Jump to content

Looking for help identifying approximate date and information of this 14k ladies Rolex


Recommended Posts

Hello! I tried posting this on Rolexforums.com but didn't get any responses.  I know that the Cameleon/chameleon was generally made circa 1950s-60s and some in the 70s. I haven't been able to find anything regarding this specific reference number (or is it a case number?) 85008. I've also seen similar watches referred to as a reference 5003 but I can't find that anywhere on this case. I've found some nearly identical ones listed but different sources say different dates. Some say it's from the 1970s and others say the 1950s. Box looks more 50s to me but I don't want to be wrong by two decades when I try and sell it. I was wondering if anyone had any additional information/ads/lit or year that this may have been made? 14k case with 14k band and additional bands/box photos attached.

Thank you for any help you can provide.

Attached Images

PXL_20221114_132610026.jpg

PXL_20221114_132553129.jpg

PXL_20221114_132003057.jpg

PXL_20221114_131450592.jpg

PXL_20221111_183741827.jpg

PXL_20221111_183448064.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

20 hours ago, mikepilk said:

As you can see on the movement, the calibre is 1400 - which was made from the 60s.

Try Googling something like "Ladies Rolex cal 1400" - quite a few for sale are listed.

I've seen that too but none of the sources I found seemed to be that reputable or comprehensive. The few that mentioned its manufactured date simply say "from the 1960s" which is vague and leads me to believe that they don't actually have that much information on it. It seems like the chameleon was released in 1953 and appear to be fairly consistent in size. The 1400 was the smallest movement produced by Rolex so if it wasn't the 1400 in 1953 I'm not sure which alternative caliber it could be? I have yet to find another chameleon with a different caliber which makes me suspicious that the caliber wasn't made at least a little prior to the 60s

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.



  • Recently Browsing

    • No registered users viewing this page.
  • Topics

  • Posts

    • I found this from a while back CS100 seems fine, but at around 500 Vickers it's not quite as hard as "blue" steel, but still harder than annealed. I'd try to find annealed (the post above has a U.K. supplier of small quantities).
    • As an experiment i was thinking of not hardening it to see how it fairs. Now that i have a complete template i could knock up another in half the time if this loses its elasticity. I might play about with a few pieces today to test their bending and spring properties. This was cs 100 the supplier quoted in annealed state, it was nice to work with files so I'm taking it thats its state. What you are looking seems like it would need annealing to work it. This is why i went for this stuff that cuts out that process, it was so easy to work.
    • Showing state of hairspring on receipt, backplate & 'dished' wheel.  Thanks, Nev. Amplitude v. weak - balance wheel turns over arc of only ~20deg. Don't know how to calculate movement rate or safely vibrate balance spring! Meantime I have reduced the 'dishing' & clock no longer runs for more than a few minutes except face down which supports my theory that it was 'dished' as a hack to avoid doing a proper repair.
    • I would harden and temper (to a light blue). It's so easy to do and only takes a couple of minutes. A search on ebay UK for "spring steel strip cs" finds plenty available in small quantites and thicknesses from 0.1mm up.  But the question is ( @nickelsilver) which "CS" number is best for watch parts ?  Also, from one of the ads : "CARBON SPRING STEEL. SIZE IS METRIC 15.00mm X 0.10mm X 304 MM  CS100 FINISH BRIGHT . HARDENED AND TEMPERD TO 480-530VPN" I've no idea about 480-530VPN. Does that mean it needs annealing before working?       Have you seen this video, he shows how to determine where the indents go ?  
    • Here is the insert ring for rectangular or elliptical movements: Note that the length is the side with the stem cut out on the spreadsheet (in the picture below this is 15.15: Here is the fake pdf file, again you need to convert to .zip after download to access the FreeCAD and 3mf files. Rectangular insert disc.pdf    
×
×
  • Create New...