Rolex

Rolex

Rolex Two Tone Submariner 126613LN Review

There are no revolutions in the world of Rolex, only small, incremental steps over a long period of time. So when Rolex dropped it’s new 41mm Submariner in August of 2020, we expected subtle tweaks and minor updates to the tried and true Submariner. Today we will be looking at the Two-Tone Black dial iteration of the new 41mm Submariner, the 126613LN.     Small Tweaks The new Submariner line sports an improved case profile, slimmer lugs, a better bracelet and a new In-House Movement. The case is now 41mm instead of 40mm. The 126613LN still uses the Calibre 3235 which was introduced in 2015.Inside, you’ll find the Calibre 3235, which has been serving the Submariner line since 2015. You get 70 hours of power reserve and a true workhorse movement that you don’t have to service for 10 years. The Case Honestly, you may have a hard time feeling any difference between the old and new sub on the wrist. The case looks a bit thinner, and closer to Submariners of the past, but dosen’t feel that much different from the old sub. I’m a self-professed fan of Two-Tone watches, and I have to say there is something special about the Rolesor in the 126613LN. This watch is a contrast-generating machine, catching and reflecting light in all the right places. I find this watch even more attention grabbing than it’s blue-dialed brother, the 126613LB, though less sporty. This is an admittedly flashy watch that you’ll have a very hard time dressing down. You’ve been warned! The Bracelet Like the rest of the watch, the new bracelet is both the same and different. It’s wider at the lugs, at 21mm, however, you probably won’t notice it. Apart from the size difference, it’s pretty much the same, and still retains that oh-so-necessary GlideLock system. The Glide-Lock system saves you from wrist purgatory, where the perfect sizing is between links. It also eliminates the cumbersome pin system in older models. Honestly, once you get used to making micro-adjustments on the fly with the Glidelock, there’s no way you can go back. The Bezel and Dial You’d be hard pressed to find any changes in the dial. It’s the same deep gloss black with maxi (large) markers and white-gold surrounds. I will add thought, that the black dial, along with the contrasting gold filled bezel numerals, adds to that classy contrast we touched on earlier. On the Wrist It’s honestly very hard to tell the difference between this submariner and the previous generation, which is not a bad thing. The fact that very little was changed is a testament to how well the submariner line has evolved.   Outside of the differences in the new Submariner, I’ll say that the Two-Tone experience is not for everyone. This watch nails it at a cocktail party, or on a fancy yacht, but is just too loud in casual settings. Having said that, if you’re looking for some reliable flash, this is the watch for you.

Rolex

A Few Underrated Budget Rolex Watches

We all know about the Rolex Submariners, GMTs, and Daytonas of the world. These are the popular references that get a lot of play on Social Media. I’m here to offer you a few alternatives. If you’re on a budget, or like to stand out from the crowd, these watches are for you.     Rolex 6694 "PRECISION": Introduced in the 1960's and produced until the late 80's, this sleeper Rolex has serious watch chops. The watch had many variations in terms of dials, but the movement and case pretty much remained the same throughout it's entire run. This watch has a very appealing, clean vintage aesthetic. This watch is charming, and easy to wear on any occasion. It's a simple three-hander, with Rolex's signature cyclops date at 3. This watch is 34mm, but wears more like a 36mm. The lack of a rotor makes this watch very svelte on the wrist. It's perfect for a business meeting or on a golf course. You can usually grab one with an Oyster Rivet bracelet. These watches have many dial variations, including a creme, silver and a blue dial. My favorite iteration is a classic silver dial from the 80's like the one pictured. You can scoop one of these up for $2,000-$3,000 depending on documentation, dial, and condition.    Rolex Explorer Ref. 14270 We've all hear of the Rolex Explorer Ref. 1016, which has exploded in value in recent years, due to it's popularity with many watch experts and aficionados (ex: Ben Clymer). The 14270 is still an explorer that is very much under the radar. The watch had an 11 year run from 1989-2001. In terms of design, it's the classic 36mm explorer design we all know and love. In it's 11 year run, there were 4 main dial variations: "BLACKOUT": 1989-1991 "T-SWISS": 1991-1998 "SWISS ONLY": 1998-1999 "SWISS MADE": 1999-2001 At 36mm in diameter and 12.5mm thick, this watch is infinitely wearable and comfortable on any wrist.  As of the date of this writing, the 14270 is hovering around the $6,000-$7,000 mark. I anticipate these will go up over the years, as more explorer lovers become aware of this reference. Rolex 16570 (Explorer II) Introduced in 1989 and discontinued in 2011 the 16570 was introduced as the predecessor to the 16550. It brought with it a sapphire crystal, new Mercedes hands, and the Calibre 3185, which was the 1st Rolex movement to feature an independent hour hand. The explorer II was originally designed for Spelunking (Cave Exploration) which explains the fixed bezel and 24 hour hand. At 39.5mm by 12mm thick, the Explorer II will fit on most wrists, and easily slip under the cuff.   This watch has great proportions though I will say that this watch may not dress up very well, due to the brushed bezel and overall utilitarian look.   This watch has gone up in recent times and is trading in the $7k-8k range. The POLAR dial models are very popular, while the black dial versions are less so. This watch has crept up considerably, but is still a decent value and should hold it's value pretty well. Rolex BubbleBack For our final watch in the lineup we go way back into the Rolex Catalog. The Rolex Bubbleback was introduced in the 1930's as part of Rolex's first foray into automatic watches. Rolex took an incremental approach in designing it's first automatic, and decided to layer the rotor atop it's existing movement. This gave the watches a thicker back, thus the name bubbleback. Part of the fun of Bubblebacks is that they are available in a wide range of dials, and metals including Steel, Two-Tone, 9/14/18k Rose or Yellow Gold. Most Bubblebacks usually clock in at around 32mm which will be way too small if you have bigger wrists. If, like myself, you have smaller wrists, this watch is totally doable. It's usually around 14mm thick, which helps bulk up it's presence on the wrist a bit. These watches have a very wide range, usually $3-8K depending on dial, condition, etc. These watches are a bargain hunter's dream, as they are not yet as popular as other vintage models and have a ton of fun dial variations. That concludes our small lineup of affordable, under the radar Rolexs. In the future, we will be posting more of these, are there are some very obvious sleepers we failed to mention (cough Rolex Oyster P cough).