Rolex ref 6105 (from 1953) yellow gold bezel big bubbleback 勞力士大泡泡背

Over the weekend, I went for my usual treasure hunting. Like what Forrest Gump said in the movie: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." True enough, I found another interesting Bubbleback from the year 1953 and it’s a big one! I have always love the bubbleback series as I started collecting vintage watches seriously with the Rolex bubbleback and Prince and it has given me great joy and happiness and a focus.

The Rolex 6105 is referred to as the “Big Bubble Back” or “Ovettone” or 大倌財 by collectors, due to the generous volume of its case. The Big Bubbleback is considered as one of the rare references of the Ovettone, Found within the aperture at 3 o’clock is the date indicator printed with red numerals and the Big bubbleback later became the Datejust model.

Instead of the usual screw down crown, the watch is with the original Super Oyster Crown – a convenient design that provided water resistance without needing to be screwed down. This particular crown was introduced by Rolex in 1950 and discontinued only 2-3 years later due to Rolex’s strict requirement for greater water resistance. This crown is similar to the 6015 which I have traded away. It is using the A296 semi bubbleback movement and its the Pre Datejust Rolex without the cyclop len. Only one minus point is that the winding crown is fitted with a stainless steel one instead of a gold one... will need to find a replacement for it in order to bring it back to its original state. This 6105 has rekindle my love for the Big bubbleback. 

Moreover, the watch comes with a vintage Rolex 7206 bracelet which is worth about HK$10,000-15000. The Rolex7206 bracelet is popular as it can be used for Rolex1016, old submariner like 5513 or GMT.

Fitted with C.O.S.C. Certified Chronometer automatic winding Rolex Caliber A296 

Comparison between the normal bubbleback and the Big bubbleback

Rolex ref 6015 (from 1948) bubbleback

I have promised myself to follow a "One out One In " policy in my watch collection in order to keep the quantities of watches stable and tighten the theme of my watch collection.. This afternoon, Roy has helped me to trade one skin diver away for a Rolex bubbleback 6015 with Vicky at Shatin. Even the watch has a reconditioned dial, its still ok as I think i have a spare original dial somewhere back home in Singapore.

This is a Bubble-Back and the Italian collectors call the watch an ovetto due to the olive like outline of the case. Ref. 6015 and 5015 are identical except that the 6015 has a Super-Oyster crown and the 5015 has a traditional Oyster crown. 

The caliber 620, was created in 1936 and was in regular production between 1940 and 1951. The Super-Oyster winding crown was an attempt by Rolex to create a waterproof winding crown which did not need to be screwed down. 

The system itself worked, however in time the rubber seal perished and this crown type was phased out after only a few years of production. This watch is from 1948

The Super-Oyster winding crown

 

Vintage Omega Constellation white gold

 Vintage Omega Constellation white gold

Rolex 18k ref 3372 (from 1946) bubbleback

The Rolex Bubbleback Story: Bubblebacks marked the introduction of the first successful self winding wrist watch movement. The name bubble back derives from the rounded caseback to accommodate the self winding movement. 

The Rolex bubble back model was introduced in 1933 and was continued well into the late 1940’s with countless variations of metal and dial configuration. Bubble backs were made in stainless steel, steel and gold, rose gold, 9K, 10K, 14K, 18K, hooded case variations, even manual wind versions in the 1930’s. Serial nos consists of 2764, 2940, 3130, 3131, 3133, 5045, 5050, 3372, 3725 Tropica, 4919, 3696, etc..

The early models through the 1940’s featured dials with luminous indexes and luminous hands. Later in the 1950’s, the dials had generally less interesting small raised dial indexes and non luminous hands.  

Each Bubbleback is different; some stand out in case design, others with an unusual dial and some in precious metal. This bubbleback is from 1946 and it is a solid gold Rolex 18k bubbleback ref 3372 in 3 piece case design where the top and bottom case can be unscrewed. The dial is still in very good condition as thee are many bubbleback where the dials have been reconditioned and repainted. I have traded away one Omega Constellation gold plus cash top up for this. Interestingly, I have started my watch collection in a serious manner with the Rolex bubbleback from the 1990s. I have not collected any new Bubbleback for a while owing to the poor dial conditions until now. The prices of these smaller vintage watches are climbing up very quickly when collectors are beginning to see that there are more watches other than the sports models. In Hong Kong, it is known as the 勞力士棺材仔

Jacob Palmer (Ryan Gosling) wears a Rolex Bubbleback with the reference 3372 on a brown leather strap.

https://www.sohu.com/a/67977995_390904

https://www.watchcollectinglifestyle.com/home/time-machine-a-dozen-rolex-oyster-perpetual-bubblebacks-it-took-10-years-to-hunt-them-down

http://blog.elementintime.com/index.php/a-bubbleback-behind-the-rolex-oyster/

Rolex ref 1018 (from 1966 IV)

I recently come across a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Reference 1018. It is a simple looking but yet a rare watch, produced for just a few years of Rolex’s history. What makes the Reference 1018 attractive is the size and chronometer certified. There are many Rolex Oyster, Oysterdate etc at 30mm, 34mm but the Rolex 1018 has an attractive 36mm case diameter, 20mm lug width, and 11.5mm thick. The 1018 has about the same specs as its cousin, the 1016 Explorer, though the case has a slightly slimmer profile. The Rolex 1018 is similar size to the Rolex Datejust 1600, 1601,1603 except that it has no date function.

The Reference 1018 can be found with both the caliber 1560 and the 1570. The 1560 was an in-house movement introduced by Rolex in 1959 and remained in use until 1965, when Rolex transitioned to the caliber 1570. The main improvements of the 1570 were a slightly faster beat rate (19,800 bph, as compared to the 1560’s 18,000), and hacking seconds. As we all know, the caliber 1570 would go on to power Explorers, Submariners, and Oyster Perpetuals until the 1980s. 

I am still considering if I should collect the Rolex 1018 and to trade it with my vintage gold Omega or other watches...

Latest update:

Over the weekend, I went back to the store and view the Rolex 1018 again and finally decided to get it  by trading away the Movado triple calendar and the Rolex Royal. This will match nicely with my 1016 & 1019. The bracelet is a bit long and I will need to remove two links in order to right size the length.

The watch comes with the US bracelet with the large ROLEX logo on the clasp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.rescapement.com/blog/why-you-need-to-know-about-the-rolex-oyster-perpetual-reference-1018%3fformat=amp

Watches from the 1970s (Rolex 1630 versus AP Royal Oak versus PP Natilus)

 Watches from the 1970s.. with similar DNA...Gerald Genta...

Rolex ref 1630 (50th anniversary of the Two Tone Rolex Datejust in 1976)

This is a very strange looking & highly collectible Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust with a "Quartz" case from the mid 1970s. The style of this case design was influenced by the 1st ever quartz watch by Rolex, Ref.5100 using the Beta 21movement which was made in limited numbers between 1970-1972. 

By 1975 which this watch dates to, Rolex launched the ref.1530 with "Oyster" styled bracelet & the 1630 with "Jubilee" styled bracelet, both had the bracelets integrated with the case & in this instance, with the gold fused into part of the case to complete the half-gold look. Both were rated to 50m or 165ft. I was told that the 1630 was launched as a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Datejust. When I first saw the watch, I didn’t paid much attention to it as I thought it was the quartz model. Later, when Mr. Wong showed me the watch again, I was attracted by its unusual design... a it ugly but unique...

This is the first Datejust to feature a sapphire crystal & uses the Ca.1570 movement without quick-set date. It also has a slower beat of 19800vph instead of the later high-beat @ 28800 which generates better accuracy.

Only a small production of these were made & finally discontinued by 1977 with this half gold version produced in lesser number due to the complex case construction of fusing gold into steel. The design was subsequently carried on with a new chronometer certified quartz movement & under reference 140000. I strongly believe that the 1630 & 1530 will have high potential for prices to go up in the future owing to its rarity.

When buying the Rolex 1630, there is a need to be careful with the bracelet. The original bracelet that came with the 1630 has three centre rows in 14K gold with the outer links in steel and is referenced 96673. The main difference between the two-tone bracelet in the Oysterquartz ref. 17013 and this one, is that the bracelet on the Oysterquartz comes with two gold center links while the bracelet on the ref. 1630 has three gold center links. It is very common to have sellers replace the bracelet of the ref. 1630 with the one on the ref. 17013.

The number 14 indicating the type of yellow gold in this bracelet is 14K (Photo below)

This is the fof 19800vph instead of the later high-beat @ 28800 which generates better accuracy.

Only a small production of these were made & finally discontinued by 1977 with this halfgold version produced in lesser nos due to the complex case construction of fusing gold into steel. The design was subsequently carried on with a new chronometer certified quartz movement & under reference 140000.

I need to use two vintage Omega plus cash top up for this 1630. This is my new favorite 😊

https://www.watchcollectinglifestyle.com/home/insider-rolex-oysterquartz-ref-1630-the-automatic-oysterquartz-looking-watch

https://www.horobox.com/en/news-detail/quartz-revolution-with-rolex