Bill
31965
Prototype vs test watches
I guess it was possible for Rolex to do some marketing testing and the same time as having field reviews.
It seems that all the diver feedback seemed to be related to the plexi crystal getting scratched rather than water penetration issues.
I the the various saturation type experiments in the 1967-1969 era are also field test.
Bill
Rolex 1665 DRSD and Rolex Comex 5513 at sea.
Great weather and an opportunity to take a couple of pictures of the two Rolex diving legends. The Rolex 1665 Double Red mk III together with the 1970 Rolex Comex 5513. An interesting fact to which some agree while other don't. There are Rolex 1665 with m...
What about my theory on the Rolex 1665 DRSD MKII
Any thoughts on how a case with a 1.7 - 1.9 serial can be sold years later as they did not sell for sure in 1969?
Many Rolex ( and watches from other brands ) were sold many years after...
They came out from the Manufacture. I remember several GMTs ( I've seen in the flesh several 16750 sold 5 ( yes, 5 ) years after the date Chronometry paper. Same for GMTs, the record to be broken was a Milgauss, with a serial number dating it from 1970, s...
damned valves !!! LLOLL
btw case numbers in the range from 1.7 to 1.9 are shared fom 1967 to 1969. some 1665 were sold by Rolex AD before 1971 ( such as the famous mk2 with case number in the 1.76 range sold at the end of 1969 by a NY official dealer in Brooklin ).
So it can be possible the cases where in reserve
If a case was held in the factory pending the patent and then assembled and sold with patented case from 1969 - 1973 +/- with lower serials as you mentioned between 1.7-1.9 because there is a jump to higher serial numbers but with sales date 1972- 1974. I...
in my opinion ...
the question is that most watches were sold or given at random in the early years of the sd " saga " and most times some years after case production time . probably they have decide to test them throughout prior to regular sales.
for the records...
1665 PP DRSD MK1 2.1mil sold in San Francisco on 16/06/1970 btw. nice couple Mr. Bill, i like very much the MK3 dial darkness :))) ...
Red print directly on the dial gives a nice depth
A dark and moody dimension. Best Bill
I have come across this many times actually....
....and to me personally too. I have had a Mk2 case with a Mk3 dial, but knew for a fact that the watch was born as such. I have also discussed at length the fact that there was often a very long crossover period between when a watch was put together and ...
I am thinking more of a deliberate strategy.
For the rolex 1665 due to the various non commercial testing with divers. I think that the early release of the watch 1969 to 1971 seem to be test cases with commercial divers who would log their experience. I don\'t believe Rolex would commercialize and ...
Bill.....
.....a very coincidental thing to say. At the weekend, I said exactly the same only to have two experts...one dealer and one collector essentially laugh at me. They then asked why I thought that. My response was that I had paperwork from Rolex about a ver...
I am in the same camp as you.
I have seen the same log books and correspondence between the divers and Rolex regarding testing and finally gifting the watch around 1970/71. I need to find the docs. Bill
Bill... i have such documentation....
.....direct correspondence between Rolex and diver for one of my Patent Pending. I intend to do a review of both the watch and this documentation. The argument was put to me that the Mk1 Patent Pending was not a prototype watch because it was retailed wit...
With Rolex, of course, one never "knows"....but.....
.....one of the beauties of vintage Rolex is trying to put together a cohesive logic. Fact of the matter is that some Mk1s did get sold through retailers with box and stamped papers etc. However, that is a million miles away from saying that the Mk1s were...
Prototype vs test watches
I guess it was possible for Rolex to do some marketing testing and the same time as having field reviews. It seems that all the diver feedback seemed to be related to the plexi crystal getting scratched rather than water penetration issues. I the the vari...
I will re-read y documentation...but,
yes...i recall nothing about the reliability of the watch only issues of minor concern...plexi etc. Which would of course allow Rolex to feel quite comfortable handing out ones not issued to divers to ADs.
It is not like the Test with Tudor of the California coast
I read that the Plexi would blast off upon returning to the surface. I also have Doxa watches that where tested with SEA LAB II / III who also tested Tudor. Bill
More interestingly...
some of these early 1.7m Sea-Dwellers have a 1967 date code inside the case backs... MW
Patent pending cases?
I wonder if they engraved the outside of the caseback at a later point. Love to see pictures. Thx Bill
1665 in the 1.7 range all have the " 67 " punched ....
inside back ... you find " 67 " backs up to watches with case in the 2.6 range.
Dear Bill: I always adore to view these shots of yours...
... showing Subs and SD in their "natural environment"!! These backgrounds are as beautiful as suitable for such models, and enhance their timeless design. Just a feast for the eyes!! Thank you! Cordial regards, Abel.
Always a pleasure to share.
There is no denying the Sea and Rolex and made for each other. Best Bill