Rolex

This week end: enjoying my new imperfect vintage...

 

As collectors of vintage watches, we are always seeking for the most "perfect" example of our object of desire: an unpolished case, original dial and set of hands, matching patina and an original and good working movement are some of the features which make for the "perfect" vintage timepiece.

All this considered, the watch I´ve been wearing during the last couple of weeks, and intend to keep on my wrist during next week end, is an "imperfect watch", but it had kept me smiling every time I took a glance to it.

Case is full but rather battered, with lots of little "scars" which tell about its hard past military life. The second hand is not the original nor the correct one for a "flake" model. I also suspect that the minute and hour hands were replacements or relumed.

The blue dial got some scratches on its surface, etc.

In spite of all these details, making for its imperfections to consider it an "ideal" vintage watch, I still love it, and it invites me to keep wearing it during more days.

I have been searching for one of its kind for some time now, and I got it thanks to the information generously given to me by my friend FranciscV also a Purists colleague.

It is a reference 94110 of circa 1978/79.
It got an all red date disk, which adds charm to its dial. The movement is in very nice condition and perfectly working inside.

... But its most important and interesting detail remains hidden to the viewer and only known to the owner...

It belongs to a limited quantity of timepieces bought by some Armed Force of Argentina, during the last years of the 1970´s decade and mid 1980`s, probably for use by our military tactical divers Special Corps.

It has been speculated that "Ci" means "Cuerpo de Ingenieros" or "Cuerpo de Infanteria" but I personally do not agree and believe that it has a different meaning.

May be it means something like: "Codigo de inventario" (inventory code). A five digit code which helped to keep track of the timepices issued to members of the Armed Force it belonged.

I feel that if the meaning of "Ci"  had been the name of the armed corp, both letters would be capital letters, like "MN" for the Marine Nationale watches.

At the moment, all my intents of disclosing the mistery of the real meaning of "Ci" has been fruitless, in spite of the different articles posted in several Forums, and some research I could do here.

I know my dear friend Nicolas is working in a full report about this matter and I´m sure his work will surprise us with some great photographs and new info about these little known Tudor series. I am eagerly looking forward to view said report.

May be we are lucky to find some new info about Ci in a near future. In the meantime, I will keep enjoying this imperfect but charming watch, which I hope you´ll like.

Have a great week end friends!
Very cordially, Abel.

This message has been edited by Subexplorer on 2014-01-31 14:08:56