Any history behind this 2940 with plane?

[Brny11]

So I came across this watch in person today.

A website says it is a custom aftermarket dial. So either that is true and more than one was created, or I saw this exact watch in person today (if it is the only).

Hoping the website is wrong and there is some history here tied back to Rolex. Any knowledge would be great!

[330ci]

Nope there’s plenty for sale on eBay right now tt6204vintage is the seller

[maxidialsub]

I have seen these styles a lot over the years. I do not believe they are aftermarket. I’m pretty sure I saw one of these in Dowlings book The Best of Time. I’ll try and look one up when I get home.


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[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Nope there’s plenty for sale on eBay right now tt6204vintage is the seller

Plenty of 2940s WITH the airplane on the dial? All I could find were standard 2940s

[Jackie Daytona]

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...=636386&page=2

Post #31 has one exactly like this. I don’t believe it’s aftermarket, I just really wonder what company it was, or what it was commemorating.

Mentioned again in post 35.

[Brny11]

Originally Posted by maxidialsub

I have seen these styles a lot over the years. I do not believe they are aftermarket. I’m pretty sure I saw one of these in Dowlings book The Best of Time. I’ll try and look one up when I get home.


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That would be great, thanks!!

[Brny11]

Originally Posted by Dontknow

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...=636386&page=2

Post #31 has one exactly like this. I don’t believe it’s aftermarket, I just really wonder what company it was, or what it was commemorating.

Mentioned again in post 35.

Thanks!! That thread is great!

[330ci]

https://www.ebay.com/sch/tt6204vinta...p2047675.l2562

this guy sells refinished ones, no clue if they ever made real ones or not.

[Rocketman39]

Any American that grew up in the 50's would recognize the "Song Bird" from Shy King !

[R.W.T.]

I've always wondered. The one pictured looks correct. The fonts and crown and it has some patina so it was well done. There were some dials out with the same configuration in Rose gold and mirror track but without the plane. Like someone had a run made. They ended up in a LOT of watches in the 80's. The one's being made now say SWISS not SWISS MADE and they are obviously AM. The crown is also wrong on them.

I'd love to know the truth about these dials. I seem to remember one in the Ravenborg collection possibly.

Actually there were SIX different motifs there. Golf, A ship, A biplane, the plane in the OP's post, A train, and a racecar.

It states:

"The following six watches have ben included as being of interest to collectors but it should be noted that these painted dials are n ot of Rolex Manufacture. These watches all have refinished dials in the style of dials produced by Rolex in the 50's. The original painted dials were produced in very small numbers and were fitted to full size watches but never to "Bubble Backs", which ewere by this time, out of production."

So according to Christie's at that time...the watch above has a refinished dial.

[GGGMT]

Depicted plane looks newer then the watch


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[77T]

Maybe a Beechcraft Queen, Piper Apache or Cessna 310 with wing tanks. Some people say it’s from the ‘80’s, but you can find those planes in the vintage aircraft listings from the 50’s.

A more recent thread on art dials:
https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=741521

Maybe a retirement gift watch from one of the big 3 in GA?


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[offrdmania]

These dials are aftermarket. They are from the Bubbleback craze of the 1980s. The plane is too new for the dial to be original. The aircraft is of late 70s to early 80s style.

We have discussed them a few times over the years. I believe there is also a race car and a ship dial that are aftermarket from the same maker if I remember correctly. Rob and I have discussed this in length.

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

The plane is too new for the dial to be original. The aircraft is of late 70s to early 80s style.

What makes you say that? It’s pretty clearly a Cessna 310, which started production in the early 1950s. There were few major changes in design over its years of production.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

What makes you say that? It’s pretty clearly a Cessna 310, which started production in the early 1950s. There were few major changes in design over its years of production.

Negative on an early one. Just take a look at the windows

Looks more like a late 70s, early 80s model to me.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

What makes you say that? It’s pretty clearly a Cessna 310, which started production in the early 1950s. There were few major changes in design over its years of production.

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Negative on an early one. Just take a look at the windows

Looks more like a late 70s, early 80s model to me.

Our friends Styles and Mania in a nerd-off about Cessnas? I'm in!

[77T]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Negative on an early one. Just take a look at the windows

Looks more like a late 70s, early 80s model to me.

Well look at the rake and shape of the vertical stabilizer...it’s more like the early 310 vs. the later one. You could make a case for many different printing pad designs over the years.




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[offrdmania]

I still dont think they are original, but thats just my opinion

[R.W.T.]

Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley

What makes you say that? It’s pretty clearly a Cessna 310, which started production in the early 1950s. There were few major changes in design over its years of production.

Um because the watch is from the '40s?