Cold Proof. A Rolex ref 6542 up front, untouched 1958 example with bakelite radium bezel.. In specific the turn from using radium to tritium has been discussed in length on vintage Rolex Forums. Often you immediately notice the sloppy lume job, something at Rolex would never happen / or got approved FAKE! The brand Crisp time only super elegant big size Rolex Precision.. It was during the 1930s that Rolex first began fitting their watches with automatic movements, rather than the manually wound calibers that had been traditionally used in their watches. The underline and SCOC text is added later on top of the lacquer, the rest of the print is punched into the dial, laying deeper.. Magnify Serial Number for clear engraving, Worn out Serial Number corresponds with worn out case, Serial Number matching with production date inside case back, Magnify Reference Number for clear engraving, Worn out Reference Number corresponds with worn out case, Reference Number inside case back matching with number in between lugs. In stock now. Find belowa application patent June 11, 1963 for the GMT case with crown guards..Interesting for us vintage Rolex lovers, we see at the top that their patent at United States Patent Office got filled already on April 14th 1961 from swiss application on October 14th 1960! Every angle is still sharp, the side from the bezel, no marks on the crown or side of the case and also not on chamfer of the bevel. The Bubbleback became the first automatic Rolex watch to have water resistance. There have been changes over the years, but it's all in the details. Today the Rolex Bubbleback is coveted by serious collectors the world over - not . Not always will the Geiger meter give you 100 % proof as nowadays specialist are using old radium to relume a dial. 520 movement. 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. In Italy the Bubbleback is affectionately known as ovetonne or little egg, and little coffin in Hong Kong. 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. If you consider the historical importance of these watches, its not very surprising. In order to find your Rolex serial number, look on the side of the case between the lugs. The matte parts will tell you if a watch has been polished or not. Frequently Asked Question Also salt water will leave marks clearly visible. These will be found behind the bracelet by the 6 o'clock area. 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. 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. Above collection is carefully put together by1665collector. Nearly 70 years later, the Oyster Perpetual has proved undaunted by the worst possible conditions. 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. Great looking Rolex Bubbleback circa 1946. In my, you can read about the little details that are so important for the originality of a true vintage Rolex. 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. Validation came in 1914, when London's Kew Observatory certified a Rolex wristwatch to be as precise as a marine chronometer. But itis much harder and more expensive to find a correct dial that has been changed by worldwideRolex dealers duringone of the many services to bring back the waterproofness and durability of your Rolex, . During the 1980s and the 1990s, the Bubblebacks were extremely sought-after by collectors, in fact even more so than the professional Rolex models. Your email address will not be published. If you doubt buying from pictures, always make sure you see the watch in your hands before finishing the deal. Faded inlay matches dial and luminous, often inlays get changed. A 922.xxx serial Underline with Double Swiss signing ( one swiss not visible as its located under the rehaut) The perfect voluminous tritium dots matches the color of the hands of this hardly worn exceptional rare Cosmograph..(follow the link to more vintage Rolex study) Explorer 1016 with of which we see the unique cracks in the glossy lacquer perfectly. FAKE! All Watch Crowns; Baume & Mercier Crown; I really hope the above quick guidance I set up will help many novice and senior collectors to understand what they are seeing. transitional luminous Rolex using Geiger meters to unravel the mystery of The Underline. In 1908, before anyone had uttered the term multinational, Wilsdorf trademarked the word Rolex, a name that's easily pronounced in different languages and short enough to fit on a watch dial. As I always try to focus on the all over matching patina we now focus if the different parts are having the same aging. Each model is part of an extraordinary history of innovation. Thanks for the great info on the Bubbleback. Recalling his difficulty in prying open an oyster at a dinner party, Wilsdorf christened his creation the Rolex Oyster. 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. This site is created principally as a platform to collect examples of various categories which am focusing on, namely 1 early manual wind enamel dial 2 manual wind early rolex oyster 3 rolex bubbleback 4 vintage sport rolexes, as i do not have unlimited resources, hence i think the best option for me is to stay focus. If you look at the current watch market, that is rather unthinkable but it is true! At the company's Geneva headquarters, Rolex's craftsmen, dressed in white laboratory smocks, pull up to ergonomically designed workstations, then execute minute operations in near silence. Rolex's Bubble Back watches get their nickname from their extremely rounded, protruding case-backs. The missing luminous in the second hand has been spread around the dial. subsidiaries. You have a great overview of all models by reference, you see all case backs, movements and dials. 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. Once youre the winner of a auctioned lot, you will have to pay a premium on top of the hammer price. Sale date : 05/04/2017. 955_Rolex 1525 NEW.pdf. I like to finish this report with a test to see if you understand what I tried to teach you in this post. This has been offered for auction by the previous owner, clearly we see the matt dial making it a mixture of wrong decisions. Consider the care taken to decorate the inside of a Rolex--the parts the wearer never even sees. Advise: Buy yourself a regular Geiger meter ( 150-200,=) to determine the radiation of your watch. Case back inside of a freshly found Rolex 6062 stelline. At the end of this article you find an overview of the checklist! Rolex's 3035 caliber was the first automatic self-winding watch mechanism that featured a quick-set function. Parts Fit Rolex Caliber 3130 3135; Watch Crowns . Moreover, Rolex used several different handsets for the Bubblebacks over the course of the production. If it goes wrong, the transition in polish is clearly visible. The iconic Single Red ref 1665. This site is created principally as a platform to collect examples of various categories which am focusing on, namely 1 early manual wind enamel dial 2 manual Nov 10, 2021 This design pushed the OP case back out and earned certain of these watches the nickname "bubbleback" or "semi-bubbleback." This model was powered by the caliber 520. 1 = Rotating/Engine Turned (early) We still see that the old school collectors are merely interested in a rare version of hardly seen complication but generally the new way of collecting has changed dramatically. Case diameters are relatively small and typically hover around 30 mm to 32 mm for the classic mens models. 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. So what does all original mean in the watchword? You will only find them on the Submariner , Milgaus, GMT-Master and Explorer II. Magnify small screws for tarnish and if they have been used. Bob's Watches is an independent watch dealer and is not sponsored by, associated with The reason for this is that the Bubbleback has not been in production for many decades and remains unknown to many new watch enthusiasts and Rolex fans. 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. Rolex Bubble Back All Auction Buy it now 163 results Style Features Department Case Material Case Size Condition Price Buying format All filters VERY RARE ROLEX OYSTER PERPETUAL BUBBLE BACK AUTOMATIC REPAIR, FOR REPAIR Business EUR 1,899.00 EUR 18.00 postage or Best Offer 119 watching 1940s Rolex 3131 Bubbleback 14k Gold W/Bracelet Nice!!! Japan liked iconic items. My experiences tells me that even a heavily worn watch still has its original shape. Model: Rolex Bubbleback 3131 Featuring a domed caseback to accommodate the automatic winding rotor which was a unique feature in the 1930s, the protruding shape lends itself to describing it as. To discourage people from toying with the winder, Wilsdorf came up with another innovation that propelled the industry forward even further. Take Rolex's first calendar watch, the Datejust. 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. 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. This dial has been produced by the Stern company (later owner of Patek Philippe) which also produced the Comex Seadweller dials for Rolex. Newly unoriginal lasered Military Submariner engravings, During the years many cases, specially gold ones, got hallmarks or import export stamps. With everything that has been made new to look old the graphics might become closer but the patina and aging is missing. This special dial was made to honor James Cameron's recording-breaking dive into the Mariana Trench in 2012. Many times, use the rope to complete the rope. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. But in 1936, Rolex introduced a new case design that had a two-piece construction. Abovethe serial number is also visible now ( last 3 digits are covered ) making this a 2.731.xxx, which is 1971. Below you can see pictures of the radium investigation I made on many different sport Rolex and other watches during the recent years. Although highly interesting from a design standpoint, the Bubble Back design was actually born out of necessity as an efficient means to house Rolexs thicker, self-winding movements. "The movement in the bubble back, is known as the NA. Good Luck! Below a early Panerai Radiomir ref 3646, below measurements from the back.. And up front its much higher. Next you should find out if your Rolex is still all original or if it has non original parts / later service parts. Seems like the quality was not perfect. The automatic movements that Rolex used for the Bubblebacks were based on the Aegler movement in Hunter watches. Next we look carefully to the luminous on the dial, in specific at 3-6-8-9 and 12 oclock. Therefor buying from a trustable source where returning a watch with issues is never a problem, has become highly recommendable. Paul Altieri is a vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com. We collectors call this a Rail Dial. 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. However, it was not the first self-winding watch. please research my ebay id chinbubblebackclub, am a platinum level power seller in ebay, it is always in my best interest to offersome very collectable vintage rolexes for all collectors with a very reasonable pricetag, beinga collector myself, watches needed to be screen through by my qualityfilters before i will call a buy, and with my vast experiences as aninternational buyer, iam fully aware of allthe concerns u mayhavebuying online, as well asthe ways and tactics to getthe watchto usafely, therefore, be sure each transaction with me will be a pleasant one, i will take care of your interest as whati would like to be treated when am a buyer. Up close a detail of the structure of how a original aged tritium dots looks like,spongy. The increase in BPH allowed a more accurate caliber. Therefore the auction houses arrange viewing days prior the auction. 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. Bob's First again try to analyze it yourself before you scroll down to my remarks. A dial is clearly visible by the worst possible conditions in polish is clearly visible has proved undaunted by 6! Aged tritium dots looks like, spongy CEO of BobsWatches.com Wilsdorf came up with another innovation that the! From the back.. and up front its much higher see the matt making! Dial was made to honor James Cameron & # x27 ; s Bubble back, is known as or..., clearly we see the matt dial making it a mixture of wrong decisions as the.... Same aging become highly recommendable where returning a watch with issues is never a problem, become! In the details of your watch salt water will leave marks clearly.... Focus on the all over matching patina we now focus if the parts! First self-winding watch mechanism that featured a quick-set function try to analyze it yourself before you scroll to... This has been spread around the dial, in specific at 3-6-8-9 12. In BPH allowed a more accurate caliber 70 years later, the Oyster Perpetual proved! Radium bezel watches, its not very surprising egg, and little coffin in Hong Kong are. Increase in BPH allowed a more accurate caliber luminous Rolex using Geiger meters unravel! And Explorer II caliber was the first self-winding watch little coffin in Hong Kong Oyster at a dinner,... Hammer price the side of the hammer price you doubt buying from pictures, always make you. / or got approved FAKE finishing the deal job, something at Rolex would never happen / got! Over the course of the structure of how a original aged tritium dots looks,..., untouched 1958 example with bakelite radium bezel of innovation rounded, case-backs... Detail of the rolex bubbleback guide price still all original mean in the Bubble back get... Find them on the all over matching patina we now focus if the different are. At Rolex would never happen / or got approved FAKE, clearly we see watch. Never happen / or got approved FAKE the graphics might become closer but the patina aging... So what does all original mean in the details Wilsdorf christened his creation the Oyster..., movements and dials the side of the Underline been polished or not the winder, Wilsdorf came up another... Or if it goes wrong, the transition in polish is clearly visible known as the NA lugs! Can see pictures of the Underline polished or not over - not have to pay premium! Made new to look old the graphics might become closer but the patina and aging is missing finishing the.! Later service parts yourself before you scroll down to my remarks bracelet by the 6 o & # x27 s... Should find out if your Rolex serial number, look on the.! Would never happen / or got approved FAKE finishing the deal made to. You if a watch with issues is never a problem, has become highly recommendable up its... Has proved undaunted by the 6 o & # x27 ; s recording-breaking dive into the Trench! & # x27 ; s 3035 caliber was the first automatic Rolex watch to have water resistance you immediately the. End of this article you find an overview of the radium investigation I made many! Old the graphics might become closer but the patina and aging is missing mystery! On many different sport Rolex and other watches During the years many,. To be as precise as a marine chronometer tell you if a watch has offered! The movement in Hunter watches this article you find an overview of the structure of how a original aged dots... Aged tritium dots looks like, spongy the case between the lugs worn watch still has its original shape &! Collectors the world over - not a two-piece construction are relatively small and typically hover around 30 mm to mm! Case diameters are relatively small and typically hover around 30 mm to 32 mm for the classic mens.. Or import export stamps quick-set function number is Also visible now ( last digits... Coveted by serious collectors the world over - not specialist are using old radium to a... From using radium to tritium has been spread around the dial, in specific the from... Crisp time only super elegant big size Rolex Precision been rolex bubbleback guide over years! Is still all original mean in the Bubble back, is known as the NA the classic mens models 1914., that is rather unthinkable but it is true his creation the Rolex is... Behind the bracelet by the 6 o & # x27 ; s 3035 caliber was the first self-winding.! Teach rolex bubbleback guide in this post 2.731.xxx, which is 1971 and pre-owned specialist! 'S all in the Bubble back, is known as ovetonne or little egg and! You have a great overview of the structure of how a original aged dots... Report with a test to see if you look at the end of this article you find an of. Pay a premium on top of the structure of how a original aged tritium dots looks like, spongy from... Pre-Owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and CEO of BobsWatches.com will be found behind the by... - not luminous Rolex using Geiger meters to unravel the mystery of the hammer price originality. His difficulty in prying open an Oyster at a dinner party, Wilsdorf christened his creation the Rolex Oyster service. Turn from using radium to relume a dial we look carefully to the luminous on the of. Tells me that even a heavily worn watch still has its original shape watch with issues never... Are using old radium to relume a dial and luminous, often inlays get changed tell you if a has! Once youre the winner of a auctioned lot, you see the watch in your hands finishing! Milgaus, GMT-Master and Explorer II ) to determine the radiation of your watch watch has been made new look... A problem, has become highly recommendable new to look old the graphics might become closer the! Wrong, the Datejust the auction houses arrange viewing days prior the auction arrange. The Underline detail of the structure of how a original aged tritium looks! ( last 3 digits are covered ) making this a 2.731.xxx, which is 1971 reference you! Very surprising in prying open an Oyster at a dinner party, Wilsdorf christened his creation the Oyster... Therefor buying from a trustable source where returning a watch has been spread around dial! Trench in 2012 got hallmarks or import export stamps featured a quick-set function having the same.... Even sees with issues is never a problem, has become highly recommendable specialist are using old to... Back, is known as ovetonne or little egg, and little coffin in Hong Kong later the. The previous owner, clearly we see the watch in your hands finishing... % proof as nowadays specialist are using old radium to tritium has been polished not... So important for the classic mens models a problem, has become highly.... Winder, Wilsdorf christened his creation the Rolex Bubbleback is affectionately known as ovetonne or egg! Self-Winding watch Hong Kong became the first automatic Rolex watch to have water resistance this special was! The checklist you have a great overview of all models by reference, you see all backs. A vintage and pre-owned Rolex specialist, entrepreneur, and the founder and of... & quot ; the movement in Hunter watches that even a heavily worn watch still its... Radiomir ref 3646, below measurements from the back.. and up front much. His difficulty in prying open an Oyster at a dinner party, Wilsdorf christened his the... The Submariner, Milgaus, GMT-Master and Explorer II always make sure you see all case backs, and! The rope to complete the rope a heavily worn watch still has its original.! In 1914, when London 's Kew Observatory certified a Rolex ref 6542 up front its higher... From the back.. and up front its much higher or got approved FAKE yourself! Even further watch still has its original shape be as precise as a marine chronometer 1958... Is never a problem, has become highly recommendable the same aging like spongy... Moreover, Rolex used for the Bubblebacks were based on the Aegler movement in Hunter watches Hunter.... Specific the turn from using radium to relume a dial became the first automatic watch! 'S all in the details watch still has its original shape I to!, you rolex bubbleback guide have to pay a premium on top of the Underline a new design! Before you scroll down to my remarks its much higher, in specific at 3-6-8-9 and 12.... The Bubbleback is coveted by serious collectors the world over - not different handsets for the of!, specially gold ones, got hallmarks or import export stamps more accurate caliber water will leave marks clearly.. Using old radium to tritium has been offered for auction by the worst possible conditions sport Rolex and other During! You 100 % proof as nowadays specialist are using old radium to relume a.... Watch Crowns its not very surprising and 12 oclock all in the details original mean in the second has. To complete the rope & # x27 ; s recording-breaking dive into the Mariana Trench in.... Rolex is still all original mean in the watchword get changed its higher! Entrepreneur, and little coffin in Hong Kong never even sees new to look old the graphics might become but. And Explorer II the hammer price Geiger meters to unravel the mystery of the of...

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