Crazy Story: 100 Brand New MilSubs?!?!?!?

[Haywood_Milton]

Originally Posted by doramas

And what do you think of what you put on the dial?

It satisfies me that one may also refer to these watches as simply "Explorers" --- no more and no less than that.

It certainly does not in any way negate the documentary proof that Rolex referred to these watches as Explorer Is.....nor justify those who would post on a watch forum to criticise others who quite justifiably use the very same terminology as Rolex have been proven to use.

Haywood

[doramas]

You win.

5513 = Submariner no date
14060= submariner no date
114060= submariner no date
1675= GMT Master l
16700= GMT Master l
1016= Explorer l
14270= Explorer l
114270=Explorer l
214270= Explorer l

I do not care

[doramas]

Bye

[Haywood_Milton]

Originally Posted by doramas

All dials are wrong??

This is irrational, inconsistent and disingenuous argument.

Edit : now followed by a less than gracious retreat. As you joined the thread to tell others how they must refer to certain models, based on your own incomplete knowledge of the subject, this is a disappointing denouement.

Haywood

[doramas]

Bye

[Magwitch]

Haywood, what is "5513 gilt Bart Simpson"

[Kingface66]

Dude. Seriously...if you're gonna say "bye" don't keep coming back for more.

[Haywood_Milton]

Originally Posted by Magwitch

Haywood, what is "5513 gilt Bart Simpson"

A variant of Submariner 5513 with a specific version of the gilt (gold coloured printing) dial.

See the excellent thread : https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=376415

Before some clown tries to argue the point, this is not a name given to the watch by Rolex, but by collectors trying to help each other distinguish a particular version.

With that, and apologies to the OP, perhaps we should return to the story of the 100 milsubs !

Haywood

[Magwitch]

Thank you Haywood for the link and explanation!

[subtona]

great watch story and collector insights



silly semantics banter.

[Old Expat Beast]

Rolex used the name "Explorer I" in manuals for years. It's not wrong, it's just not on the dial. Like "Datejust II" is not on the dial, nor "Lady-Datejust".

[themaninblack]

Yes excellent clarifications. Now, back to the OP's topic. Going by the old philosophical conundrum, "if a tree falls in the forest....", is a milsub that was never issued and never saw wrist time on a serviceman really a milsub? Is it an act of vandalism to return it to civilian life dressed in civilian clothes?

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by themaninblack

Yes excellent clarifications. Now, back to the OP's topic. Going by the old philosophical conundrum, "if a tree falls in the forest....", is a milsub that was never issued and never saw wrist time on a serviceman really a milsub? Is it an act of vandalism to return it to civilian life dressed in civilian clothes?

And is a de-mobbed Milsub particularly collectible as such? Assuming it could be identified.

[KarlFr]

100 pristine milsubs in Japan ? Guess my next vacation will be spent digging through all pawn shops over there

[dbhak22]

Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton

A variant of Submariner 5513 with a specific version of the gilt (gold coloured printing) dial.

See the excellent thread : https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=376415

Before some clown tries to argue the point, this is not a name given to the watch by Rolex, but by collectors trying to help each other distinguish a particular version.

With that, and apologies to the OP, perhaps we should return to the story of the 100 milsubs !

Haywood

Haha, no worries at all Haywood. We all know how threads on any forum can take a left turn here and there...or in this case a very sharp left turn (note that nowhere in my post was a reference to the "I"...it's in my signature). Plus, I think some may even argue the thread and developments are more interesting than the original story I was sharing!

[dbhak22]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Rolex used the name "Explorer I" in manuals for years. It's not wrong, it's just not on the dial. Like "Datejust II" is not on the dial, nor "Lady-Datejust".

AMEN. The "lady Datejust" example really brings it home.

[dbhak22]

Originally Posted by KarlFr

100 pristine milsubs in Japan ? Guess my next vacation will be spent digging through all pawn shops over there

Be sure to say "hi" when you see me next to you, :)

[dbhak22]

Originally Posted by themaninblack

Yes excellent clarifications. Now, back to the OP's topic. Going by the old philosophical conundrum, "if a tree falls in the forest....", is a milsub that was never issued and never saw wrist time on a serviceman really a milsub? Is it an act of vandalism to return it to civilian life dressed in civilian clothes?

Good question...I guess it "depends"? I have to say that I am in the camp that would say it's still a MilSub if it was never issued. The styling and functional differences are what make it a MilSub to me (ie. fixed bars, sword hands, etc.)...and they were made to be issued...just never got to be issued I guess. Another way to look at it is what if one WAS issued but the soldier never/rarely wore it so was essentially NOS...same difference?

[Vincent65]

Were they "MilSub I" 's though!?

[mdw3]

Originally Posted by dbhak22

AMEN. The "lady Datejust" example really brings it home.

*Ahem*

[dbhak22]

Originally Posted by mdw3

*Ahem*

Whoa. Is that for real???

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by mdw3

*Ahem*

When I said the name "is not on the dial" I meant current models (present tense).

[machob55]

Wow, what a superb story!

Sent from my R1 HD using Tapatalk

[mdw3]

Originally Posted by dbhak22

Whoa. Is that for real???

It is.

[Vlad]

Mike, I always hoped that you got most of these watches. I remember hearing this story years ago, and, obviously, was very much jealous of not getting them. Now days the $200 price oer watch (or whatever) is way way gone, but these are still amazing work/tool watches!

By the way, your collection is superb!!!!

Vlad

Originally Posted by Mike Wood

Well, sadly Shigeharu Aritake passed away last year, so we can't him about this.

I did discuss his purchase of a quantity of MOD-surplus milSubs in the early to mid-1990's, many of which ended up being "civilianised" by having their 60' marker bezels, sword hands, T-circle dials, fixed strap bars, and case back engravings removed...

I still have nightmares about these acts of vandalism

MW

[wisguy]

This is just too funny

[harry in montreal]

You would have to assume that 100 lot of new scarce rolexes would likely be a lot reproductions. I hate to sound so cynical but my beliefs have been jaded by what I see in the marketplace. Heywood, I am now going to drive to work in my Ford Mustang I. I hope you got the joke since Ford called their deplorable 1974-1978 Mustang IIs.

[nigelUK]

Datejust II . . . not on the dial is it ?

but it is definitely a Datejust II. It says so on the front cover of the booklet.

So, no hard fast rule is there ?

[nigelUK]

Originally Posted by nigelUK

Datejust II . . . not on the dial is it ?

but it is definitely a Datejust II. It says so on the front cover of the booklet.

So, no hard fast rule is there ?

I'm just found myself in a parallel universe

[Sublovin]

Pretty cool...would like to get my hands in this magazine. The Internet is great, but I'm a sucker for a printed book/magazine