What’s one way to make a luxury watch even more luxurious?
Well, if the watch is rare and there are only a few in circulation, that makes it more sought-after.
If it’s famous because of who wore it (maybe an astronaut in space or by James Bond), that can drive up value. What if it’s rare simply because it’s made of rare materials?
Part of what makes a meteorite dial so expensive is its uniqueness — no two look alike.
That’s the thinking behind meteorite dials.
The Gibeon Meteorite was first reported in 1838 but is actually reportedly millions of years old.
Scientists think the rock fell from outer space in prehistoric times and landed in the Namibian desert near the town of Gibeon. Rolex, as the industry’s leader, is always trying to make the next best watch.
Rolex was the first company to use slices of the meteorite in its dials, pairing them with 18k gold or 950 platinum to make one-of-a-kind watches. Rolex attached the slices to the dial surface and treated them with an acid-wash finish to create a crystalline pattern.
This process creates a unique pattern, ensuring that no two Rolex meteorite dials look alike.
Rolex used the meteorite dials on its Daytona and Day-Date models, already two of the most classic in its collection.
The meteorite dials can also be found on Datejust, Pearlmaster and GMT-Master II models.
So what does that uniqueness cost the consumer? Some can fetch as much as $30,000 on the market.
That may seem like a steep price, but the uniqueness and rarity — as well as being able to say you have a space rock on your wrist — is worth the cost for some.
Outside of Rolex, other companies have used meteorites in their dials.
Roles Datejust
Rolex GMT
Omega Speedmaster Grey Side of the Moon
Cartier Earth and Moon
Cartier Rotunde de Earth
Zodiac Super Sea Wolfe
Louis Monet Man on the Moon
Jaquet Droz Grande Seconds
CHARLEY PHOTO OF THE WEEK: Charley had a rough week with all those dang fireworks, but now she’s back on the grind with a daily routine of walks, naps, little snacks and generally looking cute.
Some recent posts
- What is a Rolex Chameleon?
In the 1960s, Rolex offered a ladies model referred to as the “Rolex Chameleon” which had a feature that allowed the user to almost instantly change the leather strap from one color to any other color. The cases were small and conical, with a slot in the back for single-pass straps. Rolex offered many different versions of the Rolex Chameleon and continued the model up through the late 1970s. The.. Read More - What is damaskeening in a watch?
The term “damaskeening” refers to the technique of decorating the plates or bridges of the watch movement with beautiful and intricate engine-applied patterns. While the origin of the term “damaskeening” is unclear, it may be a reference to the swirling patterns found in Damascus steel. Damaskeening is a term that was unique to the American watch industry. Nowhere was the art of embellishment carried to the levels seen on American.. Read More - Rest in Peace Charley
Last Thursday our beloved Charley passed away. She was our “empty nest dog” and for twelve years gave us lots of love, laughter and devotion. She was loved and we miss her dearly. - Watches with cartoon dials
Just like many other artistic and pop-culture influences, animated cartoons have found their place in the watch industry. It isn’t new. The first Mickey Mouse watch was introduced in the 1930s. Cartoon dials are making a comeback today. Below are some of the new cartoon watches on the market. Gerald Genta Mickey Mouse watch Audemars Piguet Black Panther Doraemon Gucci Konstantin Chaykin Minions The Simpsons Oris Kermit Tag Heuer Mario.. Read More - Important watches from the 1950s
The 1950s was a time of tremendous change, and not just because of the advent of rock and roll and the spread of television. The Allied victory in World War II transformed the United States into a global superpower. Everywhere you looked, it seemed risk-takers were diving to the depths of the oceans, summiting the world’s tallest mountains, hitting the race track at new speeds, venturing over the poles and taking to.. Read More