Rolex Ref 168000 Transitional Submariner...

Err...here are more pictures taken on this RARE Ref 168000 Transitional Submariner...

Some of these pictures yield...a surprising discovery especially on its...stunningly dial that has developed the peculiar aging effects...which can ONLY be found distinctively on these type of Genuine Rolex WG surround Tritium Glossy Dial...

Orchi would like to believe that...each of this typical Glossy Dial has its own aging characteristics...which would have its own very unique pattern identity...n NEVER be the same with another pieces of Glossy Dial that would have the different aging effects.

It is also an additional 110% assurance of authenticity n originality of such Rolex's origin...

Rolex Ref 168000 Submariner Transitional model...RARE Find!!!

Err...of late Orchi has been rather busy with few purchases of more genuine Rolex vintage sports watches...parts & accessories...which are highly collectible...both in the Vintage Rolex Forum as well as from eBay...

Regret not having enough time to update this blog with the relevant entries...which amongst others are...

This Rolex Ref 168000 Transitional Submariner, R Series,
a very RARE find indeed in superb overall conditions...
having had a full service history in RSC NYC...
It arrived after having it sent to RSC NYC for complete servicing...without any RE-Polishing works done to it this time...

THIS ROLEX REF 168000 "R" Series IS BELIEVED TO BE PRODUCED BY ROLEX...FOR A VERY BRIEF PRODUCTION OF 7 TO 9 MONTHS...DURING ITS TRANSITIONAL PERIOD...MAKING IT ONE OF THE RAREST ROLEX SPORT MODELS...TODATE.

The only difference in the watch characteristics as compared with its predecessor Ref 16800 Submariner...n latter Ref 16610 Submariner...would be attributed to Rolex having produced the Ref 168000 Submariner's case believed to be from between...the late 9 million Series to "R" Series...in Stainless Steel Grade 904 construction instead of Grade 316 Steel for its predecessor Submariner...

WG surround Tritium Markers/Hands on Glossy Dial,
Cal.3035 Chronometer movement(similar to Ref 16800)
Quick-Set Date,
Sapphire crystal
Bracelet # 93150, EndLinks # 593

More details n pictures to follow in the next entries...

Rolex Ref 6542 GMT Master...(In Transition 2)

Err buddies...after ONE year or so...n months of tiring searches...which was seemingly endless...Orchi almost gave up hopes.

At some point later on...Orchi had thought it would be near impossible that Orchi would ever find the complete n original bezel assembly for a Rolex Ref 6542...until Orchi stumbled upon the Vintage Rolex Forum(VRF)...from a tip off by...Buddy Mike at TRF...in here.

Subsequently Orchi posted an Ad in VRF...to look for the complete original bezel assembly for this Rolex Ref 6542...A new hope was growing.

Shortly after that...Orchi received a surprising email from Mr. John Buckley a.k.a Tuscoanyrose...responding to Orchi's Ad in VRF...claiming that HE has got exactly the right Original Rolex Service Replacement parts which Orchi has been looking for...all the long months.

Orchi was in shock...n nearly fell off the coconut tree...after having read the offer price from Mr. John Buckley a.k.a Tuscanyrose...or as HE is widely known in VRF simply by the initial JB...He was then a total stranger to Orchi.

After a couple of email exchanges in betweens...Orchi had fired no less than 1 DOZEN questions to JB...which included...questioning his credentials n the authenticity of the items which he had offered to sell.

Immediately after...Orchi also fired no less than 2 threads in VRF...n TRF asking of the same.

Subsequently...from all the dozens of right n assuring feedbacks of many kind folks in VRF...as well as in TRF who came to Orchi's assistance at the time of urgent need...n there after a couple more exchanges of emails with JB...Orchi made the calculated decisions to deal with JB who was still very much a stranger to Orchi...at that point in time...for the purchase of the relevant items.

Quite swiftly when JB received the TT payment in full from Orchi in Malaysia...JB shipped out the items with full insurance cover...without any delays whatsoever...by FEDEX.

At ALL times...Mr. John Buckley has been very attentive to Orchi's dozens of concerns n questions...He was very honest in all his opinions...He was very willing to share his knowledge...He has also been very considerate of Orchi's worries...n most importantly he was very patient n accommodating to Orchi's constant ranting...

Well folks...these here are the pictures of the assembled Rolex Ref 6542 GMT Master...the images should tell the thousand words...
n a thousand of thanks to TRF...n YOU Buddy Mike!...

...n to Mr. John Buckley a.k.a Tuscanyrose...of NYC...the results are stunning n well rewarding.

Rolex Ref 6542 GMT Master...(In Transition)

Err...from HERE...Over the course of past few months...a fortnight or so ago...Orchi took a detour...to an unfamiliar territory for an adventurous journey...in search of the new resources...to find the complete n original bezel assembly...which was missing from this vintage Rolex watch...for well over ONE year since.

Rolex Ref 6542 GMT Master...1st Generation Non Crown Guard.
Made IV quarter production in 1956
Cal. 1030 signed chronometer movement
Gilt Dial "Oyster-Perpetual Officially Certified Chronometer"
marked "SWISS"
Roulette Dates...(Odd/Even dates in Black & Red).

To be continued...Right here in Part 2.

Rolex Ref 16800 Transitional Submariner...(Back in Transition)

Err...from HERE...the next story involved Orchi having had to deal with lots of regular headaches which had Orchi almost depleted the stocks of Aspirins...in the nearby neighbourhood where Orchi lives...

It began when this Submariner...had apparently lost its navigational bearings...n probably during its highly classified mission...n undisclosed undersea voyage in the unknown n treacherous waters around to the Malaysian shores...it made it to shore next to the beach where Orchi lives...amidst densed plantation of coconut trees.

On one breezy morning...the Old coconut sap tapper...stumbled upon it...n Orchi was immediately summoned to be with him...so he could educate Orchi on his lucky discovery.

As it turns out...the Old coconut sap tapper...refers to it as one of the so called Transitional Submariners Ref 16800 which was Introduced by Rolex from around Circa 1979 to 1988...or so.

He went further to educate Orchi that...from 1985 to 1989...Rolex introduced the Gloss Tritium dial with WG surround markers for Ref 16800...which was before another Transitional Ref 168000 was introduced for only 9 months...until 1989 or so...then he said..."the rest is history...of the Transitional Rolex Submariners"

Immediately after that...he said Rolex released the prior model of Ref 16610 Submariner in 1989 or so...with Cal. 3135 movement...still having the Gloss Tritium dial n WG surround markers...until late 1999 or something like that...prior to the change to Luminova Dial on ALL Rolex models produced from the year 2000 onwards...

This Ref 16800 Transitional Submariner...has:-

Serial Prefix 7,42x,xxx
Circa 1982,
Cal. 3035 movement Automatic,
with Quickset Date
Depth rating 1000ft=300m
Uni-directional turning bezel
Sapphire Crystal
Oyster Case with Triple lock crown n crown guards.

But having all that said thus far...the story hasn't ended there as yet...n instead...it would just be the beginning only...for another story still to be told.

The Old coconut sap tapper would then educate Orchi that...the Original correct dial for this watch should be Matte dial without the WG surround Tritium hour markers...instead.

He would also insist that...the prior commander of this Submariner must have gone mad...n had ordered the Original Matte Dial...to be changed by RSC(Royal Submarine Corp?) to replace the Dial...which would come with the later version of Gloss dial n hands with WG surround markers...instead also.

"So how now...???" Orchi has asked the Old coconut sap tapper...

n then he whispered softly.."Mmmm...that is ALL you would learn from me this time Orchi...!"

"The rest is up to you...from now..."

Err buddies...ever since then...Orchi has been getting this constant headaches...to get this once Transitional Submariner...in transition again...back to its Original form hopefully...

n FINALLY here are the results of Orchi's adventurous journey...



BEFORE:
Arrival of the Matte Dial:
Examination of the Matte Dial Prints:
ASSEMBLY with Tender Loving Care:
Putting the 168000 thru the Test Bench:
Here are the Final Reward & Results: