial and tight bezel fade are what the market pays for.
| Sizes | 40mm |
|---|---|
| Case & bracelet material | Steel & 18k yellow gold (Rolesor) |
| Factory bracelet | Oyster |
| Factory bezels | Blue aluminum with gold surround; Black aluminum |
| Notable dials | Blue sunburst; Black; Serti diamond-sapphire (factory) |
| Caliber | 3135 |
| Production | 1988 to 2009 (discontinued) |
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