Any GMT BlueBerry owners here ?

[Bazil]

I whole heartedly believe the ‘Blueberry’ is real, look how Rolex deliberately/mistakenly release certain oddities, APH DIAL on a Daytona, Flat 4 Kermit, Tropical dials that reacted to the sun - along with around 1999 the Bluesy dial that had a purple hue to it for two years / Spider dials …
So yes, 100% Rolex got a ‘blueberry’ out there .. the mystique is the all the fun too ..

[XavierM]

Originally Posted by springer

That red hand has clearly been repainted.

That’s what I felt too but I don’t feel confident enough to judge these hands as I never took the time to deep dive into this matter.

[Dom9]

Originally Posted by 4reRlxGuy

Will try to find a pic (it's on my blackberry lol). It is a of batch purchased Dubai many years ago.

The bezels were confirmed to be authentic by 2 well know US authorities after purchase.

That's interesting... In other news, I still use my Blackberry (Key2) as my primary phone

[TuRo]

A T L A N T I S on a bracelet…..

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Bazil

I whole heartedly believe the ‘Blueberry’ is real, look how Rolex deliberately/mistakenly release certain oddities, APH DIAL on a Daytona, Flat 4 Kermit, Tropical dials that reacted to the sun - along with around 1999 the Bluesy dial that had a purple hue to it for two years / Spider dials …
So yes, 100% Rolex got a ‘blueberry’ out there .. the mystique is the all the fun too ..

Spider dials and tropical dials, for example, are simply parts of actual references that developed degradation over time. You can locate these references in Rolex catalogues. Find me a blueberry bezel in a piece of Rolex-produced literature.

[Bazil]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Spider dials and tropical dials, for example, are simply parts of actual references that developed degradation over time. You can locate these references in Rolex catalogues. Find me a blueberry bezel in a piece of Rolex-produced literature.

Oddities is my point, same as APH Dial, find that referenced, these oddities slip out, why ? Genuine mistake not meant, or deliberate brilliance ? I’ll stick to my opinion ..

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Bazil

Oddities is my point, same as APH Dial, find that referenced, these oddities slip out, why ? Genuine mistake not meant, or deliberate brilliance ? I’ll stick to my opinion ..

I do understand what you’re saying. You’re talking about dials that are known to have come from Rolex…odd/curious as they may be. But blueberry inserts are NOT known to have come from Rolex, there’s no literature or reference material from Rolex supporting them, and they only showed up many years after the watches they allegedly came on were made. There’s nothing suggesting they were ever sold by Rolex.

[rootbeer7]

Originally Posted by Bazil

I whole heartedly believe the ‘Blueberry’ is real, look how Rolex deliberately/mistakenly release certain oddities, APH DIAL on a Daytona, Flat 4 Kermit, Tropical dials that reacted to the sun - along with around 1999 the Bluesy dial that had a purple hue to it for two years / Spider dials …
So yes, 100% Rolex got a ‘blueberry’ out there .. the mystique is the all the fun too ..

Are you suggesting blueberry inserts have faded? The other examples you mention are printing or chemical mixture errors, not existing items in an alternative colour.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Bazil

I whole heartedly believe the ‘Blueberry’ is real, look how Rolex deliberately/mistakenly release certain oddities, APH DIAL on a Daytona, Flat 4 Kermit, Tropical dials that reacted to the sun - along with around 1999 the Bluesy dial that had a purple hue to it for two years / Spider dials …
So yes, 100% Rolex got a ‘blueberry’ out there .. the mystique is the all the fun too ..

You own one, I assume.

[Bazil]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

I do understand what you’re saying. You’re talking about dials that are known to have come from Rolex…odd/curious as they may be. But blueberry inserts are NOT known to have come from Rolex, there’s no literature or reference material from Rolex supporting them, and they only showed up many years after the watches they allegedly came on were made. There’s nothing suggesting they were ever sold by Rolex.

And I do agree with you, they weren’t documented and officially released by Rolex directly, but we’re talking about a whole different era and time, we’re - well I’m, talking about certain oddities and rare events that have some weird anomalies where Rolex are concerned, a time where no internet, everything was of a different time and control, I believe these bezels were made probably in very small numbers, perhaps even a trial run, and therefore I liken APH DIALS as an examples of the point I’m making where Rolex if you like allow either knowingly or unknowingly and they made their way onto a few watches .. the APH was never recognised by Rolex .. that’s all I’m saying .. in a long/short way .. just my take on it and opinion, I may be miles off ..

[Bazil]

Originally Posted by Dan S

You own one, I assume.

You assume wrong .. never assume .. .. just an opinion, that’s all ..

[1675-David]

to quote Xeramic, Rolex insert guru and vintage Rolex expert of the highest rank, from a thread over at TRF discussing the Blueberry insert:

It's not about belief or open questions - those inserts are proven fakes; proven by the wrong slug seen with so many other fakes, proven by the extra weak on-top printing which no other Rolex insert had in almost seventy years; further, as discussed here in detail, the whole thing makes zero sense: the story around did always change, funny tales about Cartier, UAE, prototypes; no traces of a blue GMT insert (except for blueish faded black - different story) before of the Millennium; no Rolex document about, no picture, no part number; no honest patina, either they are like new (because they are...) or got uniformly and artificially aged; "findings" of these "super rare" watches increase steadily parallel to the hype - and not a single piece could ever got tracked down to the 70's from when it allegedly comes.

Any who still believes in these after reading this thread has my full compassion; and in 2022, no dealer can say he missed the discussions on the forums and on the social media channels.


Its now 2024 and "reputable dealers" are still flogging these to the deluded, the weak of mind and the flat earth brigade for a massive premium

[Bazil]

Flat Earth ? Really …

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by Bazil

Flat Earth ? Really …

seriously! They are hot stuff among the Tin Foil Hatters too!

[Bazil]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

seriously! They are hot stuff among the Tin Foil Hatters too!

…..

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Bazil

You assume wrong .. never assume .. .. just an opinion, that’s all ..

Just curious, and respectfully: why is it important to you to believe they’re real? Academic debate aside, why do you need them to be real without any proof from Rolex whatsoever?

[Bazil]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Just curious, and respectfully: why is it important to you to believe they’re real? Academic debate aside, why do you need them to be real without any proof from Rolex whatsoever?

Really ? Come on, all I’ve done is offer my opinion, maybe it’s a romantic thought and mythical item .. GMT is my top two watches, like Daytona, there isn’t a GMT I wouldn’t own .. I just added to the thread, and now wish I hadn’t …

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Bazil

Really ? Come on, all I’ve done is offer my opinion, maybe it’s a romantic thought and mythical item .. GMT is my top two watches, like Daytona, there isn’t a GMT I wouldn’t own .. I just added to the thread, and now wish I hadn’t …

To be fair, I see that you generally post in other forums, where it is probably more common to post emotional responses based on wishful thinking. The vintage forum is a bit different, and more about sharing information. People generally try to provide more evidence-based opinions. Not that we're always correct, but we try.

Also, not to be harsh, but it may not be necessary to post everything in bold font.

[Bazil]

Hahaha .. yeah I’m old so bold font .. my bad .. (not sure what’s wrong with bold text though), yes I’m a general poster, I don’t have a great depth of knowledge most vintage followers will, I do have the right to an opinion though .. wishful thinking, maybe ..

[TuRo]

Just a broad observation echoing much above. TRF and VRF are sites that buyers (and many dealers I know) use to confirm pieces.

There's really no room for hunches and/or agendas (like the dilettante collector propagated with his Texas Dial manual Exotic dial Daytonas a few years ago - 'cos he'd got lumbered with one).... as for a short time it legitimised these fake dials, and as a result other non mega-clued up types reading these old TRF posts/and his waffling nonsense etc, might have disastrously bought one!

As we all know hunches, wishful thinking and theories are often off running round the world, before the facts/knowledge has got its shoes on!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Dan S

To be fair, I see that you generally post in other forums, where it is probably more common to post emotional responses based on wishful thinking. The vintage forum is a bit different, and more about sharing information. People generally try to provide more evidence-based opinions. Not that we're always correct, but we try.

Also, not to be harsh, but it may not be necessary to post everything in bold font.

Thank you for posting this.

I come to this forum from time to time to learn about vintage references, and I truly appreciate the information base here.

Thank you to the regular contributors who share your in depth knowledge with us

[cbalster]

Wouldn't sending one of these into RSC settle the debate once and for all? Send to RSC, get a quote for work recommended, decline work. Get watch back. Debate settled. If watch isn't returned without the insert it's because it's not genuine? In 25 years plus no one has done this? Why not?

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by cbalster

Wouldn't sending one of these into RSC settle the debate once and for all? Send to RSC, get a quote for work recommended, decline work. Get watch back. Debate settled. If watch isn't returned without the insert it's because it's not genuine? In 25 years plus no one has done this? Why not?

This has been done, a lot of information in this thread for those coming late to this topic.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=711385

[cbalster]

There was a story that 200 blueberry inserts were "stolen from Rolex" circa 2000 and shopped to dealers. I find that story a bit to convenient as it prevents authentication.

Along these lines, best case they're stolen inserts, worst case fraudulent inserts?

[1675-David]

There is no “best case” when fake parts are concerned.

[swaini3]

Originally Posted by cbalster

There was a story that 200 blueberry inserts were "stolen from Rolex" circa 2000 and shopped to dealers. I find that story a bit to convenient as it prevents authentication.

Along these lines, best case they're stolen inserts, worst case fraudulent inserts?

If they were stolen from Rolex, wouldn't Rolex confiscate them when they were given to service? Some AD's do that when watches are just reported stolen.

[springer]

Originally Posted by cbalster

There was a story that 200 blueberry inserts were "stolen from Rolex" circa 2000 and shopped to dealers. I find that story a bit to convenient as it prevents authentication.

Along these lines, best case they're stolen inserts, worst case fraudulent inserts?

Sounds like another concocted story regarding the blueberry. Why would anyone steal them. They had no value to anyone 25-years-ago except as a novelty.

[Texasjim]

I bought a blue insert for the fun of it… I understand the confusion regarding the “blueberry”, I have no idea if they are real or not, but they sure do look good. It would be kinda neat if they were, but i doubt it, Regardless its a cool twist on a classic, and it okay if folks take it half hearted, and have fun with topic. It hurts nobody if taken in the pure spirit of a hobby. Cheers, Jim

[In-N-Out]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

This has been done, a lot of information in this thread for those coming late to this topic.

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=711385

so wants the verdict?


if these are in fact real, why wouldn't Rolex simply comment if they are real or not. there hasn't been any situation in where someone had the original receipt, box, papers for a blueberry?

and even if they are real, it doesn't mean all versions are of course. the fact that it's such an intrigue makes counterfeiters incentivized to fake these in relatively high volume

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by In-N-Out

so wants the verdict?


if these are in fact real, why wouldn't Rolex simply comment if they are real or not. there hasn't been any situation in where someone had the original receipt, box, papers for a blueberry?

and even if they are real, it doesn't mean all versions are of course. the fact that it's such an intrigue makes counterfeiters incentivized to fake these in relatively high volume

there is no "if" Blueberry inserts are a hoax, they are fake and they have no connection to Rolex other than they fit into a 1675 bezel.