Alon Ben-Joseph of AceJewelers.com – friend of the show – did a very nice video review on last year’s introduced Omega Speedmaster Professional 40th Anniversary Limited Edition.

I love this version of the Omega Speedmaster Professional. The logo on the dial and special case back make it worth buying over most other limited edition Speedmaster Professional models. I have seriously considered buying this watch after it was presented during Baselworld 2009, but since I have had a few of these Speedies and cherishing my Speedmaster Professional pre-Moon caliber 321 the most anyway, I went for something completely different

Enjoy the video and don’t forget to give some feedback on it!

My second article has been published in WATCH (issue 29). This Dutch magazine is not only about watches, but also about other finer things in life.

The article is about my visit to BaselWorld 2009, where I was amazed how quickly I turned my back to the ‘regular’ brands and where the independent watchmakers immediately drew my attention. Not only because it is more fun to talk to the watchmakers then to some shallow marketeers, but also because I feel that as a consumer of the big brands, we get neglected…  come up with somehting new instead of the xxxth limited edition to honor a limited edition, a slight modification of a dial and relaunch it as a new model etc. The independent watchmakers currently have a lot more things to over for fair money than the ’sitting’ brands that we know for ages already. And not only that, they are more fun to talk to and to follow…

If you are Dutch or able to read Dutch, get the latest edition of WATCH magazine anyway.

In 2008, Rolex introduced a new Submariner in all white gold (with blue dial and bezel), ref. 116619.  This year, Rolex introduced the gold/steel (Rolesor) model of the Submariner in both black and blue dial versions at BaselWorld 2009. These are respectively the ref. 116613LN and ref.116613LB models (Ariel of aBlogToRead.com did nice coverage on them).

When the GMT-Master 116713 and 116710 were introduced a few years ago, I remember a sudden short price drop of its predecessors (ref.16710/16713). Perhaps this is the time to keep an eye on the current/former models of the Rolesor Submariner models (ref.16613).

Since a few weeks, I am wearing a Submariner 16613. Once in a while, there is this opportunity to temporarily swap a watch for a while with another watch adept. This time, I swapped my Yacht-Master for this bicolor Submariner with someone from the Dutch Rolex forum.

Rolex Subariner 16613

I never received so much comments (both negative and positive) on a wrist watch. Also by non-watch enthusiasts, these so-called ‘evil outsiders’ we all know. I also witnessed that several people were staring at this ‘Clown’ watch, as it is being called on the several Rolex forums. Maybe it’s due to the gold, or the blue dial, but this watch looks much bigger than my other Oyster Professional models like the GMT-II 16710 and Yacht-Master 16622. The Sea-Dweller I have looks smaller anyway, because the smaller diameter of its dial.

The combination of the blue dial, blue and gold bezel, gold crown and gold center links makes this a real ‘in your face’ Rolex. I discovered that I am more the stainless steel Rolex kind of guy, with a small exception for the platina bezel & dial combo of the Yacht-Master. That’s wild enough for me I guess If the dial and bezel color were a bit more toned down, I could probably handle one of these gold/steel (Rolesor) combinations myself. Perhaps a brown dialed Rolex GMT-Master ref.16713 (or vintage 1675/8) would suit me better.

Rolex Submariner 16613

The picture above does not include the original box of the 16613 Submariner, but I needed a nice background for the watch when taking a picture from the top.

Anyway, you should be keeping an eye on these models if you are in for some bicolor Rolex this summer! My friends from Lex-Watches have a used one up for sale for 3850 euro. PrecisionWatches has a unused 2008 model for 5300 euro. The list price of these gold/steel Rolex Submariner ref.16613 model is 7200 euro, but they are bound to leave the catalogue soon…

I just got this superb video with Jorn Werdelin and Morten Linde telling you about their brand, watches and people. The video is shot at the BaselWorld show, and gives you a nice taste on LW watches and on BaselWorld itself.