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speedolex · 17 March 2016, 01:01 AM

Pathetic though it may sound, I was once big into Rolex collecting a decade and-a-half ago, the wife insisted we have 3 more kids, and I've been a busy father for quite awhile. First one is off to college and the others are in school so I finally have a chance to breathe and pick back up on a few hobbies I once loved. Such is horology I guess.

I went through some old boxes I'd never opened after our move back to the NYC area the other day while looking for a Rolex clasp and came across this 1957 14K Datejust which I completely forgot I had (does this happen to anyone else?) which makes me feel really stupid but it's what it is. I bought it off of a reputable seller found in the TZ forums back in the day, don't remember who right now. Sunken pie-pan dial, arrowhead markers, 6605 classic.

I did a little Google searching yesterday and it appears it has a rare dial with the message "Superlative Chronometer By Official Test" which years ago some thought was either the very first production run or perhaps a prototype. A watch similar to this with a black dial and no bracelet(s) sold for a hefty sum at auction.

It has 2 bracelets, one marked 750 which is on the watch and the other marked 8385 which came with the watch originally and is a 14K President I had restored by Classic Watch Repair in Hong Kong years ago. I put up photos of each.

If anyone can help me understand what I've got here I'd appreciate it. Promise, I won't forget this time.

speedolex · 17 March 2016, 01:04 AM

These are the photos of the second bracelet, restored by Classic Watch Repair in Hong Kong years ago, I never put it back on the watch or wore it. I have several extra links which were removed to fit my smallish wrists.

speedolex · 17 March 2016, 01:05 AM

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

Brianmac 883 · 17 March 2016, 02:41 AM

Don't know a thing about it, but that is one beautiful watch! I'd never forget about it because I don't think I could take it off! Enjoy.

speedolex · 17 March 2016, 03:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianmac 883

Don't know a thing about it, but that is one beautiful watch! I'd never forget about it because I don't think I could take it off! Enjoy.

Thanks for the kind words!

motoikkyu · 17 March 2016, 02:42 AM

No disrespect, could the dial have been repainted? The print resembles some of my older repaints...

speedolex · 17 March 2016, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by motoikkyu

No disrespect, could the dial have been repainted? The print resembles some of my older repaints...

No, it's original. I've found at least two others with the same printing, one was of a Day/Date and was determined to be a prototype and sold for huge money at auction.

These were referred to in this 4 year old thread here, the OP for that thread hasn't been online since:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=236872

Here's the one that was auctioned:

http://www.uhren-muser.de/en/pdfs/US/41663.pdf

crowncollection · 17 March 2016, 05:30 AM

Beautiful piece

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Floorguy · 17 March 2016, 05:54 AM

That is BEAUTIFUL!! I'm drooling

that is my birth year watch!! Congrats

speedolex · 17 March 2016, 06:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crowncollection

Beautiful piece

Thank you for the kind words!

Kevin 21 · 17 March 2016, 07:54 AM

Very Fine piece. Hope it's worth at least a year of college tuition.

speedolex · 17 March 2016, 08:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kevin 21

Very Fine piece. Hope it's worth at least a year of college tuition.

That would be fantastic but truth be told I really want a vintage Daytona (that thread is killing me).

adam78 · 17 March 2016, 08:32 AM

Extremely nice and rare. Also by virtue of being nonluminous.

Does it have a roulette date wheel?

speedolex · 18 March 2016, 01:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr.Smellody

Beautiful watch. Very, very interesting. Amazing that I still see something new around here every week.

True that. The variances in these watches makes each week a fun new discovery, great photos by everyone really tells the story.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Floorguy

That is BEAUTIFUL!! I'm drooling

that is my birth year watch!! Congrats

Thanks! I can't believe I forgot I owned it for almost a decade, I still feel pretty stupid.

Quote:

Originally Posted by adam78

Extremely nice and rare. Also by virtue of being nonluminous.

Does it have a roulette date wheel?

No roulette wheel, on the nonluminous front I like the fact that the dial is clean, since most (all?) of the 6605's I've seen from the '57-'59 era with the arrowhead markers and dauphine hands have roulette's and have luminous markings and lack the "By Official Test" dial marking it may indicate that this was a pre-production prototype. Who knows?

Dr.Smellody · 17 March 2016, 08:29 AM

Beautiful watch. Very, very interesting. Amazing that I still see something new around here every week.

17 March 2016, 01:01 AM	#1
speedolex Banned Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC Posts: 1,231	1957 14K Datejust With Rare Dial - Forgot I Had It (LOL) - Clearly Clueless - Help Pathetic though it may sound, I was once big into Rolex collecting a decade and-a-half ago, the wife insisted we have 3 more kids, and I've been a busy father for quite awhile. First one is off to college and the others are in school so I finally have a chance to breathe and pick back up on a few hobbies I once loved. Such is horology I guess. I went through some old boxes I'd never opened after our move back to the NYC area the other day while looking for a Rolex clasp and came across this 1957 14K Datejust which I completely forgot I had (does this happen to anyone else?) which makes me feel really stupid but it's what it is. I bought it off of a reputable seller found in the TZ forums back in the day, don't remember who right now. Sunken pie-pan dial, arrowhead markers, 6605 classic. I did a little Google searching yesterday and it appears it has a rare dial with the message "Superlative Chronometer By Official Test" which years ago some thought was either the very first production run or perhaps a prototype. A watch similar to this with a black dial and no bracelet(s) sold for a hefty sum at auction. It has 2 bracelets, one marked 750 which is on the watch and the other marked 8385 which came with the watch originally and is a 14K President I had restored by Classic Watch Repair in Hong Kong years ago. I put up photos of each. If anyone can help me understand what I've got here I'd appreciate it. Promise, I won't forget this time.

17 March 2016, 02:42 AM	#6
motoikkyu 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: PRJ Posts: 1,732	No disrespect, could the dial have been repainted? The print resembles some of my older repaints... __________________ "Do you like Breitling?" "I don't know, really, I've never been Breitled"

17 March 2016, 05:30 AM	#8
crowncollection "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: David Location: australia Posts: 20,216	Beautiful piece Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ watches many

17 March 2016, 05:54 AM	#9
Floorguy 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Rob Location: Parrish fl. Watch: Tt datejust 16233 Posts: 20,952	That is BEAUTIFUL!! I'm drooling that is my birth year watch!! Congrats __________________ Rolex Omega Tag Heuer

17 March 2016, 08:32 AM	#13
adam78 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Chicago Posts: 1,830	Extremely nice and rare. Also by virtue of being nonluminous. Does it have a roulette date wheel? __________________ Cheers, Adam

17 March 2016, 01:04 AM	#2
speedolex Banned Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC Posts: 1,231	These are the photos of the second bracelet, restored by Classic Watch Repair in Hong Kong years ago, I never put it back on the watch or wore it. I have several extra links which were removed to fit my smallish wrists.

17 March 2016, 01:05 AM	#3
speedolex Banned Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: NYC Posts: 1,231	Let me know what you think. Thanks!

17 March 2016, 02:41 AM	#4
Brianmac 883 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: North Carolina Posts: 71	Don't know a thing about it, but that is one beautiful watch! I'd never forget about it because I don't think I could take it off! Enjoy.

17 March 2016, 07:54 AM	#11
Kevin 21 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Bay Area Posts: 64	Very Fine piece. Hope it's worth at least a year of college tuition.

17 March 2016, 08:29 AM	#15
Dr.Smellody "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 5,414	Beautiful watch. Very, very interesting. Amazing that I still see something new around here every week.

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