Any one know about the Space Dweller?

[housemad]

The most rare Rolex ever!
Done by Rolex for the Japanese Space Mission in the 60's to the 70's
Does anyone have more photos?rolexspacedweller1.jpg

[Spark]

The SpaceDweller is only a 1016 Rolex Explorer with a different name on the dial and they are 10 times as expensive.


Here's an extract from Dowling and Hess ''The Best Of Time''

The 1016 Explorer was the longest running of all the models, being in production from 1963 right through to 1989. During this period it did not, however, remain unchanged. The first model (in production from the start to around 1975) used the basic calibre 1560, but, as is the general Rolex policy, there were certain updates and modifications. While there are some watches signed Explorer that do not look like regular Explorers, the 1016 also exists with another name on the dial: "Space Dweller." The model was first introduced into the Japanese market in 1963, just after a visit to Japan by the Mercury astronauts. A trial run of Space Dwellers was made to honor these men, who were (at that time) seen as the ultimate explorers. The watch was not a major seller, either in Japan or elsewhere, and very few of the watches so signed have ever surfaced.

[Wolfgang427]

Here's the rarest Rolex by far. The one and only real Deep Sea. And yes its on JD's wrist, don't you just love the TT rivet bracelet?

[MrRetep]

Originally Posted by wolfgang427

Here's the rarest Rolex by far. The one and only real Deep Sea. And yes its on JD's wrist, don't you just love the TT rivet bracelet?

Here is a pic of the same watch, to give you and idea of how thick that crystal is. I wonder how much it weighs?

[flyback]

Originally Posted by housemad

Done by Rolex for the Japanese Space Mission in the 60's to the 70's

What Japanese space mission? They have no manned space program.

[Bisquitlips]

Can you really wear that every day???

I love the looks of it, but if I can't wear it to work, it is not something to buy.

[onkyo]

Originally Posted by Bisquitlips

Can you really wear that every day???

I love the looks of it, but if I can't wear it to work, it is not something to buy.

Seems a little bit bulky with a dress shirt. Not a daily wearer.

[rcher]

It looks like you could drive nails with it!

[hooliganhooker]

Was that the Deepsea's prototype?

[Bisquitlips]

Originally Posted by onkyo

Seems a little bit bulky with a dress shirt. Not a daily wearer.

Agreed!

If I was a wealthy Rolex collector and not a daily wearer of every watch I purchase, I would pull the trigger on this one.

However, I have to have a timepiece that I can wear daily if necessary.

[springer]

Originally Posted by hooliganhooker

Was that the Deepsea's prototype?

I think it was the prototype for the Mars Missions, as Rolex didn't want to be out done by Omega again.

[1904 Submariner]

Originally Posted by hooliganhooker

Was that the Deepsea's prototype?

It was attached to the bathyscaphe Trieste and went down to the bottom of the Marianas Trench(10,900m) in 1960.

http://bjsonline.com/watches/articles/0022_4.shtml has some good pics and info.

[Yume-sama]

Originally Posted by housemad

The most rare Rolex ever!
Done by Rolex for the Japanese Space Mission in the 60's to the 70's
Does anyone have more photos?Attachment 63341

Is there more than one version of the Space Dweller? I'm almost positive I've seen pictures of one that looks more like a Sub.

[koronet-kid]

I have been told that rolex made two zenith movement daytonas out of platinum they apparantly are still on the wrists of two employees at rolex. only two made now thats rare!

Also the red dial prototype daytonas, do prototypes count? follow link to see red daytonas a great looking dial stunning IMHO.

http://www.secondtimeround.com/watch%20news%204.html

best regards sean

[Imtiaz]

The Space Dweller is the 1016 re named by Rolex and sold only in Japan in the mid 60's.

When the US space mission team toured Japan Rolex put this watch out for sale.

Only a few were sold as there was no connection between the US heros and the Exp 1.

Yes today it's a real hard one to find. There was a photo of one on this forum not too long ago. About $9000. The shop was about 800Km from Tokyo or I would have loved to look at it and probably buy it for posterity.

[jeff hess]

The example that is in our book was owned by James and I. We sold it at sothebys in the late 1990's.

Jeff Hess

It is the only one that I have owned.

[Gaijin]

Originally Posted by Imtiaz

The Space Dweller is the 1016 re named by Rolex and sold only in Japan in the mid 60's.

When the US space mission team toured Japan Rolex put this watch out for sale.

Only a few were sold as there was no connection between the US heros and the Exp 1.

Yes today it's a real hard one to find. There was a photo of one on this forum not too long ago. About $9000. The shop was about 800Km from Tokyo or I would have loved to look at it and probably buy it for posterity.

Yep. This one.

I saw this one in the flesh in Fukuoka Japan. Used Rolex shop.

[Kokyuryoku]

Originally Posted by housemad

The most rare Rolex ever!
Done by Rolex for the Japanese Space Mission in the 60's to the 70's
Does anyone have more photos?Attachment 63341

Yes, I've seen one in Fukuoka. The very one that Tom's showing below . I don't know if it's the rarest , but I think it's plenty rare enough .

Originally Posted by KansaiVet

Yep. This one.

I saw this one in the flesh in Fukuoka Japan. Used Rolex shop.

Kia ora bro,

Awesome pics mate I should have got some last time I was there Oh, maybe next time

[padi56]

Originally Posted by housemad

The most rare Rolex ever!
Done by Rolex for the Japanese Space Mission in the 60's to the 70's
Does anyone have more photos?Attachment 63341

The Explorer type watch has had quite a few names its its life including Space-dweller, some say it was introduced to Japan only in 1963 after the Mercury astronauts paid a visit now they would fetch in around $30000 The explorer is one of Rolex longest production runs,a great Rolex classic.The vintage 1016 is now becoming very collectible and original dialled space-dwellers now telephone money.Now the large triangle at '12' was first used by Rolex on the mixed Roman and Arabic dials in the 1940s. Rolex registered the Explorer name before the Everest expedition in 1953.And the first Explorers 6350 model used what they call the large bubble-back 10-1/2" A296 movement.Most of the early 6350 dials were also unusual in the fact that they are honeycombed a Rolex first.In 1963 the Explorer changed again,and with a new 1560 cal movement it was renamed the 1016 and it became the longest running explorer from 1963 right up to 1989.

Twenty six years without a much of a change ,the second version of the 1016 was really the second version of the 1560 calibre now called 1570 basically the same but now a hacking movement.Now these 15XX series movements IMHO are the finest Rolex has ever made.And around 1989 the Explorer disappeared from the Rolex catalogue but around 6 months was reintroduced,the new Explorer bearing the model 14270, sported a new case, dial, movement, and crystal. IMHO it was because of the Jackie Chan movies where he wears one, the Japanese market when crazy for Explorers,very much like Daytona fever today. And the Explorer at this time was very hard to get world wide just like Daytona today.At this time was changing hands for as much as double retail price.Now with these new modifications brought the Explorer in line with all the other Rolex models. And because the real cosmetics of the new watch was so much changed from that of the old one,like the 1016.Now the price in the vintage collectors market is going up and IMHO if you can get hold of a good 1016,IMO will only go up in serious value

And a few of the various names used by Rolex over the years Air Lion,Air Tiger,Airgiant,Airking,SpaceDweller,SkyRocket, Speedking,Falcon,Orchid,Observatory,Tridor,Athlete ,Commando,Turtle Timer,Canadian,Empire, Oyster Lipton, Rolex Scientific,Rolex Everest,Tudor Advisor,Oyster Junior Sport, Oyster Raleigh, Oyster Commander, Oyster Recorda, Oyster Edison, Oyster Grenfell, Oyster Shipmate and Oyster Standard,and there are a quite a few more that I cannot remember now.

[JJ Irani]

Padi......you're a bloody genius!!

[Cato]

Originally Posted by housemad

The most rare Rolex ever!
Done by Rolex for the Japanese Space Mission in the 60's to the 70's
Does anyone have more photos?Attachment 63341

Wow! It's association with the space program and Japan make it uber cool!

[padi56]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Padi......you're a bloody genius!!

Not a genius JJ but thanks for your comment, but afraid today quite a few Rolex wearers care less about Rolex history they just wear a brand.