Anyone here know a history behind a roulette date wheel ?

[Carrera_2]

I would like to know why some dial color do have it while other dial don’t.

[lord91]

Was thinking about the same yesterday

[peterpl]

I would like to know as well. :)

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Carrera_2

I would like to know why some dial color do have it while other dial don’t.

Roulette date wheels are not something new they were available on vintage OD, DJ and the first Airking date they arrived on the scene late 1960s Ref 5700 and were only sold in the then Commonwealth countries like Canada and the UK.But they made a 5700n Explorer Date but that was only sold in the USA.Later on in the 1970s the 5701 Airking dates had the cal,1525/35 movements,and they made a TT version of the 5701 quite rare not many of those around even some with the roulette date wheel, but again made mostly for the Canadian, UK, market but the Airking date faded out of production in the 1980s,watches like some TOG had a all red date wheel

DJ watches available with certain dials had roulette date wheels.

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[mineral]

Originally Posted by Carrera_2

I would like to know why some dial color do have it while other dial don’t.

I really like the roulette date wheel and I find they are beautiful and unique especially on the vintage pieces.




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[77T]

Originally Posted by Carrera_2

I would like to know why some dial color do have it while other dial don’t.

Peter gave a good detailed list of which dial combinations have the “two colour date wheel” (Rolex eschews roulette to describe them).

As to Why...well that’s been a mystery since 1945 when the then new DJ came out with such a date wheel.

Now here is a new conundrum for us...

Why were the red numbers all even back then,




but now the reds are the odd numbers in modern references.




Ahhh...this is what can make you crazy.




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[gt0279a]

Also used by Tudor as well.

[J!m]

But was it a purely cosmetic thing, or was there a practical reason for it in the beginning?

[REFZ]

Never realised Tudor also has the roulette date wheels.
Interesting to know that Rolex used the odd number for the red color and Tudor used the even number for the red color.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by J!m

But was it a purely cosmetic thing, or was there a practical reason for it in the beginning?

Purely cosmetic but red was supposed easier to read with some colour combination dials.

[tkc324]

Very cool thread. Been eyeing some roulette date wheel vintage pieces myself.

[Jmbarrack]

I believe the origin dates back to world war II with rationing.

You could only purchase certain things on odd days vs even days. To make it easy to remember at a glance, they put the odd days in red numbers, even in black.

[77T]

No- the roulette didn’t come into play until 1945. The war in Europe was over by April, 1945 - and later that year the Pacific was settled in August.

Rationing was done via coupons/tickets during WWII.


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[Jmbarrack]

Originally Posted by 77T

No- the roulette didn’t come into play until 1945. The war in Europe was over by April, 1945 - and later that year the Pacific was settled in August.

Rationing was done via coupons/tickets during WWII.


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My AD lied to me.

Shocker...

[ashbaug2]

Originally Posted by Jmbarrack

My AD lied to me.

Shocker...

Probably not a flat out lie, they just didn't know what they were talking about. Again... Shocker...

I feel like my ~1 year on this forum has taught me more than the salesman with 15+ years experience selling Rolex at my AD.

[beshannon]

Originally Posted by padi56

Roulette date wheels are not something new they were available on vintage OD, DJ and the first Airking date they arrived on the scene late 1960s Ref 5700 and were only sold in the then Commonwealth countries like Canada and the UK.But they made a 5700n Explorer Date but that was only sold in the USA.Later on in the 1970s the 5701 Airking dates had the cal,1525/35 movements,and they made a TT version of the 5701 quite rare not many of those around even some with the roulette date wheel, but again made mostly for the Canadian, UK, market but the Airking date faded out of production in the 1980s,watches like some TOG had a all red date wheel

DJ watches available with certain dials had roulette date wheels.

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White Baton
Black Arabic Concentric
Blue Baton
Blue Arabic Concentric
Pink Baton
Tuxedo Baton
Steel/Silver Baton

Thanks Peter excellent info, never knew the origins

[AEC]

I have wondered about this, too. I assumed it was some investing or other business tool. I recall seeing a desk calendar on my grandfather's desk years ago that also had alternating red/black print for even/odd days of the month (don't recall which color was even or odd). He was a businessman and investor, and that's how I drew the conclusion that Rolex made its date display this way for business reasons.

A fun mystery!

[torrente]

Originally Posted by 77T

Why were the red numbers all even back then,

but now the reds are the odd numbers in modern references.

Ahhh...this is what can make you crazy.

To me the explanation that mates sense is that originally they used the roulette game pattern, and after realizing how cool the red is they changed to the odd numbers to have more red days than black days (186 odd vs 179 even in none leap yer).

[77T]

It’s all OK to have your own story but I believe we won’t know until some article in the Rolex magazine makes it clear.

Maybe write a letter to the editor?


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[Carry The Interest]

Originally Posted by padi56

Roulette date wheels are not something new they were available on vintage OD, DJ and the first Airking date they arrived on the scene late 1960s Ref 5700 and were only sold in the then Commonwealth countries like Canada and the UK.But they made a 5700n Explorer Date but that was only sold in the USA.Later on in the 1970s the 5701 Airking dates had the cal,1525/35 movements,and they made a TT version of the 5701 quite rare not many of those around even some with the roulette date wheel, but again made mostly for the Canadian, UK, market but the Airking date faded out of production in the 1980s,watches like some TOG had a all red date wheel

DJ watches available with certain dials had roulette date wheels.

Black Baton
White Baton
Black Arabic Concentric
Blue Baton
Blue Arabic Concentric
Pink Baton
Tuxedo Baton
Steel/Silver Baton

Thanks for the very insightful post, Peter. Never knew this before! :)

[R!$]

Originally Posted by padi56

Roulette date wheels are not something new they were available on vintage OD, DJ and the first Airking date they arrived on the scene late 1960s Ref 5700 and were only sold in the then Commonwealth countries like Canada and the UK.But they made a 5700n Explorer Date but that was only sold in the USA.Later on in the 1970s the 5701 Airking dates had the cal,1525/35 movements,and they made a TT version of the 5701 quite rare not many of those around even some with the roulette date wheel, but again made mostly for the Canadian, UK, market but the Airking date faded out of production in the 1980s,watches like some TOG had a all red date wheel

DJ watches available with certain dials had roulette date wheels.

Black Baton
White Baton
Black Arabic Concentric
Blue Baton
Blue Arabic Concentric
Pink Baton
Tuxedo Baton
Steel/Silver Baton

[Johny]

Originally Posted by padi56

Roulette date wheels are not something new they were available on vintage OD, DJ and the first Airking date they arrived on the scene late 1960s Ref 5700 and were only sold in the then Commonwealth countries like Canada and the UK.But they made a 5700n Explorer Date but that was only sold in the USA.Later on in the 1970s the 5701 Airking dates had the cal,1525/35 movements,and they made a TT version of the 5701 quite rare not many of those around even some with the roulette date wheel, but again made mostly for the Canadian, UK, market but the Airking date faded out of production in the 1980s,watches like some TOG had a all red date wheel

DJ watches available with certain dials had roulette date wheels.

Black Baton
White Baton
Black Arabic Concentric
Blue Baton
Blue Arabic Concentric
Pink Baton
Tuxedo Baton
Steel/Silver Baton

Very interesting and informative. Thank you.