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Comments:

Let's see some Rolex 1675 Underline.

 
 By: amanico : May 22nd, 2015-03:06

When we speak about GMT underline dial, there is not only one, but  three different versions.

1/ The Chapter Ring:

One from 1960:

 

One from 1963:

 

 

2/ The non Chapter Ring: Swiss only, deep black, hard to find in nice condition, as most of the dials I've seen came wit spots, bubbles and so on...

Credit picture: Only Vintage Watches ( I think ).

 

3/ The Non Chapter Ring " Double Swiss ". At 6 o clock you will notice one Swiss mention above the other. Hence the nickname " Double Swiss ".

 

Easier to see on this picture:

 

( Credit pictures: Andy Shear ).

As you can see, the chapter ring and the double swiss have centered luminous indexes, while the Swiss only has luminous indexes which touch the minute ring.

The Double Swiss has bigger luminous indexes than the Chapter Ring.

All is a matter of condition, as always, but there is a hierarchy among GMT underline dials. At equal condition, the more sought after is the Double Swiss, then the non chapter ring Swiss only, and the Chapter ring.

It seems that the " Underline " detail came as early as 1960, and ended in late 1963.

What does this detail mean, that is an endless debate, and I have no fixed nor clear opinion here. As for the Exclamation Dot as 6 o clock.

Do we really need to explain all the mysteries, or isn't it better to keep a part of untouched mystery?

I must say that I have a certain fascination for the Double Swiss, because of its specificity: I love the big round and centered luminous indexes.

But I would be very happy with any of them.

Best,

Nicolas


Let's suffer some more:)

 
 By: Ares501 - Mr Green : May 22nd, 2015-04:33
Thank you dear Torquemada
for this delightful pictorial
As a detail I love exclamation
very much what I can't say about underline
From one that you presented first one looks best for me
1960 chapter ring
Yours
D

Exclamation dot is much less diversified, on a GMT Master.

 
 By: amanico : May 22nd, 2015-05:39

But I would not be objective to say that I don't like it!  wink

Best, Damjan, and thanks for your input.

Nicolic.

yes but there is also a very early ....

 
 By: marcello pisani : May 22nd, 2015-07:45
replacement dial for 6542 with underline ( still lacquered  and printed SWISS only with the typical clear gold nuance that looks " silver " ).
this 6542 dial version is the last one signed " SWISS " only and can be defined
as mk 5.
by the way in my opinion underline arrives around 1962 and stops at the beginning of 1964.
in some watches ( as in this case ) underline dials are in fact later replacements of the pristine ones.









Very interesting comments and infos, Marcello.

 
 By: amanico : May 22nd, 2015-08:50

First, I never saw a 6542 underline, but why not, since there are some 6542 Exclamation Dot.

Then, as for the period, I saw several " - " from 1960, several quartals. And now that you wrote it, some early 1964 ones... A few.

When were the " - " 6542 dials released? Do you happen to know?

Best, Amico.

Nicolas.

Thats very interesting Marcello................

 
 By: fatboyharris : June 1st, 2015-01:08
Do you know when these services dials were introduced, are they from the 60's or later and just done in the style of the earlier 50's/60's dials? Are the hands still original to the watches you have seen with these service dials? Are these dials Radium?

 If these service dials are from the 60's is there any pattern you may  have noticed regarding the watches the service replacement underline dials are in. Are they certain years or within a serial number range or just random replacement of dials during a service?

 The reason why I ask is whether they could have been used to replace other dials that did not conform with the US standards for radioactive materials eg low Radium limit introduced in 58 or the use of other luminous material such as Strontium following the 1959 USA GMT scare. 

I appreciate I'm asking a lot, but just trying to understand more about such an interesting underline dial that has always been subject of hot debate as to the significance.

All the very best
kind regards

John


I would bet on the early 60ies, but the significance of this " - ", I can't tell... [nt]

 
 By: amanico : June 1st, 2015-08:17
No message body

Splendid pictorial within an interesting post !.. Again learned quite a bit !.. Unfortunately, however,..

 
 By: hs111 : May 22nd, 2015-09:18
.. This time I can't be of service chipping in, as I don't own a
1675 (Double) Swiss/ Underline.
Thus, all I can do is sending greetings with my humble other one:
gilt, 1675, PCG, CR and exclamation dot (1960)..

Am pretty sure, some of you may remember, when
we met last time..

Hence, just a quick share:


( Credit: watch: hs111,
pic: Vlad with Borat Pat.pend. Technique)

Nico, thx again, for the superb shots you got
from one, that is not too easy to catch adequately !


Here my take: Really lovely to look down at her..

So , no Double Swiss, no Underline but some other
features, which I hope you liked a bit.

I still do from day 1 on.. a lot !

Best & HAGWE !
hs

What's not to love, indeed. Thanks for adding yours, hs. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : May 22nd, 2015-09:33
No message body

Rolex Gilt 5512 one upper one lower underline

 
 By: Bill : May 22nd, 2015-16:53

Here is a nice pair of Rolex Gilt 5512.  The left one has the upper underline and the right one has the rare bottom underline but specifically bottom in between underline.

Bill





Lovely pair.. Thx for indicating the subtle details & types.. Not only great looking, but quite educational !.. Like the grey faded bezel of the left !.. Best !! [nt]

 
 By: hs111 : May 22nd, 2015-23:58
No message body

Underline Rolex watches are always educational

 
 By: Bill : May 23rd, 2015-07:09
Because we still don't really know what the purpose is "definitively".
Bill

Yep! [nt]

 
 By: amanico : May 23rd, 2015-07:12
No message body

Thanks, Bill. I never saw an upper underline on a 1675.

 
 By: amanico : May 23rd, 2015-00:04

Great pair!

Best,

Nicolas

I don't think I have ever seen an upper underline on a 1675 either. [nt]

 
 By: Bill : May 23rd, 2015-07:07
No message body

Thanks for sharing...

 
 By: shou.biao.kuang : May 27th, 2015-09:47
I can't seem to find much info on the underline 1675. This thread will come in handy wink

Thank you, we are here to share and learn from each other. [nt]

 
 By: amanico : May 27th, 2015-10:32
No message body

Hi Nicolas - my contribution.

 
 By: oyster21 : June 3rd, 2015-04:27
1675 Double Swiss Underline. Mine is 87X,XXX serial. 

Cheers,
Eko

Eko, you re killing me. 2 SUPERB specimens! More pics, please.

 
 By: amanico : June 3rd, 2015-05:34

Is your SYL around 1964?

Best,

Nicolas

Nikolas, thx for your compliment.

 
 By: oyster21 : June 3rd, 2015-06:06
Serpico is 1.14x serial number and falls into year '64 if my memory serves me correctly. 
Another pic. Pardon for the quality.  Gilt 1675

Cheers,
Eko

It is funny because normally I am not a fan of the retailer's name on a dial.

 
 By: amanico : June 3rd, 2015-06:35

But when it comes to SYL and the GMT MASTER, I am totally crazy, and if you add the fact that it is from 1964, I am mad to depth... Or almost. wink

No, seriously, I never found a GMT MASTER from 1964 with a nice dial. Yours is a delicious exception!

As for the Underline Double Swiss, well... A superb piece, for a connoisseur. Undisputably.

Best, Eko.

Nicolas