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watch-guy.com · 4 February 2011, 05:46 PM

Rolex chronographs my personal history collection

The first Rolex chronographs all used the base Valjoux movement albeit different sizes.
The very early chronographs were beautiful watches with single button or two button chronos. The buttons were often oval or olive shaped. Some cases were square ( note ref 3529 ).
One very interesting and very rare chrono is known as the Zerograph (ref 3462), a single button chronograph with an Oyster crown and a case very similar to an early Oyster case.
This is present in my early ref 4062. Obviously these cases were not waterproof and the movements were found in many chronos of the time including Vacheron, Longines, and Jaeger, . Look at the workmanship of this early case. Beautiful lugs, coined edge case and a stunning dial.

The cases changed over the years to become a single piece case- mono bloco eg. ref 4500 . ( This is where *philippe can fill in the blanks!) models changed from 4500 to become 3525 and 3668 models. -These were the precursor to the current Oyster chronos we are familiar with today, beginning with ref 6034 and finally to my 6238.

The bezel was still a regular bezel with no telemetre or tachymetre markings. Tthe next iteration was ref- 6239 still non screw pushers but having a separate tachymetre bezel.
Finally a screw down pusher was added to the new reference 6263. Theoretically a waterproof chronograph.

The 6265 had a metal bezel but was similar to the ref 6263.

In 1991 Rolex changed their base movement from Valjoux to the now famous Zenith movement ref 4030 which it used until early 2000 when it changed to a fully in house movement.

The Zenith movements were the highlight of the Daytonas history. Stainless steel Daytonas were traded like currency all over the world. Demand outstripped supply and prices rocketed. Marketing 101 taking to the max!

Here is my Zenith with the very rare so called porcelain dial. There were multiple changes to the bezel and dials for these Zenith chronos.

I present my small history of Rolex chronos which represents part of the timeline.

Many thanks to Dowling and Hess- The Best of Time/An unauthorized history

HL65 · 4 February 2011, 08:44 PM

Very nice collection!!!!

eparisini · 4 February 2011, 09:06 PM

Congrats!
You have a GREAT collection!!!

Yazo · 4 February 2011, 09:30 PM

Wow.. My jaw is on the floor!! Congrats!!

dsio · 4 February 2011, 10:01 PM

That YG porcelain dial is amazing... so beautiful and finely crafted... when they finally update the Daytona I really hope they bring that back, pure class.

Casey VP-26 · 4 February 2011, 10:31 PM

Very Very Nice.

Sweramic · 4 February 2011, 10:41 PM

Amazing collection

LunetteVerde · 4 February 2011, 11:46 PM

Frogman4me · 5 February 2011, 12:21 AM

Wow, great write up and photos. Thank you for sharing! All you need is a 6239/41 PN and your set!

cronin · 5 February 2011, 12:26 AM

Excellent! we rarely get to see early non daytona chronos!

Dr.B · 5 February 2011, 12:28 AM

Nice!!!!

Beaumont Miller II · 5 February 2011, 01:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yazo

Wow.. My jaw is on the floor!! Congrats!!

Beautiful watches. Thanks for sharing. I know Sunny must have spiked a fever when he saw those.

MonBK · 5 February 2011, 01:57 AM

Beautiful collection Julian.

watch-guy.com · 5 February 2011, 06:39 AM

Julian

TSW · 5 February 2011, 07:13 AM

Missing words here...Superb collection buddy

TSW · 5 February 2011, 07:13 AM

Missing words here..

Subexplorer · 5 February 2011, 07:45 AM

Awesome collection!
Specially love your ref 4062! A real rare beauty!
Thanks for sharing.
Enjoy in good health!
Kind regards, Abel.

lipton1 · 5 February 2011, 08:12 AM

Beautiful watches.
Thanks for sharing, really !

Yazo · 5 February 2011, 08:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beaumont Miller II

Beautiful watches. Thanks for sharing. I know Sunny must have spiked a fever when he saw those.

What a way to wake up in the morning!!

Numismatist · 5 February 2011, 08:47 AM

arttay10 · 5 February 2011, 09:28 AM

Beautiful Collection Julian - a pleasure to see them......

BB83 · 5 February 2011, 10:53 AM

Wonderful!! Especially love the 6238

dddrees · 5 February 2011, 11:09 AM

Great pics and thanks for the little walk thru history.

Awesome Collection.

Rickster · 5 February 2011, 11:51 AM

Really nice collection! and a great read. Thanks!

Widows Son · 5 February 2011, 12:06 PM

Good grief, I'm speechless!!!!

HL65 · 5 February 2011, 12:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BB83

Wonderful!! Especially love the 6238

Me too!!!

Michael M. · 5 February 2011, 12:53 PM

Awesome! Love the 6263 & the 16528!!!!

malgamis · 7 February 2011, 11:16 AM

awesome!!

drtooth73 · 7 February 2011, 11:25 AM

I love a post, where the OP puts a lot of time and thought into it.
Great info, great collection, watch-guy!

psv · 13 February 2011, 07:14 AM

Just spectacular!

4 February 2011, 05:46 PM	#1
watch-guy.com Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: United States Posts: 501	Rolex chronos- my personal collection Rolex chronographs my personal history collection The first Rolex chronographs all used the base Valjoux movement albeit different sizes. The very early chronographs were beautiful watches with single button or two button chronos. The buttons were often oval or olive shaped. Some cases were square ( note ref 3529 ). One very interesting and very rare chrono is known as the Zerograph (ref 3462), a single button chronograph with an Oyster crown and a case very similar to an early Oyster case. This is present in my early ref 4062. Obviously these cases were not waterproof and the movements were found in many chronos of the time including Vacheron, Longines, and Jaeger, . Look at the workmanship of this early case. Beautiful lugs, coined edge case and a stunning dial. The cases changed over the years to become a single piece case- mono bloco eg. ref 4500 . ( This is where *philippe can fill in the blanks!) models changed from 4500 to become 3525 and 3668 models. -These were the precursor to the current Oyster chronos we are familiar with today, beginning with ref 6034 and finally to my 6238. The bezel was still a regular bezel with no telemetre or tachymetre markings. Tthe next iteration was ref- 6239 still non screw pushers but having a separate tachymetre bezel. Finally a screw down pusher was added to the new reference 6263. Theoretically a waterproof chronograph. The 6265 had a metal bezel but was similar to the ref 6263. In 1991 Rolex changed their base movement from Valjoux to the now famous Zenith movement ref 4030 which it used until early 2000 when it changed to a fully in house movement. The Zenith movements were the highlight of the Daytonas history. Stainless steel Daytonas were traded like currency all over the world. Demand outstripped supply and prices rocketed. Marketing 101 taking to the max! Here is my Zenith with the very rare so called porcelain dial. There were multiple changes to the bezel and dials for these Zenith chronos. I present my small history of Rolex chronos which represents part of the timeline. Many thanks to Dowling and Hess- The Best of Time/An unauthorized history

4 February 2011, 08:44 PM	#2
HL65 TRF Moderator & 2024 DATE-JUST41 Patron Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Ken Location: SW Florida Watch: One on my wrist. Posts: 63,497	Very nice collection!!!! __________________ *SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT*

4 February 2011, 09:06 PM	#3
eparisini "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Emanuele Location: Italy Watch: 6263 FAP Posts: 795	Congrats! You have a GREAT collection!!! __________________ EAT, DRINK AND BE MAUI

4 February 2011, 10:01 PM	#5
dsio "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Real Name: Ashley Location: Brisbane Watch: Rolex Sub 1680 '79 Posts: 2,301	That YG porcelain dial is amazing... so beautiful and finely crafted... when they finally update the Daytona I really hope they bring that back, pure class. __________________ -- Omega Seamaster Grand-Lux Stepped Pie-Pan 14K Gold OJ2627 '53 -- -- Omega Cal 320 Chronograph 18K Gold OT2872 '58 -- -- Omega Cal 321 Speedmaster Pro 145.012 '67 -- -- Rolex Submariner 1680 "Ghost" '79 -- -- Rolex SS Daytona 116520 '04 --

4 February 2011, 11:46 PM	#8
LunetteVerde "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: lunetteverde Location: Asia Watch: me @ Instagram Posts: 823	That is really impressive!

4 February 2011, 09:30 PM	#4
Yazo "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Dallas TX Watch: Rolex Posts: 2,812	Wow.. My jaw is on the floor!! Congrats!!

4 February 2011, 10:31 PM	#6
Casey VP-26 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: America Posts: 2,675	Very Very Nice.

4 February 2011, 10:41 PM	#7
Sweramic "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Europe Watch: Movies Posts: 4,531	Amazing collection

5 February 2011, 12:21 AM	#9
Frogman4me Banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Maryland Posts: 6,268	Wow, great write up and photos. Thank you for sharing! All you need is a 6239/41 PN and your set!

5 February 2011, 12:26 AM	#10
cronin "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Real Name: Drew Location: . Posts: 299	Excellent! we rarely get to see early non daytona chronos!

5 February 2011, 12:28 AM	#11
Dr.B "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Real Name: Fernando Location: North Carolina Watch: SS White Daytona Posts: 1,944	Nice!!!! __________________ The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but seeing with new eyes. —Marcel Proust

5 February 2011, 01:57 AM	#13
MonBK Banned Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Kingstown Posts: 58,280	Beautiful collection Julian.

5 February 2011, 06:39 AM	#14
watch-guy.com Banned Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: United States Posts: 501	Thanks everyone for all your kind responses. Julian

5 February 2011, 07:13 AM	#15
TSW "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: TSW Location: Le Brassus Watch: Rolex & AP's Posts: 27,449	Missing words here...Superb collection buddy __________________ AP Owners Club IG @swiss.watch.connection

5 February 2011, 07:13 AM	#16
TSW "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: TSW Location: Le Brassus Watch: Rolex & AP's Posts: 27,449	Missing words here.. __________________ AP Owners Club IG @swiss.watch.connection

5 February 2011, 07:45 AM	#17
Subexplorer 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Abel Location: Down South Watch: Rolex Submariner Posts: 2,234	Awesome collection! Specially love your ref 4062! A real rare beauty! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy in good health! Kind regards, Abel. __________________ 50 Years of ROLEX Passion! Grail Rolex: 5508 c. 1959 "Bond" Sub.

5 February 2011, 08:12 AM	#18
lipton1 "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Paris Posts: 21	Beautiful watches. Thanks for sharing, really !

5 February 2011, 08:47 AM	#20
Numismatist "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Chris Location: Camden ME & STT Watch: 116600 Posts: 6,350	__________________ Rolex 116600 Sea-dweller Montblanc Solitaire Doué Black & White Legrand FP Montblanc Solitaire Doué Black & White RB Montblanc Meisterstück Diamond Mozart BP Montblanc Meisterstück Mozart BP

5 February 2011, 09:28 AM	#21
arttay10 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lancashire, UK Watch: ???????? Posts: 2,187	Beautiful Collection Julian - a pleasure to see them......

5 February 2011, 10:53 AM	#22
BB83 Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA Watch: Daytona Posts: 375	Wonderful!! Especially love the 6238

5 February 2011, 11:09 AM	#23
dddrees "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2010 Real Name: Dan Location: USA Watch: This N That Posts: 34,251	Great pics and thanks for the little walk thru history. Awesome Collection. __________________ When it captures your imagination, that's when you know you have found your passion. Loyal Foot Soldier of The Nylon Nation. Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons

5 February 2011, 11:51 AM	#24
Rickster "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Real Name: Rick Location: London, Ont. Posts: 666	Really nice collection! and a great read. Thanks!

5 February 2011, 12:06 PM	#25
Widows Son "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hudson Ohio Posts: 3,555	Good grief, I'm speechless!!!!

5 February 2011, 12:53 PM	#27
Michael M. Banned Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 8,391	Awesome! Love the 6263 & the 16528!!!!

7 February 2011, 11:16 AM	#28
malgamis "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: rio Posts: 22	awesome!!

7 February 2011, 11:25 AM	#29
drtooth73 Banned Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: W. Stutman Location: Motor City Watch: TT GMT IIC Posts: 2,223	I love a post, where the OP puts a lot of time and thought into it. Great info, great collection, watch-guy!

13 February 2011, 07:14 AM	#30
psv "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: North America Posts: 11,066	Just spectacular!

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