Carmel Rolex Get Together (GTG)

August 7, 2009

The brochure for the public viewing told the story well. Click on the images for better images on the original Rolex Deep Sea Special.

GTG-ers gather at Fourtané.

Update July 2020: The store has been remodeled using the Rolex motif universal to any Rolex Authorized Dealer. Despite the Rolex-ification of the Fourtané retail space, vintage Rolex watches are still at the heart of the store.

More GTG-ers look and discussing watches.

Get Together aficionados also saw three of the most coveted Rolex dive watches in history, including Patrick Roude and Jacques Verpeaux’s Janus IV Comex Sea Dwellers as well as the original Deep Sea Special.

This event is probably the first and last time all the Sea Dweller prototypes have been accounted for and on display at one time. Although these watches were laboratory tested to a depth of 601 meters, these watches actually traveled underwater to a depth of 501 meters strapped to the wrists of these divers. In 1977, diving to such a depth was astounding for both the watch and the diver.  

In addition to viewing the original Deep Sea Special, GTG participants were able to view Hasn Wildorf's first Rolex wristwatch. Hans Wildorf’s first watch sported a gold case, porcelain dial, with a red 12 indicating noon or midnight.

Even the first Rolex watch has a touch of red would later become a well known indicator of rare watches such as the Double Red Sea Dweller and Red Submariners.

Hans Wildorf's first Rolex wristwatch. The papers from Rolex call this watch "Hans Wildorf's first wrist watch."

GTG-ers examining a rare Rolex piece. Wearing two watches, one on each wrist, is held in high regard during a watch GTG. Philippe Stahl examines a Rolex using a loupe while Eric Ku looks with aniticipation.

A very rare collection of Milgauss and Submariner large crowns.

Numerous watches displayed and shared.

Josh Bonifas had custom Deep Sea wine bottled for the event.

Cookies from Eric Ku's bakery that he owned at the time. Eric and Jacek Kozubek (now owner of HQ Milton.com) used an old Rolex display piece as a stencil for the five point Rolex crown.

Rolex cookies required Rolex napkins.

Robert, more commonly known as Dr. Rolex, is the resident watchmaker at Fourtané.

This is one piece that Robert recently finished restoring and rebuilding. This pre-Daytona chronograph; it works perfectly.

After viewing watches, GTG-ers walked around to the corner to a local restaurant to continue the discussion on watches.

GTG-ers traveled from the Netherlands, Hong Kong, as well as from the East Coast to experience this event.

As my wife pointed out, "it's purely about the watches."