{"id":1742,"date":"2018-03-14T05:08:26","date_gmt":"2018-03-14T05:08:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/TheWatchClub\/?p=1742"},"modified":"2022-10-29T11:33:38","modified_gmt":"2022-10-29T11:33:38","slug":"3-rolex-dial-imperfections-to-love","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swisswatchexpo.com\/thewatchclub\/2018\/03\/14\/3-rolex-dial-imperfections-to-love\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Rolex Dial Imperfections to Love"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The dial is typically one of the (if not\u00a0the<\/em>) most valuable part of a watch \u2013 after all, it\u2019s the most visible part of the timepiece. The smallest details of the dial can tell us a lot about the watch: its age, the elements it was exposed to, and most importantly, whether it\u2019s an original piece or has been refurbished.<\/p>\n

While the slightest flaw or sign of damage can have a drastic impact on the value of a watch, there are some imperfections that are desirable, even sought after. For Rolex – a company so obsessed with quality and perfection – any flaw or defect, especially when it is made by the company, is considered a rarity and may command a premium.
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Here are 3 Rolex dial imperfections that are considered desirable:<\/div>\n
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SPIDER DIAL<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\"Rolex<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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pictured:\u00a0Rolex Submariner Vintage Spider Net Dial Steel Mens Watch<\/a>\u00a05513<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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In the mid-to-late 1980\u2019s, Rolex sought to improve their watches and experimented with new materials. One of the changes they made was the switch from matte to gloss dials in their sports watches. The lacquer finish they used then had not been perfected, resulting in crazing, or an almost \u201cspider net\u201d-like effect on the dials.<\/p>\n

While these cracks don\u2019t necessarily put a premium on the watches, they do make the dials more interesting and collectible, and are a sight to behold when hit by light.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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TROPICAL DIAL<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\"Rolex<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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pictured:\u00a0Rolex Blue Submariner Steel 18K Yellow Gold Watch 16613<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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\u201cTropical\u201d dials refer to those whose original color has changed, due to exposure to sunlight and other elements. These are usually blue dials<\/a> or bezel inserts that have turned purple or fuschia, or black dials that have turned into various shades of chocolate brown.<\/p>\n

True Rolex Tropical dials can only be achieved through time, and can never be truly identical, and that\u2019s what gives them a cult following. In fact, some bogus dealers even resort to refinishing dials to simulate the Tropical color or use a cavity magnetron to \u201cbake\u201d the watch and speed up the aging process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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FAT LADY DIAL<\/strong><\/span><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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\"Rolex<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n
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pictured:\u00a0Rolex GMT Master Fat Lady 16760 Vintage Steel Mens Watch<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/div>\n
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\nAfter releasing three references of the GMT-Master<\/a> for over 30 years, Rolex decided to upgrade it in 1983. The result was the GMT-Master II ref 16760, which had a Coke bezel insert, thick steel case, and broader crown guards. It earned the nickname \u201cFat Lady\u201d because of its heftier size.<\/div>\n
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On certain pieces, Rolex made a small misprint on the dial which often goes unnoticed \u2013 below the Rolex logo reads \u201cOyster Perpetual\u201d when, for Oyster date models such as the GMT-Master, the standard should have been \u201cOyster Perpetual Date\u201d. While rare and interesting, these variants are usually priced lower than other rare GMT-Master models, making them ideal collectibles.<\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

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SEE MORE OF THE WATCHES IN OUR VIDEO:<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

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