1957 14K Datejust With Rare Dial - Forgot I Had It (LOL) - Clearly Clueless - Help

[speedolex]

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]

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]

Let me know what you think.

Thanks!

[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.

[motoikkyu]

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

[speedolex]

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!

[speedolex]

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]

Beautiful piece


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[Floorguy]

That is BEAUTIFUL!! I'm drooling that is my birth year watch!! Congrats

[speedolex]

Originally Posted by crowncollection

Beautiful piece

Thank you for the kind words!

[Kevin 21]

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

[speedolex]

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).

[Dr.Smellody]

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

[adam78]

Extremely nice and rare. Also by virtue of being nonluminous. Does it have a roulette date wheel?

[speedolex]

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.

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.

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?