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Watch What-If: Rolex Submariner

beauhudspeth — Fri, 25 Nov 2011 19:50:21 +0000

"Watch What-If" is a special column on aBlogtoRead.com that asks the playful question "what if an iconic watch you know and love was offered in a different style?" The idea embraces a good timepiece's core design and has fun by offering new colors and material concepts to stimulate your senses. These ideas may be provocative, artistic, or just plain silly. This is about fun, Photoshop, and the celebration of wrist watch design and experimentation. The original design we work off will always be at the bottom of the article. Ideas and comments are more than welcome. Enough response may even lead to a round two of design. You are also encouraged to suggest watches that make it into the Watch What-If section here on aBlogtoRead.com.

Watch What-Iffed: Rolex Submariner Ref 116610

Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6241 Exotic Dial Watch Available On James List

admin — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 07:02:55 +0000

The Paul Newman Daytona - next to the Submariner range, this is of the most well-known collectible Rolex watches out there. There is a sort of mythos around the watch given the ambiguous connection to the movie star/pop culture hero, and the extreme fame that the Daytona collection later had. The story of the Paul Newman Daytona is a bit convoluted and complex. There was not just one watch, and Rolex never officially called any piece the Paul Newman Daytona.

Unlike some people out there I am not an expert of Rolex watch history or Rolex collecting. In fact, the high-prices that some Rolex watches fetch at auction make me chuckle. For a better historical observation of the Paul new Daytona I will defer to my friend Jake at RolexMagazine.com. He wrote a nice summary of the Rolex Paul Newman Daytona here.

My favorite part of the Paul Newman Daytona story refers to the indeterminable nature of collecting. People today strive hard to predict what will become a collector's item - and that is really hard to do. When this watch and its kin came out, they were most sales failures. There are a few reasons for this, mostly due to the style and the movement. In the 1960s you had automatic chronographs coming out on the market - and everyone wanted one. So this watch that had a reliable, but manually-wound chronograph wasn't appealing. There is a also a reason the Ref. 6241 has what people call the "Exotic Dial." Few Rolex timepieces have dials with this style and it was a unique design for the brand. Today people generally agree that the look and feel of this (supposedly) race-themed dial is a classic.

Rolex never made that many Paul Newman Daytonas as they didn't sell well. This created rarity, which now translates into value. It was difficult at the time to guess that a watch that couldn't sell would be so desired, but that is the way it went. So if you are trying to predict what pieces today will go up in value? It isn't always a bad idea to find nice, but highly discounted watches that have something a but special to them.

The Paul Newman film Winning had Newman wearing one of these Rolex ref. 6241 watches on the poster. I believe that Newman did not wear the watch in the movie actually, but he did own one and you can see him wearing it around in various pictures taken during his life. He seemed to like it off the bracelet on a sort of bund strap.

Today this Daytona model is among the most popular collectible Rolex watches on the planet. They are very rare and go for big bucks when auctioned. This particular piece available on James List seems to be in excellent condition and was made in 1964. It isn't super large at about 37-38mm wide in steel. I have a feeling that Rolex will come out with an homage dial in the next couple of years to remind us of this classic clean style that still has a bit of avant garde style to it. The post on James List mentions "Price on Request," but I hear from the seller that they will part with it for around $90,000. See the result ofÂ a Sotheby's auction where another Ref. 6241 got 110,500 Swiss Francs (more in dollars) here.

See this Rolex Paul Newman Daytona Ref. 6241 watch on James List here.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Rolex Oyster Date Mickey Mouse Watch Available On James List

admin — Sun, 24 Apr 2011 07:03:06 +0000

Discovering watches like this is exciting and makes me wonder how the watch world has changed in the last 40 or 50 years. Things really were different back then - take for example Disney working with Rolex to put a classic form of Mickey Mouse on a watch dial. There has been a lot of argument online whether or not these watches are real. Today's Rolex would not likely ever put Mickey Mouse or any character on their watches (though leopard print is a different story). So it makes sense that today's brand devotees are skeptical of these timepieces.

It has been suggested that all Mickey Mouse dialed Rolex watches are fakes. Well not necessarily fake Rolex watches, but rather real ones that have had aftermarket dials placed in the watch.Â There is actually some merit to this argument because aftermarket Mickey Mouse Rolexes do exist. Based on my research however, I would say that it looks very likely that Rolex did have an actual relationship with Disney in mostly the 1960s and 1970s up to the early 1980s. In that time there seems to have been a series of Rolex watches with Mickey on the dial. These appear to be direct homages to the original Ingersoll Mickey Mouse dials.

For this reason Mickey's hands look odd. The original Mickey Mouse watches used his hands as the watch hands. Rolex didn't seem to want to do that, so they used their standard hands and hour markers, but with a nice quality "homage dial" that was meant to remind you of the original Mickey Mouse watches.

Most Mickey Mouse Rolex dials where in Oyster Date and other similar models. Each where in steel and about 35-36mm wide. Back then these would have been men's models. Today they are best for women and children - as well as other avid collectors. I for one think that these are really cool, and a testament to the immense merchandising power that Disney had (and still has to a large degree).

The top pictured model is a Rolex Oyster Date Ref. 6694 watch, and is very indicative of what Disney Rolex watches were like. Most of the base watches with the Mickey Mouse dials are inherently not very collectible, but these special models are quite rare. Rolex didn't want Mickey to be on their most high-end pieces. This model is currently available on James List at a price of $3,500. The others are pictures of similar Rolex Mickey Mouse watches so you can see a bit of the range of models. Prices for these pieces all seem to be under $5,000 today - where you can find them.

For nostalgic purposes or simply as interesting collector's items, these are some pretty interesting and rare Rolex watches that certainly take a lot of the current stuffiness out of the high-end Swiss watch industry. It is also worth noting that during most of Walt Disney's later life he wore Rolex timepieces.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Rolex Daytona Watches For 2011

admin — Thu, 24 Mar 2011 10:14:41 +0000

In addition to the new Rolex Explorer 2 watch model for 2011, Rolex offers a new range of Daytona watches for men this year at the Baselworld show. 2011 is apparently the 50th anniversary of the Daytona, so we get two types of new models. Rolex is further rumored to released an overhauled Daytona for 2012. Until then we have the more standard looking model that now comes with Rolex's very nice ceramic bezel that they call their "Cerachrom" bezel. The black bezel is a retro-nod to some older Daytona models and is in black ceramic with pink gold numerals applied with an amusing technique call "magnetron cathode sputtering." Yes, more of that please.

The case is 40mm wide and in 18k Rolex Everose pink gold (that is said not to fade). This reference 116515LN will come on a black alligator strap for now. As is Rolex's custom, I anticipate more models of this style coming out in the next few years, including models with a bracelet, Rolesor (two tone), and steel models. As you can see, the watch comes with both white and chocolate dials. There also seems to be the option of Arabic numeral hour markers or baton style hour markers. Hands on the dial are in matching pink gold.

Inside the watch is the same outgoing Rolex made reference 4130 automatic chronograph movement. I believe that if Rolex makes an updated, larger Daytona watch they will fit it with a new movement. Could we see a Rolex Daytona 2 in the coming years? Trends seems to point to a "maybe" on that.

The black ceramic bezel is in line with what the GMT Master and Submariner watches now have. Rolex seems to be enjoying the pristine looking scratch-free material enough to use it in more watches.

Aside from the new ceramic bezeled Daytona there are a few other new styles for 2011 that I think are really handsome. These are Paul Newman Daytona homages that Rolex is giving itself. Again, expect more of these in the upcoming years. My favorite model is in all 18k Everose gold, with a polished bezel and gold dial with black chronograph subsdials and red chronograph seconds hand. How nice is that? And at 40mm in width it isn't huge, but it isn't very small like the real vintage models. This model also comes in a two-tone variant in a similar style but with Arabic hour numerals and a slightly different palette on the dial.

Rolex is hinting here that the Daytona line will see some changes in the coming years. I don't think they will discontinue the 40mm wide model, but I expect a new, larger Daytona with a new movement to come from the house of Rolex soon.

ROLEX DAYTONA 18KT YELLOW GOLD STAINLESS STEEL BLACK DIAL WITH PAPERS

US $9,990.00

ROLEX DAYTONA 18K Y GOLD WHITE DIAMOND DIAL INCREDIBLE

US $18,790.00

ROLEX DAYTONA YELLOW GOLD WHITE NUMBERED DIAL

US $13,990.00

ROLEX WATCH DAYTONA REFR726 THIRD WHEEL MOVEMENT PARTS NEW FROM OLD STOCK

US $1.89

ROLEX 18KT YELLOW GOLD DAYTONA BLACK WHITE ARABIC DIAL 116528 NEW BOX CARD ETC

US $25,595.00

Rolex Daytona Everose Cosmograph 18K Rose Gold Chronograph 116505 Black $35000R

US $27,500.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Rolex Explorer 2 Watch For 2011

admin — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 13:51:56 +0000

For 2011 Rolex offers a new Explorer 2 to follow up last year's new Explorer. While the Explorer was bumped up to 39mm last year, the Explorer 2 is the Rolex sport watch with a modern size of 42mm in width. That is 2mm larger than the Submariner, and it likely wears better than the 43mm wide Submariner Deep Sea. Also new is the return of the orange GMT hand in addition to the Maxi-dial like size of the hands and hour indicators.

In a 42mm wide case, the Explorer 2 is in 904L steel with a mix of polished and brushed surfaces. While known for its white dial, the Explorer 2 now comes with a black dialed version as is traditional for the line - both in lacquer. Contrast on the dial on both models remains excellent, with the signature large orange GMT hand remaining on the dial. Both dials feature "Chromalight" luminant. The hands are all in white gold. I have had arguments with people about Rolex hands being in white gold. While not all of them are, many of the newer Rolex models have white gold hands. Says it right here in the Rolex material!

The case looks great with its steel on steel fixed 24 hour bezel. It is water resistant to 100 meters. Sapphire crystal is double AR coated and has a date magnifier lens. Inside the watch is an in-house made Rolex caliber 3187 COSC Chronometer certified automatic. It has the time, date, and GMT hand - and a 48 hour power reserve. Would have been great to see the watch have the glide-lock clasp of the Submariner, but then the Explorer would encorach on its territory.

It has a steel bracelet with an Oysterlock clasp and Easylink 5mm comfort extension link. Not sure exactly what that is yet, but it sounds like a nice microadjust system. Rolex offers yet another watch we all want. Funny how something like "42mm wide" is enough to get me excited in the Rolex context. This and the new Daytona styles are the big news for Rolex this year - the 36mm wide models are looking smaller and smaller!

Rolex Explorer II 16570 Z serial Black Dial Watch

US $5,000.00

Mens Rolex Explorer I Steel Watch 114270 Year 2005

US $4,190.00

Rolex Explorer II in excellent condition

US $3,411.00

2 SPRING BAR FOR ROLEX SUBMARINER GMT EXPLORER PART

US $6.90

Rolex Explorer 1 Vintage Original Watch

US $5,700.00

VINTAGE STYLE HAND SET REPLACEMENT TO FIT ROLEX EXPLORER II REF 1655

US $155.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Rolex Paul Newman Tribute Daytona Watch By Black-Out Concept

admin — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 23:58:48 +0000

Here is some watch porn for you. Custom watch modifier Black-Out Concept USA is one of a handful of companies that can competently modify Rolex watches. Their newest mod is a limited edition called the Paul Newman Tribute Daytona. Based on a modern steel Rolex Daytona Cosmograph, BOC coats the case with DLC black and customizes the dial to look like one of the famous Paul Newman Daytona watches. I think it looks pretty sweet looking - and Black-Out Concept did a nice job making it Newmanish. Don't forget that original Paul Newman Daytonas are very expensive (and much smaller in size that this one). Price for this limited edition Paul Newman Tribute Daytona watch is $23,000. If you want one or more info contact BOC at the link above or call (857) 204-0837. Don't forget that Black-Out Concept has no relationship with Rolex.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Project X Designs “Stealth” Customized Rolex Submariner Watch

admin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:01:39 +0000

Since the media is on the topic, I am going to dedicate this post to Charlie Sheen. More specifically Charlie Sheen in the movie Platoon - because this set of watches from Project X Designs looks precisely like something his character would have worn in Platoon. See how nicely that works out? And since we know Charlie Sheen is a big time watch lover (and warlock), he would have likely happily worn one of these (good actor playing solider wears good watch acting to be soldiers' watch) . This watch is Project X Designs' latest Rolex mod called the Stealth Mk. III and Mk. IV. Which means there should have been a Mark I and II before it.

I last wrote about Project X Designs here. As you recall, they have no relationship with Rolex, but rather take new Rolex timepieces and perform various modifications on them. The results are usually very cool. Rolex modifiers are pretty common, but those who do it well are rare. The Project X Stealth watches are meant to hearken back to military Rolex Submariner (Mil-Sub) watches, and they look really kick-ass. Awful worn-torn Vietnam would have been just a bit better with one of these... don't you think?

As Project X Designs is from England, the watches are technically dedicated to the British Special Boat Service (SBS), specifically to watches issued to them from the 1950s - 1970s. The two versions of the watches offer slight differences and are based on the most modern Rolex Submariner Date watches. On the back of each of the watches is an engraving of the SBS logo - "By Strength and Guile." Now that is a kick-ass motto. So suave. The motto is written under the SBS logo which has a frog with wings and a parachute.

The Mark III watch is in steel with a black ceramic bezel insert. The dial has also been modified a bit. The Mark IV model is in all black steel and is amazing looking. The Stealth watches comes on khaki green NATO straps, and make you feel like just like a modern day Charlie Sheen. Wait no, a Platoon era Charlie Sheen. Yea, that makes more sense. Come to think of it, I think Charlie Seen needs to spend more time talking about his passion for watches. He is crazy and possibly a bit demented, but through all of it, he still frikkin loves watches!

Project X Designs will offer only 28 pieces of each of these watches. Prices for the 28 pieces in the Stealth Mark III set is 8,750 British Pounds per watch, while the Stealth Mark IV is 9,950 British Pounds per watch. Pricey yes, but these are very limited and of a very high quality. If you want one you have to go to Project X Designs' website.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Rolex Daytona Meteorite Dial Watch Available On James List

admin — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 07:02:22 +0000

I am always torn about writing about Rolex watches - because frankly, they don't need the press. While I'd be happy wearing any number of Rolex watches (although I feel most of them are too small these days), there are a few interesting models that standout to me that don't get a lot of face time. In fact, many of my favorite Rolex watches are less than stellar sellers. These include two-tone models (Rolesor) and models like this Rolex Daytona with a meteorite dial.

Personally, I love meteorite dials. I don't think that I collected rocks as a kid, but stuff from space did fascinate me. In this case, the "source" of the dial is actually more interesting to me than the look of it. Though I do admit, as far as stone dials go, acid washed meteorite is pretty nice. Plus, Rolex being Rolex, they are going to choose the nicest meteorite they can get their hands on. Rolex has a problem in this area though. There are so many "modified" Rolex watches out there, it is very hard to tell with rarer models like this whether or not they came directly from Rolex, or are the product of some after market modification. Such mods aren't bad in theory, but not all of them are created equally. I have seem some awful, awful modified watches in my life (Rolexes being among them).

As far as I know Rolex only offered (offers) the Daytona with a meteorite dial in an 18k white gold case - with nice looking red chronograph hands. Not sure if you can find them with the hour markers instead of the Roman Numerals. The case is 40mm wide - which is small to me these days. But For a Daytona I would sport the size with pleasure (especially with a cool meteorite dial). Here you can see it with a nice brown leather strap. Price is about $20,000 - $25,000, depending on where you can find it.

See a Rolex Daytona Meteorite dial watch on James List here.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

Rolex Submariner & Daytona Black & Gold Modified Watches

admin — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 07:04:40 +0000

I am taking credit for these watches. I met with Time & Gems a while ago when seeing their progress with DLC and PVD treatments on Rolex watch modifications, and suggested that they give a two tone "Rolesor" watch this type of treatment. Black and gold is a very nice combo, (especially yellow gold and black), and to be honest, I don't think I've ever seen a Rolex mod that did this (though I could be wrong). So what Time & Gems did is black DLC coat the steel portions of these watches, and leave the gold parts of the watch and the dials alone. DLC is a very hard coating and is becoming favored to PVD at many brands. Time & Gems seems to confused the term DLC and PVD - and they seem to use them both. You can read more about the watch on their blog here. So unless I am missing something, these watches are DLC coated, not PVD. Pardon their confusion.

Time & Gems likes to work with pre-owned Rolex watches as a way of breathing life back into them. I think both the Daytona "Black Gold" and the Submariner "Black" gold came out nicely. It would also look good to a GMT Master II in this style.

The video where you can see the watches has a pretty ridiculous sound track. I mean I get that the watches are important to them, but there is a fine line between self-promotion and self-important. So just ignore the "biblical" tone of the music. No pricing information has been released yet, but I will try to update the post when it is.

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.

New Steel Rolex Submariner Watch For 2010

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:26:33 +0000

The long awaited new steel version of the new generation of Rolex Submariner watches is here. The official name is the Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner Date. This is not a surprise release from the brand for 2010. However, the introduction of a standard green dial is something I didn't expect. Like clockwork, over the last few years Rolex has been updating their GMT Master II collection and then a white gold new Submariner. Last year the released a new two-tone (steel and gold) Submariner watch with a blue or a black dial. It was only logical that this year would see the release of a new all steel Submariner, ref. 116610. This is most important because the steel versions are the most popular - given their position as having the lowest cost version of one of the most popular timepieces on the planet (if not the most popular luxury watch on the planet).

The new watches have the same 40mm width, but a slightly different shape of case and a new "maxi dial." Like the other new Submariners and GMT Master II, the dial has larger hands and hour indicators. Plus the lume should glow blue. Another wonderful addition to the steel Submariners is the ceramic bezel. Rolex calls it "Cerachrom," and they do it probably better than anyone else. The ceramic has a beautiful tone and is very crisp looking. Compared to the ceramic bezel on the GMT Master II, the Submariner bezels are a more matte finished.

A broader case looks elegant as ever and still thin. Even though the Submariner is smaller at 40mm in size that most modern men's watches, it still holds it own quite well. A bold wrist look that you just can't beat. Don't forget that the case is water resistant to 300 meters in this "original" mainstream true diver's watch. The larger hands and indexes make the face easier to read and dare I say, more Rolexy. The case is not made of grade 316L steel, but rather the higher grade grade 904L steel that has all sorts of special chemical resistance abilities.

Green is a color that Rolex is known for using in special models. The release of a new mainstream Submariner model is a special occasion. It is a substantial tone that isn't too bright or dark. The dial is metallic, while Rolex calls "Green Gold." There is another reason for the green face - to help get existing Submariner buyers to get one. If you have a previous generation Submariner there isn't huge incentive to upgrade unless you are "that type of person." But with a new dial color, and potentially new personality, existing fans will see reason to add to their collection.

Thankfully we now have a Submariner with the famous Rolex Glide-Lock clasp. This gives the bracelet clasp a special micro-adjust ability that gives it a very precise fit. Plus, you can change the size as often as you like for tighter or looser days. Rolex isn't the first to have a special bracelet clasp like this, but they do it oh so well. Inside the watch is the same invincible 3135 automatic COSC Chronometer certified movement. Not much to say there, there are few better three-hand date movements out there. It is of course 100% made and designed by Rolex. Price for the new Submariner watches hasn't been released yet, but I suspect they will be almost identical to the outgoing models. Look for them in stores soon watch lovers. The new piece might not be a monumental upgrade, but that isn't watch Rolex does. They just keep making their good stuff better.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
REFERENCE (CASE / BRACELET): 116610 LN/V / 97200

Case
Diameter: 40 mm
Material: 904L steel
Bezel: unidirectional rotatable 60-minute graduated
with black or green Cerachrom insert, platinum graduations
Winding crown: Triplock
shoulders to protect the crown
Crystal: sapphire, Cyclops lens with anti-reflective coating
Waterproofness: 300 m (1,000 ft)

Movement
Calibre: 3135
Self-winding: Perpetual rotor
Date: instantaneous change and rapid setting
Oscillator: frequency: 4 Hz (28,800 beats/hour)
Parachrom hairspring with Breguet overcoil
Precision: COSC-certified chronometer
Power reserve: ~48 hours

Dial
Green version has green gold dial
Hour markers: luminescent Chromalight
Hands: luminescent Chromalight

Bracelet
Material: 904L steel
Type: Oyster
Clasp: Rolex Glidelock

See Rolex Submariner watches on eBay here.

See Rolex watches on Amazon here.

Rolex submariner piezas originales para recambio crown bezel bisel ext

US $190.00

ROLEX SUBMARINER 18KT STEEL GREY SERTI DIAMOND DIAL

US $7,690.00

ROLEX SUBMARINER STAINLESS STEEL 18K GOLD BLACK DIAL UNWORN G SERIAL 116613

US $10,490.00

ROLEX SUBMARINER 18KT STEEL CHAMPAGNE SERTI DIAMOND DIAL

US $7,690.00

ROLEX SUBMARINER S STEEL INNER BEZEL ENGRAVED CARD BOX AND CARD DATED 2011 MINT

US $6,690.00

ROLEX SUBMARINER S STEEL GREEN CERAMIC BEZEL UNWORN

US $8,490.00

Written by Mr. Ariel Adams - aBlogtoRead.com, trusted independent watch media.