OMG I paid 7.5k over list price~

[BigHat]

I'd love to get a 249. One of my favorites.

Can anyone share any history on the dial? I know it's in honor of the same dial in 1936. Just wondered what they were thinking with the hlaf arabic / half roman numeral.

[mfer]

Originally Posted by BigHat

I'd love to get a 249. One of my favorites.

Can anyone share any history on the dial? I know it's in honor of the same dial in 1936. Just wondered what they were thinking with the hlaf arabic / half roman numeral.

Well, that information seems hard to come by. Here is a post from another forum. Below I have stripped out Asimut's conclusion:

"Many conflicting information regarding the California dial but one fact is in consensus : Rolex was the first to come out with this dial, mostly to be found on the Bubblebacks. Rolex even filed a patent for this design at a later stage (in 1941).

The story I personally believe in is that these Rolex Bubblebacks became popular again in the 1980's and it was a California based dial restoring company that specialized in this (the Kirk Rich company) hence the name – California dial. Other versions claim that Rolex created this dial for it's various distributors and that it became a fashion icon of high demand in California in the 30's-40's – hence the name.

As for the Panerai connection, the story is not a 100% clear, but we know that Panerai was initially supplied by Rolex with case and movement (3646 case and Rolex cal. 618 movement). It is likely that the watches were delivered with the 'Cali' dial (a blank non branded dial). Panerai, being a company that actually specialized in luminescence and naval equipment produced the famous 3-6-9-12 sandwich dials (using radium filled glass tubes) and fitted them in replacement of the original Cali dials. After the 1943 armistice in Italy it is known that Rolex were supplying both sides . The 3646 watches delivered to the German forces were known as 'Kampfschwimmers' and many of them had California dials…."

Full Discussion by Asimut

[mfer]

Originally Posted by BigHat

I'd love to get a 249. One of my favorites.

Can anyone share any history on the dial? I know it's in honor of the same dial in 1936. Just wondered what they were thinking with the hlaf arabic / half roman numeral.

My first one doesn't really answer why the 1/2 arabic/roman, but I look at it and it is just THE most balanced watch face ever. Everything is opposite and diagonal from each other giving balance.

The I balances with the X
The II balances with the XI
The 4 and 7 have straight edges
The 5 and 8 have curved edges
The 3 & 6 -'s cut the watch in half
The triangle cuts the other - in half

PERFECT.

[sphereman]

man.. 249 is indeed a nice watch but i know you can't justify wearing a mere $6000 watch at $14000. lol

sell that baby and get yourself another Rolex :)
I know I did...

[jimand7]

cool watch....love it!