- 23/4/07
- 31
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Dear All,
I have been invited to post this thread on RWI by a friend.
originaly, I posted this on another board where I'm more active.
I'm a total noob on RWI and would like to thank SD4K for inviting me to join the vintage section.
I hope you'll like it.
A little update though: since my original article, I now have a 93150 for these babies and the correct case back for the Great White
Please forgive the lak of smillies ...I'm still discovering how to post here :idea:
Here we go:
Some of you might know that I started a very ambitious project with a respected member of the boards.
He is a true artist, a great watchmaker and his mods are simply unbelievable.
Unfortunately he is also very modest and busy.
I promised I would never reveal his forum name.
He's nick name is thus MM, for Mystery Modder.
The Rolex Sea Dweller
If you want to collect genuine vintage Rolex Sea Dweller, you'd better be ready to be disappointed!
First, they cost a fortune and second there are no absolute references, no certitudes.
Rolex is a funny company:
- poor available archives.
- few serious testimonies from ex-employees.
- mix parts between the "current model" and the next upgrade, numerous suppliers, various replacement dials, case backs,…
- on top of that, service happened very often on the Red Sea Dwellers. Hands, dials, and case back were changed.
To summarize, the genuine collectors and experts will almost never say "There is…" but more often "There seem to be…"
How can we, poor rep collectors, build a nice one?
Advice
Bear in mind all the way, if you like the vintage Sea Dwellers, that there are lots of variations.
If you want to start a mini collection like I did, don't become too obsessive with details otherwise you will feel sad in the end.
The Trilogy
We decided to go for different aging levels and some variations in parts, assuming that in 40 years, the watches were serviced, altered,...lost pearls.
The idea is to have 3 different watches in the end but build a mini collection with a real consistency.
The Single Red
This watch was originally traded with Phoband.
It is the oldest Sea Dweller.
According to most sources, it was likely produced as a test watch for the divers of Comex only.
This version was not for sale and is from the first part of 1967 (probably, the most common word for Vintage Rolies).
The case back should be carrying the "GAS ESCAPE VALVE PATENT PENDING" text.
As you see, on mine, it's not the case…yet.
Maybe one day we will see such a case back pop up, who knows.
What did MM do on mine?
Dial is aged to the limit (40 years old watch, remember).
The date wheel is a "Ubi".
The crystal is a genuine T39 Super Dome.
The hands have been heavily aged and look just fantastic to my opinion.
The crown is genuine, the crown guards have been shaved.
The lug holes are drilled to accept genuine springbars and the watch does have genuine bars.
The bezel is not the original MBW one.
It is very different, really hard to find these days and quite expensive.
You must press it down to be able to turn it.
Just like divers with big rubber gloves would like to have it for security reasons.
The modern ones are unidirectional now.
But, in the beginning, Rolex didn't really think about that!
What else will be done?
A better insert will be installed soon, genuine if possible.
Another think I am considering is have a slow beat movement installed.
The Double Red
This watch was purchased from TTK.
This is the commercial version of the Sea Dweller that was in production between 1971 and 1977 (or 79 according to some sources).
The case back should look like this probably.
Mine does looked like this first (pretty close, isn't it!)
Now it looks like this (aged a bit more)
What is done on mine?
Dial is aged, not as much a the single red.
The date wheel was not a "Ubi" one, but this has changed in january 2008.
Edit: january 8, 2008.
The date wheel is a Ubi one now !
The crystal is a Clark T39 Super dome, not genuine thus, but honestly, a very good alternative and much cheaper.
The hands have been aged…
The crown is genuine, the crown guards have been shaved and the lug holes drilled to accept genuine springbars.
The bezel is the original MBW one.
The insert is a ClassicWatchParts.com one and the numbers are "fatter".
What is left to be done?
A riveted bracelet should be installed as I have no funds now to get a genuine one of course.
The next mod will probably be to swap the 2836-2 for a slow beat movement.
The Great White
This watch was traded with Kelster.
This is the most recent version of the "Old" Sea Dweller
(according to TheWatchQuote, it's from 1975 to 1982 , followed by the Sapphire Crystal 16660 in 1980, the transitional WG and finally the 16600 in 1989).
The case back should look like this probably.
Mine does look like this but there is a chance it changes soon as the MBK come with the correct one now.
Update july 5th, 2008:
Because I have 3 vintage SDs, I always dreamed that the Great White would have the latest version of the case back.
Oh, of course, some Great Whites came with a "Double Red" case back.
But I prefer this one
Two good friends of mine, Yello and RepAustria put their efforts together to offer this one to me.
Guys, thank you so much. You did a fantastic job in finding one Yello and by aging it RepAustria!
What is done on mine?
Dial is aged of course but not that much as this watch is pretty recent.
The date wheel is a "Ubi" one.
The crystal is a Genuine Flat T39 which is correct for the Great White.
The hands have been aged…and a bit damaged (on purpose of course).
The Tritium is falling off the hands…
The crown is genuine.
The crown guards have been shaved (by Kelster) and the lug holes drilled.
Genuine springbars are installed.
The bezel is the original one.
The insert is genuine.
What should be done next?
The case back is the priority of course, but a slow beat might be offered too.
The end
Well, is this project finished? Not yet.
Do I want it to finish? Not sure.
Genuine bracelets could be added to the list to keep the project open for another year.
I am a very lucky guy that MM accepted to start such a project and still want to continue it.
Thanks MM.
I love the work you do, especially on these dials and hands but also all the valuable information I gather.
Bye for now
@All: thanks for looking and reading.
Cheers
Stephane
Some Group Shots
From left to right, per birth date: Single Red, Double Red, Great White.
From Top: Great White, Single Red, Double Red.
From left to right: Great White, Single Red, Double Red.
From left to right: Great White, Single Red, Double Red.
From Top: Great White Genuine T39 Flat, Single Red Genuine T39 Super dome, Double Red Clark Super dome.
When I was a teenager, I once helped the father of a friend in working in his house.
He bought that house back in 1969 and it needed serious renovation.
While looking for a tool in the garage, I opened the draw of an old work bench.
I saw something like a pack, wrapped in an old newspaper, not even sealed with tape.
I asked the old man what it was and he replied "Don't know my friend, open it!"
I opened the pack, unfold the paper, and saw what looked like a watch.
I said "Wow, that is a watch.
It looks pretty dirty to me. I love these old looking watches. The owner must have spend a lot of time in the water with it"
The old man then said: "Well, it must be from the previous owner of the house. He was a professional diver I remember.
If you like it, you can have it. It is my way to thank you for helping me!"
Several years later, I discovered it was a Rolex.
Now, I even know that this is a Sea Dweller and a Single Red…
Ooops, sorry, was I sleeping and dreaming?
