Professional Rolex with Jubilee bracelet

[maverick]

OK, all you WIS. Which Rolex sports or professional model was the first to offer a Jubilee bracelet as an option and when? =) maverick

[JJ Irani]

GMT-II...when it was first introduced as the GMT-II model in 1985.

Correct?

[maverick]

It was the GMT but not the correct date. 1/2 correct. good fast answer. Hint, something else was offered on the GMT at the same time.
=) maverick

[JJ Irani]

Hmmmm....I know that when the GMT-II first came out it had the model ref. no.16760 which later on was changed to no.16710 (the current ref.no.) and the newer 3185 movment and possibly the Jubilee as an option. This was in the early '90s.

Correct?

[maverick]

Wrong. =) maverick

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by maverick

Wrong. =) maverick

I'm 101% positive about the ref. nos. because I owned both models. Not too sure about the rest.

Hang on...was it also the TT version?

I'm taking a guess here, but I believe the GMT was offered on a Jubilee some time in the 1960s (early), likely '62 or '63? That was around the time they switched from being essentially a TOG with a GMT complication to a watch unto itself, ie. discrete GMT case, and bezel. Of course it was offered with the Oyster bracelet right away, but the Jubilee has always been an option on the GMT and GMTII.

Now... what material was the original GMT bezel made of?

[maverick]

Early 1970s the a special issue of GMT-Master was fitted with a Jubilee bracelet making it the first sports model with a factory installed Jubilee bracelet. At the same time the all black bezel was offered. (The Rolex Report) Excuse my question, it was not technically an 'option'. Nice going, JJ. =) maverick

[maverick]

Originally Posted by Atomic

I'm taking a guess here, but I believe the GMT was offered on a Jubilee some time in the 1960s (early), likely '62 or '63? That was around the time they switched from being essentially a TOG with a GMT complication to a watch unto itself, ie. discrete GMT case, and bezel. Of course it was offered with the Oyster bracelet right away, but the Jubilee has always been an option on the GMT and GMTII.

Now... what material was the original GMT bezel made of?

Bakelite sp? =) maverick

[maverick]

Now why did they replace the bezel so fast, within one year I believe? =) maverick

AH okay so I was off by a decade. In geological terms I was pretty close.

Yep, bakelite. The bezel was painted on the inside (blue and red) with a clear bakelite bezel insert.

I believe the bakelite wasn't robust enough and they switched materials. Man, I can't believe i'm forgetting this stuff. I used to have it down.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by maverick

Early 1970s the a special issue of GMT-Master was fitted with a Jubilee bracelet making it the first sports model with a factory installed Jubilee bracelet. At the same time the all black bezel was offered. (The Rolex Report) Excuse my question, it was not technically an 'option'. Nice going, JJ. =) maverick

Thanks for the info, Dennis. Always good to learn something new. My first GMT was 16750 with Pepsi bezel and serial no.73222xx which I picked up in 1986. It was with acrylic crystal and served me well.

My second was the GMT-II, ref.16760, serial no.R-9620xx which I bought in 1991 and it had the red/black bezel.

Then in 2003, I got my K-2692xx all black bezel 16710. So I have had the privilege of owning all 3 bezels.

JJ

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

Thanks for the info, Dennis. Always good to learn something new. My first GMT was 16750 with Pepsi bezel and serial no.73222xx which I picked up in 1986. It was with acrylic crystal and served me well.

My second was the GMT-II, ref.16760, serial no.R-9620xx which I bought in 1991 and it had the red/black bezel.

Then in 2003, I got my K-2692xx all black bezel 16710. So I have had the privilege of owning all 3 bezels.

JJ

I think JJ is 'Rainman' with all his serial numbers, reference numbers and model numbers. Man... I have no idea what my serial number is. Hell I even have to look up my ExpII ref. no. LOLOL

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by Atomic

I think JJ is 'Rainman' with all his serial numbers, reference numbers and model numbers. Man... I have no idea what my serial number is. Hell I even have to look up my ExpII ref. no. LOLOL

LOL! Actually, I've got each and every model no. and ref. no. of each and every Rolex I've ever bought from day one...all written down in my diary.

JJ

PS: Now off to work on a Friday morning. Bye...

[Rockrolex]

Originally Posted by JJ Irani

LOL! Actually, I've got each and every model no. and ref. no. of each and every Rolex I've ever bought from day one...all written down in my diary.

JJ

I've got all my critical information written down on the insurance appraisal forms. As long as I have access to one of my computers I can pull up the info. Although why I would want to do that escapes me at the moment.

[dman]

The Bakelite bezel would crack under extreme heat so it was replaced with the aluminum bezel.

[maverick]

Originally Posted by dman

The Bakelite bezel would crack under extreme heat so it was replaced with the aluminum bezel.

dman, that is a great answer, but not really correct. The Bakelite bezels were see through and the red and blue were painted on. So was the Tritium that was used. It somehow was contaminated with Strontium 90 and they quickly replaced all them with the metal one. =) maverick

Courtesy of JD.

[maverick]

But this really does not totally solve this mystery. Another document from Canada states they are OK to wear. A third document from Japan states the are "Radioactive and Dangerous". What we really know is that Rolex took no chances and changed them really fast. So, there is still some doubt. =) maverick

JJ, I am terrified to ask you how many Rolex watches you have had.

[JJ Irani]

Originally Posted by maverick

But this really does not totally solve this mystery. Another document from Canada states they are OK to wear. A third document from Japan states the are "Radioactive and Dangerous". What we really know is that Rolex took no chances and changed them really fast. So, there is still some doubt. =) maverick

JJ, I am terrified to ask you how many Rolex watches you have had.

Hi Dennis,

My current TT YM is Rolex No.15 in 25 long years. In fact, I've gone through the entire Sports range (including 5 Subs and 3 GMTs)....all except the Daytona.

I have the Ref. and Serial Nos. of each and every piece.

JJ

[dman]

Originally Posted by maverick

dman, that is a great answer, but not really correct. The Bakelite bezels were see through and the red and blue were painted on. So was the Tritium that was used. It somehow was contaminated with Strontium 90 and they quickly replaced all them with the metal one. =) maverick

Mav, I was not sure I was just quoting Rolex report.

"The bezel was found to be inferior, because it had a tendency to fracture when in very warm enviroments...." pg. 61

That was the only info I had.

[maverick]

Originally Posted by dman

Mav, I was not sure I was just quoting Rolex report.

"The bezel was found to be inferior, because it had a tendency to fracture when in very warm enviroments...." pg. 61

That was the only info I had.

dman, that is why I hardly ever quote that book. I am never sure if it is correct or not since I have found mistakes. It could be true. There certainly was much concern over the Tritium used on the first Bakelite bezels. Here are two letters containing info that seems to refute the other Canadian letter. I am sure they would get brittle and break eventually and heat certainly could be a factor or the factor. =) maverick

[dman]

Dennis, you have more than a great point pal!! About that book I mean.

I was looking at it tonight and it said that any vintage model with a new style crown is a sure sign of a fake (that is not a quote) and I started to think about watches that Rolex services with parts from watches that are out of date. They would have to use the new parts.