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Old 14 August 2010, 12:40 AM   #31
Subexplorer
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Extremely great reading

I've never worn a bubbleback and so I just wonder how they feel in terms of comfort on ones wrist.

I heard or read somewhere that the most comfortable casebacks are those that are flat and wide to evenly distribute the weight of the watch over ones wrist.

Thank you Steve! Iīm glad you enjoyed the reading!

I feel very comfortable wearing this little watches, though itsīs true they sit a big high on the wrist due to its "bubble" case back.
Anyway, they feel (and truly are) very light, as the watch is small, and the riveted bracelet or leather band is very souple and light and adds to this comfort.

The only thing which could find rather annoying, is that, for today standards, these watches are very small. And they look so!!
It was the common size of watches in the 30īs and 40īs but not for todays trend.

In my personal experience, I donīt care for very big watches myself, being user of an Explorer (1), Submariner or Gmt most of the time, 36 to 40 mm is my "standard" watch size, and feel happy with them.



Then, the bubbleback is small, and looks small, but it happens with other vintage watches of same period I own (including chronographs, which are very small). If you donīt mind about the looks, then you can feel happy with these watches, which are a real delight.

Thank you again, and receive my best cordial regards, Abel.
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Old 15 August 2010, 04:37 PM   #32
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Thank you Abel for allowing us to see these stunning watches. Enjoy them!

Greg
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Old 16 August 2010, 09:48 AM   #33
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Thank you Greg!! You are very kind! Itīs a pleasure to share these pieces here, and all these kind comments add to the enjoyment of owning these watches.
Very cordially, Abel
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Old 16 August 2010, 10:05 AM   #34
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Wow!!! Great condition and very beautiful!
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Old 17 August 2010, 06:10 AM   #35
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Thank Fred!! Glad you like it and appreciate your comment! Very cordially, Abel
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Old 17 August 2010, 06:13 AM   #36
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Hi Abel. 2 stunning pieces with a great write up. I still llove these pieces and although they will never reach the heights of the 1980's again, I think are remakable pieces. Yes a little smal by todays standards but all original one like your 3131 is still quite rare.

Here are my 2 pieces - 3131 18kt ( alot were made in 14kt) and a two tone 5010 with matching bracelet.



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Old 17 August 2010, 06:20 AM   #37
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Hello Watchguy!! Thank you for your kind comments.

And how nice watches you got there!!
Your 3131 looks very elegant with a leather strap. I always find very elegant combination gold an leather in watches.

Then your 5010 two tone is really stunning! I love these old riveted oyester bracelets, adn the combination of steel and gold is really a beauty!
I love the looks of these little vintage pieces. So charming!!
Thank you again and for sharing your pieces!
very cordially, Abel
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Old 18 August 2010, 06:49 AM   #38
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fabulous post mate! love the watches and the review is perfect. thanks to you!!
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Old 18 August 2010, 06:53 AM   #39
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that wee bb is as close to perfection as you could find , in my eyes ... just pure class
and a classic to boot
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Old 21 August 2010, 01:19 AM   #40
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Thank you for your kind comments friends!
Very cordially, Abel
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Old 14 October 2010, 02:05 PM   #41
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Rolex Bubbleback

I had always felt that the so called “Bubbleback” are the most beautiful cutest little watches among vintage Rolex models.
As you may already know, the nickname of “bubbleback” popularly given to these nice watches, came from their distinctive case backs, which are of a “bombé” (bubble) shape, in order to accommodate the “auto rotor” which much protruded from the primitive automatic movements developed by Rolex.



Thus, the name “bubbleback” was never officially adopted by Rolex, but coined by users and collectors.
The official name when it was launched in 1933 was: “Rolex Oyster Perpetual”, which meant that the then new watch was waterproof (Oyster) and had a revolutionary mechanism self winding (Perpetual).
(By the way, it’s interesting to tell, that our fellow collectors in Italy, call this model “Ovettone” which means “little egg”, as per its most sympathic shape)

The first model introduced in the market by Rolex, was the reference 1858, which had the ref 520 movement inside. From that point on, the bubbleback line received an incredible amount of case variants and specially fantastic dials of the most incredible array of colors and numeral shapes, including the coveted ones which combine roman numerals with Arabic ones.
Another very popular reference of bubbleback, was the 3131 powered by the ref 620 movement.
During the more or less 30 years of bubbleback making, it received many technical as well as cosmetic changes, together with the above mentioned great array of dial configurations, making a real challenge to collect this little precious jewel of watch making.
Ultimately, the bubbleback evolved in a larger model, which led to the development of one of the most successful Rolex models of all, and a classic itself: the Date Just model.

These most collectible watches kept being produced till the early 1960īs, and are among my favorites, though they are very hard to come by in my Country. As a matter of fact, I own only two, and they are among my favorites.

As said, I had always been fascinated by this beautiful model, and I only was able to buy these two examples:
One is a stainless ref 3372 of c. 1946 vintage. This example got the much sought “California Dial” (may be some fellow TRF member with better knowledge than me can explain why this dial is so called!), which is one of the most beautiful in my point of view, of all bubbleback dials (some early Panerai, got a similar dial!), which combines roman numerals above, and Arabic below.



I feel that the dial of my watch is refinished, as it is in a “too good to be true” state, though, as scarce as these watches are in my Country, and getting a very fair price, made me decide to buy it some years ago.



The second “little egg” by Rolex I own, was purchased a few days ago.
I fell in love immediately when I saw it, and couldnīt believe its state of conservation.
At first sight, I thought that the dial was refinished, but after examining it with a potent loupe, I found some signs of little corrosion on the roman numerals, which showed the originality of this beautiful dial.
This is a model 3131, in 18K rose gold, with its original matching “Oyster” riveted bracelet. I find riveted bracelets very charming, in all vintage Rolex models, and though I know by experience they are much less strong than present made models, I feel them most pleasing to sight and so light, comfortable and nice to wear.



Iīm sure this little gold Bubbleback would rather please Bondīs archi enemy, Mr Goldfinger himself!





Of course, the watch looks very little as per today trend to really big watches, but we must consider this was the “en vogue” size at that moment, with its 32 mm dial.
Anyway, ion spite of size, I find it a very charming, elegant watch indeed!
Here in company of my Dadīs c. early 1980īs Datejust, for comparison of sizes.





I hope you like these watches and, as I think that there is no other previous thread posted here at TRF regarding Bubblebacks, I kindly invite other members to show here their own examples, giving its reference number and approximate vintage year if possible.
Thank you for your kind attention, and receive my most cordial regards, Abel.

Beautiful Abel!!! What year is the 3131?
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Old 14 October 2010, 08:30 PM   #42
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Great writeup and pictures of those two beauties. Thank you very much for sharing your passion for these little guys.
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Old 14 October 2010, 11:09 PM   #43
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Jose (Zeuloa) Thank you for your nice comment.
Iīm not very sure about the date of this watch, but I guess around 1947/49 is a correct period for it.

Hi Buz!! Thank you so much for your kind words.
Itīs really a pleasure to own these little marvelous pieces of yesterday, and to share them with all nice friends here at TRF!

Best cordial regards, Abel.
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Old 27 April 2012, 02:44 PM   #44
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Hi Abel,

Very nice.

Good to see my birth year watch looking so good.
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Old 1 May 2012, 09:37 AM   #45
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Icon10 Couldn't agree more

Quote:
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Stunning bubblebacks.......
I couldn't agree more all the bubblebacks in this thread are beauties
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Old 1 May 2012, 04:12 PM   #46
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Nice Bubbleback's gents !

Congrats

HAGO

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Old 2 May 2012, 11:17 AM   #47
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You should do a group shot of your entire collection sometime Abel
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Old 5 May 2012, 06:50 AM   #48
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Hi Abel,

Very nice.

Good to see my birth year watch looking so good.
Hello! Thanks so much for resurrecting this old post of mine! And so glad to know this watch belongs to your birth day. I see we are about same age, as I was born in 1948, though I havenīt found my 1948 Rolex yet!

I wish I would age and look myself so well as this little oldie! I guess Iīm not such a nice vintage!

Thank you again, and have a nice day.
Very cordially, Abel.
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Old 5 May 2012, 06:51 AM   #49
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I couldn't agree more all the bubblebacks in this thread are beauties
Thank you for your kind comments! So glad you like them!
Cordial regards, Abel.
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Old 5 May 2012, 06:55 AM   #50
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Nice Bubbleback's gents !

Congrats

HAGO

Thank you Kingair! Cordial regards, Abel.
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Old 5 May 2012, 06:57 AM   #51
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You should do a group shot of your entire collection sometime Abel
That would be a nice project my friend.

Thing is that though it is not a big one, the complete collection is not at home, for safety reasons you may understand, so to gather it all will be a bit of trouble.

May be some day! Thank you for your kind comment!
Very cordially, Abel.
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Old 5 May 2012, 07:13 AM   #52
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Congrats Abel on two fantastic finds!!!

I just find this one stunning the "TOG" looking bezel and the california dial....
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Old 5 May 2012, 07:38 AM   #53
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rose gold is a stunner ,,, so are the pics too.
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Old 5 May 2012, 09:39 AM   #54
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Abel,
Both are fantastic to see - excellent shape and great pictures. Nobody has mentioned your choice of strap for the stainless BB, but I think that its the perfect compliment to the rare CA dial - and to the era! Thanks for sharing them with us.
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Old 6 May 2012, 12:14 AM   #55
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Awesome examples and I've always been a fan of the Brevet vintage crowns!
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Old 6 May 2012, 01:44 AM   #56
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Congrats Abel on two fantastic finds!!!

I just find this one stunning the "TOG" looking bezel and the california dial....
Thank you for your kind comments QCasanova!

Yes, this must be among the first occassions Rolex employed this type of bezel.
Rolex called this particular model, reference 3372, Oyster Perpetual Luxury Model, so may be they considered this type of bezel as a way to distinguish a more luxurious offering in their line.

Thank you again, and Iīm glad you like it.
Kind regards, Abel.
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Old 6 May 2012, 01:45 AM   #57
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rose gold is a stunner ,,, so are the pics too.
Thank you so much for your kind comments Tom!
Yes, the little rose gold 3131 is a stunner, and it looks awesome on the wrist.
I was very fortunate to find that one ideed!

Best cordial regards, Abel.
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Old 6 May 2012, 01:48 AM   #58
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Abel,
Both are fantastic to see - excellent shape and great pictures. Nobody has mentioned your choice of strap for the stainless BB, but I think that its the perfect compliment to the rare CA dial - and to the era! Thanks for sharing them with us.
John
Hello John! Thank you so much for your kind comment and to mention about the straps.

Unfortunately, these are not the original straps, but they look very old anyway, and as you well say, they compliment very well the looks of this old watch, being made of lizard, with small scales. This was the set of straps which came with it when I bought it.

Iīm glad you liked it, and thank you again for writing!
Very cordially, Abel.
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Old 6 May 2012, 01:51 AM   #59
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Awesome examples and I've always been a fan of the Brevet vintage crowns!
Thank you so much Will!

Yes, the "Brevet" and cross which came with these little watches and with first years of Rolex brand, is very nice and distinctive.

Unfortunately, in many cases the original crowns have been replaced with other of more modern manufacture, with the small coronet and a dash below it.

So when a collector finds an example with the correct crown, it adds value and charme to the piece.

Thank you again, and receive my cordial regards,
Abel.
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Old 10 September 2012, 12:47 AM   #60
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Great photos guys. Abel your rose gold one is impressive. Mine has the same face only it's 14k yellow gold and a red second hand
1947 3131


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