Rolex Submariners

6200 - Original Submariner
Launched in 1953. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with an 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner not printed on dial. Dial similar to Explorer style dials of same period. Non-Chronometer A296 movement with 18 Jewels. Larger case than the 6204 or 6205. Larger crown marked Brevet.
Updated in 1955. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with an 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. Included the Mercedes hands. Non-Chronometer A296 movement with 18 Jewels. Larger case than the 6536 or 6538. Larger crown marked Brevet.

6204 - Launched in two versions
Launched in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. Dial revised from 6200. Used the upgraded non-chronometer A260 movement with 18 Jewels. Smaller than the 6200.
Updated in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name "blacked-out." Non-Chronometer A260 movement with 18 Jewels. Smaller than the 6200

6205
Launched in 1954. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name not present on dial. Dial revised from 6200. Used the upgraded A260 movement. Same size as the 6204. Smaller than the 6200
Updated in 1955. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with 6mm crown. No crown guard however depth rating now printed on dial (white). Model name present on dial. A260 movement. Smaller than the 6200

6536
Launched in 1955. Upgrade of the 6205 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Submariner printed on dial. First time use of the Mercedes hands. Movement upgraded to the non-chronometer 1030 with 25 Jewels.
Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 8mm crown. No crown guard however depth rating now printed on dial (white). Submariner also printed on dial. Non-Chronometer 1030 movement. First time Bezel contained markers for first 15 minutes.

6536/1
Launched in 1956. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with a 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. Chronometer 1030 movement with 25 Jewels. Bezel with markers for first 15 minutes. Triangle on Bezel painted red.

6538
Launched in 1955. Upgrade of the 6204 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with the 6mm crown. No crown guard and no depth rating on dial. Model name present on dial. Used the upgraded A260 movement.
Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. Upgraded to the 1030 movement. Case upgraded to same size as the 6200 (larger).
Updated in 1956. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. No crown guard with depth rating printed on dial (white). Model name also present on dial. 'Officially Certified Chronometer' now painted on dial. 1030 movement.

5508
Launched in 1958. Upgrade to the 6536/1 model. Depth rated to 100m (330 ft) with 6mm crown. No crown guard and depth rating on always printed on dial. Model name printed on dial. Upgraded to the new Chronometer 1530 movement.
Updated in 1964. Luminous markers not enclosed by circular border.

5510
Launched in 1958. Upgrade to the 6200 model. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard and depth rating printed on dial. Submariner printed on dial. New Chronometer 1530 movement.
Updated in 1964. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with the 8mm crown. No crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Printing on dial changed to white.

5512
Launched in 1959. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. 'Officially Certified Chronometer' printed on dial. Submariner printed on dial. New 1560 Chronometer movement.
Updated in 1965. Depth rating to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Superlative added to printing on dial.

5513 - James Bond Submariner (Live and Let Die)
Launched in 1962. Depth rated to 200m (660 ft) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Non-Chronometer. 1530 movement. Dial marked with Swiss.
Updated in 1963. Depth rating to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Non-Chronometer 1520 movement. Swiss T<25 color="#000099">5517
Launched in 1971 for the British Marines. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Bezel with 60 minute markers. Soldered strap bars. Large hour and minute hands. Large T printed above depth rating to indicate luminous material as tritium.

1680 (White Submariner and Red submariner)
Launched in 1966. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. New 1575 Chronometer movement with Date. Raised and flat crystal. Submariner printed in red.
Updated in 1972. Depth rated to 660 ft (200m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. 1675 Chronometer movement with Date. Raised and flat crystal. All dial lettering printed in white.

16800
Launched in 1982. Depth rated to 1000 ft (300m) with 8mm crown. Crown guard. Crown with triple-lock. Depth rating printed on dial. Chronometer. New 3085 Chronometer movement with Date. Low-profile sapphire crystal. All dial lettering printed in white

Vintage Rolex Sports models

Rolex Explorer 1

Rolex GMT Ref 6542

The 1950s rolex GMT 6542 has its history with Pan-Am, where it commissioned a watch to be designed with specification, enbling the pilots to keep track of time in two locations. It has an additional hour hand that revolved once every 24 hours and a rotating bazel. The watch was designed by Captain Frederic Libby and Rene-al Jeanneret.

The Rolex 6542 was produced from 1954 to 1960 with distinct mercedes hands, and a transparent acrylic insert bezel (material chosen to cut down reflectivity for better legibility) as well as its distintiive feature of not having the crown guard (similar to the eraly James Bond submariners 6500, 6502, 6504, 6536, 6538, 5508 and 5520).

The Ref 6542 was later replaced by Red 1675, 16750 with the crown shoulder guard. The Rolex GMT was often known as the "Pepsi" bezel owing to the similiarity of colours!

For those who is keen to get one can visit:

http://www.chrono24.com/web/us/suchen/u/index.htm?myfunction=&myadcode=&do_suche=1&statbrand=0&debug=&BRAND_ID=0&MODEL=rolex+6542&SEARCH_PRICECURRENCY=USD&SEARCH_PMIN=0&SEARCH_PMAX=0&SUCH_MATERIAL_ID=0&LOCCOUNTRY_ID=&SEARCH_REGION_ID=&ENTERDATE=&SORTORDER=1

Rolex Red Submariner 1680

The early Rolex submariners consist of the early 6500, 6504, 6536, 6538, 5508 and 5510 followed by the 5512 an 5513. The Rolex 1680 submariner was the first subs that come with the date. It was not the first Rolex Sports watch to carry a date, this honour arguably goes to the Rolex GMT Master, Model Ref 6542

There are 2 versions of the 1680: mark 1 using cal 1556 and mark 2 using 1570 and the Ref 1680 weres produced from 1969-1978- 80. The 1680 series has a special dial using red SUBMARINER.

Within this 12 year period the Red Submariner is widely believed to be produced for the first 6 years, 1966-73. Many original Red Submariners have been serviced and as a result, many would have had their original red dials replaced with the standard white dials during the years making it quite rare to find the Red submariner.

As for the depth there are two versions one with the feet first while the other in meters depending on the region, I guess.The 1680 was succeed by the Ref 16680 using cal 3035, Ref 16610 using cal 3135.

http://www.chrono24.com/web/us/suchen/u/index.htm?myfunction=&myadcode=&do_suche=1&statbrand=0&debug=&BRAND_ID=0&MODEL=rolex+red+submariner&SEARCH_PRICECURRENCY=USD&SEARCH_PMIN=0&SEARCH_PMAX=0&SUCH_MATERIAL_ID=0&LOCCOUNTRY_ID=&SEARCH_REGION_ID=&ENTERDATE=&SORTORDER=1

Vintage watch hobby

The vintage watch collection hobby has been on a quiet side as the "fever" has not been as strong as during the 1980s-90s...those good old days!

However, there is a strong trend towards Vintage Sports watch collection (GMT, Submariner, Explorer, Daytona). The prices of these sports models have escalated so much over the years!

Recently, with the encouragement of my new colleague Dominik, I have began to take out my old collection and start to play with my watchs again! Thanks Dominik!

The hifi audiophiles are too political for my liking... Enjoy!

Atmos Clock JLC

This is a vintage JLC atmos clock from the 1960s. This is one of the classic which automatic wind as a result of the change in room temperature. No winding require!

The clock moves in very elegant manner slowly and in very gentleman manner.

I have always wanted one but the prices are so expensive and often they are not in working condition!

I have manage to find one at the flea street in Hong Kong! It is in good working condition and I remembered bringing it home and the sky was raining! Even though I was wet, I was feeling very happy : )

For details:
The History Of The Atmos Clock

"Living On Air"
The History of the Legendary Atmos Clock:
In the late 1920s Jean-Leon Reutter, a young Paris engineer, experimented with a clock that needed no direct mechanical or electrical intervention to keep it wound, in short a clock powered only by Perpetual Motion.
For centuries, many scientist including Leonardo Da Vinci had experimented with the idea of Perpetual Motion - however, only J.L. Reutter eventually succeeded at incorporating that novel idea into an actual working clock.
Through out his life, J.L. Reutter's dream of a Perpetual Motion timepiece led him to produce a clock with a timekeeping mechanism designed specifically to consume the smallest possible amount of power to keep the clock running satisfactorily.

After studying the design of the 400-Day Anniversary Clock -which was very popular during that era - Reutter made significant changes to that concept, to meet the small input power requirement he was looking for in his new clock design.
Reutters modifications of the 400-Day Clock included changes to the escapement leverage to reduce the arc of the escapement as well as adding jewels to the bearings of the movement. His new clock ran safely and most importantly very reliably.
His new clock design included a special device that would power his clock independently, using a substance that would react to the most sensitive changes in temperature and atmospheric conditions. That substance was mercury. He also designed a special glass tube similar to that of a thermometer for the mercury and encased it all inside a metal cylinder, which is now known as the Bellows.
The result of Reutters achievement was an ingenious new clock unlike any other, past or present. A timepiece that could run independently and continuously and so incredibly sensitive, that it could be rewound by the slightest fluctuations in the atmosphere, or by the slightest changes in temperature, hence the name: "Atmos Clock".
Later, due to dangers in handling and instability, the mercury in the Bellows that powered the Atmos Clock was changed to a special more stable saturated gas, known scientifically as 'Ethyl Chloride'. The technological concept of the Gas filled Atmos Bellows is a remarkable one: Inside a sealed capsule, a mixture of gas and liquid expands as the temperature rises and contracts as it falls, moving the capsule back and forth like a tiny unseen accordion. This motion is used to constantly wind the mainspring thus enabling the clock to run and keep perfect time. A small temperature variation of just one degree is sufficient for over two day's operation. Such variation occurs naturally in normal room temperature and thus without any additional sources of energy, the Atmos clock will continue to run if left untouched, "forever". Hence the term: "Living On Air".
The Marriage of Atmos and Jaeger-LeCoultre
When Reutters Atmos was in its initial production in the early thirties, the lack of enthusiasm from manufactures in general during that time made production of the Atmos clock difficult. Reutter Atmos was in production, but only in small numbers.
Legend has it, while Reutter struggled with production of his Atmos Clock, the manager of a famous Swiss watch making company LeCoultre (a company world famous for fine Swiss watches located in the French Valley of Switzerland) was strolling down a street in Paris one day and noticed one of Reutters Atmos Clocks sitting in a shop window for sale. The man was so fascinated with Reutters Atmos; he walked in and purchased it from the shop merchant.
Later, after a chance encounter between LeCoultre and Reutter he (Reutter) agreed to sell the license and eventually his Atmos Clock patent to the LeCoultre Watch Company.
At the time of LeCoultres acquisition of the Atmos patent, LeCoultre was in fierce competition with another Watch Company, Ed Jaeger of Paris. Eventually LeCoultre merged with Jaeger to form the famous watch making company: Jaeger-LeCoultre.
With the combined knowledge and expertise of their newly joined Company, Jaeger & LeCoultre poured considerable investment collective research and development into Reutter's Atmos Clock. Just a few years later, major production of the newly revamped Atmos Clock was launched under the Jaeger-LeCoultre name exclusively.
The LeCoultre Atmos Clock soon became a very fashionable, prestigious gift in Switzerland and eventually Worldwide.
As the success of both Jaeger-LeCoultre and the Atmos clock continued to grow, the company prospered and in 1979, the 500,000th Atmos Clock left the Factory in Switzerland with much celebrated fan-fair, a half a century after the first Atmos Clock patent was filed.

http://www.atmosclocks.com/history.html