alligoat

That case is for a Datejust Thunderbird, but it doesn't have the Thunderbird bezel anymore. The crystal sits too high- don't know if the Thunderbird has a different crystal or the case is different or what. Don't know if you could install a 25-295C crystal and get it back to the regular height to go with the engine turned bezel that's on there now. The clear caseback isn't that big a deal since no one will see it.

+1, it's not a 3135 clone, just an Asian eta with some 3135 markings.

Looks good, enjoy!

I just looked at the Yuki dial and those markers are way too big! Too bad.

16800 and 16610 dials are interchangeable! Dial feet are in the same place and diameter is the same. If Rolex were to service your 16800 and put a new dial in it, it would be the same dial as is used in the 16610s. So if you can buy a rep 16800 dial, as long as it fits in your 16610 case, you're good to go.

Prior to 1963 when Rolex started using tritium, dials were typically marked 'SWISS'. But you've found one that was marked 'SWISS MADE'. Cool! Seems like OCC also went out around 1963, but I'm not sure. Early 1016s would have had the 1560 movement since the 1570 didn't come out until around 1965.

That sounds like a good deal to me. I've also wondered about taking the puretime cartel bracelet and putting a TC clasp on it- it may say 92350 on the clasp, but it would still look good.

Sure- fine sandpaper, toothbrush, polish and elbow grease

With a good bezel pearl, maybe you won't need any gen parts, Mike! Rep crowns are pretty good these days and gen crystals are nice, but expensive. I kinda like the old moniker- "no gen parts were harmed in the building of this rep!" And TC parts are so good, we're almost there.

Depends on when the 9411 dates from. If it's after 1970, you would think it does, but not necessarily so since the 5513/2 subs before 1970 were WR w/o it and Tudor was the economy model- but machining a groove and installing a gasket is cheap, so why wouldn't they?

Gen dials don't always fit in rep cases. But on my last DJ build I got a rep case from mymanmatt and it worked out fine. And the price for the case, bezel, crystal, tube, crown and spacer ring was very reasonable. The dial from Yuki was $158, hands from Clarks were around $14 and I had the Asian 2836-2 w/ dwo left over from another project. With an aftermarket jubilee, I think I've got around $325 in the watch. Or you could try to get a case off ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-60s-Rolex-Steel-Datejust-1601-Case-parts-/191003289444?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2c78aee764 and go from there- gen dial- even a quickset DJ dial should fit in this case, maybe a 2824-2 movt, and a bezel from WSO or jandk, gen crown (24-600) and you're good to go.

I agree with rsh on this, the ST bezel is ok, but it's a little bit overdone with the deep scallops. Look at this gen bezel from a late model 16610 Also, the bezel is a wear item, on older watches it will be smoother and worn down, much more softer like on this R serial 16610

The gasket came into existence around 1970 or so. Since the 1680 came into existence between 1967 and 1969, I don't know if early models had the gasket or not. I do know early 5513/2s didn't have it. It's the same size gasket as the caseback one on the 5513, 5512 and 1680. This was discussed around here 4-6 years ago!

1970 would be a 1600 series DJ. 160xx DJs came in around 1978. If it's a piepan dial, it's a 1600, but I can't tell from the pic.

I looked thru ebay and it looks like it could be a 1600, 1601 or a 1603. Most likely it's a 1601 because that's what there was the most of. I guess all you can do is look at the model number between the lugs. I agree about it being too high priced- $2000-2500 is retail, $1500 would be wholesale.

Looks very good to me also.

I don't think that is J&W- too many watches and diamonds for sale- just another Estate auctioneer in Scottsdale. But J&W is in the same neighborhood- Scottsdale/Tempe/Mesa/Phoenix area.

KH dial is the latest dial from TC- it's very nice.

geez R, the only thing I might nitpick is the squat crown emblem on the crown this one here looks just a tad taller. The crown position relative to the case looks perfect, so I'm figuring it has a TC2824-2. Frankly, it all looks good and if no gen parts were used, it looks even better!

Very nice R! You certainly have the formula down to a tee!

You always are taking a chance with these old movements, but if you can pick it up for $40-50 or less and have it serviced for $70 or so, it's a good deal as far as I'm concerned. You'll also need a set of hands which you can get from Clarks.

+1, looks good to me!

Looking at the dimensions, I was thinking that a 3155 movement might fit in a 3035 DJ case being that there is only .10 mm difference. But once again, stem height could be a factor here. And a 3155 would be expensive- I would figure it would run $1750-2000. I wonder how the dial would do on a 2836-2/2834-2 movement in a rep case?

You'd sure hope it's the same! My watchmaker changed the 702 assembly on my gen 1680 to a 703 assembly w/o a hitch, but he did retap the hole just to be safe. And I don't swim w/ that watch, so I'll never test it!

Yeh, I think selling the 5508 service dial might be the best idea also. There's been a lot of nice 6538 builds around here lately, so you've got some good reading to do on the topic- good luck.