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Old 1 September 2011, 10:47 AM   #1
Watch-My-Wrist
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Are there any Rolex models that were made specifically for the Japanese market...

I'm familiar with the famous Space Dweller that was available only in the Japanese market, but has Rolex made any others besides that?
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:09 AM   #2
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I have told & I think there maybe a link here that Rolex made a blue dial blue bezel Sub for Japan.
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:18 AM   #3
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That's what I was told, but I haven't been able to find anything on it either here or by Google. Must be rarer than the Space Dweller! :)
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:23 AM   #4
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Could this be the Sub you are referring to?



I'm being told that there's a modern all blue sub that was made specifically for the Japanese market.
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:27 AM   #5
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Would love to hear about the Japanese sea dweller. If you google Japanese sea dweller you just get links to replicas. Gross.
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:28 AM   #6
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Could this be the Sub you are referring to?



I'm being told that there's a modern all blue sub that was made specifically for the Japanese market.
I don't like the hour markers...otherwise that's a pretty sweet watch. I've certainly never seen it...
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:39 AM   #7
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Would love to hear about the Japanese sea dweller. If you google Japanese sea dweller you just get links to replicas. Gross.
I Googled Japanese Rolex Submariner and found lots of replica Japanese movement Subs, but nothing else to speak of.
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:49 AM   #8
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That blue Sub pic came from a thread here, back in 2008. padi56 posted it and said it was from the 1980s, for the Asian market:

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...t=52396&page=2
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Old 1 September 2011, 12:05 PM   #9
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I'm familiar with the famous Space Dweller that was available only in the Japanese market, but has Rolex made any others besides that?
I am interested to know why Rolex made a special edition model for the Japanese market?

I am aware that even Omega had made special Speedmaster versions just for the Japanese market.

I have never heard of Singapore versions or China versions....what makes Japan so special?
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Old 1 September 2011, 12:26 PM   #10
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I know they made Submariners in the Chinese/HK market with a special serial(all 8's) that I thought was cool. In Chinese culture, a series of 8's is good luck. Would like to own one of those.
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Old 1 September 2011, 12:42 PM   #11
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I know they made Submariners in the Chinese/HK market with a special serial(all 8's) that I thought was cool. In Chinese culture, a series of 8's is good luck. Would like to own one of those.

Well not really Submariners only but all models meant for the HK market.

What you meant is the country code which is 888 for HK and 460 for Singapore , 431 for Malaysia etc. Different codes for different countries.

ALL models meant for that market will have the same code. It is not part of the serial number and is not engraved on the watch....it just appears on the paper/card that comes with the watch.
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Old 1 September 2011, 12:50 PM   #12
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I am interested to know why Rolex made a special edition model for the Japanese market?

I am aware that even Omega had made special Speedmaster versions just for the Japanese market.

I have never heard of Singapore versions or China versions....what makes Japan so special?
Simple economics really. In the 80s Japan was probably one of the wealthiest if not the wealthiest country in the world, with businessmen literally carrying brief cases of money to go out drinking, flying to New Zealand etc...just to play golf (because it was cheaper than playing in Japan!!). Rolex obivously thought (as many people still do) that Japanese have money to burn.
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Old 1 September 2011, 12:59 PM   #13
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Simple economics really. In the 80s Japan was probably one of the wealthiest if not the wealthiest country in the world, with businessmen literally carrying brief cases of money to go out drinking, flying to New Zealand etc...just to play golf (because it was cheaper than playing in Japan!!). Rolex obivously thought (as many people still do) that Japanese have money to burn.
WOW!! Thanks Rye ! That is part of Rolex /world history I didn't know about.

Anybody got more pics on made models specially for the Japanese market?

I deduce that it these models will probably fetch a premium since it is relatively exclusive....
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Old 1 September 2011, 01:09 PM   #14
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This one?
Attached Images
File Type: jpg Flower.jpg (290.2 KB, 831 views)
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Old 1 September 2011, 02:28 PM   #15
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This one?

....cute Joey!! Nice one!!
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Old 1 September 2011, 02:46 PM   #16
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This one?
How about a hello kitty pattern?
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Old 1 September 2011, 03:20 PM   #17
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Rolex with Japanese movements.... from night market in Thailand
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Old 1 September 2011, 10:41 PM   #18
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Yes they have made special models for the Asian market, even recently did one...

Otto posted about it just a few months ago......
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Old 1 September 2011, 11:28 PM   #19
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The Space Dweller. Not for sale and under glass at a used/grey dealer Rolex shop near my house in Japan. Enjoy. The model was made in very low numbers only for the Japanese market. Extremely rare. The owner was nice enough and trusting enough to take it out from behind its locked glass case to let me take a few pics.




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Old 2 September 2011, 01:14 AM   #20
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The Space Dweller. Not for sale and under glass at a used/grey dealer Rolex shop near my house in Japan. Enjoy. The model was made in very low numbers only for the Japanese market. Extremely rare. The owner was nice enough and trusting enough to take it out from behind its locked glass case to let me take a few pics.




He's certainly got more than a few great pieces there

Cheers for the pics Tom
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Old 2 September 2011, 01:25 AM   #21
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WOW Thanks for the pics Tom!

It looks similar to the Explorer I 36 mm. Rolex must have used the Explorer I as a prototype for this watch.

Anybody knows why it is called "Space Dweller"???

Does it have a 3130 movement?
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Old 2 September 2011, 01:26 AM   #22
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thanks for the post!
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Old 2 September 2011, 01:42 AM   #23
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Could this be the Sub you are referring to?



I'm being told that there's a modern all blue sub that was made specifically for the Japanese market.
To me this has always been an interesting piece. There are those that have said it was indeed a piece made for the Asian market in the 80's. There are also strong collectors that feel this was a parts watch and never released by Rolex.

I'm not sure what to think. It hard to find reliable information on the reference.
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Old 2 September 2011, 02:19 AM   #24
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Well not really Submariners only but all models meant for the HK market.

What you meant is the country code which is 888 for HK and 460 for Singapore , 431 for Malaysia etc. Different codes for different countries.

ALL models meant for that market will have the same code. It is not part of the serial number and is not engraved on the watch....it just appears on the paper/card that comes with the watch.
Thanks for clarifying! I was under the impression they were used in the serial number. Thanks for the heads up.
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Old 2 September 2011, 07:57 AM   #25
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I have only seen a 16610 LV that was imported from hong kong into the uk

It had a brown & gold hologram with some funny symbol on

That was all that was different
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Old 2 September 2011, 11:35 AM   #26
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Thanks for clarifying! I was under the impression they were used in the serial number. Thanks for the heads up.
You are most welcome Brandon.!
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Old 2 September 2011, 02:49 PM   #27
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WOW Thanks for the pics Tom!

It looks similar to the Explorer I 36 mm. Rolex must have used the Explorer I as a prototype for this watch.

Anybody knows why it is called "Space Dweller"???

Does it have a 3130 movement?
Something to do with the space program in the 60s where some astronuats visited Japan I believe. Please correct me if I am wrong.
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Old 2 September 2011, 03:51 PM   #28
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They make a turn o graph with a green second hand and green date wheel for this year.
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Old 2 September 2011, 04:14 PM   #29
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wow..great info...thanks everyone...
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Old 2 September 2011, 06:06 PM   #30
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They make a turn o graph with a green second hand and green date wheel for this year.
Rolex is still making LE models for Japan!!....and I thought it was all in the 80s.

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