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Old 4 August 2024, 12:38 PM   #1
Marcjvr
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Any GMT BlueBerry owners here ?

Came across this awesome pic of a Blue GMT and really enjoyed reading about this awesome reference

Any members on here the lucky owner of one of these? Would love to see some member pics






“The ‘Blueberry’ GMT-Master is essentially just a regular reference 1675 from the 1970s that was originally fitted with an all-blue bezel insert. Unlike the other colors of bezel inserts that have been available for the Rolex GMT-Master line of watches, the all-blue insert of the “Blueberry” GMT is not something that Rolex ever officially offered as an option at any of their regular authorized dealers.

Instead, the entirely blue, GMT bezel insert was manufactured in small numbers (primarily for the Eastern market) during the 1970s, and reserved exclusively for special orders by select retailers and military groups – examples can be found with the UAE Air Force emblem on the dial. Exact production numbers are unknown; however since the all-blue, GMT bezel insert was never officially offered to the general public, even service replacement inserts would have existed in significantly smaller numbers than the rest of the available colors.”

From: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-bl...blueberry.html
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Old 4 August 2024, 02:39 PM   #2
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Perezscope had some good info on these.
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Old 4 August 2024, 05:21 PM   #3
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Interesting that they only started appearing +20 years after they were released.
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Old 4 August 2024, 06:35 PM   #4
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One here!
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Old 4 August 2024, 08:11 PM   #5
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Interesting that they only started appearing +20 years after they were released.
Bob's seem confident in the authenticity... Will we ever really know? Not sure I have seen an official statement from Rolex on them or have I missed it?
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Old 4 August 2024, 08:47 PM   #6
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Here we go …
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Old 4 August 2024, 09:45 PM   #7
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I really like this reference. Thanks for sharing!


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Old 4 August 2024, 10:04 PM   #8
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This thread rumbled on for over 2 1/2 years over a VRF if anyone would like some factually grounded analysis.

https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/vint...s-t257145.html
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Old 4 August 2024, 10:41 PM   #9
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Bob's seem confident in the authenticity... Will we ever really know? Not sure I have seen an official statement from Rolex on them or have I missed it?
There is a letter from Rolex that states they never made them but it was a bit… questionable itself.

Haven’t seen much debate about it since 2019.
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Old 4 August 2024, 10:54 PM   #10
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One here!
Man that is a great looking watch. Thanks for sharing
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Old 4 August 2024, 10:56 PM   #11
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I'm confused lol
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Old 4 August 2024, 10:59 PM   #12
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Would love to see one in a Rolex catalogue/brochure/pamphlet/advertisement.
I’ll wait.
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Old 4 August 2024, 11:00 PM   #13
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Came across this awesome pic of a Blue GMT and really enjoyed reading about this awesome reference

Any members on here the lucky owner of one of these? Would love to see some member pics






“The ‘Blueberry’ GMT-Master is essentially just a regular reference 1675 from the 1970s that was originally fitted with an all-blue bezel insert. Unlike the other colors of bezel inserts that have been available for the Rolex GMT-Master line of watches, the all-blue insert of the “Blueberry” GMT is not something that Rolex ever officially offered as an option at any of their regular authorized dealers.

Instead, the entirely blue, GMT bezel insert was manufactured in small numbers (primarily for the Eastern market) during the 1970s, and reserved exclusively for special orders by select retailers and military groups – examples can be found with the UAE Air Force emblem on the dial. Exact production numbers are unknown; however since the all-blue, GMT bezel insert was never officially offered to the general public, even service replacement inserts would have existed in significantly smaller numbers than the rest of the available colors.”

From: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-bl...blueberry.html
Which reference are you referring to? If you are referring to the radial-dial GMT 1675, collectors that believe the blueberry is genuine, and it could very well be, love placing all the rare GMT parts on cobbled together radial dial GMTs - to include the those original, repainted, red, GMT 24-hour hands.
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Old 4 August 2024, 11:44 PM   #14
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There is a banger blueberry on HQ Milton for only $59,550. What could go wrong
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Old 4 August 2024, 11:54 PM   #15
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Didn’t realize there was so much controversy around whether these are a real thing or not

Regardless though they look fantastic!!!
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Old 4 August 2024, 11:57 PM   #16
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If you like it, buy it, but be realistic about the originality of these inserts. At this point, if they were installed originally we would know it. Some people have a lot of money invested in them, and it's in their best interest to continue to obfuscate things and make unsupported claims about their originality. Personally, I'm extremely skeptical, but at the same time I don't think their value is going to collapse. They just have too much momentum with powerful people in the industry.
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Old 5 August 2024, 12:17 AM   #17
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl7aV2KyohY
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Old 5 August 2024, 12:29 AM   #18
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Here we go …

Yep - Rolex never made those inserts, it was a subcontractor.

And I think that they are still being churned out using the same anodizing mask.


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Old 5 August 2024, 12:44 AM   #19
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Yep - Rolex never made those inserts, it was a subcontractor.

And I think that they are still being churned out using the same anodizing mask.


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Old 5 August 2024, 02:41 AM   #20
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Subcontractor in that they came from the same factory, using the same insert stock, font masks, etc. as a say a blue/red? In which case... hmmm... difficult one. Difference between these inserts and say a Crown Art Customs could be considered significant in terms of authenticity. They're effectively Rolex inserts... just never ordered by Rolex?
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Old 5 August 2024, 03:45 AM   #21
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Subcontractor in that they came from the same factory, using the same insert stock, font masks, etc. as a say a blue/red?

Eh...no. As in aftermarket not connected to Rolex probably made by crown art customs Dad.
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Old 5 August 2024, 06:41 AM   #22
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One more
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Old 5 August 2024, 06:45 AM   #23
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The facts: they were never officially produced or released or placed on watches by Rolex. Oddly they never appear on ratty old watches either.
YMMV
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Old 5 August 2024, 08:24 AM   #24
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Looks beautiful but insert font is questionable on this one IMO
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Old 5 August 2024, 10:07 AM   #25
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The insert was purchased in the 90s along with an all red insert that was switched out to a traditional insert and 24 hr hand.

Was waiting for the right watch to utilize these components. Fortunately this 70s 1675 already came with an all red hand.

Actually the fuschia insert it came with looks better IMHO.
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Old 5 August 2024, 08:14 PM   #26
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Looks beautiful but insert font is questionable on this one IMO
Agree. Font is the same as a known rep.
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Old 5 August 2024, 11:00 PM   #27
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Originally Posted by Marcjvr View Post
Came across this awesome pic of a Blue GMT and really enjoyed reading about this awesome reference

Any members on here the lucky owner of one of these? Would love to see some member pics
Stepped into a hornet's nest on this one.

Zero conclusive proof they're legit. I believe there was ONE Rolex Service Center that took one in for a service estimate and noted the all-blue bezel on the paperwork. And RSCs are known to make mistakes and miss aftermarket parts at times, of course.
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Old 6 August 2024, 10:25 AM   #28
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Will try to find a pic (it's on my blackberry lol). It is a of batch purchased Dubai many years ago.

The bezels were confirmed to be authentic by 2 well know US authorities after purchase.
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Old 6 August 2024, 11:54 AM   #29
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Looks beautiful but insert font is questionable on this one IMO
That red hand has clearly been repainted.
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Old 6 August 2024, 12:57 PM   #30
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Love when this pops up. I just don't believe they are real. My money would be on the insert manufacture made them but they were not factory sold by rolex. Who knows what's true. I also agree with what was said above, if they were real we would know by now. I could be wrong though, only Rolex knows. Imagine if Rolex or Tudor does a modern blueberry...
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