Rolex has been manufacturing watches with 34mm case diameters for the majority of their long and distinguished history; however, these “mid-size” models such as the Date and Air-King often get overlooked due to the multitude of options that exist in the more standard, 36mm Rolex Oyster Perpetual case size. However, Rolex has manufactured a number of excellent watches – both vintage and contemporary – that have 34mm case diameters, and their highly versatile size allows them to look at-home on wrists of virtually any gender or measurement.Although the Datejust collection has historically had a case diameter of 36mm for the standard full-size model, Rolex also manufactures a line of watches called the Date that offers many of the same design traits and features of the Datejust – even the same movement too – only in a slightly smaller overall package.One of the most “quintessentially Rolex” watches currently in production with a 34mm case diameter is the reference 115234 Date. With a Cyclops magnification lens, stainless steel Oyster bracelet, and 18k white gold fluted bezel, the reference 115234 Date checks all the same design boxes as the Datejust, just with a slightly reduced size. Additionally, since the 34mm Date and the 36mm Datejust share the same movement, the reference 115234 is in no way a “lesser” watch compared to the Datejust, just one that is 2mm smaller.Since consumer trends favored smaller wristwatches in past decades, a number of great vintage Rolex references exist with 34mm case diameters. One of the longest-running Rolex models of all time is the reference 5500 Air-King, which boasts a super clean and minimal dial design that perfectly complements its slightly reduced case size.The reference 5500 remained in production for thirty-seven years, during which time it was fitted with both Rolex’s Caliber 1520 and Caliber 1530 movements – neither of which were chronometer-certified. Due to their long production run, reference 5500 Air-King watches were manufactured in relatively large numbers and can still be purchased for very reasonable prices. Fitted with one of the cleanest and least text-heavy dials found inside any Rolex watch, the Air-King 5500 pre-dates the widespread implementation of chronometer-certified movements and represents one of the best entry points into vintage Rolex collecting.Although the Day-Date President is the classic all-gold Rolex watch, it has never been manufactured in a size smaller than 36mm. However, throughout its history, Rolex has produced a number of all-gold watches within their Date collection that have 34mm case diameters, and lack the additional complication for displaying the day of the week that is found on the flagship Day-Date line of watches.One of the more modern incarnations of the all-gold 34mm Date is the reference 15238, which stands out due to a number of characteristics that help separate it from previous iterations of Rolex’s all-gold 34mm Date watch. While earlier examples were made from 14k gold, there reference 15238 is craft from 18k – the same as what Rolex uses to manufacture their flagship Day-Date President watch. Additionally, the Date 15238 is fitted with Rolex’s Caliber 3135 movement and a synthetic sapphire crystal, which give it all the ingredients necessary to be a fairly modern watch.
The dial is black, it has delicate matte texture. The dial has a very high readability, besides the big hour markers and wide hands, there is also increased luminescence on hour markers and hands to ehance the visibility when you are in dark conditions. This IWC Aquatimer is very like Rolex Submariner, both have robust case, big hour markers, wide hands and strong dial lume. The minute hand is highly recognizable because the orange Swiss lume material is in line with the eye-catching orange 1-15 diving markers on the bezel.The replica watch is equipped with an Asia ETA 2892 automatic movement, which is very reliable and has been used in many replica watches such as Cartier Ballon Bleu, MK IWC Pilot, Hublot Classic Fusion, etc., and these have become the best-selling replica watches in our market. The following are detailed photos of the two watches, please check.Big Pilot is one of the best-selling watches of IWC. It has a very iconic onion-shaped crown that is very large. Among all IWC series, Pilot is the most popular one, while Big Pilot is the best-selling due to its large size under current big watch trend. There are a lot of Big Pilot models IWC has published, some already have accupied an important position in watch market, for example, the Big Pilot Prince. Today, I will introduce two new Big Pilot watches, one is made with Titanium, the other is made with solid bronze.
Although the rotating bezel serves to record dive times, this has not stopped Rolex from making a few ultra-lavish Submariners with precious gem-set bezels that forsake the tool watch nature of the model. First, there’s the white gold Submariner 116649EMBR (presented in 2010) with a bezel set with 36 emeralds and 12 diamonds. Then in 2018, Rolex introduced the white gold Submariner 116659SABR with a bezel set with nine light blue sapphires (to mimic the first 15-minute markings), 27 dark blue sapphires, and 12 diamonds.To summarize, the history and evolution of the Submariner bezel is generally divided into three generations: bidirectional bezel with aluminum insert (early-1950s – late-1970s), unidirectional bezel with aluminum insert (late-1970s – late-2000s), and unidirectional bezel with Cerachrom ceramic insert (late 2000s until present). Which is your favorite type of Submariner bezel?
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.
Another tip I picked up was to photograph each of my watches next to my driving license as further proof that these watches have been in your possession. With a good and honest insurer, it shouldn’t be necessary; but when dealing with a significant level of equity, it is worth taking the time to be thorough. The fewer questions you’re forced to endure following a traumatic event like a robbery or fire, the better it is for you.Before you can figure out exactly what this amount will do to your insurance, you need to identify any pieces that must be separately declared (if it is a requirement of that territory). For example, in the UK, anything below £2,000 need not be individually named on a policy, and can either be paid out as part of your general contents insurance (last resort) or as a part of a declared (although not individually) holding of “luxury items”, such as watches and jewelry. Each declarable item will increase your premium, but it is worth being sure those high-value pieces like your Rolex are covered.But what if you have a large collection of watches that individually retail for less than £2,000? For collections like these, the best thing to do is to make it clear to your insurance provider that you have a large (larger than average) parcel of possessions that fall under the luxury goods category (if you don’t make this clear before a claim, eyebrows may be raised). The total value of your collection will then be assessed on top of your regular contents insurance (for things like furniture, appliances, clothing, and books and so forth). If, say, your collection of undeclared luxury goods is of significant value, you will notice a sharp spike in your premium.I have heard of people off-setting this premium by reducing their standard contents insurance. While this can reduce your (suddenly eye-watering) premium, it is a very risky business indeed, as an insurer may take a dim view on you being deliberately under-insured for items within your property. And so the solution? Consider carefully the insurance implications of your next luxury watch purchase. Treat the cost of insuring a luxury watch as a mandatory expense – more so than even having it serviced as regularly as advised. Build it into your budget.Even if you only have one, exceptionally valuable watch, which you plan on wearing 24/7 and thus imagine will never be stolen from your home, accidents do happen. This isn’t intended to be pessimistic, just sensible. And with the peace of mind that the correct cover can provide, your enjoyment of your collection can only increase.
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