Vintage Rolex: Sports Models [Hardcover]

Martin Skeet (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2005

This comprehensive and detailed reference guide to Rolexs sports model watches is an indispensable asset to watch collectors and dealers. The only work of its kind, it covers the history of the Submariner, Explorer, GMT-Master, Turn-O-Graph, Milgauss, and Cosmograph watches, from 1952 to 1990. The history of more than a hundred and forty vintage models is described in detail, with the watches shown in chronological order. Color photographs illustrate every watch model, with hundreds of diagrams providing clear and useful information. Twenty-two rare Rolex brochures from private collections are shown, in addition to numerous catalog photographs and the sale prices of sports models sold at Christies and Sothebys over the last four years. Also included is a current price guide for every model shown in the book. At a time when Rolex watches dominate the collecting market, this authoritative volume is an essential and timely addition to the library of the Rolex collector and dealer.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Martin Skeet has been collecting Rolex sports models for 12 years. Nick Urul is a internationally-known watch dealer. They each reside in London, England with their families. --This text refers to an alternate Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: Schiffer Publishing; 2 Rev Exp edition (January 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764322486
• ISBN-13: 978-0764322488
• Product Dimensions: 11.4 x 8.9 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,172,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A "must-have" for all fans of vintage Rolex sports watches, January 16, 2007

By 

SeaDweller fan (Copenhagen, Denmark, Europe) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vintage Rolex: Sports Models (Hardcover)

The authors describe this book as a "comprehensive and detailed reference guide to Rolex's sports model watches" and "an indispensable asset to watch collectors and dealers". Modest? No. Correct? Absolutely!

The book is divided into 18 chapters, starting with Rolex chronology and the tool watch concept, followed by chronological descriptions of all models in the Submariner, Sea-Dweller, GMT-Master, Explorer, Milgauss, Turn-O-Graph and Cosmograph model ranges respectively. More brief chapters are dealing with bracelets, boxes, paperwork, and movements. Statistical data in the form of production dates and a price guide is also included.

What I particularly like
First of all, the great advantage of this book is the fact that all watches depicted are from the authors' own collections - this has allowed them to photograph all watches in the exact same position and size, making comparisons between the different model variants very easy. This is important when comparing with other books on Rolex, that mainly use 3rd party photos.

All models are described in chronological order, with information on model number, production period, movement number, bracelet type and size, and some 5-15 lines of specifics for that particular model, pointing towards the - often small - details distinguishing it from previous or later models. I.e. for the 6263 Daytona such text reads: "In 1971 the 6263 model replaced the 6264 model. The model was available with either the standard or exotic dial, and had T Swiss T at the bottom of the dial. On this example, the word Cosmograph is written in a semicircle around the upper half of the lower recording dial." Essential knowledge, really ;-)

Secondly, all models are accompanied by a detailed profile drawing, allowing comparisons of the shapes of glass and bezel, as well as case thickness. Important, when you want to identify the "Superdome" glass profile.

Third, there are 40+ pages of reprints of vintage Rolex brochures, advertisments, owners booklets, catalogues etc. For Sea-Dweller afficionados it will be great to see the 1981 owner's booklet reprint on page 178, showing the 1665 with acrylic lens and 2000 feet rating, alongside the 16660 with sapphire crystal and 4000 feet rating. Later that year, the 1665 was discontinued, leaving only the 16660.

Last, but not least, I really enjoy chapter 18, "Watches sold at Auction" - 50 pages of pictures and details of Rolex watches sold at auctions at Christie's and Sothebys's, in the period 1997-2004. In 1998, a "Red" Submariner 1680 was sold for mere USD 2165. Read and weep... or start collecting right away.

Ahh - not to forget - this is a relatively new book, published in 2005.

Any drawbacks, then?
Not really - or at least nothing major. Although given the title "COMPLETE Visual Reference", one would expect the book to contain pictures of ALL known model variantions. This is apparently not the case, as the military issue of the Submariner 5513 is shown only with the special "high visibility" hand design - while Rolex collectors, as well as James Dowling's Rolex book, will tell, that the military models were also available with the standard "Mercedes" hands. This would have been nice to know, before one accuses eBay sellers of vintage Rolex watches for selling un-original or Frankenstein watches. I won't do that again...

One should note, though, that this books deals with "vintage" models only - that excludes any model currently in production, obviously. For the reason of comparing model evolution, I for one would like to see the current version (i.e. the one on my wrist) pictured alongside it's ancestors, in order to compare those small, but essential details on the dial layout. But then again...

How does it compare to other Rolex books, then?
This will depend on how BROAD one's Rolex interest is, and in which STAGE of Rolex ownership one is.

John Brozek's "Rolex report" provides excellent value for money for the first-time buyer of a modern Rolex, who doesn't want to get "eScrewed" - John's expression, not mine. Lot of stuff on identifying fakes, as well as tons of statistical data and pricelists - showing retail as well as wholesale amounts. Quite good to know the latter, when someone is offering you a never worn NIB Rolex for less... Why, it should make you wonder.

Many people praise James Dowlings book "The Best of Time" as THE Rolex book to get. Maybe so - but not my cup of tea. Far too much emphasis on the very early Prince and Bubbleback models and only brief descriptions of the tool watches.

For some buyers, the overall Rolex history in this book will be too brief, or the statistics on production dates incomplete (as they end in 1998). Do not despair - buy this book anyway, and read the rest on the various Rolex internet forums.

So, my personal view is, that if you are a current or potential owner of a "Professional" series model, Martin Skeet and Nick Urul's excellent book will give you the most relevant insights. It's certainly my favorite, and the one I would chose over all other Rolex books I have seen so far.

Buy and enjoy - You will not be disappointed!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent coverage from two experts who know their subject., December 23, 2010

By 

Ned Middleton (British professional underwater photo-journalist & author) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Vintage Rolex Sports Models: A Complete Visual Reference & Unauthorized History (Hardcover)

There is so much more to a Rolex watch than just excellent craftsmanship. As a scuba diver of almost 40 years standing, I have always owned one or more quality diving watches. When my son turned 14, he also learned to dive and soon became the proud owner of a good diving watch. Whilst, sadly, none were Rolex, my son's interest in diving watches had begun and now, some 15 years later, he has a modest collection coupled with an appreciable knowledge of the subject. Only recently, he advised someone who was selling a certain vintage Rolex model via the internet that the item was very likely to be worth a lot more than the, then, asking price and deserved further investigation. As a result, the price was increased by something in the region of £48,000 before the watch was finally sold. I mention this to underline the fact that there are some extremely valuable historic watches out there with the occasional rare model commanding really serious money.

This book is a revised and up-dated third issue of a really first-rate publication. Limiting the overall (and vast!) subject of Rolex watches to "Sports" models, the two co-authors waste no time in demonstrating their combined knowledge of the subject. Whilst that is, naturally, of prime importance, I found it was also their complete ability to impart this knowledge which makes this book the 5 Star product it truly is.

Whilst I can personally vouch for the importance of a watch to any scuba diver (length of time spent underwater plus maximum depth reached equals time spent in decompression before returning to the surface!!!), I was fascinated to hear a brief account of the importance of the Rolex watch to Edmund Hilary and Tenzing Norgay during the first ascent of Everest in 1953 by the latter's son Jamling Norgay (also a climber) who describes his watch as "undeniably, the most important tool in my climb."

There many occasions when ordinary people place their lives in peril as they undertake all sorts of challenges (not just scuba diving and climbing), during which they place complete faith in their watch to see them safely through that period of increased risk. It stands to reason, therefore, they will choose a good quality timepiece - and Rolex is as good as they come.

But then there are Rolexes and Rolexes!, and in this book we learn of the importance of a good watch right at the very beginning. This is followed by expertly crafted, very detailed yet easy-to-understand chapters on; Rolex Chronology, the Tool watch Concept, Submariner, Sea-Dweller, GMT-Master, Explorer, Milgauss, Turn-O-Graph, Cosmograph, Bracelets, Boxes, Paperwork, Movements, Production Dates, Collecting, Advertisements & Literature, Watches Sold at Auction and finally a Price Guide. In short, an exhaustive content for an exhaustive subject. It is a large format book published in top quality paper with at least one image on almost all of the 264 pages (Index excepted).

Of course, I have no way of knowing if "every" sports model ever made by Rolex is depicted within these pages but I would be surprised to learn if anything at all was missing - simply because the book is so complete.

So, if you are looking for a book of sufficient high quality to do justice to Vintage Rolex Sports Watches, then look no further. I am quite confident you will not be disappointed with this work.

NM

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book For Rolex Watch Collector, June 18, 2011

By 

Corsa Fan - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Vintage Rolex Sports Models: A Complete Visual Reference & Unauthorized History (Hardcover)

"Vintage Rolex Sports Models" is a great little book for both the hobbyist and serious collector of Rolex Sports watches like the GMT Master and the Submariner. It presents a lot of useful information in both the text and photographs. The price is not beyond the reach of the average buyer either. A nice purchase at a fair price for the men and women who love their Rolex and may want to know more about the history of their favorite watch.