6150 Rolex Precision Pre-Explorer

6150-Rolex-Precision-Pre-Explorer

What is a Rolex Explorer? A 3-6-9 dial and sterile, steel bezel? Wearing a cardigan and doing no Exploring? Or does it have to say Explorer on it? This is the central question fueling a debate that’s been raging between the farthest gone of us for some time. This 6150 defined the case shape and…

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‘Swiss Only’ 43031 Vacheron Constantin Perpetual Calendar

The holy trinity 80s ultra-thin perpetual calendars that resuscitated mechanical watchmaking as an art form post-quartz-crisis are truly entering their own today. They made quartz look childish, like when you challenge your dad to a drinking contest only to realize your life has ill-prepared you (or wasn’t as depressing as you thought). You leave ashamed…

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‘Swiss Only’ 16610 Rolex Submariner

Swiss-Only-16610-Rolex-Submariner

Succeeding the 1680 was never going to be an easy task. Yet, the 16610 took on this challenge in 1987 as one of the earliest of Rolex’s five-digit releases. Thankfully, it maintained the perfectly proportioned 39mm Oyster case, the last date Sub to do so. The 16610 was so successful that its production ran 21…

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Swiss Only, Claw Dial 1803 Rolex Day-Date in Rose Gold

Claw-Dial-1803-Rolex-Day-Date-in-Rose-Gold

It is a little-discussed fact that rose gold is substantially less common than yellow or white gold in vintage Day-Date production. But, where Rolex are concerned, not all vintage rose golds are quite consistent. The alloy was constantly evolving throughout the very lengthy run of the 1803. Early Day-Dates, such as this 1962 example, sport…

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