Rolex Logo the Meaning, Authenticity, and Watch Strap Guide Rolex is one of the world's most recognizable luxury watch brands, known for its exceptional quality, timeless designs, and innovation. Very important information about the serial number and movement numbers are published for you to compare! "The Oyster Perpetual is really what makes a Rolex a Rolex--it's waterproof, with a tiny engine that you power every single time you move your arm.". pictured: Rolex Bubbleback 18K Yellow Gold Vintage Watch br br LUMINOUS MARKERS If your watch has luminous hour markers and indices, check whether the lume is consistent. 8. In each case, the recovered Rolex was running perfectly. This provides absolutely no value to the consumer, except as a gesture of the brand's refinement. If it goes wrong, the transition in polish is clearly visible. Not many Rolex collectors are aware about the fact that the Big Crown & Small Crown versions are having the same graphics. Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. Totally fresh monobloc case seen from the back, note how sharp the rills are and the gravure of the serial and the references still are.. Up close you will see with a polished example that the fine lines are not perfectly straight as most likely the polished cases have been done by hand, there where the unpolished cases have a manufacture polish, done when all parts arent yet assembled and always the same, in 1 go. 1 = Rotating/Engine Turned (early) Yet another stunning transitional Sports Rolex, a 5512 minute track with underline, slightly earlier then the above example due to the close track. Here it helps to analyze NOS ( new old stock ) movement pictures to get an idea how they looked like. In daylight we see the luminous is creamy colored, once activated with UV light it become bright green. This fate won't befall Rolex. And although its not the rarest gold Submariner as its the second eerie with Feet first, ref 1680, its the condition that makes it collectable!.. The Rolex Bubbleback 3131 is truly a vintage watch, as it is one of the brands very first fully-functional automatic timepieces produced in the 1930s and one of the earliest models from the iconic Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection. This special dial was made to honor James Cameron's recording-breaking dive into the Mariana Trench in 2012. 6200 are the beginning of the since then ever lasting legendary tool sports watch concept.. What we see in above and in below pictures are first generation Rolex Sports models. The transitional Submariner from plexi to sapphire crystal, ref 16800 & 168000. Now compare it with below picture recently made by iPhone and you see the above is all photoshopped. How do I find out what my Rolex is worth? i use fedex pak 3 day priority with onlinetracking and i will seal all parcelsfor maximum safety, this is a very important step that many shippers did not do. Your focus should be on the typo used on the dial, the exact form of the Rolex coronet and if present, the bezel typography. If you put a Datejust from 1945 beside a Datejust from 1998, you'll see the resemblance. To rest my case, following pictures is of an early 1956 Big Crown with 4 lines coming for sale in NY soon. He wanted to invent the first truly accurate wristwatch, one that you could actually run your life by." serviced with later parts?) In most cases when a case welder has done his job, he merely focuses on the lugs and chamfers with newly added bevels. Beware of repainted dials the 1980s and 1990s had a more relaxed attitude to restoration than today and, although a repainted dial can look awesome, hold out for an original. The watch gets its name from its protruding, bubble-shaped caseback that is emblematic of the brands early self-winding models. Rolex claims that it has redesigned 90% of the components it uses, including a new Chronergy escapement and a larger hairspring, resulting in a stronger maximum tension force. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. Every day a nice and honest watch somewhere in the world gets a treatment because its dial is having some little spots or the case has original scratches on it. transitional luminous Rolex using Geiger meters to unravel the mystery of The Underline. Dark chocolate ref 1680 from the first serie, with meter first, A Sigma ( white gold markers around 1970) T swiss T Daytona with faded tritium dots and tropical brown sub dials. Magnifique why should u buy from me? And analyzing the fonds of the Rolex serial numbers engraved between the lugs up close. This extra piece of crystal magnifies the date for easier reading.Mar 10, 2014, Our current production cannot meet the existing demand in an exhaustive way, at least not without reducing the quality of our watches something we refuse to do as the quality of our products must never be compromised, Rolex wrote in a statement obtained by Yahoo!Sep 29, 2021. Its an earlier version, notice the much thinner second hand in the 9 oclock register and different lay out of the bezel engraving, this is one of the first ref 6239s. Above clearly visible are the 2 generation luminous stamps, the one below, swiss only and the one above, stating now that the luminous is of new generation, < 0.25MSv. This will inevitably cause loss of material, unless the polishing has been done very lightly. This has to do with the fact that the Submariner model was thicker than the GMT-Master and the Submariner winding crown larger. It offers a distinctly vintage aesthetic, while simultaneously occupying an incredibly important place within the history and development of the Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection. Rolex Bubbleback watches are available in Rolex Steelium (stainless steel), Rolesor (half gold, half steel) and gold varieties, depending on the wishes of its first owner. The Rolex Bubbleback is a rare timepiece in the history of watchmaking. Another indicator if a watch has been polished or not, is by looking at the fine lines on a watch. Secondlyyou also see black 3 color Paul Newman where one could easily say its the same as above but its not, is a later transitional ref 6262.. And and without the crystal, The luminous now looks newer then the rest of patina on the watch, isnt matching the color of the hands nor does it has the same radiation as original ones. The Rolex Bubbleback (2940) is a watch model from the Rolex brand and Oyster Perpetual collection. Rolexs Bubble Back watches get their nickname from their extremely rounded, protruding case-backs. Hans Wilsdorf and his brother-in-law, Alfred Davis, founded the company 2x = Champagne Actually the top have been scratched of to remove the stains that where there initially. The watch market has to understand that exactly these little scratches or small imperfections are the key to future collecting! In Vintage Spokane, Hour 2, Charles Tearle appraises a Rolex "Bubbleback" Watch, ca. Facebook and Instagram are modern tools that are extremely effective as with one click youre in a group of collectors willing to give you the best possible advise. It was an era when national borders tended to define men's ambitions, but Wilsdorf thought big from the beginning. 5512 SCOC, again we bright luminous added on the glossy dial.. This shouldimmediately ring your alarm bells telling you something unoriginal has happened, somebody has restored it incorrectly. Be one of 4,000 successful private sellers each month. Just as video killed the radio star, the quartz boom of the late 1960s and early 1970s nearly snuffed out the mechanical timepiece faster than you can say "Seiko." Therefore,before you start comparing your Rolex with others, its very usefulthat you check closely if all the parts are original. The Bubbleback became the first automatic Rolex watch to have water resistance. $2,695? Are these the original hands and has the dial been swapped perhaps? It has shrugged off plane crashes, shipwrecks, and speedboat accidents, broken the sound barrier, and been ejected from a fighter jet at 22,000 feet. When you notice that the screw to release the crown, mostly located near the 3 oclock opening where the crown goes into the movement, is damaged on the surface, it means it has been taken out a lot. 7 = Various Rolex Oyster Perpetual. Or the other way arounda damaged and worn-down case with a perfect dial and hands also tells us something has been done to cover up imperfections. The matte parts will tell you if a watch has been polished or not. I can also advise you to check the sold archive of auction houses like Bonhams that have hardly take any dealer prepared offered lots into their sales but just auction they lots as it is. After we now know where to look at, by analyzing the luminous, if a Rolex is still in all original condition, we focus on the case itself. But be prepared, this is a LONGarticle that will take some of your time to digest! If I might have forgotten or overlooked your messages, please resend it so I can make sure youll get your answer! Probably the best tip I can give you for the popular Rolex or any kind of luminous dialed watch, is always to check the luminous up close! 4 = Bark If its vintage watches or classic cars, the main reason you should have to invest in it is the pleasure you get back from it. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. Faded inlay matches dial and luminous, often inlays get changed. Up and down, we see 2 x unpolished chamfers, beveled edges that are so particularity loved by vintage Rolex collectors.. A common Rolex reference, the Submariner ref 5513. Around 1962we see the exclamation mark, the little extra dot at 6 oclock added on top of the dial is most probably a first sign of the dial maker to show Rolex(US Canada?) Perfect matching luminous shows a perfect condition of the dial.. 6107 in Stainless Steel ( 14148), The Heart of a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubbleback. affiliated with Rolex S.A., Rolex USA, or any other brand listed on its website. First Rolex service dial? i havealwaysbeen dreamingaboutcreating a small space for my small collection,my collectionmay not particularlybe very mintor very rare, but they are all close to my heart. Then analyzing the dial, you will see that the graphics are different then the regular ones, specially the coronet and the lining of the SCOC text below on the dial. Rolex's big breakthrough came in 1926, when Wilsdorf developed a case that was impervious and waterproof. Magnifying it up to 100-200 x and comparing with one thats proven original isnt possible for many collectors. Did the early 3131 watchbands have the Rolex emblem on the buckle? Rolex created the auto-rotor movement based on the Aegler movement in Hunter watches that featured a perpetual motion winding mass. Certainly a trigger to look for replacement parts. That is the fee for the auction house which is in most cases about25 % fee for hammer prices realized up to $ 100.000,=. Rolex Oyster Perpetual ref 2764 Bubbleback By 1959, Rolex Oyster Perpetual Non-Date movements were already equipped with automatic movements, which allowed for screw-down case backs and crowns. With this one the both colors looks seem to match at first sight. Are the screws used on the side to remove the link. The bracelet also has a range of distinctive styles that speak to the personal histories behind each of these vintage timepieces, from steel to textured crocodile leather. Heat Proof. What also makes the Bubbleback so interesting to collectors is the wide array of cases and dials that were available on them. First-class service. The serial number of a Rolex watch is used to date the watch and establish its market value and authenticity. Rolex Bubbleback 14K YG ref 3131 circa 1947 Open by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Genuine vintage parts have therefor become blue chips. Note the sharp bezel and all edges. Some of the most colorful recommendations are the cautionary tales: the Englishman who inadvertently laundered his Oyster in a scalding cycle, then rinsed, spun and tumble-dried it; the Australian skydiver who dropped his from 800 feet above the outback; or the Californian whose wife accidentally baked his in a 500-degree oven. The Rolex Bubbleback 3131 is truly a vintage watch, as it is one of the brand's very first fully-functional automatic timepieces produced in the 1930s and one of the earliest models from the iconic Rolex Oyster Perpetual collection. The bottom line is that the world of Bubbleback watches is vast and there is a lot for a collector to explore and discover. The red Sea Dweller text perfectly covers the white text underneath, first examples of this legendary reference had a 500m = 1650 Ft depth rate.. We try to reply within an hour. 126719. Now you have an idea of which Rolex model you have, from what period its made and if its still in original condition (or at least parts of it ) you might want to check out the value by searching the sales results of the mayor auction houses which specializein offering vintage Rolex. Watch: Tudor BB58 (2018) Posts: 1. The same we see between the lugs, where bracelets with their end links always leave visible marks. Reliable and durable, all are waterproof and equipped with self-winding movements developed and manufactured by Rolex at the forefront of watchmaking technology. Our number one goal is to make you so satisfied with your purchase that we get the honour of helping you with your next watch purchase. This changed in the 1964 to Tritium with the T SWISS T or SWISS T<25 markings. A lot ofresearch Ive done on these Submariner Big Crowns and my standard procedure was to measure the dial with a geiger meter. As you might know, the Rolex Bubbleback is credited as being the first official Oyster Perpetual timepiece from Rolex which included a waterproof Oyster case as well as a Perpetual movement with self-winding technology. All black sigma Daytona from first owner in untouched original condition. It was crafted entirely of 18K yellow gold, possessed a minimally fluted bezel (closer to a coin-edge texture), and in fact did not display the word "Datejust" on its dial. Close up of afully in tact radium 6 oclock Explorer ref 6350 marker from 1953. If this is on free forums, In the last couple of years the value of rare vintage Rolex has gone up rapidly. Rolex collecting has developed its own jargon over the years. Any watchmaker who serviced a watch made his marks engraved in the case back, spotting many of those individual codes will tell you it has been serviced a lot. Could actually run your life by., is by looking at the forefront of watchmaking we... 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