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The Rolex Submariner

The Rolex Oyster Perpetual Submariner is without doubt one of the most popular Rolex Watches, and among the most popular in the sports luxurious genre. It is characterized for being a watch targeted specifically to Divers due to its high resistance to water. The model was first seen in 1953 with the reference number 6204, a bidirectional Bezel, a thin case, and a small sized shoulder-less screw-down crown. The model 6205 was also manufactured at the time and both watches are nearly identical. One interesting detail on these two models is that most of the time you would not see the word Submariner imprinted on the face. Sometimes you would see the brand Submariner, however it was not a consistent branding at the time. In 1954 Rolex presented  its sequel, Ref 6538, also known as the James Bond model  immortalized by Sean Connery. It used a caliber 1030 movement, and the first Rolex bidirectional rotor movement, and an oversized crown.
In 1959  and in 1962  the Submariner 5512 and 5513, respectively, were presented  as the first models with shoulders to protect the crown. Those changes marked how the watch would look in the following years.  In 1969 the Submariner Date Ref 1680, still with its acrylic crystal was first seen. In 1979 was presented for the first time The Rolex Submariner with Sapphire crystal and an outstanding waterproof rating of 300 meters. The 16800 “Sub”, 40 mm, with movement caliber 3035 is the watch that we  well know today. The “Sub”as we call it, revolutionized how a sports watch should look and feel. Moreover, apart from small changes in recent years such as the trip-lock system and Cerachrom disc, it is pretty much the same watch we saw in 1979 that we love so much for so many years.

Rolex Submariner 6204

Rolex Submariner 6538

Rolex Submariner 5512

Rolex Submariner 1680

Rolex Submariner 16800

2010 Rolex Submariner

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Rolex Datejust Vs. Rolex Datejust II

In 1945 Rolex came out with the first wristwatch featuring a date display with a Cyclops lens that magnify the numbers. This watch is the self-winding Oyster Perpetual Datejust.

The Datejust watch is 36 mm width while the Datejust II, released during Baselworld 2009, is 41 mm width both elegant, self winding, with fluted bezels, Oyster bracelets and waterproof to 100 meters or 330 feet. This increment of the size is due to what the market is asking for. Nowadays, women are using bigger watches so men’s  watches need to be larger in consequence of that.

Now you can see the 36mm Datejust watches being considered to be unisex, although for many men it is still the right size. Now, women have more options including different case sizes, dials and bracelet sizes.

In conclusion we can say, that a few millimiters do make a big difference in design.

Rolex Datejust

Rolex Datejust

Rolex Datejust II

Rolex Datejust II

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Rolex Yacht-Master Vs. Rolex Yacht-Master II

The Rolex model Yacht-Master is one of the most well-known sport watches in the world. Not so long ago Rolex introduced their new adaptation of the Rolex Yacht-Master. Even though both watches are similar in some way , there are certain characteristics that differentiate them. The material available, some features, and gender have changed to make the Yacht-master II one of a kind.

The Yacht-Master is available in Stainless Steel, Two Tone, and Yellow Gold ; the newer model comes only in White Gold or Yellow Gold. Both of the watches come with bezels in Platinum and Yellow Gold bidirectional. Yet the Gold bezel on the Yacht-Master II comes with a ceramic insert instead of the gold insert that comes with the Yacht-Master.

The Yacht-Master II has all the features the older model has plus a few additional features. One of the great features is the Easylink patented system created by Rolex. It facilitates to extend the size of the bracelet of up to 5mm with great comfort. The most exceptional of the features is the programmable 10 minute countdown timer that is intended for Regattas. . Also with the new technology called Triplock system there is no need to worry about water leaking inside the watch . It completely seals the watch creating a new layer of protection. The Triplock is displayed on the crown by three dots below the Rolex symbol on the crown. The Yacht-Master II comes with the Blue Parachrom Hairspring, which is an oscillator hairspring made of ferromagnetic alloys and makes this watch more resistant to impacts and magnetic fields.

The Rolex Yacht-Master II is available only for Men’s at a size of 44 mm while the Yacht- Master is available at Men’s , Midsize, and Ladies at sizes of 40 mm , 35mm, and 29mm respectively . This increase in size is due to the new trend of bigger watches, making the latest Yacht-Master II a heavier watch.

Both models are for sure stunning timepieces, and both are presently being fabricated by Rolex. It is a hard choice between the classic look and more conservative size, or the oversized and more updated model. There is another decisive factor that may contribute to the decision since the Yacht-Master II is higher priced than the Yacht-Master. For instance the Yellow Gold Men’s Yacht-Master Approximate Retail value is $25,000 while the Yacht-Master II Men’s 18k is priced at $33,650 .

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Rolex History

In 1905 Hans Wilsdorf a 24-year-old manufacturer from Germany, and his brother-in-law Alfred Davis founded “Wilsdorf and Davis” in London.

Rolex Submariner

Rolex Submariner

The lack of capital was not a limit for them to start the business. At the beginning they imported Swiss movements, dials and cases to England so they can ship them later to their costumers.

Rolex was registered in 1915 in Switzerland by Hans Wilsdorf, who had an excellent business vision. Rolex Watch Company Ltd. was established in 1919. His business goal was to give the world the most precise wristwatch they could ever imagine so it could compete with the pocket watch.

The origin of the name is unknown. Wilsdorf just wanted a name easy to be pronounced in any language. He never confirmed the rumors that the name of Rolex came from the French phrase horlogerie exquise, meaning “exquisite clockwork” or that the name was an imitation of the sound of a watch being wound or that the name was just made up. Some people say that the name was given by his business partner Alfred Davis who was a Rolls Royce lover, so he mixed the beginning of this brand Rol and the end of TIMEX, a popular watch brand at that time, to have as a result the word ROLEX.

After Wilsdorf death in 1944, his wife established the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation which would have all his Rolex shares go directly to charity.

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