Looks-wise, the watch that comes the closest to an all-steel model is now the ref. 116509, which is cast in solid 18k white gold and has the price tag to prove it.That means a delve into the archives is the only avenue still open should you want one, and it is the previous generation that is proving the most affordable. The ‘Zenith’ Daytona ref. 16520, powered by the fabled El Primero, is still the gateway into steel Cosmograph Daytona ownership.Of course, the word ‘affordable’ is all relative. Prices start at around the $20,000 mark, which is a hefty slice of anyone’s money. Yet beyond being one of the most handsome and capable models ever made, any Rolex Daytona represents perhaps the surest investments watch collecting has to offer.It’s a tough call, but the starkly austere Explorer might well be the watch that has changed the least (visually) over its 70-year run. That is even for a manufacture that updates aesthetics at the glacial pace that Rolex does. Every reference, from the prototype Pre-Explorer ref. 6150 from 1952 up to the last of the ref. 114270s in 2010, have been simple three handers, with the beautifully legible white on black 3/6/9 dials, housed in a 36mm case.Then along came the ref. 214270, identical in the detailing but the first example to grow beyond the dimensions in 58-years, measuring 39mm. It increased in size for the same reason as the Datejust – fashions demanded it – but unlike that watch, it became the only option available.That is no bad thing. The Explorer is perhaps the last of the true tool watches in the Rolex catalog. There is nothing about any iteration of the watch that is designed to look flashy or draw attention to itself, and a few extra millimeters doesn’t change that. The new Explorer is basically the old Explorer, and whichever you choose will come down to whether your wrist size suits one or the other.Its strength has always been in its simplicity, and it remains one of the best value for money prospects on the pre-owned Rolex market. $5,000-$6,000 is the buy-in point for a well set up example of the ref. 114270 or, if you fancy going the real vintage route, the celebrated ref. 1016 (personal timepiece of James Bond author Ian Fleming) starts at a little over twice that. Tough, elegant and perfectly built, the Explorer has always stayed true to Rolex’s roots.
Although the Rolex Submariner began its life in 1953 as a sturdy no-frills stainless steel dive watch, today, this famed diver is considered to be one of the world’s greatest luxury watches – while still very capable of plunging into the deep to accompany aquanauts. The Sub’s graduation from utilitarian to upscale no doubt began when Rolex introduced the very first Submariner in solid yellow gold. Nothing says fancy like armor made of shiny precious metal. Let’s find out which reference was the first Rolex Submariner gold watch and lay out the details. When your life depends on a limited tank of oxygen strapped to your back, you are naturally more concerned about the passing minutes rather than what day it is. Which explains why early dive models from the 1950s (Fifty Fathoms, Submariner, Seamaster 300, Breitling Superocean, etc.) didn’t worry about putting a date window on the already limited real estate of the dial. The First Yellow Gold Rolex Submariner Not only did Rolex make the Submariner ref. 1680 in stainless steel, but the company also manufactured a solid yellow gold Submariner 1680. It’s important to note that the first yellow Sub is sometimes simply called the yellow gold Submariner 1680 or the Submariner 1680/8; however, it is not the Submariner 16808 – that’s an entirely different generation. Back to the yellow gold Submariner Date 1680. Rolex’s first gold diver made its debut in 1969, flaunting an 18k yellow gold 40mm Oyster case fitted with a matching 18k yellow gold Oyster bracelet. Early examples of the Submariner ref. 1680/8 featured a rotating bezel with a black aluminum insert and a matching black dial.
And of course, the movements of both watches are COSC certified chronometers.But the bracelets are where we begin to see differences between the Sub and the GMT. The Submariner gets Rolex’s folding Oysterlock safety clasp with their Glidelock extension system. The GMT’s Oyster bracelet, on the other hand, buckles with a simpler folding Oysterlock safety clasp with and Easylink 5 mm comfort extension link. There have been multiple cases where the Submariner and the GMT are compared.The biggest difference between the two watches is the GMT’s additional hour hand tipped with a triangular “arrowhead.” This hand indicates the hours in 24-hour format. This fourth hand can be set independently of the main hour hand, and the 24-hour time is marked on the bi-directional rotating bezel.In fact, when moving across time zones, one can move the GMT’s regular hour hand to reset to local time without affecting the 24 hour hand’s position. This makes such adjustments easy and routine for the busy traveler.With the Submariner, choices of bezel and dial colors depending on the metal chosen means you have numerous variations from which to choose. The uni-directional bezel is marked in typical dive watch fashion of five minute increments, numbers each ten minutes, and the first fifteen minutes in one-minute tick marks.Even though the GMT features Rolex’s patented Triplock screw-down crown system, the watch is only rated to 100M/330Ft (in all metals). The Submariner is rated to 300M or 1000Ft. This is interesting, given that both watches are housed in the super case.So there you have it. The Submariner and the GMT-Master II are fraternal twins, nearly identical, but each with its own capabilities.5 of the Best Looking Rolex Cerachrom Bezels Rolex isn’t known for being particularly bold with design. However, what they are known for is being innovative, whether that’s creating their own alloys like Everose or mastering the art of hard-to-achieve colored dials. Most recently, one of their biggest innovations to roll out was their new and improved Cerachrom bezels, like those that can be found on the Rolex Daytona and GMT-Master II.Because the bezel on a watch is so exposed, it is often susceptible to shocks, corrosion, fading and scratching. Therefore, Rolex wanted to upgrade specific Professional models in their Oyster collection from aluminum bezel inserts to something much more durable. In typical Rolex fashion, they’ve created their own durable ceramic called Cerachrom – which is a mix of the words “ceramic” and the Greek word for color, “chrom.”Today, we’re looking at the best of the best of these Cerachrom bezels. The most good looking, handsome, and striking examples since this new material was rolled out.I wanted to note this one first because it just looks so different than the other Cerachrom bezels that Rolex has produced. That matte, sandblasted ceramic bezel has this effortlessly modern feel, and is kind of everything that you’d want to see out of a new material. Plus, that black bezel just totally pops against the Everose case.They said it couldn’t be done. When Rolex first unveiled their Cerachrom bezel in 2005, they did so in one solid color and actually admitted that it was just too hard to do a two-colored bezel with the material. Then in 2013, they presented us with this – a blue and black bezel that became instantly iconic. It was a great addition to the GMT-Master II lineup, but it also further illustrates Rolex’s dedication to innovation. Plus it’s totally sharp, right?This is a jaw-dropping look – that Chestnut brown monobloc Cerachrom against an icy blue dial. It’s unique, it’s beautiful, and it’s all executed so well. The Daytona is already a love-it-or-hate-it watch, so it’s fitting that they’ve chosen to go with such a bold, and frankly fun choice for the bezel here.The blue Cerachrom bezel on the Yacht-Master II is just striking. The way the bold blue contrasts against the white dial and Oyster case is just so elegant.
But as so often happens, any objections were short-lived. Fairly soon after its arrival, the LV (standing for Lunette Verte, or green bezel) started attracting much more of the right kind of attention, with devotees learning to appreciate the eccentricities. It also had the definite whiff of a future classic, something that set collectors with one eye on future monetary gains to gravitate towards it.As it turned out, they were right. Just seven years after its introduction, the Kermit was withdrawn to make way for the ref. 116610LV. Now housed in the beefed-up Super Case, this new piece added a green dial to match the bezel, leading to it being known colloquially as the Hulk.A short run of an unusual edition of a true industry giant has seen prices for the Kermit far outstrip the equivalent classic black models, and should be set to only get higher with time. Definitely one to consider.This one is a real puzzler. There hasn’t been a black and red bezel GMT-Master (much better known as the ‘Coke’) since 2007. That was when the last reference to offer the option, the ref. 16710, was scrubbed from the lineup. This means that there has never been a Cerachrom example of this archetypal and hugely popular Rolex color scheme, which we originally saw debut on the very first of the GMT-Master II references way back in 1983, the ref. 16760 (nicknamed the ‘Fat Lady’).The red and black had enough of a distinction from the blue and red bezel pieces to warrant its place, and as we all know, the ‘Pepsi’ has been (and still is) a massive seller for the brand.
When you got the watch on hand, you can feel its high quality texture, it is also a little heavy. My wirst is 16.5mm, I can wear a 38mm watch, the 47mm SevenFriday also suits me very well, so is this Omega. The crystal is very clear.The crown is easy for you to distinguish whether this Omega replica watch is made by a big factory or a small factory. The base face of the crown is brushed, while the Omega Logo above is polished, besides, the side face around the crown is polished, the whole craftmanship of the crown is in a high level. Although genuine watch is better, it is really hard for a factory to achieve such a high replicating grade.The hands of this Omega watch have several colors alternatives, the most usual are silver and blue, there are also unique black and yellow bumblebee color as well as green. The hand uses drawing finishing, so do those hour markers. The factory did not uses baked blue design on the hand, because this Omega Aqua Terra 150M was an old model published a long time ago, and the factory was not attempted to release the future upgraded version, so, if you are in pursuit of perfection, I suggest you choose silver hand model.The bracelet is very good, it gives a high quality texture feeling, the gap between links is tight, not too loose, the drawing finishing on the bracelet is very delicate. The Omega Logo on the clasp is deeply engraved, which gives a strong three-dimensional feeling. When you need to adjust the length of the bracelet, you have to lose the screws on each side, and then take the pin out.
Talking about watches and inspiration can spawn some pretty interesting debates, and for good reason – especially in the dive watch category. Of course, early dive watches weren’t “inspired by” anything; dive watches were tools created with a very distinct purpose. That said, as the years went on and the dive watch category moved away from practical utility towards desirable daily-wearers, design inspiration soon came into play. Today we’re looking at luxury watches inspired by the ocean, and digging into the stories behind the creation of each piece and how they relate to the big blue beyond.As mentioned above, there is no reason to go into a Rolex Submariner history lesson here; however, the Rolex Sea-Dweller Deepsea with D-Blue dial (a variant of the original Deepsea that was first unveiled in 2008) has a very distinct connection to our world’s deepest waters.The origins of this piece come from Rolex’s involvement in (read: sponsorship of) James Cameron’s deep dive into the Mariana Trench. Though not limited in production, the piece is commemorative of the 2012 dive, and features a gradient blue to black dial that mimics the loss of light as one descends into the ocean’s depths. Additionally, the green chosen for the DEEPSEA text on its dial is matched to the color of Cameron’s Deepsea Challenger Submarine that took a prototype Rolex watch all the way down into the trench affixed to one of its robotic arms.The legacy of Jacques-Yves Cousteau is unparalleled in the world of underwater exploration, and many years ago (back in 2004 to be precise), IWC decided to become a partner of the Cousteau Society – a non-profit organization looking to continue the initiatives set out by Jacques-Yves several decades prior. From the onset of the partnership, IWC has included special limited-edition Aquatimer models in their collections, with a portion of the proceeds of each watch headed towards the organization.Of their bigger undertakings, Cousteau’s famed research vessel (named ‘Calypso’) was raised from the sea floor after sinking on account of an incident in Singapore in 1996. Progress on Calypso has been slow-going, and a fire on the ship while docked in Turkey two years ago has slowed things further. Naturally, there are rumors swirling that a redesign of the IWC Aquatimer line across the board will appear in conjunction with the vessel’s unveiling.
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