Comments:
Not only you got a 6200, but aa very nice one.
An icon, a very important watch, which can sum what is a Subamriner, as the mother of all Subs.
One of the two or three Vintage Rolex which count.
You know how much I love my Tudor 7924, but it can't compete with this one.
Wow, my friend... WOW!
Huge congratulations to you, without forgetting your friend who helped you on this Monster.
Best,
Nicolas.
That is just the king's choice!
Best,
Nicolas
Now you have reach thereach the highest peak or deepest ... perhaps it's time to sell me your death star. You have no use of it now.
PS if you got sick of living in the shed you can have my house in the warm tropics. We can do a swap just leave the 6200 I will take care the rest.
Seriously, I think 2012 is the year of vintage rolex for every one and defining one for you.
Best Regard
Tyler
for your poor 6200 with its falling luminous...
And as you're a friend, no extra cash from your side.
I would be less severe about VRF... There are very good people, there, like let's say, in a polite way, much less well educated people... Like everywhere in the Net World ( and in the real life, by the way ).
I know how you got your watch,and how much researches and homework you invested in it, which is, to me, much more important than the money you put in it.
Let's say that I am ALWAYS amazed by those who are able to make statements on a knowledge based on their virtual observations.
How many, here and there have seen 6200s, and how many 6200s, by the way?
Live happy with your watch, she's beautiful,, and you're a gentleman.
Is there anything else which counts more than that?
Best, MY friend.
Nicolas
Best,
Nicolas
Rolex Big Crown joy
For some time, I have looked at the big crowns and wondered if ever I would manage to find one that I fell for. I have owned a Tudor BC before, but for one reason or another I decided not to keep it. I have never owned a Rolex big crown. I saw an absolutely stunning 6538 with a dial like a mirror, but it had two problems. First, it had an underline and I tend to associate that with being a service dial. Second, it was astonishingly expensive. I was also offered another beautiful 6538 at a much more realistic price, but it too had the underline. Many think this is a sexy feature. For me, it is a service dial albeit from the era and that would nag at me.I also came close with a 5510. The 5510 is one of the rarest Rolex references. 5510 with the original and accepted correct dial (haha) are virtually impossible to find. Possibly less than a handful known to exist. I have never seen one and never been offered one. I found a nice 5510 but with a dial that I suspect is not original to the watch and is possibly a service dial. Yet, that deal did not happen. Having owned a 7924 Tudor BC with a service dial, I think i would have made a mistake to go for a 5510 with a service dial. That just leaves the 6200...the first ever Rolex big crown.
What can i say? This Big Crown now fills a big hole in my collection. I picked it up from the airport from Munich this morning. Along with my 5508, I now have the two unprotected crown Subs that I want...both perfect in their own way.
Well, the 6200 found me. It happened when i was in Munich....a dealer had bought one as part of a trade for another watch and wanted to sell. It was offered to a friend if mine who knew I was looking for one.
He immediately came to look for me to show me the watch he had been offered. It was a perfect 6200. Correct serial number....32XXX. Correct caseback. Correct movement. Correct engravings. Dial is stunning...some mild pitting but it is evenly spread. Hands - original. Lume - original. Original original original. I could not believe my fortune.
Now, let me be blunt...my friend could have taken the watch...it was offered to him first. And he could have immediately re-sold it for a profit. He did not.....and it is for people like him that gives watch collecting the highs that it often has. Many many thanks to you, M.... you know who you are.
The 6200 ...uhm. Probably about 300 made. Many have turned up with original owners being British military. But it is not known for sure if it was a military watch or not. There is some debate over which was the very first Rolex Submariner. All three contenders were produced and sold at roughly the same time; 6200, 6204 and 6205. Logically, one would think this reference order would indicate the order of production, but that would be too simple. The 6200 also has an older movement relative to the 6204 and 6205, again suggesting this was the first. But, the serial number sequencing is probably a stronger indicator. That puts the 6204 as first and 50:50 on what is second between the 6205 and 6200.
What is certain, however, is that the 6200 is the very first big crown. It carries the 3-6-9 explorer dial, which also marks it out as special. Here are some scans i have of the watch....
What can i say? This Big Crown now fills a big hole in my collection. I picked it up from the airport from Munich this morning. Along with my 5508, I now have the two unprotected crown Subs that I want...both perfect in their own way.
And now, as Nicolas would say, what next?
Well, now that I have sold my house and car, and am living in a shed, there is nothing left to sell so maybe worth enjoying this wonder for a bit!
B
Baron, this is not Joy, but Hysteria, my friend.
Not only you got a 6200, but aa very nice one.
An icon, a very important watch, which can sum what is a Subamriner, as the mother of all Subs.
One of the two or three Vintage Rolex which count.
You know how much I love my Tudor 7924, but it can't compete with this one.
Wow, my friend... WOW!
Huge congratulations to you, without forgetting your friend who helped you on this Monster.
Best,
Nicolas.
Nicolas....
...well, I guess you knew it was coming.... man, i forgot just how big those cronwns are
back to being a member of the Order of the Knights of the Big Crown again!!
They are just magic, Baron. Happy to know that you found YOUR BC.
That is just the king's choice!
Best,
Nicolas
Looks like you reeled in a big one
Very big congrats on the new acquisition.
Wear it in good health.
Bill
Wear it in good health.
Bill
Hello Baron! I share your excitement you surely are experimenting...
... with this great find! This is a most important piece of history for Rolex diving watches.
Yes, I guess it is time for you to focus in enjoying these beauties. You deserve it! These timepieces too! That´s the name of the game, enjoying what we have. Something we sometimes forget, in the exhilaration of the search and the hunt!
I´m very happy for you, and send my best cordial regards, together with my congrats!
Abel.
Yes, I guess it is time for you to focus in enjoying these beauties. You deserve it! These timepieces too! That´s the name of the game, enjoying what we have. Something we sometimes forget, in the exhilaration of the search and the hunt!
I´m very happy for you, and send my best cordial regards, together with my congrats!
Abel.
Wow...Wow...Wow...
big congrats for sourcing the Holy Grail of Submariner collecting.
Simple as that ;-)
Perhaps one of the top 5 Rolex vintage of all time , I salute you sir :)) [nt]
No message body
Stunning
Congratulations. A superb watch. Worth living in a shed for. I would do it to
Enjoy and may it bring you health and happiness! Edmond
Oh, what a joy! :)
HUGE, huge congrats, my friend!
I am very happy for you!
So, now there is a BC to stay in the collection!
Best
Blomman
I have nothing to say except "You lucky ***&#&"
Now you have reach thereach the highest peak or deepest ...
perhaps it's time to sell me your death star. You have no use of it now.PS if you got sick of living in the shed you can have my house in the warm tropics. We can do a swap just leave the 6200 I will take care the rest.
Seriously, I think 2012 is the year of vintage rolex for every one and defining one for you.
Best Regard
Tyler
I admire your collecting journey,
it takes alot of luck, fate, networks, chance and of course some sea-viewing beach resorts to land a rare piece like this. I can't think of any other ways to collect a vintage better than a friend's assistance to top it all. The watch is rightfully yours to find and keep.
Please post more pix of it so we could at least share your joy!
cheers
Mech.
Okay...
Now that's amazing. Love the crown... that's the kind of vintage every Purist lusts for!
Thanks for sharing.
- Scott
Wow what a stunner! Very nice subexplorer big crown. What more to ask for? [nt]
No message body
Gentlemen all...
Thank you all so much for your kind words and best wishes. I have to say, this forum is consistently a place where decent people discuss their watch passion.. I posted my 6200 on the VRF yesterday only to have one guy cast doubt over the genuineness of the watch. His initial comment was simply to cast uncertainty.....hinting at the doubt rather than being specific. It is typical of VRF for this sort of thing to happen. In the end, it seems, my watch has an original case, original dial, original hands, matching serial number, correct movement and correct engravings. The doubt, it seems, is over the fatness of the lume on the numeral 9, which one "expert" said could be expected to happen on a watch that is 60 years old. What has happened to human nature that it becomes so bitter when another finds some success? Maybe I have been working for myself for too long and without the need for customers or competitors...that I have forgotten just how human nature can react.
Below is a copy of my response to the gentlemen who had virtually nothing positive to say.
"Thank you so much.
For a watch that is stunningly rare, with a correct case, correct dial, 92%+ condition, correspondingly correct serial number, correct original hands, correct movement and engravings.... I am very grateful to you for paying specific attention to the fact that I should be concerned that the lume on the 9 may have shrunk somewhat over the last 60 years. Having looked at a wide range of lumes on the various 6200s, it is true that they do indeed vary. In fact, they vary so much that they are almost all different. I guess that one might indeed expect that could happen on a 60 year old watch.
Am I tempted to return the watch on the back of this issue? Well, i guess that would be a bit like taking delivery of a Ferrari 250 GTO and sending it back because it had a flat battery.
Again, many thanks for your help."
For a watch that is stunningly rare, with a correct case, correct dial, 92%+ condition, correspondingly correct serial number, correct original hands, correct movement and engravings.... I am very grateful to you for paying specific attention to the fact that I should be concerned that the lume on the 9 may have shrunk somewhat over the last 60 years. Having looked at a wide range of lumes on the various 6200s, it is true that they do indeed vary. In fact, they vary so much that they are almost all different. I guess that one might indeed expect that could happen on a 60 year old watch.
Am I tempted to return the watch on the back of this issue? Well, i guess that would be a bit like taking delivery of a Ferrari 250 GTO and sending it back because it had a flat battery.
Again, many thanks for your help."
I say it again and again, VRF is an odd forum. I won't be posting on there again. There is not a great deal of warmth and friendship on VRF. There is another motivation at work. As far as I am concerned, if i can post my watch on VRF and the best of the criticism is that the lume on the 9 may have shrunk over the last 60 years, then hell, I have one awesome watch!
Nobody wants to buy a watch that is not correct. Of course not. And having the ability to ask opinion of people who are true experts is a valuable thing. For that access, I am always indebted to those that help me. But, how many real experts are there? Well, lets put it this way, a lot less than those that see themselves as experts on VRF.
Again, and with sincerity this time to those on this forum, many thanks for your words. I have an awesome 6200 and I can definitely live with a skinny lume on my 9!!! Hahaha. The more I think about it, the more absurd it becomes.
J
Well...
even if a little bit of lume is missing, the "9" still looks very nice.
You're right not to expect perfection for a 60 years old toolwatch.
Crazy prices now demand crazy standards, that most of the time just don't make any sense imho.
Ok, let's do a trade. I trade the latest Tudor Black Bay with impeccable indexes
for your poor 6200 with its falling luminous...
And as you're a friend, no extra cash from your side.
I would be less severe about VRF... There are very good people, there, like let's say, in a polite way, much less well educated people... Like everywhere in the Net World ( and in the real life, by the way ).
I know how you got your watch,and how much researches and homework you invested in it, which is, to me, much more important than the money you put in it.
Let's say that I am ALWAYS amazed by those who are able to make statements on a knowledge based on their virtual observations.
How many, here and there have seen 6200s, and how many 6200s, by the way?
Live happy with your watch, she's beautiful,, and you're a gentleman.
Is there anything else which counts more than that?
Best, MY friend.
Nicolas
indeed...
i never meant to imply that VRF is all-bad....just that the ratio of A-holes to good guys is high.
Yep..... thanks for you kind offer on the Tudor Black Bay..... i will chew on it.......very kind by the way....
Baron, I predict that there are a lot less true Rolex experts....
Then there are a Rolex 6200................and that is not many!
I am not qualified enough to make comment on its rarity, condition, movement etc.
But I would like to add my full heart congratulations on tracking down and acquiring such a rare grail Rolex.
I am looking forward very much at sometime in the future to seeing it in the flesh
Congratulations once again and wear it in the best of health.
Your words in your original OP, ring so true, friendship is built up of many qualities and for me trust & honesty has to be near to the top.
Regards
Tony
Why are you coming over during the night!!!
I hear that Baron keeps a supply of garlic and crosses by his bed just in case of an emergency LOL
LOL uhmmm..
..... my travel schedule is not going to make Paris easy....may be impossible before end of Summer. Will be impossible....
So, we'll have to create a bridge between London and Paris before this summer.
Best,
Nicolas
I saw the post and yes, I'm worried.
I think better you return the watch to the seller but give me his number before you do. I'll "arrange" for him take it off you. Then the issues is solved. 
A skinny lume is really to be concern about, I tell you. Never mind the rest of the watch is in great shape but a SKINNY LUME!
That's insane.
Maybe the 6200 is too much of a grail for the Rolex Collector. Something happen to a collector when he/she just reach a level of wanting to own the rarest of the rarest and earn praise. Instead the joy of admiring what the watch really is ego took the better part of him.
Sometimes I too have the same feeling/urge. When I log on the purist and it keep me inline of the fundamentals and back to what truly moves me in the 1st place.
The love for watches, nothing more, nothing less. The rest didn't matter.
I echo your thought about this place. Meeting and knowing passionate friends in the same hobby is a huge bonus.
PS I you still have doubts on your 6200, you can always offer to me. My mortgage officer is on standby
Regards
Tyler
Very nice, Baron....
I love the simplisity of the explorer dial in the submariner format - a very nice, clean face.
You've found yourself a stunning vintage sub there!! (very envious!!!)
cheers Tony