Last find of the year: vintage 2760 Bubbleback

[Subexplorer]

Hola Amigos!! Hello Friends!

2010 comes to an end soon, and I wish to share these photos of my last acquisition for this year, (but as my colleague Adam says, not my last watch!! )



This is a 2760 Oyster Perpetual (a.k.a. “Bubbleback”), I found at my personal watchmaker shop.
He doesn´t sell watches, he only repairs them, but from time to time, some pieces come to his hands from a customer who wants (or needs!) to sell a time piece. He had bought this little watch from a customer, as an investment, and now, he wished to sell it.

During a recent visit to change some batteries of some of my wife´s watches, he told me:
“I know you like old Rolexes. Got something I guess you´ll like”
He smiled to me because he really knew I was going to like it!!





Yes, I liked it, because I found it pretty and all original. The dial has some pricking dots of corrosion, which detracts a little, but assures me it is all original and not refinished.
Otherwise, it is very clean.

I also like the looks of its Oyster steel bracelet, which as usual in those early times, didn´t have end pieces links.
The reference and serial number puts this watch in those produced in c. 1939, so it is an early watch, as the so called bubblebacks were introduced by Rolex in 1933.



Overall, I liked the watch very much, it is working very well, and wears very small as per today standards, but a pretty piece anyway, of the type vintage watch lovers, simply love.



I hope you´ll like it!
Thank you for reading, and receive my best wishes for next New Year 2011, with plenty of Good Health and Peace, and many good and nice watches to enjoy!!
Abel.

[rockyn]

That's a beautiful bubble back

[kyle L]

Another great addition! I love the dial, it has aged really nicely. You have to take a group shot one day, what's next?

[JimSnyder]

I love it. Congrats on a nice find

[HL65]

Very nice!!! Congrats!!

[adam78]

That's a really beautiful original example, Abel. I love the (unique) Roman numeral dial. The large "bubble" seconds hand looks cool skeletonized. That seems to be a precursor to the seconds hands on the '50s Submariners and Explorers!

[TRW]

Beautiful Watch Abel,Congratulations and a Healthy and Happy New Year

[T5AUS]

Very nice Abel, great score for the end of 2010. May you have an equally prosperous 2011
Stay lucky
Phil

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by kyle L

Another great addition! I love the dial, it has aged really nicely. You have to take a group shot one day, what's next?

Thank you Kyle!! I´m glad you like it. A group photo is a great idea. Will try if I can have all at home, as I keep most part of my collection in a safer place outside home.

Will see if this year 2011 I can find my next grail: a GMT 1675 full gold with brown dial. It is very rare here!!

Best cordial regards, Abel.

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by adam78

That's a really beautiful original example, Abel. I love the (unique) Roman numeral dial. The large "bubble" seconds hand looks cool skeletonized. That seems to be a precursor to the seconds hands on the '50s Submariners and Explorers!

Thank you Adam! I´m glad you like it. The roman number dial, is very nice indeed and similar to that of my gold bubbleback I showed some time ago.
Its pricking looks worst in close up photos, but in the hand it is more tolerable.
The second hand is curious, and I was in doubt if it is original, or if the big hole had some lume when it was new. I should keep looking and searching in books to see if I find a similar one. My watchmaker says the watch is completely original both outside and movement which he calls "9 1/2".

Thank you for your comment, and send you my most cordial regards,
Abel.

[Subexplorer]

Phil, Tim, Connor, Jim and Robyn:
Thank you for your comments!! I´m happy to know you like it!

I send you all, my best cordial regards, and good wishes for this New Year 2011!
Sincerely, Abel.

[vukotab]

That`s really beautiful example, great find!

All the best in New Year!

[springer]

That is one beautiful piece. What a great find. Congratulations!

[Subexplorer]

Thank you Vikota and John for your kind comments!!
I´m happy you like it!
Kind regards, Abel.

[sea-dweller]

Very nice!

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by sea-dweller

Very nice!

Thank you Dennis!! I´m glad you like it!
Very cordially, Abel

[pz93c]

Now that's a slick BB.

I'd have to make that a daily wearer.

Congrats, Abel.

[Subexplorer]

Thank you Brian!!
Yes, it is a nice watch for daily wear, if you don´t mind its small size, even comparing it with "normal" size watch of 36 or 39 mm.

Not to mention with the present trend towards "gigantic" (sometimes up to ridiculous sizes i.m.h.o) of some modern watches.

After a few days wearing it, I found that it was workind too fast, and took back to the watchmaker.
He phoned me today to tell me that he had adjusted it, and I´m going to recover it tomorrow afternoon.
I´ll be wearing this watch in the following days, to check its functioning again.
It feels like a very sturdy watch, in spite of its age and size.

I´m glad you like it, and thanks for writing!
Very cordially, Abel.

[Mar122]

simply stunning! imagine the history of that watch... through WW2 and the everything else till now!
great find

[Mr. Greene]

you must sail under a lucky star my friend, beautiful watch I'm envious

[Michael M.]

Congrats, looks very cool! You have a awesome collection! How many rolexes do you have?

[Subexplorer]

Cali, Jeff and Michael:
Thank you for your kind comments! I´m glad you like it!!
Yes, it is one of those pieces which inspire you to think: "if this watch could speak"!!

Michael: my wifey says I got more than I need, and she is right I guess.
But some watches come and others must go to get the funds for the new.
Not so many really, as I would like.
Thank you again!
Very cordially, Abel.

[Paul]

I'm a huge patina fan. With its subtle ageing that watch looks better than the day it left the Rolex factory IMO. Very special - look after it.

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by Paul Needham

I'm a huge patina fan. With its subtle ageing that watch looks better than the day it left the Rolex factory IMO. Very special - look after it.

Thank you for your comment Paul! Completely agree with you. Patina and ageing adds an special charm to an old and quality time piece, and to the feeling and enjoyment you get when wearing it.
Thank you again.
Kind regards, Abel.

[gooner]

Congrats on a beautiful watch! I think it's rather impressive that a 70-year-old movement is still ticking. Just out of curiosity, how well does it keep time?

Best regards
P-O

[Cortez y Ramon]

Very nice, it is rare to find with original dial. My compliments

Luciano

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by gooner

Congrats on a beautiful watch! I think it's rather impressive that a 70-year-old movement is still ticking. Just out of curiosity, how well does it keep time?

Best regards
P-O

Thank You Goner!!
Yes it is. This something that always impress me, how a movement made more than 60 years ago keep working with surprising accuracy. Some more than other, but some remarkably well. (I got a 1950´s Omega Connie, which runs within COSC parameters. May be one or my vintage more accurate watches.)

As a matter of fact, when I got the watch and took the pictures, the watch was making 6 minutes per day fast!
I had the watch for a whole week controlling this, and then took the watch back to my wacthmaker seller. He had it for a week, and returned me last days of past week.
It seems its working much better now, but will keep controlling it during present week.
It seems to be with around 30 second per day fast now, but I feel this watch can do much better than this.

Thank you again, and kind regards, Abel.

[Subexplorer]

Originally Posted by Cortez y Ramon

Very nice, it is rare to find with original dial. My compliments

Luciano

Thank you Luciano!! Yes, bubblebacks are not common here, much more in this condition.
Glad you like it!
Cordial regards, Abel.