- 6/7/12
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Recently, I've decided to take a new project; the infamous Rolex Space-Dweller (thanks to Watchlord for introducing me to it in another thread).
For those who are not familiar with the Space-Dweller, it is basically identical to the Explorer I and was planned to be released exclusively in Japan in 1966. It was inspired by the Mercury astronauts' first visit to Japan in 1963. Long-story-short, it was not a success and very few of the Space-Dwellers ever made into the open market. (info courtesy of hodinkee.com)
Below is a picture of a gen being sold at an AD in Japan.
In the many years I've been collecting watches, I've only ever liked 2 styles of Rolex's; the Sub and the Sea-Dweller. All other styles I always considered as "grandfather" watches.
That is until I saw the Space-Dweller. Just something about it's raw simplicity that screams "THIS is what a Rolex should look like." It would be analogous to a naturally beautiful woman who never needs to wear makeup. All of the raw, simple features that made Rolex's famous with such timeless beauty that will last in decades to come. I'm sure there are many who would disagree, but to each his own taste...
Anyway, in my fervent research of the Space-Dweller I ran in to an article about a lesser known and much, MUCH rarer Rolex:
The Rolex Commando.
It has become my new watch obsession and I MUST have one.
Below is a short history of the watch (courtesy of hodinkee.com):
" The Space-Dweller is often considered one of the most rare Rolex sport models around. The thing is basically impossible to track down, and when you do, you have to buy it right then and there or it will be gone within days if not hours. But what if all along there was another off-shoot of the Explorer that was even more rare than the Space-Dweller? And what if we found one for sale?
Well, there is, and we did. It is called the Rolex Commando and it looks quite a bit like an Explorer, although it is not one. In fact, when the Commando was released (to only the US market in 1972 and 1972 only), it was considered a stripped down version of the 1016 Explorer. It was the cheapest model in the entire Rolex catalog, alongside the boy's size watch. It features different hands than the Explorer, but does have the "3,6,9" markers. Also, the main difference between the Commando and the Explorer is that while the Explorer is and always has been an automatic wristwatch, the Commando featured a manual-wind movement.
The Commando is sized similarly to an Air-King but is quite a bit thinner, which you can see by clicking through to the seller's page. The one we have found is located at an uber-shop in Paris, and they claim it to be in all original, excellent condition. Price on this particular Rolex isn't listed, but a Commando sold in Geneva in 2008 for over $20,000.
So how rare is the Commando? Well, whenever we come across a rare Rolex we don't know much about, we reference this book. The Commando isn't in it. We then went to noted Rolex expert James Dowling's personal webpage...he owns a Commando and this is what he says about it: "I know nothing at all about the origins of the Commando model, it is a simple manual wind Oyster watch. But the dial makes it look like a stripped down version of the 1016 Explorer. This is one of only three of these watches I have ever seen."
Yes, it's that rare"
Here are some pictures of some of the last remaining in the wild:
If there is one watch that deserves the rite to be justly repped, I believe it would be this. I personally feel that a watch like this cannot be lost in history...
And so my journey begins to start piecing together this last "unicorn."
I'm currently in the process of sourcing the needed parts for this build and will try my best to update progress in this thread. Please keep in mind that this is just a hobby for me so progress may be slow at times, so please bear with me...
Also, I am on a very limited budget so if there's anything that would further impede my progress it would be this.
I've verified that the case is 34mm, similar to the Air-King so this will be the base of which I am starting from.
The parts list for the build will include the following and, obviously, subject to change:
1) Donor case and movement will be from an Air-King 34mm, but may end up using 36mm depending on availability. The gen has a manual, 17-Jewel movement but I am sticking with the automatic due to cost and complexity. I simply to do not have the time for such an undertaking.
2) Bracelet will be the riveted Rolex used on the Explorer I and Space-Dweller. I may end up using an aftermarket riveted bracelet, again, due primarily to cost.
3) Hands will be from the donor Air-King. The key difference I see between the Commando and Air-King hands is that the lume on the Commando run farther down along the hour and minute hands. I may end up replacing them depending on if I can source them.
4) The dial. OK, I foresee this being the most difficult mod in the entire project. My plan is to use the dial from the donor Air-King as I don't have to worry about it fitting properly in the case or issues with the movement. I'll have to remove the extra markings on the Air-King and add the proper Commando text.
Please feel free to leave any constructive comments and/or suggestions, as I humbly admit, I am in no way an expert watch maker/modder.
Cheers!
:cheers:
For those who are not familiar with the Space-Dweller, it is basically identical to the Explorer I and was planned to be released exclusively in Japan in 1966. It was inspired by the Mercury astronauts' first visit to Japan in 1963. Long-story-short, it was not a success and very few of the Space-Dwellers ever made into the open market. (info courtesy of hodinkee.com)
Below is a picture of a gen being sold at an AD in Japan.
In the many years I've been collecting watches, I've only ever liked 2 styles of Rolex's; the Sub and the Sea-Dweller. All other styles I always considered as "grandfather" watches.
That is until I saw the Space-Dweller. Just something about it's raw simplicity that screams "THIS is what a Rolex should look like." It would be analogous to a naturally beautiful woman who never needs to wear makeup. All of the raw, simple features that made Rolex's famous with such timeless beauty that will last in decades to come. I'm sure there are many who would disagree, but to each his own taste...
Anyway, in my fervent research of the Space-Dweller I ran in to an article about a lesser known and much, MUCH rarer Rolex:
The Rolex Commando.
It has become my new watch obsession and I MUST have one.
Below is a short history of the watch (courtesy of hodinkee.com):
" The Space-Dweller is often considered one of the most rare Rolex sport models around. The thing is basically impossible to track down, and when you do, you have to buy it right then and there or it will be gone within days if not hours. But what if all along there was another off-shoot of the Explorer that was even more rare than the Space-Dweller? And what if we found one for sale?
Well, there is, and we did. It is called the Rolex Commando and it looks quite a bit like an Explorer, although it is not one. In fact, when the Commando was released (to only the US market in 1972 and 1972 only), it was considered a stripped down version of the 1016 Explorer. It was the cheapest model in the entire Rolex catalog, alongside the boy's size watch. It features different hands than the Explorer, but does have the "3,6,9" markers. Also, the main difference between the Commando and the Explorer is that while the Explorer is and always has been an automatic wristwatch, the Commando featured a manual-wind movement.
The Commando is sized similarly to an Air-King but is quite a bit thinner, which you can see by clicking through to the seller's page. The one we have found is located at an uber-shop in Paris, and they claim it to be in all original, excellent condition. Price on this particular Rolex isn't listed, but a Commando sold in Geneva in 2008 for over $20,000.
So how rare is the Commando? Well, whenever we come across a rare Rolex we don't know much about, we reference this book. The Commando isn't in it. We then went to noted Rolex expert James Dowling's personal webpage...he owns a Commando and this is what he says about it: "I know nothing at all about the origins of the Commando model, it is a simple manual wind Oyster watch. But the dial makes it look like a stripped down version of the 1016 Explorer. This is one of only three of these watches I have ever seen."
Yes, it's that rare"
Here are some pictures of some of the last remaining in the wild:
If there is one watch that deserves the rite to be justly repped, I believe it would be this. I personally feel that a watch like this cannot be lost in history...
And so my journey begins to start piecing together this last "unicorn."
I'm currently in the process of sourcing the needed parts for this build and will try my best to update progress in this thread. Please keep in mind that this is just a hobby for me so progress may be slow at times, so please bear with me...
Also, I am on a very limited budget so if there's anything that would further impede my progress it would be this.
I've verified that the case is 34mm, similar to the Air-King so this will be the base of which I am starting from.
The parts list for the build will include the following and, obviously, subject to change:
1) Donor case and movement will be from an Air-King 34mm, but may end up using 36mm depending on availability. The gen has a manual, 17-Jewel movement but I am sticking with the automatic due to cost and complexity. I simply to do not have the time for such an undertaking.
2) Bracelet will be the riveted Rolex used on the Explorer I and Space-Dweller. I may end up using an aftermarket riveted bracelet, again, due primarily to cost.
3) Hands will be from the donor Air-King. The key difference I see between the Commando and Air-King hands is that the lume on the Commando run farther down along the hour and minute hands. I may end up replacing them depending on if I can source them.
4) The dial. OK, I foresee this being the most difficult mod in the entire project. My plan is to use the dial from the donor Air-King as I don't have to worry about it fitting properly in the case or issues with the movement. I'll have to remove the extra markings on the Air-King and add the proper Commando text.
Please feel free to leave any constructive comments and/or suggestions, as I humbly admit, I am in no way an expert watch maker/modder.
Cheers!
:cheers:
