rolex bubbleback guide
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. Many watch makers in the past almost automatically removed the top layer of the lume making them look like craters. Rolex. Above collection is carefully put together by1665collector. As your reference number tells you which model you have you now start comparing your Rolex with one from my reference list below. By the time the dust had settled, more than half of Geneva's watch manufacturers had gone under. In this article, we are highlighting the Rolex Bubbleback and are listing some of the most important and interesting facts about the Rolex Bubbleback. To make your assessment easier, Ive composed a checklist of things to look out for when analysing a vintage Rolex. 955_Rolex 1525 NEW.pdf. I honestly think all auction houses should stop using photoshop. All plots are perfectly shaped and color on the dial is matching the luminous of the hands, first owner find still in all original condition.. Alongside running the premier retailer of pre-owned Rolex watches, Paul is a prominent Rolex watch collector himself amassing one of the largest private collections of rare timepieces. The chance from radium to tritium ( with a maximal radiation of the total watch of 0.25Mvsr ) changed the dial description at 6 oclock from Swiss to T-Swiss-T and later T-Swiss<25. Get access to an exclusive insight not available anwhere else on this website! Early 1950 watches with radium lume have a radiation of at least 20-100 Mvrs. Advise: Use Google to find pictures of original old watch catalogues. Our team is ready to assist with all of your watch needs. Moreover, Rolex used several different handsets for the Bubblebacks over the course of the production. Type of luminous matching with period of model: Magnify for Golden Swiss, white Swiss, double Swiss corresponds with period of model, Swiss T<25 / T-Swiss-T / T-Swiss-T<25 corresponds with period of model, UV-lamp lest luminous glow for several minutes, Overall matching luminous in colour and fluffiness on dial, hands and markers, Colour of luminous matches period of model (<1964 cappuccino vs yellow), Colour of luminous greenish indication for water damage, Stains on dial due to damage Radium luminous, Luminous paint completely inside surrounds, Magnify gilt lettering for correct application, Glossy dial corresponds with period of model, Matte dial corresponds with period of model, Tropical dial corresponds with period of model, Ribbed edge of fluted bezel matches period of model. Manufactured between roughly 1933 and 1955, a vintage Rolex watch without a doubt, dozens of different reference numbers fall into the unofficially named, Bubble Back category. Check below the stunning work LA Watch Works did. The list is broken down in case, dial and bezel parts. By noting what this 4-8 digit number is that's engraved on every watch by Rolex, it can be determined what the production date is. Unpolished watches only have a manufacture polish, meaning the case has a satin polish that was done at the Rolex factory before all parts were assembled.Every place where wear and tear could happen is still unused, the crowns, the case back, the lugs, the sides, bracelet, crystal. 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. Then 20 % fee for hammer prices realized from $ 100.000,= to 2 million and 12 % for hammer prices above 2 million. Price: 24,250. Bob's Watches / Rolex Blog / Watch Review. Industry watchers say that what distinguishes Rolex from other premium timepieces is its signature look--a big, round face paired with a wide metal band--that's become as familiar on a basketball court as at a black-tie reception. Obviously a old style dial design that got luminated with tritium. Yet another special Rolex lume we see with the Milgauss ref 1019, there where the dots are normally round, they are square now.. 2 x creamy colored tritium Explorers, both untouched and still in their original condition. Eying the case and comparing it with the rest of the watch, the challenge is to spot any discrepancies in the story the watch might tell you. 18k Yellow Gold. 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. Below I will post some picturesfrom unused vintage Rolexso you can compare yours with. Nearly 70 years later, the Oyster Perpetual has proved undaunted by the worst possible conditions. Check his website for possible Ipjone & iPad applications on Rolex and Patek Philippe over here:www.johngoldbergerwatches.com Provenance: I like to add in a update the proven history of a watch. But be prepared, this is a LONGarticle that will take some of your time to digest! "If Rolex had gone to quartz there's no way it would have the image and prestige it has now." Although they were not specifically designed for some demanding sport or an inhospitable environment, the Rolex Bubble Back represents the basic, self-winding template that all modern Rolex watches would come to follow. To launch his company's new timepiece into the popular consciousness, Wilsdorf came up with an ingenious publicity stunt. ;Brand Rolex;Model Bubbleback;Reference Ref. The watch was hermetic only when the button was screwed down. We strive to have fair prices on all our watches. Description : ROLEX, REF. Then start now with my extensive Vintage Rolex Buyers Guide thats free for you to study hereonline. That is the fee for the auction house which is in most cases about25 % fee for hammer prices realized up to $ 100.000,=. So below the reference number is 6538 for Rolex Submariner Big Crown produced between 1956-1959, then below you see I.56, which means it left production at first quarter 1956 and all the way down you see a stamp that has shortly been used around 1956, the 18 which stands for the (high) quality of steel that has been used. Rolex serial number is also known as the case number or a style number and is located between the lugs at the 6 o'clock position. This includes Alpha hands, the iconic Mercedes hands, and others. The Bubbleback became the first automatic Rolex watch to have water resistance. Dust, heat and moisture had a way of wreaking havoc with a wristwatch's intricate mechanical movements, and the earliest models required too much maintenance to be practical. During the 1980s and the 1990s, the Bubblebacks were extremely sought-after by collectors, in fact even more so than the professional Rolex models. In watch-making, or horology, a California dial refers to a clock face that consists of half Roman (usually 10 o'clock to 2 o'clock) and half Arabic numerals (usually 4 o'clock to 8 o'clock). . First, we have the standard size, then we have the ladies size, and lastly came the Bib Bubbleback. x2 = Sunbeam (Roman) By the time the Bubbleback Rolex models were hitting their stride in the 1930s, buckles with the Rolex emblem would have likely been more-or-less standard on most models. They could think long-term appeal: 'Where will we be in five or ten years' time?' The Cyclops is an extra piece of sapphire crystal affixed to the crystal above the date window. Search for similarities but again, this needs to be done precisely. Many factors may influence if a case is still in an original state and what has been done to it by wearing and/or servicing it. The matte parts will tell you if a watch has been polished or not. After 1964 radium ones where forbidden and later tritium ones lost their luminance in 15 years. The Vintage Rolex Buyers Guide by Philipp Stahl. 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. However, it was not the first self-winding watch. Detail comparison: Left and middle version are both early 6538s with 1 color print, there where the right one is havinga 2 color print ( for depth rate & OCC). This beautiful watch makes a wonderful addition to any luxury timepiece collection and is truly unlike any of the models that Rolex produces today. Rolex Releases 2023 New Generation Daytona Collection 1265XX, 9 Best Spring Bar Tools for Your Watch [List & Guide], Top 11 Best Watch Repair Tool Kits [List & Guide], Top 11 Best Watch Rolls for Travel [List & Guide], Best Watch Polishing Cloths to Remove Scratches, 6 Best Spring Bars Replacements For Your Watch [Guide], Best Watch Waterproof Testers [List & Guide], Top 9 Best Watchmaker Tweezers [List & Guide], Best Timegraphers for Your Watch [List & Guide], Best Watch Demagnetizers to Demagnetize Your Watch, Top 10 Best Watch Movement Holders [List & Guide], Top 5 Best Watch Battery Replacement Kits [List & Guide], Tudor Heritage Black Bay 79220 The Ultimate Collectors Guide Hardcover Book. Each bezel coveys a unique story with either a smooth, engine-turned style or hooded lugs; while the slight diameter of some Rolex Bubbleback timepieces reveal Rolexs expansion into the ladies watch market in 1941. Commentators offered explanations, one of the most compelling being a piece of analysis by the professor of economics at Eastern Connecticut State University, Brendan Cunningham, who, in his blog Horolonomics, suggested that the addition of gold where none had been before was a strategy to keep Rolexs expensive in-house foundry ticking over. Thank you, 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. Not always will the Geiger meter give you 100 % proof as nowadays specialist are using old radium to relume a dial. Prices are now on the rise after decades in the doldrums and it is the unmolested watches that will bounce back. - Below the serial number up close, 5.286.xxx making it from 1977. Furthermore we see that the top part of the Rolex print is punched in the dial and as well the submariner print. See the list below for reference: Oyster Perpetual : 10, 140,142 Air-King : 55 &140 Date : 15 &150 Datejust : 16,162 &1162 Daytona Manual Wind : 62 Daytona Cosmograph : 165 &1165 But because the rotor made the movement thicker, they needed to adjust the thickness of the watch to make room for the rotor. Nobody would really care about this face unless you see the backside, To Sir E. Hillary from Rolex Bosecks, Calcutta , Last version of the Big Crown dial, the luminous becomes less aggressive and much brighter then we have seen before. This ref 3646 is still in original untouched condition with its original crackle crystal.. A 1953 Rolex ref 6202 in untouched original condition showing us a high radium dial measurements. We see alternative art and collectors funds come up rapidly as lots of rich people want to profit from the popularity collectors markets have like classic cars, wine, jewelry and watches, As I tried to explain, we nowadays see that the market in rare collectables is moving fast. In daylight we see the luminous is creamy colored, once activated with UV light it become bright green. Below the serial number up close, 5.286.xxx making it from 1977. Paul Altieri is a trusted and recognized authority in the watch industry with a proven track record of expertise, professionalism, and commitment to excellence. The serial number of a Rolex watch is used to date the watch and establish its market value and authenticity. With other words, the case should have the same aging as the dial, hands and bezel. Even when the crooks add patina on below dial, you see its newly made FAKE! More than 200 craftsmen and technicians will work on a watch before it acquires Rolex certification. Below we see a original Radium Submariner dial where the aggressive radium dust has eaten up the top layer of the finished dial.. FAKE! Its cheating with the trust they have earned by becoming market leader imho. and here another late 4 line Chapter Ring ref 5512 with transitional Underline, probably one of the very last minute tracks.. Other watch manufactures used similar signing for the tritium mark, these below Tornek- Rayville US had also a moisture meter on the dial, chancing the upper half of the circle into the same color as under half once moisture entered into the watch case. Style No: 450103. Below Black Oyster Daytona dial all look the same but in detail there are small differences. : my country is a very lovely country and i am also avery serious and honourable person,am working as a stockbroker, watches is mainly my hobby, pls do not back out because u have had heard something bad, lets face it, bad people exist everywhere, what u need to do is to work with the right person, hence u can be rest assured i do not take people for a ride, am here to make friends!!! The same we see between the lugs, where bracelets with their end links always leave visible marks. Secondly you look very very closely at the rest of the Rolex print on the dial, do this carefully. Nearly every watch that Rolex now manufactures has the word Perpetual printed on the surface of its dial, and it was these early Bubble Back watches that were the first to receive Rolexs inaugural, self-winding movements. The placing on the dial is not always consistent but divers per model. A completely original, unrestored and untouched Rolex Oyster Perpetual bubbleback stainless steel wristwatch, with a wonderful off-white dial with wonderful gilt 1 - 12 Roman numerals. Up close this original tropical dial will look the same as a perfect non tropical brown, the surface is still intact, luminous is original and when you loupe it 100X you see the original one has a brown and a blackish pixel next to each other, there where artificial ones will show you only brown pixels. With a Rolex this could be the original Rolex warranty papers that state the reference number and in some cases the serial number, the COSC chronometer certificate that state the serial number and movement number, the original receipt stating the price and article description, later service papers confirming the serial and reference numbers. Still, you can always feel the difference between the factory satin polish and service polish if you go from the inner circle to the outer polished rim. 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. The culmination of the line was the Big Bubbleback, which would ultimately lead to the development of the 36mm Datejust once a date display was added in 1945. Heiniger. A Rolex ref 6542 up front, untouched 1958 example with bakelite radium bezel.. The red Sea Dweller text perfectly covers the white text underneath, first examples of this legendary reference had a 500m = 1650 Ft depth rate.. 16760 and that label is in reference to the thicker case, bezel, and crown guards it sported over its predecessors. 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. Big Crown 6538 forms second generation, produced in 1958 with glossy gilt dial and radium luminous Original condition of a rare 369 Submariner version when it was discovered. Latest update :take a look atsome interesting gilt dial sport rolexesandother great early rolexes!! Rolex created the Oyster in 1926 but this watch was equipped with a hand-wound movement. , in 1905, by the 24-year-old Wilsdorf, a German who became a British citizen after taking an English bride. x9 =Sunbeam (Roman), In case you are not sure how a certain reference should look like unpolished, take a close look at the matte part of the watch with a suitable magnifier. An original, un cracked bakelite bezel for a early 6542 GMT Master is like 1/2 the price of the watch. Historically the bubbleback was the first commercially successful automatic watch. 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. Stop messing around and offer watches like they are and not how you would like to see them. 12 mm Size guide: Other: Small seconds: Description: . 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. Besides that, the case holes are often newly drilled you notice when looping them up close the inside is different, missing the necessary patina and also looks new. In the case of vintage watches, the older the watch, the higher the price. 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. "There's so much more to a Rolex than the average person will ever need. their respective owners. What we are looking for is matching luminous of dial and hands, both have to be in the same color, still fluffy and undamaged. The enormous amount of photoshop done is a thorn in my side. As the lume on the dial is renewed professionally the discoloration of the dial has happened due to a moisture problem and not due to heavy UV light and long storage, so in other words, its a damaged dial that got cosmetically enhanced to fool people. A Big Red Daytona Cosmograph with nicely voluminous tritium dots.. Settle for honest quality is my advise, no matter the reference, believe in true patina and buy the best your wallet allows you to!! Another interesting detail is the white surface underneath the radium plots that was added to the dial so the luminous could stick on easily. When polished, the back of the lugs will often have the same round finish as the case. The next one, a 4 line Submariner small crown ref 5508. The Bubbleback became the first automatic Rolex watch to have water resistance. The dial is reserved purely for the hands and Roman numerals, aesthetically reminiscent of the Art Deco movement. i will be online almost 12 hours everyday, be sure u will get your concerns answeredpromptly. Next we look carefully to the luminous on the dial, in specific at 3-6-8-9 and 12 oclock. OK, here we go. The bottom line is that the world of Bubbleback watches is vast and there is a lot for a collector to explore and discover. As we hardly see these untouched cases any more, its logic to state that most watches have been polished. A not so precise watchmaker probably used the wrong screwdriver and damaged the top of the screw and the surrounding of the plate. No wonder these became known in collecting circles as Bubblebacks. However, you can find aftermarket nylon and canvas straps available through a number of sources. Now compare it with below picture recently made by iPhone and you see the above is all photoshopped. The Rolex "Fat Lady" is the nickname given to Rolex's first GMT-Master II, the ref. As watch brands have delivered their watches over the world in sometimes different configurations, due to import tax, local taste or for instance special orders, the ultimate version to have, is the one being shown in their catalogue at the yearly watch shows ( think of Basel World ) As many global watch brands used to do and in particular the penny-pinchingswiss ones, factories always used their left over stock of spare parts in their next designs. It takes years of practice to learn to compare vintage Rolex in detail but despite this I will try to help you in the right direction. He is a member of the IWJG, the AWCI and a graduate of the GIA. It matters enormously where you ask a so called specialist for information about your vintage Rolex. The Rolex James Cameron is any Deepsea watch with a blue-to-black gradient dial. Rolex 14 Karat Gold Art Deco Bubble Back Wristwatch with Legendary Romabic Dial at 1stDibs Log In Sign Up Furniture Lighting Decor & Gifts Art Jewelry & Watches Fashion World of 1stDibs Sale Auctions Sorry, we're currently experiencing technical difficulties. Called the "Bubbleback" due to its round caseback, the combination of steel and rose gold is particularly sharp, and the original Oyster rivet stretch bracelet is a rare addition. A early Big Crown ref 6538 minute track service dial with tritium ( Swiss T<25 ) Different coronet and print technique.. A 1958 Rolex Small Crown Submariner Ref 5508 with its original bezel and spidered tropical dial. Theserial number is mentioned on the Chronometer Certificate. Identifiable from across a room, the Rolex look has an unrivaled, near-universal appeal. Rolex created the Oyster in 1926 but this watch was equipped with a hand-wound movement. - Above the serial number is also visible now ( last 3 digits are covered ) making this a 2.731.xxx, which is 1971. From your initial contact to after you have your new watch on the wrist. Below a patinated and used movement.. FAKE! Having a proper provenance can provide us prove about the originality how it has been delivered initially. 957_Rolex 1535 NEW.pdf Here some examples of un polished cases, some showing the original still fresh engravings and hallmarks clearly. Rather than making the entire case of the watch larger, Rolex decided to allow the case-back to protrude in a curved, bubble-shaped fashion.Feb 23, 2018, The Rolex Oyster Perpetual is often touted as the best one-and-only watch. There are even watches around that have hand colored sub dials or have been put into a magnetron to speed up the process. All three traits proved invaluable when the Swiss watch industry found itself slipping into oblivion. 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. Also individual service codes are always engraved by the watchmaker Advise: Buy yourself a professional loupe with 10 x magnify, I recommend the Zeiss Loupe you can get at your local optician or easily purchase at a stamps shop. 3 = Fluted Original old parts, most importantly the dial and the hands, have often been changed due to the fact the new radiation regulations that became obligatory after 1964. The case and bezel also deserve special mention, as their design points to developing tastes as well as innovations in manufacturing techniques. 9x = Mother of Pearl, second digit: We notice that the radium lume ( swiss dial ) is not perfectly added and hanging over the gilt linesprinted on the dial. You see below the lume dots of the Newman dial are bit bigger due to the fact the where placed against the typical square newman index. The same you check with every screw visible from the top. Check also following studies: Many more interesting articles I have shared with you in the past you find in my RPR Archive. That Rolex has always produced its own movements separates it from other well-known mechanical brands. my name is chin, welcome to myBubbleback Club !!! Always believe your eyes and never the story you get told! Rolex's big breakthrough came in 1926, when Wilsdorf developed a case that was impervious and waterproof. I personally think its not ok and I heard they stopped doing this. If you compare the case with the band, you will often see a difference in finish because the band is easier to polish than the case. SO besides the hands, the luminous is also not original as we want to see it. If this is with your local jeweler or local auction house or if you do your effort to go to the big city and ask experts over there. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. 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. Be aware!! Rolex's 3035 caliber was the first automatic self-winding watch mechanism that featured a quick-set function. 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. With gold cases its very easy to see if they are polished or not. 6240 Daytona and later ref. In case of any emergency you can always send me a picture to info at Rolex Passion Report .com where I will have a closer look at your question and give you my free opinion. The calibre 3255, launched in 2015, showed that the company is not complacent about its past achievements. 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. 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. This has become a huge issue in Rolex past when a client brought his Rolex in the US and wanted to ship it out to Singapore, the government noticed the extreme radiation and started a investigation against Rolex in the US. During the years the number changed from 3 to 4 digit in the 30s, from 4 to 5 digit in mid 80s and recently from 5 to 6 digits for the newest models. Whats more, though none of the models were ever engraved with the Rolex Bubbleback moniker, its reputation as a reliable wristwatch ensured that collectors recognize it on sight and continue to call it by its endearing nickname. Every Rolex reference has its own coronet. So far 500.000 unique visitors have read my Vintage Rolex Buyers Guide.In average it took you 5 minutes each to read my Rolex collectors tutorial. When buying a timepiece from us, you can be confident that it is authentic. Perfect matching luminous shows a perfect condition of the 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. TRIDOR = 18k Yellow, White and Rose gold, Rolex Dial Codes: Aired: 03/15/21 Rating: TV-G Buy Now: Buy on . For example, in May and November 2000, Christie's sold five examples of the Rolex Oyster Professional Reference 3065 with an average price of $16,000. The Rolex Bubbleback (2940) is a watch model from the Rolex brand and Oyster Perpetual collection. For instance if a crisp Big Crown Submariner from second batch (1957-1959) has been found but for some kind of a reason (Rolex didnt always deliver their watches as seen in the catalogue)its missingthe iconic red triangle bezel, finding the correct red triangle thats matching with the all over patina of the watch is very difficult! FAKE! Once its auction day you can bid in all sorts of manners, for exampleactually bidding in the room, or by phone, by internet or by written bid. The current market (as we see at therecent Geneva watch auctions yet again) has become all about rarity in the reference and condition but generally the word original is being abusedby mostoffers you find. The Bubbleback was extremely popular amongst collectors during the 1980s and 1990s, in particular on the Japanese market but the popularity of these models eventually decreased due to a number of different reasons. Browse from 433 Rolex Bubbleback (2940) listings, create alerts, and more. Besides the glossy finish the matt finish polish on the case is pointing you out if its redone or original. That's a completely different philosophy than at another watch house. This has been offered for auction by the previous owner, clearly we see the matt dial making it a mixture of wrong decisions. The red and white paint is as usual with matte dials added on top of the dial, without any lacquer over it. payment mode: bank wire or paypal with 4% fees. Our team is ready to assist with all of your watch needs. 6x = Blue On the same token, the popularity of Rolexs professional models has soared. This goes to show how the Bubbleback laid the foundation for multiple Rolex models to come including the Datejust which is one of the most iconic and recognized timepieces in the world.