Vintage Divers GTG @ "Vieux Port" of Marseille

Oct 27, 2013,00:19 AM
 

Hi,

Is there a better place for a vintage divers' meeting than the Vieux Port of Marseille?...

Some of you may have seen a preview on the Rolex forum, so here is more...As I was going to the South of France to enjoy some sun for a few days before we go into the dark winter I contacted my friend Jeff aka DrStrong.  As a nice coincidence Tony aka DivingT was in town for a few days as well (officially for work...)...that makes a great excuse for a nice dinner and meeting!...

So here is what comes...as an appetizer I will give you a shot of my Fifty Fathoms that had a real divers life here many years ago as it originally came from a diver from Marseille...



So the Vieux Port is a special place with a very nice athmosphere.  It has been dressed up as Marseille is the 2013 European capital for culture.  Here is a view with the famous "Bonne Mère" cathedrale overseing the harbour and the city...



Here is a view from the other side with the town hall overseeing the "vieux port"



Jeff had arranged a nice cosy place just behing the "Vieux Port"



So we have 3 friends, a nice place, great seafood, wine to go with it, lets bring out the watches and have fun!...It was the first time we met with Tony after a few years of chatting on the forum and by email, was also the first time for Tony and Jeff to meet, so lets go!...

The issue with retaurants at night is that it makes it extremely challenging to take decent pictures so the result is not great!...

So we start with 3 Fifty Fathoms,  a primitive (1955), a Milspec and a Bund!...not bad for a start!...



then comes the crown brand! a 6538 Big Crown, & 7928 "chocolate", a 1680 Red Sub and a 1665 Double Red!...



The theme was obvious, but there was a non diver I wanted to see so I asked Jeff to bring it!...a Tudor Homeplate!...wow what a watch!...





And here is a picture with two "UFOs", two very singular designs, the Homeplate and the Eberhard Scafograf!




And here is a table shot:




here is the list: Longines Nautilus, Eterna Kontiki MKII, FF, FF Milspec, Red Sub, Tudor 7928 PCG "chocolate", Omega Ploprof, 6538 Big Crown, Tudor Homeplate, Eberhard Scafograf 200, 1665 DRSD, FF Bund.

What a great evening!...

As I was frustrated by the quality of the pics I took a few day light pics the next day, at least of my watches, so here you go:










Here a picture from another nice place, the Calanque of Port Miou in Cassis




And a picture of her majesty the Big Crown on a backdrop of typical Marseille soap:



And a farewell, playing with the late afternoon light on the Vieux Port...



Thanks Tony and Jeff, if you want to add some day light pictures of your beauties in Marseille...


Matt


More posts: nautilusPloprofSeamasterTudor

  login to reply

Comments: view entire thread

 

2 more...

 
 By: amanico : October 27th, 2013-02:13
This one, during the unavoidable appetizer: Orange and vanillia, aren't there the colors of the Freccionne? The second one, well, you will recognize it: With you and Patrice, at the very same place and table you took in photo: That was a great moment! Bes...  

Great post Matt !

 
 By: DrStrong : October 27th, 2013-01:48
I've had a very pleasant evening the other night ! You have managed to take very nice pictures, which is always a challenge in a restaurant. And the picture of the FF "back on the vieux port" is really cool !

thanks Jeff!

 
 By: MattS : October 28th, 2013-02:01
it was very nice!....now back to grey and windy Paris!...thanks again for organizing this!...Matt

True luxury

 
 By: Le Monde Edmond : October 27th, 2013-09:33
This is true luxury. Eating good good (boulliabaise would have been my choice), in a wonderful setting, together with friends and discussing our great passion- watches. Thank you for the great pictures and for sharing this experience. Best Edmond

thanks Edmond! I agree...

 
 By: MattS : October 30th, 2013-04:13
some kind of luxury! Matt

Looks like you had a great time!

 
 By: blomman Mr Blue : October 27th, 2013-10:26
Thank you for sharing, Matt! :) Best Blomman

Yes we did!

 
 By: MattS : November 1st, 2013-03:38
you could have had a perfect fit in there with some fantastic pieces of yours missing on the plate!...DSA, Polaris... Matt

As all of us are thinking to ourselves . . .

 
 By: Dr No : October 27th, 2013-11:43
. . . "Wish I were there!" Thanks for sharing the pleasures of the day with us, Matt. These g-t-gs are so fulfilling, aren't they? Best, Art

Cool theme, great location, and...

 
 By: Tony C. : October 27th, 2013-18:00
terrific watches. Thanks for the post! Cheers, Tony C.

Beautiful!

 
 By: NoTime : October 28th, 2013-02:44
Thank you for having shared this complete selection of vintage divers! May be "a missing one"?… ...  

thanks!

 
 By: MattS : October 28th, 2013-03:23
the Super Ocean is fantastic and I am a fan of its unusual design (a bit like the Eberhard!) for sure but I have excluded it from my list as well as the Zenith S58 as they are too small for me!...a missing one would be a JLC!!... Matt

Fantastic Matt!! Great photos, and a great summary of the evening!....

 
 By: DivingT : October 29th, 2013-01:42
...it was truely a fantastic evening, and I agree, many thanks to Jeff to organising it. The watches were superb, and I think we need to thank Jeff, who knew Matt and I are both vintage diver fans, for alerting us - to bring down some nice old divers! You... 

I got this back from my watchmaker...

 
 By: DrStrong : October 30th, 2013-23:35
....just a couple of days after our dinner..It would have looked great on the table :-( ...  

nice indeed!...

 
 By: MattS : October 31st, 2013-13:05

Great pics Matt

 
 By: Ubik : November 11th, 2013-05:49
Love the first one at night of the FF - superb.