FAKE! Starting in 2005, Rolex began to engrave the serial number . The second-to-last digit (in the five or six-digit Rolex reference numbers) indicates the bezel style of Rolex dress watches, such as the Datejust, Day-Date, and Oyster Perpetual. While watch lovers find joy in collecting, there is merit to having that watch that one could wear at every occasion. showing some light spiders around the luminous plots, Next is a original owner Submariner sold by Bonhams in all the condition how the owner brought it in, untouched and some moisture stains on the glossy lacquer, something that can be cleaned of with ionized water. Nicknames are often given to a watch for their unusual appearance, or the colors of something similar, and for the Rolex Bubbleback, it is simply due to the shape of its case. To launch his company's new timepiece into the popular consciousness, Wilsdorf came up with an ingenious publicity stunt. 6538. In below Submariner ref 6200 you can clearly see that the radium dust is covered over the dial, mostly around the radium plots. The hands in general have a bigger amount of luminous than the dots on the dial, besides that, the luminous in the hands does not have a surface compared to the dial. A burned Big Crown dial that due to humidity, dry storage and lots of UV light chanced color and cracked in the surface, Below you see how the moisture the radium chanced to green spots around the luminous dots on the dial. GMT-Master II ref. high quality fake vintage Rolex dials are been offered into our market, read my RPR article, several times in last decade, the fakers are getting better, Moisture Meter or more specific, aCondition Meter, a White Swiss added on top of the track. -Rob. The increase in BPH allowed a more accurate caliber. Early Bubblebacks featured a three-piece case. TRIDOR = 18k Yellow, White and Rose gold, Rolex Dial Codes: Although its having the minute track and its marked only with Swiss at 6 oclock, the luminous is not radium but already later Tritium hence the geiger is below 0.25 mSv as you can see.. Each model is part of an extraordinary history of innovation. 4 = Stainless Steel and 18k White gold (White Rolesor) Get access to an exclusive insight not available anwhere else on this website! Furthermore it has little dents on the common edges of the case, show wear on the crown and leave marks between the lugs from the bracelet that was attached between the lugs. There are professional polishers who take the whole watch apart when trying to polish it back to Rolex standard. What we often see when we analyze any watches on its condition, is that the all over patina is not matching. Not because Rolex wants to squander money but because that's just the way they do things.". Some of the lesser-discussed vintage watches from Rolexs long and illustrious history are their early self-winding watches, affectionately nicknamed Bubble Backs by members of the collecting world. Logically the rest of the watch parts will still show you aging, once the case is looking like new, you will immediately spot its not matching in detail with the other parts. Only after successfully passing dozens of checkpoints does a watch receive the Rolex seal. The placing on the dial is not always consistent but divers per model. What I tried to explain in my guidance is that you have to be aware about a vintage watchthat, for instance, got totally relumed by professionals, where the patina is destroyed and thus not worth buying. Then a close up of the compound of the luminous. x4 = Bi Color Dial (Index) While the Bubble Back may not receive nearly as much attention or acclaim as other vintage Rolex watches, these early self-winding timepieces hold arguably more importance to the overall evolution and success of the Rolex brand than any other wristwatch that the company has ever put forward. Next we inspect the luminous up close on the dial, we notice that the top layer of the luminous dots have lost their rounded structure. If you doubt buying from pictures, always make sure you see the watch in your hands before finishing the deal. x7 = Index (3,6,9 Arabic) All rights reserved. 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 first Rolex Bubbleback model was the reference 1858. To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. until after the First World War, when an import tax hike of 33 percent made receiving its Swiss-made movements prohibitively expensive. MotoGP MotoGP 2011 TIMSOT C01.211 Edition of the MOGP race is the 10th MotoGP vacation. Then start now with my extensive Vintage Rolex Buyers Guide thats free for you to study hereonline. The world of vintage Rolex is full of scam and laster, relying on a trustable dealer, who has a reputation to defend, is most of the cases the best option you have. The glossy lacquer is irreparable. Sometimes common sense will help you out when you doubt. This site iscreated principallyas a platform to collectexamples of various categories which am focusing on, namely1 early manual wind enamel dial2 manual wind early rolex oyster3 rolex bubbleback 4 vintage sport rolexes, as i do not have unlimited resources, hence i think the best option for meis to stay focus.It will be a great honour to invite collector from all overthe world to participate in the collection, i have created a specialised column "guest premier collection" for this purpose, if u have watches which matches the category and u are willing to show to the other collectors or keen to sell, pls email to me for details. Yet another stunning transitional Sports Rolex, a 5512 minute track with underline, slightly earlier then the above example due to the close track. Every specialized auction house has its own database of achieved results. First, we have the standard size, then we have the ladies size, and lastly came the Bib Bubbleback. 4 = Bark Examine the screw thread. As most Rolex are perpetual calibers, you can spot a worn out automatic rotor leaving marks in the case back. The Rolex Oyster Bubbleback gets its distinctive rounded case from the unusually thick movement and rotor that, turning on a pivot, sets the winding of the hairspring in motion. Collectors covet the Rolex Bubbleback 3131 because it was not only one of the first Bubbleback watches but also because it has a deep history and it is the first with a two-piece rather than a three-piece case. At the end of this article you find an overview of the checklist! All three traits proved invaluable when the Swiss watch industry found itself slipping into oblivion. At first I like to start with the overview of theapproximatedate of luminous used by the Rolex Company: The early aged radium dials from the 20-ies and 30-ies where merely fitted on a emaille surface, using strong first generation Radium that by then not known that it could be dangerous. Rolex's big breakthrough came in 1926, when Wilsdorf developed a case that was impervious and waterproof. Then start now with my extensive Vintage Rolex Buyer's Guide thats free for you to study here online. I highly recommend to double check the luminous on these dials as we hardly see any truth tropicals around any more. 7 = 14k Yellow gold (No Longer Used) Its a time capsule that seems to be unworn even after some 75 years!.. This led not only to the English designation of Bubbleback but the Italian nickname Ovettone (meaning Little Egg), as well as the more sinister Little Coffin name in Hong Kong. Often a used one will show you burr on the screw. "Wilsdorf wasn't content merely to invent the first wristwatch. Rolex Triplock crown from a vintage Daytona above, Twinlock crown from an Explorer below. 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. Wikipedia says about provenance: The chronology of the ownership, custody or location of a historical object. Obviously a old style dial design that got luminated with tritium. Find below a comparison between ref. To make it even more complicated, in those references that had been produced for a long time ( Like 5512, 5513, 1675, 1016 etc) we see different types in different periods. Featuring 32mm diameter Oyster case with screw down caseback, screw down rose gold crown, rose gold engine turned bezel, acrylic crystal, and beautifully restored glossy black dial with warmly patina'd luminous indexes and matching mercedes hands. The auction house provides you with information printed in their catalogue, additional info like copies from the papers, extract from the manufacture or service records. Below a patinated and used movement.. What is the price of your vintage Rolex in current market?? Rolex Bubbleback (2940) Price Guide and Specifications See market pricing for Rolex 2940 watches. Instead, the name Bubbleback was born as a nickname amongst collectors due to the way the protruding case back was designed. Is the woven fabric band shown in the pictures authentic for this vintage Rolex, 33 45? Together with its unique look, the pure pleasure of telling time without unnecessary embellishment or distraction comes to the fore in the Bubbleback by Rolex. What we are looking for is matching luminous of dial and hands, both have to be in the same color, still fluffy and undamaged. Collectors prized genuine rarity above contemporary sizing, allowing 32mm watches to make serious money at auction. Once youre the winner of a auctioned lot, you will have to pay a premium on top of the hammer price. 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. See market pricing for Rolex 2940 watches. Funny enough when you think about a watch, logically the movement should be what it is all about. 14 different model lines: Oyster, Bubbleback, including Chronograph, Submariner, Explorer, and more. Case diameters are relatively small and typically hover around 30 mm to 32 mm for, Today, all Rolex watches are fitted with automatic-winding calibers; however they can trace their root DNA back to the original Bubble Back watches that Rolex first, A Rolex worn by President Obama: The Cellini Immortalized. We notice that the radium lume ( swiss dial ) is not perfectly added and hanging over the gilt linesprinted on the dial. Again this is what I mean with matching all over patina. Historically the bubbleback was the first commercially successful automatic watch. We want you to feel confident in the thought that you always get great value for your money when buying from us. The more provenance you have, the better it is! Magnify small screws for tarnish and if they have been used. Every Rolex reference has its own coronet. , in 1905, by the 24-year-old Wilsdorf, a German who became a British citizen after taking an English bride. Next, you have to know how a NOS Rolex case looks like, what exact curve is the bevel making and how wide is it as with every reference its different then you can compare it. Be aware and try to train your eyes to notice every small detail thats not like youve seen before. Rolex 3 261 Wristwatches Sea Time - Mar 09 2020 The first watch connoisseur's guide to explore a century of high-performing, stylish chronometers for watersports adventures above and below the waves--sailing, yachting and diving. 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. kindly post your comments to me to make this site an exciting one!!! 6107 in Stainless Steel ( 14148), The Heart of a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Bubbleback. payment mode: bank wire or paypal with 4% fees. Its due to the extensive experience and knowledge of the collector or the dealer to upgrade a already nice and original watch into the most wanted Catalogue Style. "If Rolex had gone to quartz there's no way it would have the image and prestige it has now." These will be found behind the bracelet by the 6 o'clock area. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly: info at Rolex Passion Report .com. Rolex Oyster Perpetual. any Below we see a all over matching patina on the dial and hands, after the crystal has been removed we see some dirt, thats also located around the crown & pushers.. No marks on the dial, no marks on the hands near the center where a watchmaker takes them off and matching luminous of dial & hands. As modern watch collecting has become all about the dial, we see many creative crooks trying to enter the market of big money. In a constantly developing market, where fine and honest quality has gone mad price-wise during the auctions, I wanted to add a basic guidance for you how to determine the originality of a vintage Rolex and make all details better understandable for any watch collectorwho is serious about his hobby. Shortly later, end 60ies, came the Red Submariner Ref 1680, of which many different version have been made..(follow the link to more vintage Rolex study), Heavy patinated Ref 1665 for Qaboos in like NOS condition. Daytona ref. I know Bubbleback is possibly a pretty nebulous category of Rolex, but I'm talking specifically about the ones such as the 2940 etc. But as its still in honest and crisp condition, its highly collectable as all the original patina is still there! We have to realize that perfect grail watches are super rare and not everybody will be able to acquire one in crisp catalogue style as the price will only go up rapidly because we know now not many more will come to the market. The most common questions about rolex bubbleback guide. Always loupe with both eyes opened, dont close the one youre not using. It has survived the depths of the sea with Jacques Piccard and the summit of Everest with Sir Edmund Hillary's Sherpa. Here you are hunting unicorns, though, as the addition of a two-tone bracelet would have been a considerable outlay, so many purchasers opted for leather straps. An original, un cracked bakelite bezel for a early 6542 GMT Master is like 1/2 the price of the watch. 5 = Gold Shell (early models Rose Gold on newer models) Today the Rolex Bubbleback is coveted by serious collectors the world over - not . Yet while most of Geneva's watch houses feverishly hitched their star to the digital bandwagon, Rolex stuck resolutely to its mechanical guns. This will inevitably cause loss of material, unless the polishing has been done very lightly. Maybe the edges are a bit worn off but generally im always surprised who great the shape of the case still is with a fresh find once it has been worn for like 50 years. Wilsdorf, an heirless widower at his death, created a private trust run by a board of directors to insure the company would never be sold. 126719. The 32mm stainless steel case has thick straight lugs and a beautiful gold bezel, overall, giving this stylish watch a confident, yet not overstated wrist presence. It was produced exclusively in stainless steel with a black and red rotatable bezel from 1983 until 1988. It seems most pop up in Europa, at the moment, thesource might come from Germany and the UK but quickly they are also offered in the US and Asia. Another typical detail we seeis the 6 oclock marker being more bright then the rest of the radium plots. The patina on the top of the movement should match with the rest of the watch, if you see a clean case, most logically the movement will also be clean when you open the back. And the Oyster Perpetual, Rolex's most basic watch, fits the bill.Mar 21, 2019, With the smaller format, comes the calibre 2232, which is effectively equipped with the same technology as the cal. To launch his company's new timepiece into the popular consciousness, Wilsdorf came up with an ingenious publicity stunt. These antecedents were not only small, but in the 1930s they housed the new-fangled self-winding perpetual movements accommodating the winding rotor under a highly domed screw-down case back. Its with the matte parts where you can determine if a watch is polished or not. Notice the small watch maker mark at 12 oclock.. Each Rolex reference had its own specific Rolex logo & reference number inside their case back, up till like 1966/67 we also see the date added once left the manufactory. People can use people effectively. The same we see in following examples, a rare waffle diales Datejust with radium luminous on dial and hands. This special dial was made to honor James Cameron's recording-breaking dive into the Mariana Trench in 2012. I've found a (surprisingly small) number of straight up homages/replicas such as the WMT W15 and the Vague Watch Co. Vabble. during its life, comparing & discussing them on specialized watch forums like VRF, I think its now become time to share some of my experience. Above Christies important watch auction in Geneva and below Phillips Auctioneers. This caliber was developed by Rolex and introduced in 1977. Fact is that the dial has gone tropical, from initial black to brown caramel. Close up of afully in tact radium 6 oclock Explorer ref 6350 marker from 1953. While analyzing the below 2 photos now you clearly notice that the hands do NOT match the rest of the color of the luminous, thus something has happened afterwards before sit went to auction. Bob's Watches is not affiliated with Rolex S.A., Rolex USA, or Close up of a rare service dial, one that only has a added T behind the radium SWISS, clearly added later and maybe a finished swiss dial that never got laminated and was used as service dial by adding the T and tritium. During these viewing days you can examine the lots of your interest up close, ask a watchmaker to open the case back so you can see the movement, make remarks and do your own due diligence about what you want to pay for it. With other words, to get the movement out of the case one needs to unscrew the crown and the movement plates at the edge that are holding the movement tight in the case. As Rolex has delivered many different markets in the world, sometimes using local suppliers like we see with bracelets a lot for instance, many different versions of the same reference have come to the market. Aside from being called the Fat . watch collection is certainly a long journey, u have to enjoy the process being an ordinary collector,unless of course if u have huge money enable u to jumpstraight awayinto thetop tier, but for mei love to live everyday with new surprises, i hope ushare the sameview being a "budget collector", hahaha!!