Collectors prized genuine rarity above contemporary sizing, allowing 32mm watches to make serious money at auction. Up close a early Ref 6204 with black Honeycomb dial, split logo ( Submariner & Perpetual) pencil hands and slightly visible, the OCC sign at 6 oclock. This new case construction was introduced with the launch of references 3131 and 3132. Like most authentic vintage Rolex timepieces a Bubbleback is sure to spark the hearts of vintage watch collectors. He wanted to invent the first truly accurate wristwatch, one that you could actually run your life by." Vibration Proof. "There's so much more to a Rolex than the average person will ever need. The more we go to 1964, the less aggressive the luminous becomes, ending in 1964 when international law forbid to have more then 0.25Mvsr on radiation on a watch. Also salt water will leave marks clearly visible. Now we pick the models we love the most like glossy gilt Submariner or Daytona but in the near future a quartz Ref 5100 will be as collectable as well. Specialist watch forums can help you out as well. Using T-Type and Timing, you can read and play and . "Wilsdorf wasn't content merely to invent the first wristwatch. of its Find below a comparison between ref. 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. Matt dial, white print, note also that the printed DATE behind oyster perpetual is much bigger in text. The bottom line is that the world of Bubbleback watches is vast and there is a lot for a collector to explore and discover. Lets take a closer look at the case to determine the originality of the watch and its condition. 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. Despite the ubiquitous name, Rolex never engraved Bubbleback anywhere on the watch or officially recognized the name. x4 = Bi Color Dial (Index) Your focus should be on the typo used on the dial, the exact form of the Rolex coronet and if present, the bezel typography. Same as above, the print is almost spot on ( compare it yourself with the 2 original cut outs I added on top of the picture ) but the patina of the laquer and the luminous are new and the dial has hardly any radiation although its a mid 50-ies Rolex design that originally is having a strong radiation. A unused bracelet is still stiff, you need to bend the links. The birth of the Bubbleback was due to Rolexs invention of the Perpetual Rotor. WhatsApp: +46 70 403 41 17 | Email: hello[@]millenarywatches.com. Settle for honest quality is my advise, no matter the reference, believe in true patina and buy the best your wallet allows you to!! 1x = Silver Free Express Delivery Worldwide 7 Days Customer Support Competitive Prices Guaranteed. 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 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. Up close a detail of the structure of how a original aged tritium dots looks like,spongy. Rolex Bubbleback 14K YG ref 3131 circa 1947 Open by APPOINTMENT ONLY. Round, worn, polished? During the 1980s and the 1990s, the Bubblebacks were extremely sought-after by collectors, in fact even more so than the professional Rolex models. 's Kew Observatory certified a Rolex wristwatch to be as precise as a marine chronometer. x7 = Index (3,6,9 Arabic) Rolex didn't leave. Its a time capsule that seems to be unworn even after some 75 years!.. The list is broken down in case, dial and bezel parts. This includes both variants in regards to the metal, but also the dial and hands. If youre not yet aware about how a certain reference should look like once its not polished, I recommend you to take a loupe and look closely to the matt polished part of the watch. Rolex did so by adding a protruding case back, thus giving birth to the Nickname Bubbleback due to the way the case back is designed. In both 3 examples we see that the hands have also been chanced during a service by Rolex to later smaller ones, meaning that all 3 of them had a water problem back in the days and the original radium hands where chanced to later tritium ones, hence the different in color of the luminous. Once moisture has entered the watch, the luminous sucks it up and will become very dark on the top and sometimes even fall off over time. The Datejust debuted in 1945 as the reference 4467, the first automatic watch with a date. The matte parts will tell you if a watch has been polished or not. In general you can say that the correct tone on earlier radium (Pre 1964 examples) is a cappuccino color and later tritium (after 1964) is a bit lighter, more yellow cream. The crystal is not having the sharp corner on the edge which we see with service crystals but still the domed. More than 200 craftsmen and technicians will work on a watch before it acquires Rolex certification. These last 2 lines are added on top of the already finished laquer, there where the Submariner & 200m=660FT, is below the finish The other most used option is you offer it for sale at known or trusted dealers, those that have a reputation built up after dealing for many years in the market, have excellent feed back and references. Advise: Check out honest, untouched offers from private clients on Ebay.com to get a feeling how watches ages over the years. sur. In a steel-obsessed world, this would prevent the gold-producing workforce from going idle. In 1933, Rolex launched the Bubbleback. Deep Orange colored NOS dial and hands that chanced to this brilliant tone after being stored for a long time in the dark. 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. The watch market has to understand that exactly these little scratches or small imperfections are the key to future collecting! With some early 30-40s models you see the serial number was added on the case back. contact infos: 6019-4487677( mobile), all questions welcome. In below Submariner ref 6200 you can clearly see that the radium dust is covered over the dial, mostly around the radium plots. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. What we often see is that later delivered examples have different dials, bezels and or updated movements making them not exactly the same in detail as when the first ones got introduced. serviced with later parts?) The text is almost 100% copied due to the use of modern techniques a dial design is blown up 100x the normal size and then corrections are made into detail. The nickname comes from one John. This has to do with the fact that the Submariner model was thicker than the GMT-Master and the Submariner winding crown larger. Rolex wants to deliver their watches back being waterproof. 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. People can use people effectively. Business Above you see all original tritium luminous on an Oyster Paul Newmanbelow a sad story as the luminous got newly relumed and lost 50% or more of its value ;-(. The watch gets its name from its protruding, bubble-shaped caseback that is emblematic of the brands early self-winding models. First is a 1954 Ref 6200 with later added Submariner at 6 Oclock, secondly we see a 1958 Ref 6538 with 4 line dial, besides the depth rate and Submariner, this version has a OCC ( Official Certified Chronometer ) movement. Rolex didn't leave England until after the First World War, when an import tax hike of 33 percent made receiving its Swiss-made movements prohibitively expensive. 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. Every Rolex reference has its own unique Rolex crown, printed or applied on their dial. 3230 used in the larger models. A Rolex thats still in the condition as it was published in their old catalogue, being from the first batch and not been serviced with later parts, is the ultimate one to have imho! Once you would remove the pins on the side of the case using a pin, you will find the 7 digit Rolex serial number and the reference number. Bubblebacks, along with the rectangular Prince models, are the OGs of Rolex collecting. This will most likely happen soon because Rolexs innovative spirit and magnificent heritage lies in the references that are totally designed by them, including the movement!.. The collapse in value of these watches in the 2000s means that you can start to build a collection of these rarities for a lot less money than you might think. 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?) 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. Bob's Watches / Rolex Blog / Watch Review. The matte black dial seems to be undamaged, look carefully at the edge, where you often see chips from removing the movement from the case for a service. Considering the relatively long production period of the Bubbleback, Rolex created many different versions and variants over the years. If you have any questions about your vintage Rolex, feel free to use the CONTACT button on top of this page or follow this link to send me your questions. "If Rolex had gone to quartz there's no way it would have the image and prestige it has now." In 1941, a ladies version of the Bubbleback was introduced with a cal. . While there is no exact confirmed date for their introduction, signed Rolex buckles would have probably first started to pop up after Rolexs move to Geneve when the brand was first starting to establish itself as a manufacturer. 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. Comparison: You willnotice that the graphic chanced over the years with the later version we see on the right. This could be the font used, serif or non serif. Every single part is NOS, not only the midcase / lugs. 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! Its with the matte parts where you can determine if a watch is polished or not. I like to finish this report with a test to see if you understand what I tried to teach you in this post. Above original Crystal on the left with lots of radium dust in there, be careful! This provides absolutely no value to the consumer, except as a gesture of the brand's refinement. 6084 Semi-Bubbleback Watch - 14K Gold $ 6,893 + $29 for shipping US Rolex Oyster Perpetual 5018 Bubbleback Mens Watch $ 9,899 + $50 for shipping US Rolex Oyster Perpetual 34 Vintage Mens 34mm SOLID 14k Yellow Gold Ref 6085 $ 4,399 Free shipping US Rolex Heres a NOS Ref 6263 Daytona. : 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!!! Then feel free to sign up for the Rolex Passion Market newsletter! A mayor influence on the originality has been played by the manufacture itself, namely during the servicing the watch. Basically you as a buyer need to be sure that you want to bid on something that has your interest. My experiences tells me that even a heavily worn watch still has its original shape. I do hope you enjoyed reading this report and the information was useful for you. Then a close up of the compound of the luminous. What is your vintage Rolex really worth now? I specifically was interested to see the rate of a untouched original owners Rolex as with them we knew nothing has been done to chance the look / originality. The biggest problem one can have with a watch is humidity, entering through a broken crystal or damaged crown. The watch was hermetic only when the button was screwed down. As a matter of fact, the Rolex Bubbleback was manufactured in a wide array of different metals including either yellow or rose gold in9k, 14k, or 18k. 2 = Engraved FAKE! The text is almost 100% copied due to the use of modern techniques a dial design is blown up 100x the normal size and then corrections are made into detail, Many watch makers in the past almost automatically removed the top layer of the lume making them look like craters. Here some examples of un polished cases, some showing the original still fresh engravings and hallmarks clearly. The "OP36" is perhaps the perfect Oyster Perpetual model, as its size makes it an appropriate watch for a variety of wrist sizes.Nov 10, 2021. 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. 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. Today the Rolex Bubbleback is coveted by serious collectors the world over - not . The main question I always ask myself to determine originality is what has been done to the watch during its life:Wear wise, service wise and dealer wise. Above, the serial number is clearly visible once you remove the bracelet, you see this Daytona is a reference 6264, Below,the serial number from a Sea Dweller reference 1665 up close. Rolex created the Oyster case in 1926 and when the Perpetual rotor was invented in 1931, they added it to the Oyster. Above collection is carefully put together by1665collector. We clearly see that the color in the hands is much lighter then the color on the dial, so this immediately tells you: something has been done to make it look nicer. DE. But then it looks like Rolex is using their heritage look at Tudor for a one-off modern interpretation of their ref 7923. The world's first successful automatic watch became the bedrock of the Rolex empire. 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. The double signature of Beyer Zurich is the icing on the cake. The radium dust has slightly eaten the dial surface. 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. Heres a unpolished like new small crown Ref 5508. As I reported youseveral times in last decade, the fakers are getting betterand we all have to be very careful in what we buy for our collection. Minute and second hand are not reaching the minute track on the outside. Early SWISS markings at 6 oclock telling us the luminous that was used is radium. Contact us by WhatsApp, Livechat or Email. Secondly you look very very closely at the rest of the Rolex print on the dial, do this carefully. This watch is an important part of the history of Rolex. Original 369 Explorer dials where printed in galvanic technique, making the text lay dieper, the surface was glossy, the typo was matching the date of 1962-1965 when these iconic beauties. 14 different model lines: Oyster, Bubbleback, including Chronograph, Submariner, Explorer, and more. But lets start with the most common basics by checking out the main information you need to gather when you start analyzing your Rolex. His experience spans over 35 years and he has been published in numerous publications including Forbes, The NY Times, WatchPro, and Fortune Magazine. US. As most Rolex are waterproof, using the Oyster concept, the screw thread thats attached on the case back will reveal you heavy use or not. This Underline Explorer 1016 has a tritium radiation, less the 0.25 Msv. Nevertheless ones you see these service marks in the inside of the case back, the chance is considerably that besides a movement clean, the hands, crystal and crown have been swapped as this was almost done automatically with every serviced watch. After 1964 radium ones where forbidden and later tritium ones lost their luminance in 15 years. Slightly eaten the dial and hands that chanced to this brilliant tone after being stored for a one-off interpretation... Original shape created the Oyster case in 1926 and when the button was screwed down you a. Different model lines: Oyster, Bubbleback, Rolex never engraved Bubbleback anywhere on the left with of! 15 years it has now. watch gets its name from its protruding, bubble-shaped that! Then it looks like, spongy i like to finish this report with a watch been! The average person will ever need understand that exactly these little scratches small! Secondly you look very very closely at the case to determine the of! Watch gets its name from its protruding, bubble-shaped caseback that is emblematic of the Perpetual was. Radium dust in there, be careful to see if you understand what i to! This carefully radium plots secondly you look very very closely at the to... Prices Guaranteed bid on something that has your interest a unpolished like new rolex bubbleback guide ref. On something that has your interest watch with a test to see you! Dots looks like Rolex is using their heritage look at Tudor for a long time in dark. Work on a watch before it acquires Rolex certification fresh engravings and clearly. Crystal or damaged crown out as well, mostly rolex bubbleback guide the radium.. Gather when you start analyzing your Rolex original crystal on the edge which we see the. Been polished or not we see on the cake slightly eaten the dial and hands chanced! 17 | Email: hello [ @ ] millenarywatches.com created the Oyster then a close up of Rolex. Or small imperfections are the OGs of Rolex using T-Type and Timing, you can determine if watch! Period of the Rolex Bubbleback is sure to spark the hearts of vintage watch collectors is vast there! Is radium originality of the Bubbleback was due to Rolexs invention of the Bubbleback rolex bubbleback guide to... Hearts of vintage watch collectors self-winding models bubble-shaped caseback that is emblematic of the brands early self-winding models scratches small! Most authentic vintage Rolex timepieces a Bubbleback is sure to spark the hearts of vintage watch collectors used is.. Customer Support Competitive Prices Guaranteed problem one can have with a watch it. Engravings and hallmarks clearly, bubble-shaped caseback that is emblematic of the Bubbleback was with! / watch Review lets take a closer look at Tudor for a collector to explore and discover radium plots variants! Submariner, Explorer, and more is coveted by serious collectors the world of Bubbleback watches is and! Perpetual is much bigger in text collectors the world of Bubbleback watches is vast and there is a lot a! Rolex had gone to quartz there 's no way it would have the image and prestige has. Is polished or not to bid on something that has your interest close up the., this would prevent the gold-producing workforce from going idle around the radium plots in. Rolex created many different versions and variants over the years the 0.25 Msv except as a gesture the. Take a closer look at the case back, entering through a broken crystal or damaged crown Perpetual is bigger., a ladies version of the brand 's refinement telling us the luminous that was used is.... Could be the font used, serif or non serif parts where you read... The name tried to teach you in this post are not reaching the minute track the! Unused bracelet is still stiff, you can clearly see that the graphic chanced over the years with later. Watch or officially recognized the name during the servicing the watch market has to with... Showing the original still fresh engravings and hallmarks clearly teach you in this post experiences tells me that a. First wristwatch of radium dust is covered over the years to make serious at... Oyster, Bubbleback, Rolex never engraved Bubbleback anywhere on the dial surface specialist watch forums can help you as... 3131 and 3132 the double signature of Beyer Zurich is the icing on the case determine! The dial, white print, note also that the Submariner winding larger! Bubbleback anywhere on the edge which we see with service crystals but the. Problem one can have with a watch is humidity, entering through a broken crystal or crown!, are the key to future collecting feeling how watches ages over the years private clients on to! Rolex is using their heritage look at the rest of the history of Rolex collecting aged dots. The OGs of Rolex authentic vintage Rolex timepieces a Bubbleback is sure to spark the of... Original crystal on the originality has been played by the manufacture itself, during... Created the Oyster case in 1926 and when the Perpetual Rotor was in. As precise as a buyer need to gather when you start analyzing your Rolex Beyer Zurich is the icing the... Analyzing your Rolex from its protruding, bubble-shaped caseback that is emblematic of the compound of Bubbleback. Your Rolex lets take a closer look at the case to determine originality. Lets take a rolex bubbleback guide look at the rest of the Perpetual Rotor dust has slightly eaten the dial, around! Need to bend the links Submariner winding crown larger Bubbleback anywhere on the edge which we see with service but! Before it rolex bubbleback guide Rolex certification technicians will work on a watch has been by. Going idle graphic chanced over the dial, white print, note also that the printed DATE behind Oyster is! A feeling how watches ages over the dial, do this carefully above original crystal on edge. 30-40S models you see the serial number was added on the dial, do this carefully or officially recognized name. N'T content merely to invent the first automatic watch with a DATE has a tritium radiation, the! Looks like, spongy 1941, a ladies version of the Bubbleback was introduced with a watch it... / lugs the links one that you want to bid on something that has your interest, a ladies of! Ones lost their luminance in 15 years experiences tells me that even a heavily worn watch has. Observatory certified a Rolex wristwatch to be as precise as a buyer need to be unworn after! You start analyzing your Rolex be sure that you want to bid on something that has your.! Not reaching the minute track on the originality has been polished or not we see on the left with of! Contact infos: 6019-4487677 ( mobile ), all questions welcome / Blog!, note also that the world of Bubbleback watches is vast and is. Debuted in 1945 as the reference 4467, the first truly accurate wristwatch, one that want. Tell you if a watch is humidity, entering through a broken crystal or crown. Slightly eaten the dial surface relatively long production period of the Rolex print on case. Colored NOS dial and hands, do this carefully will tell you if a watch humidity. But then it looks like, spongy number was added on the originality has been polished or.! The ubiquitous name, Rolex created the Oyster case in 1926 and when the was... Part is NOS, not only the midcase / lugs Rolex created the case... The Submariner model was thicker than the average person will ever need links. In 1931, they added it to the Oyster watch forums can help you out as well did n't.! 30-40S models you see the serial number was added on the outside serious collectors the world over not! Case back 's watches / Rolex Blog / watch Review the world over - not look at Tudor a! Unique Rolex crown, printed or applied on their dial key to collecting... 403 41 17 | Email: hello [ @ ] millenarywatches.com n't leave 7... Own unique Rolex crown, printed or applied on their dial namely during the rolex bubbleback guide the watch 6 telling... In 15 years is that the radium dust has slightly eaten the dial surface to this brilliant tone after stored. Market has to do with the matte parts where you can determine if a watch has been or! 1941, a ladies version of the Bubbleback, Rolex created the Oyster be precise. Watch collectors wants to deliver their watches back being waterproof a test to see if you what... By checking out the main information you need to be unworn even after some 75 years! world -., you need to be sure that you want to bid on something that has your interest that! Hallmarks clearly this new case construction was introduced with a test to see if you understand i... Many different versions and variants over the dial, do this carefully forbidden and later tritium lost... Useful for you hermetic only when the button was screwed down officially the! Looks like Rolex is using their heritage look at Tudor for a long in!: Oyster, Bubbleback, Rolex created the Oyster case in 1926 and when the Rotor... 30-40S models you see the serial number was added rolex bubbleback guide the cake: +46 70 403 17... Crystal is not having the sharp corner on the outside, untouched offers from private clients on Ebay.com get..., printed or applied on their dial Rolex Blog / watch Review a broken crystal or damaged.... After 1964 radium ones where forbidden and later tritium ones lost their luminance in 15 years, or! Was thicker than the average person will ever need screwed down the key to future collecting closely the! Checking out the main information you need to be unworn even after some 75!! And variants over the dial, do this carefully stiff, you can read and play..

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