"Superlative Chronometer" missing from dial

[ian mo]

Hello all,

I've just joined the forum as I am looking to buy my first Rolex. I don't want to repeat what I've put in my first post in the New Members section, so for anyone interested here is the link to my post:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=394522


I've come across one watch that fits my brief quite well. It seems in decent condition although I haven't seen it in person yet.

It's purportedly an early nineties Oyster Perpetual 67513 model (no Date) with original paperwork.

One thing though - the "Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified" markings usually found on the dial are absent. I've noticed this on a couple of other watches as well, and was just wondering whether this suggested any cause for concern.

Many thanks,


Ian

[ian mo]

Another thing I've noticed about this particular ad is that it says the watch is 34mm but my research suggests this model is 31mm.

Any comments would be appreciated.

[U5512]

Quite a few older Rolex watches, men's and ladies, are not chronometer certified so you won't see the verbiage on the dial.

[landroverking]

Not all are.

[ian mo]

Thanks both.

Landroverking, you're referring to the size issue I presume.

U5512 - interesting. So if it doesn't have the wording you think that individual watch wasnt chronometer certified? Because other examples of the model do have the words on the dial. You would have thought it was standard for every watch by the 90s.

Thanks again.

[Old Expat Beast]

The Submariner in the 90s didn't have it, nor the Air King, for example. For some years into the 2000s in fact.

[ian mo]

Ok. Is it significant do you think? In respect of reliability for keeping time and/or desirability/value?

[Old Expat Beast]

Not at all. My non-COSC Rolexes keep as good or better time than the COSC ones. Its just that their movements werent sent for testing. It's kind of a sales gimmick these days anyway.

[ian mo]

Ah. Right on. Cheers

[alanc]

If you dig deep here, you will find threads which discuss (if I remember correctly) that the whole chronometer business was started by the Swiss to give them a marketing advantage over (for example) Seiko, which has long made mechanical movements with astonishing accuracy. I don't want to kick up that whole thing; my point is, I wouldn't be concerned that a Rolex not so labeled will not keep excellent time.

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Not at all. My non-COSC Rolexes keep as good or better time than the COSC ones. Its just that their movements werent sent for testing. It's kind of a sales gimmick these days anyway.

Ditto, Adam and others here explained the difference to me a while back.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by ian mo

Ok. Is it significant do you think? In respect of reliability for keeping time and/or desirability/value?

Being a Chronometer or not has absolutely nothing to do with reliability or keeping time. The standards to achieve this certification, -4/+6, is a 10 second swing over the temperature/humidity/position test. Almost any Rolex watch made in the past couple of decades can achieve this.


As to desirability/value, the font, if it is correct, has little affect; the biggest affect is that a 67513 is mid-size (31mm) and there isn't much demand in the collector market which drives market prices for these.

[997.2]

My Rolex Submariner from 2004 just says Submariner 1000ft/300m, no COSC certification, some including me like the cleaner dial without the chronometer certification

[ian mo]

Originally Posted by Tools

Being a Chronometer or not has absolutely nothing to do with reliability or keeping time. The standards to achieve this certification, -4/+6, is a 10 second swing over the temperature/humidity/position test. Almost any Rolex watch made in the past couple of decades can achieve this.


As to desirability/value, the font, if it is correct, has little affect; the biggest affect is that a 67513 is mid-size (31mm) and there isn't much demand in the collector market which drives market prices for these.

This one is advertised as 34mm and this is the other thing that I was querying.

Landrover above seems to be suggest that the 67513 could indeed come in different sizes.

Thanks guys.