Hi Guys! I have spent the past few years getting to know genuine rolex parts from building way too many frankens. As you guys know my interest has been mainly in Datejust 36mm. I'm gonna kick of my series of write ups..."Do you know your"...with 6mm Rolex crowns.
My intention with this write up is to educate you a little more about Gen 6mm crowns, how they look, how much they are going for(as of September 2017) and some of their general characteristics.
(24-) 600 BREVET +
Decade of release : 1950s
Examples of Ref. Application(s) :
Explorer : 6350, 6610
Datejust : 6604, 6605
DayDate: 6511, 6611
Submariner : 6536-1
Type of metal used : Stainless steel & Gold(yellow, white & pink)
Facts & Characteristic:
"Brevet" is derived from the French word Brevette meaning "patent" and "+"symbolized its "Swiss" origin. Almost all 36mm rolex cased watches in this era used this style (except 1018 OP which used a 5.3mm crown instead). This crown IMHO got overshadowed by it 8mm "Big Crown" counterpart that came with the legendary 5510/6538 subs.
The original tube designed for this crown was ref 24-6010 but later replaced at the end of the decade with 24-6020. The crown itself was also shortly discontinued and replace with twin-lock 24-600 crown we know today.
Today's value: These crowns are quite hard to get and pretty expensive when you find them. The white gold version are the rarest to get. As of sept 2017, the SS version were going for the average of $250 in used condition.
IMHO Getting one is always a plus for 1950s builds like 6610 & 6605 but not a most. RSC would only put a regular 600 twinlock on your gen from this era anyway. After I settled for regular 600 for my 6605 datejust build, I finally found the one pictured above.
Below is a picture of my complete 6605 case with original 6010 tube, 25-113 xtal & WG Millerighe bezel (pre-fluted).
(24-)600 Twin-lock series
Decade of release : 1960s
Examples of Ref Application(s) :
Explorer : 1016
Datejust: 1601, 1603, 16000-14, 17000
DayDate: 1803, 1807, 18000-79
Oyster Perpetual: 1501, 1503, 6426
Types of metal used : Stainless steel, Gold(pink ,yellow & white) & Platinum
Facts & Characteristic:
This has to be the longest running 6mm crown Rolex ever made. It was used for over 25year until it's successor was introduced in the late 1980s. I know Rolex still makes them has a service parts till date.
The tube designed for the crown is 24-6020. The crown(or tube) has been nicknamed "Fat tube" because of the thick crown shaft and tube opening that measures approx. 2.08mm & 3mm wide respectively.
Today's value: These are one of the most common rolex crowns especially the SS(600-0) & yellow gold(600-8, comes in 14k &18k) can be acquired for as low as $40 in good condition. The white gold(600-9) are about $250. The platinum & pink gold version are the rarest to get.
IMHO these are best crowns Rolex ever made. They are affordable, durable and also easily repairable.
(24-)603 twin-lock series
Decade of release : 1980s
Examples of Ref Application(s) :
Explorer : 14720
Datejust: 16200,16233, 16238, 17000B
DayDate: 18238, 18239,18246
GMT : 16750
Types of metal used : Stainless steel, Gold(yellow & white ) & Platinum
Facts & Characteristic:
These series of 6mm crowns look very similar to the 600 series in regards to the shape & look of coronet on the crown drum. But really the 603 is about 1mm slimmer (crown drum at approx. 2.6mm thick) than its predecessor.
The tube designed for this crown is 24-5330, which fits all the Rolex 5.3mm crowns I have ever tried. Maybe it one of the reasons it's alias is "small tube". The crown shaft is also pretty thin compared to its predecessor, measuring approximately 1.75m wide/thick.
Today's value
These crowns are becoming more accessible nowadays. The yellow gold one (603-8) are actually the most common. I'm guessing because more tone two DJs & solid gold DJ/DDs were sold in the 80s &90s. The SS version (603-0) is not as common and usually goes for between $80 and $120, which is about the same price as the gold ones. The white gold(603-9) are about $250 and quite rare. The platinum as usual is the rarest.
IMHO these are the worst 6mm crowns Rolex ever made. They are known to have weak stem springs and slipping clutches. They aren't that affordable. Even though it's can be repaired, the internals are not the most durable.
One good thing though....they're the ones that fit most rep case tubes without mods.
(24-)604 twinlock series
Decade of release : 2000s
Examples of Ref Application(s) :
Explorer : 114270
Datejust : 116200, 116233, 116235,
DayDate: 118200, 118206, 118235, 118239
Type of metal used : Stainless steel ,Platinum & Gold(yellow, white & pink)
Facts & Characteristic:
These series of 6mm crowns are very interesting to say the least. Rolex tried to stick with their original metal codes from the late 1940s...hmmm kinda!!! So -0 means SS, -3 meaning two tone(both have dashes under the coronet) & solid gold with 2 dots -8 YG & -9 WG. But were they got me all f*#ked up is with rose gold. Both rose gold two-tone & solid rose gold are -5 but have different symbols under the coronet.
Another interesting thing about this series is the coronet. The coronet looks kinda like the one on the 703 series. It's large and bold. The round points on the coronet are very pronounced. Even though it looks bigger & bolder but its actually only .08 mm bigger than 603.
The 604 crown series still uses 24-5330 tube, same as 603. But nobody calls this small tube. I guess because it they look buff ?!?!
Today's value
These crowns are moderately accessible even though most people aren't checking for them like that..yet!!!
The SS & yellow gold two tone ones (604-0 & 604-3) are the most common. They are usually between $120 and $200. The white gold(604-9) & the rose gold (604-5 especially 2dot for 118235 DayDate) are about $400 and quite rare. The platinum again is the rarest
I have (or had) all the crowns in this series and I'm not sure how I feel about them. On one hand I like that they are solid and seem very durable. I don't think it has the conventional clutch the others before it had. Good!?!! I guess [emoji16][emoji13][emoji14]. On the other hand if they do f*#k up, you can't fix them. They really have this one piece construction where you can't unscrew the drum from the shaft to maybe fix a stem spring or remove a broken stem. [emoji35][emoji35][emoji35].
See pics below
So be advised DON'T BUY a broken or funky 604 series crown thinking you can fix it. It will be a waste of $$$ & effort. Trust me I have learnt the hard way.
Hope this will be helpful one way or the other. Thanks guys.
Warm Regards
My intention with this write up is to educate you a little more about Gen 6mm crowns, how they look, how much they are going for(as of September 2017) and some of their general characteristics.
(24-) 600 BREVET +
Decade of release : 1950s
Examples of Ref. Application(s) :
Explorer : 6350, 6610
Datejust : 6604, 6605
DayDate: 6511, 6611
Submariner : 6536-1
Type of metal used : Stainless steel & Gold(yellow, white & pink)
Facts & Characteristic:
"Brevet" is derived from the French word Brevette meaning "patent" and "+"symbolized its "Swiss" origin. Almost all 36mm rolex cased watches in this era used this style (except 1018 OP which used a 5.3mm crown instead). This crown IMHO got overshadowed by it 8mm "Big Crown" counterpart that came with the legendary 5510/6538 subs.
The original tube designed for this crown was ref 24-6010 but later replaced at the end of the decade with 24-6020. The crown itself was also shortly discontinued and replace with twin-lock 24-600 crown we know today.
Today's value: These crowns are quite hard to get and pretty expensive when you find them. The white gold version are the rarest to get. As of sept 2017, the SS version were going for the average of $250 in used condition.
IMHO Getting one is always a plus for 1950s builds like 6610 & 6605 but not a most. RSC would only put a regular 600 twinlock on your gen from this era anyway. After I settled for regular 600 for my 6605 datejust build, I finally found the one pictured above.
Below is a picture of my complete 6605 case with original 6010 tube, 25-113 xtal & WG Millerighe bezel (pre-fluted).
(24-)600 Twin-lock series
Decade of release : 1960s
Examples of Ref Application(s) :
Explorer : 1016
Datejust: 1601, 1603, 16000-14, 17000
DayDate: 1803, 1807, 18000-79
Oyster Perpetual: 1501, 1503, 6426
Types of metal used : Stainless steel, Gold(pink ,yellow & white) & Platinum
Facts & Characteristic:
This has to be the longest running 6mm crown Rolex ever made. It was used for over 25year until it's successor was introduced in the late 1980s. I know Rolex still makes them has a service parts till date.
The tube designed for the crown is 24-6020. The crown(or tube) has been nicknamed "Fat tube" because of the thick crown shaft and tube opening that measures approx. 2.08mm & 3mm wide respectively.
Today's value: These are one of the most common rolex crowns especially the SS(600-0) & yellow gold(600-8, comes in 14k &18k) can be acquired for as low as $40 in good condition. The white gold(600-9) are about $250. The platinum & pink gold version are the rarest to get.
IMHO these are best crowns Rolex ever made. They are affordable, durable and also easily repairable.
(24-)603 twin-lock series
Decade of release : 1980s
Examples of Ref Application(s) :
Explorer : 14720
Datejust: 16200,16233, 16238, 17000B
DayDate: 18238, 18239,18246
GMT : 16750
Types of metal used : Stainless steel, Gold(yellow & white ) & Platinum
Facts & Characteristic:
These series of 6mm crowns look very similar to the 600 series in regards to the shape & look of coronet on the crown drum. But really the 603 is about 1mm slimmer (crown drum at approx. 2.6mm thick) than its predecessor.
The tube designed for this crown is 24-5330, which fits all the Rolex 5.3mm crowns I have ever tried. Maybe it one of the reasons it's alias is "small tube". The crown shaft is also pretty thin compared to its predecessor, measuring approximately 1.75m wide/thick.
Today's value
These crowns are becoming more accessible nowadays. The yellow gold one (603-8) are actually the most common. I'm guessing because more tone two DJs & solid gold DJ/DDs were sold in the 80s &90s. The SS version (603-0) is not as common and usually goes for between $80 and $120, which is about the same price as the gold ones. The white gold(603-9) are about $250 and quite rare. The platinum as usual is the rarest.
IMHO these are the worst 6mm crowns Rolex ever made. They are known to have weak stem springs and slipping clutches. They aren't that affordable. Even though it's can be repaired, the internals are not the most durable.
One good thing though....they're the ones that fit most rep case tubes without mods.
(24-)604 twinlock series
Decade of release : 2000s
Examples of Ref Application(s) :
Explorer : 114270
Datejust : 116200, 116233, 116235,
DayDate: 118200, 118206, 118235, 118239
Type of metal used : Stainless steel ,Platinum & Gold(yellow, white & pink)
Facts & Characteristic:
These series of 6mm crowns are very interesting to say the least. Rolex tried to stick with their original metal codes from the late 1940s...hmmm kinda!!! So -0 means SS, -3 meaning two tone(both have dashes under the coronet) & solid gold with 2 dots -8 YG & -9 WG. But were they got me all f*#ked up is with rose gold. Both rose gold two-tone & solid rose gold are -5 but have different symbols under the coronet.
Another interesting thing about this series is the coronet. The coronet looks kinda like the one on the 703 series. It's large and bold. The round points on the coronet are very pronounced. Even though it looks bigger & bolder but its actually only .08 mm bigger than 603.
The 604 crown series still uses 24-5330 tube, same as 603. But nobody calls this small tube. I guess because it they look buff ?!?!
Today's value
These crowns are moderately accessible even though most people aren't checking for them like that..yet!!!
The SS & yellow gold two tone ones (604-0 & 604-3) are the most common. They are usually between $120 and $200. The white gold(604-9) & the rose gold (604-5 especially 2dot for 118235 DayDate) are about $400 and quite rare. The platinum again is the rarest
I have (or had) all the crowns in this series and I'm not sure how I feel about them. On one hand I like that they are solid and seem very durable. I don't think it has the conventional clutch the others before it had. Good!?!! I guess [emoji16][emoji13][emoji14]. On the other hand if they do f*#k up, you can't fix them. They really have this one piece construction where you can't unscrew the drum from the shaft to maybe fix a stem spring or remove a broken stem. [emoji35][emoji35][emoji35].
See pics below
So be advised DON'T BUY a broken or funky 604 series crown thinking you can fix it. It will be a waste of $$$ & effort. Trust me I have learnt the hard way.
Hope this will be helpful one way or the other. Thanks guys.
Warm Regards
