Rolex Forums has a great story on-line about the purchase of a red Submariner ref.1680 from its first owner. It seems that this Rolex Submariner has seen it all in over 30 years. As the writer of this story puts it: “This watch has been through it all. The cocaine fuelled parties of the 70′s 80′s, scuba diving around the world, racing his mini cooper in Southern California. Truly a fantastic watch that’s been through an amazing journey.”

As you can see, the case is in great shape, the dial has this nice patina, the tritium pearl has become a bit of yellow-ish, original crown and a slightly faded bezel. The priceless comes with the watch

Click here to read the story over at RolexForums. Thanks to Jiff for noticing.

Time and Gems – friend of Fratellowatches – proudly introduces the first Black Gold Rolex watches. Stainless steel (904L) and 18ct gold Rolex watches have been coated with Time and Gem’s ultra hard scratch resistant PVD. For now, Time and Gems re-worked the Submariner and the Daytona, both iconic time pieces for the Giant from Geneva.

Below you can see the introduction video by Time and Gems, presenting the Black Gold Sub and Black Gold Daytona. The deep black on these watches, in combination with the 18 carat yellow gold is simply stunning.

Price are unknown yet. Keep an eye on the Time and Gems blog for more information.

It seems that every Monday, visitors of the German Rolex Forum (www.r-l-x.de) who are fortunate enough to own a Rolex Oyster Day-Date, should post a picture of their precious time piece. In the meanwhile, Monday has been replaced by every day. Although it is not an everyday watch of course.

Although the original Day-Date is only 36mm in diameter, I still prefer it over a Day-Date II (which is 41mm). To me, the Day-Date is the classic wrist watch in precious metal (available in gold or platinum) that you can’t go wrong with.

Enjoy some of the Day-Date photos sent in by visitors of R-L-X.

Photo by Hannes

Photo by Savoy Truffle

Photo by Kurt

Photo by Kurt

Photo by RO.lex

The Day-Date models were introduced in 1956, being the first wrist watch featuring a day and a date window. This watch was and is only available in precious metals, such as gold (in various colours and combinations) and platinum. A vintage 1970s Day-Date on a leather strap can be found starting around 3250 Euro and 5750 Euro makes you own a white gold Day-Date with President bracelet.

If you are on a quest for a nice gold dress watch, you may want to consider a Rolex Day-Date ref.1803 on a leather strap, which is (as you can see above) quite affordable and will keep its value for years to come. The solid Rolex movement caliber 1555 won’t let you down, I am sure. Models later than 1980 with a solid gold President or Oyster bracelet will still cost you serious money.

Click here for the thread on the German Rolex Forum (pictorial).

Time And Gems, an independent Rolex retailer and a long time sponsor of FratelloWatches, is giving away your choice of a mens or ladies diamond Rolex watch with an estimated value of $7,000. All you need to do is sign up for their newsletter where they’ll send you exclusive Rolex discounts (only for subscribers) as well as entertaining Rolex-related articles written by their team of Rolex experts.

The Rolex that Time and Gems is giving away is a stainless steel Rolex Date-Just (either men or lady version) with diamond hour markers and an Oyster bracelet.

Check it out here:
Time and Gems Rolex Watch Giveaway

Please note that this contest is only open for US Citizens.

Audemars Piguet always has been one of my favourite brands, especially their Royal Oak line make my horological heart tick faster. Since a year or so, I am the proud owner of a Royal Oak watch. The Royal Oak Date (ref.15300ST) at first, then after six months, followed by the ‘Jumbo’ cult icon (ref.15202ST).

The Royal Oak Off-shore Safari is on my wish list as well, as I am impressed by this time piece ever since I had the chance to review one from one of my sponsors. AP seems to enjoy the success of their popular RO and RO Off-shore a lot, organizing release parties with the rich and famous, sponsoring all kinds of events and charities and having a few rapping and acting ambassadors.

Although I don’t think there is anything wrong with that strategy, there is something wrong with the supposedly superb service that buyers of AP time pieces deserve, or, as I would like to put it, “haute service”.

A few examples from first hand: polishing an octagonal bezel to a round bezel, needing 10 weeks for regulating a movement and delivering it back with a dust pickle under the dial and even worse, there is this example of AP losing a watch from a customer. Of course, they replaced it with a new one but what if there was a personal engraving in the case back? Goner. AP charges serious prices for servicing a time piece, customers should therefore receive the best work possible.

My suggestion to AP is to skip a few release parties or drop an ambassador and invest in proper quality control before a repaired or serviced watch leaves their factory. Unfortunately, AP is not the only manufacturer that suffers from lack of “haute service”. There are numerous examples from first hand that include brands like Omega, Jaeger-LeCoultre and a few smaller ones. I have to admit that in the end, most problems are solved, but it shouldn’t have come so far in the first place.

To be honest, the only brand that I would be totally comfortable with performing a repair or service overhaul, is the giant from Geneva, Rolex SA.