HEWLIO
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Posts posted by HEWLIO
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Gotta be fake,the whole watch looks like crap.
Fake or not,why would you be interested in it?....
Regardless if it is real or fake it will only sell for $250.
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Yeah i know theres something weird going on with that bracelet. Im going to stop down to the auction house and give it a look on friday.
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A rolex poped up at a local estate auction. Can any one tell if this is real or fake?
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HEWLIO,
I hope that you enjoy the watch. It's yours, and if your happy with it, that's all that counts. What most of us are trying to say here is those parts have been changed at some point in time. i would respect JoJo's opinion, he has forgotten more about Rolex Vintage sport models than most of us will ever know. The reason the hands aren't original, is the aging is different. If they were all from the same time, either original or all changed at one time, they would be all the same patina, yours are not. As far as your insert, the pearl is definitely later, it's not a tritium pearl.I would suspect that the previous owner(s)had their service done by a local watchmaker. This doesn't look like what would come from RSC. Also RSC supplies service papers that outline everything that was done to the watch. They also mark the inside of the case back with the date of service.Did the seller take the case back off to show you the movement and the inside of the case back?
the biggest problem that I can see is, should you decide to sell this watch sometimes in the future, a knowledgeable buyer will see all these things that aren't correct, and won't be willing to pay the same for this watch as he would for one that was all original, or had service parts replaced with the correct ones.
I just saw a really nice vintage Rolex 1675 GMT for sale. The previous owner sent the watch to a RSC and told them "I want it to look like a new watch". Unfortunately, this was a gilt dial model that is quite valuable in good condition. RSC removed the gilt dial and hands and replaced them with a newer service dial and hands. They were correct for the 1675, but they came on a later model. What the result is the fellow spent almost 2000 Dollars on this service. When he replaced the dial and hands it decreased the value of the watch by probably 2-3 thousand dollars. He now has a watch worth 4000 dollars and with a nice set of gilt hands and dial, it would have been worth 7000 or more.What I'm trying to say with all this is the more you know, the better prepared you are to make decisions. Had this fellow known anything about Rolex Vintage models, or had he gone on one of the Rolex forums and posted a photo or two of his watch before he sent it in to the RSC, he would have realized that changing out the dial and hands was a big mistake. the big problem here is most watch sellers and watchmakers including Rolex Service Centers will not give you advice about what you should do or shouldn't do to your watch. If you tell them, make it look like new, by Gosh, that's what they do. If it's and independent watchmaker, he will probably keep the gilt dial and hands, or your old tritium hands, dial, insert, etc. and sell them, as there is a very active market for vintage Rolex parts.
If you think we are feeding you a line of BS, I would take some good photos of your watch and post them on the Vintage Rolex Forum, I would ask those guys what they think about your watch, what the value is and what you need to do to get it to really proper condition.Of course all of this is your decision, and I certainly hope that we haven't offended you with our comments. We were all trying to paint a realistic picture of the situation. I hope too that we have answered your questions, even though some of the answers weren't what you necessarily wanted to hear.
No, I have not seen if there is any writing on the inside of the case back. I know all about how rolex service centers take the original dials. The guy in the store where I bought this told me all about it. With knowing this I am never going to send it to any rolex service centers. I will have it fixed locally if it needs to be. I don't think you guys are giving me a line of BS. I really appreciate the knowledge im gaining from this thread alone, but in that same respect I am a little ticked off that I just spent 4k on a rolex and I find out that some of the parts are not original. But I guess I realized that going in when buying a vintage. Again I do appreciate all the info, because if there is a next time I will be much more informed.
Where'd you get it in Beantown? You should have PM'd me - I would have brought you a celebratory drink!!!
I got it at one of the jewelry stores on washington street right in boston.
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well after looking at it ALOT closer I really think that the hands are original to this watch. The hour hand is alot darker than the minute and second hand. But it still could be the original one. If the dial is not original I will eat my hat. As for the bezel, I can believe that the insert was replaced, but im not sure about the bezel itself. If you guys dont like it then thats your opinion. I happen to like it alot and I think its going to stay with me for a while.
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Well, you did say that you finagled a fair price, so cost is relative I suppose.
The insert and pearl is obviously a replacement lumi, as is the crown. The bezel has a different cut than my original, so evidently that was changed as well. The hands, wow, not even close (although the second hand looks original).
Don't forget that even these transitional are really old, and parts do get replaced over the years. However, a buyer should be fully aware of obvious changes before attempting a purchase. After all, these things do cost a lot of money, and who do you want to have the edge, them, or you?
ya i understand that parts do get replaced. I can tell that the movement has been taken out at least once. I am guessing that the dial is original and whoever had it before me decided to change out the hands, and did a poor job of finding ones that match. They had another transitional there and it was too white. but an interesting thing is the bezel was more like yours and to me it looked really worn out. Maybe thats how it always was, i have no idea. So can i call this a gen or what? and what do you think this watch is honestly worth? I want to know if i over paid.
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Umm... I really hate to sound harsh, but I did suggest you to research first
The parts (except for the dial, and you did say you could live with that) are not original. Below is a pic of my transitional 16800:
...notice the matching hands, the inset and pearl, and the crown.
For all new collectors ready to venture out into the gen world... remember, research research research!
PS: come to think of it, I have serious doubts about the bezel as well...
So are those parts real at least so i don't have to return it? and you didn't tell me how much it was worth.
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Now you'll need to find a dial, an insert with the correct pearl, a set of min and hour hands, and a vintage crown. What mil serial range is it?
...I hope you didn't pay too much
the serial is 80xxxxx. Whats wrong with any of those things, they are original. I looked at the prices on ebay, and i dont think I over paid. How much do you guys think its worth? Ill get some better pictures in a minute.
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I just got back from boston where i got my new gen. My dad and I had a good time finagling prices. We saw some really nice vintages. There wasn't a huge selection but I decided on a 16800 transitional. Its a great looking watch and I think i am really going to like it. Its a 1983, it has the box and papers. The dial markers are nicely aged which is right up my alley. The only problem is the dial has some sort of grease or something on it as you can see in the pics. I guess I don't mind it, it gives the watch some character. But other than that I just wanted to thank all the guys on here that have helped me out around this forum. Im not sure if I will stay in the rep world or not, but if not I have had one hell of a good time with them.
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Well I have decided to take a trip to boston on Friday. I hear there is a street or something of the sort that has a bunch of stores on Washington Street that sell used Rolex's. Hopefully I will beable to find a 1680 or another 70's model in my price range. Does anyone know if those stores have websites that show their stock? Thanks
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Been there, done that. I would recommend that you research the watches that fit into your budget first. After that, try to pick an exact watch you're looking for. Let's take the 1680 as an example: for 5k the red dials are definitely out, but even considering the white dials, which Mk white dial are you interested in? What serial range? bracelet/head combo? insert, crown/tube, crystal, service history, provenance?
If the answers to the previous questions didn't immediately pop into your head, you'll need to do lots more research.
Good luck with your search!
JJ
Well some of those i have no clue about. But yes defiantly the all white dial, I know I would like it to have a Box with Papers, I want a regular bracelet with a Flip lock clasp not the single flip shorter one (ive seen a few out there). But I am looking at what is available, there are not that many options. If I cannot find anything closer, friday maybe I am going to take a ride to a shop that has one in stock just outside NYC, See if i can get it cheaper than the asking price.
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Where are you located? Are you looking for a physical store? I know a few great ones in Boston, Massachusetts and Greenwich/Stamford, Connecticut USA...
Im in upstate NY and Boston is about the same distance from me as the only "local" store that has one. Do they have an online store with pictures of their pieces?
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I am having trouble finding a good place to buy a Gen 1680. I have found one place near me that has one 1680 in stock. Are there any sites that are really really trustworthy to buy used and vintage gens from? Also do you guys know of any other options besides a 1680 i could get? I want either a sub or a sea dweller. its gatta be vintage like before the silver dial markers, and i have about 5k to spend. Thanks
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Hi Guys,
I was wondering if there was a way to make the bezel on the 1680 turn more smoothly. The one on my 1680 is really stiff and I would love for it to spin more freely. Where would I look to make it spin? Thanks!!!
Pop it off with a knife and clean it. I had the same problem with a 1665 the other day. As soon as I put it back on it was fine.
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Sorry, I thought you were getting a gen bracelet. In the case of the rep version (the 1 with pin-screws), instead of messing with resizing, I would replace it with just about anything (those are the some of the worst (fake looking) bracelets ever made).
I really don't think this one looks all that bad. Yes, I can agree that the entire watch is really cheap. But, the whole thing has a nice look and I will enjoy this one for the short time that it will most likely last.
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wow, what a pain in the ass riveted bracelets are. Mine came with screws on the end. They are tiny, they are nearly impossible to screw back in one you take them out. Thats if you can even get the pins out. I had to use a vice and 5 different pairs of pliers and vice grips to hold the pin in so it wouldn't move.
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How do you remove links from a riveted bracelet? What tools will I need. I have a GMT master with a riveted bracelet coming tomorrow, and im not sure how to remove the links. Thanks
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FYI, the crystal retainer ring should not have come loose when you popped off the bezel. The retainer ring is usually pressed with a (hand) machine so it goes on flat and true. However, considering you have a rep, and it very well may have come loose, you may want to use small dabs of hypo so it seats. Pressing it down can be accomplished by hand if you use a dowel or similar non-marring tool to slowly work your way around the retainer, pressing it home. After that sets for a day or so, the bezel can be pressed over it so it snaps back in.
I was guessing thats what was going on. That inner ring is not going to come off. It was secure just not on all the way. I pushed it back in with the edge of the knife i got the bezel off with and its fine now.
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On a 1665 you put on the piece that holds the crystal on first. It should be good and tight. The bezel and spring snap down over that.
Well i got it on and i dont think it will fall off unless i force it off. But its not on perfectly. I suspect that the inner ring around the crystal isnt quite on all the way. But i think its fine for now.
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The crown would have nothing to do with the bezel, and if it did touch, you've got bigger problems than just the bezel not turning!
Why don't you just pop the bezel off with a flat blade and clean it?
Well that was easy. but i cant really get it to stay back on. How might i go about doing that?
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By chance, is the crown screwed in too tight causing it not to turn?
its a 1665. Its screwed in all the way and it isnt anywhere near the bezel.
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Is there a way to loosen them up? i am assuming that its just dirt because it just locked up now it was loose before. I was thinking about using just a drop of slick 50 but im not sure if that would work. Are there methods of getting these bezels to unlock? Thanks
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Well i ordered this and also another $98 sea dweller from josh. Hopefully that GMT will be nice.
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Both of those look like they are very nice quality for the price. Can anyone tell me if they are good?
Rolex at a local auction
in Name & Shame
Posted
I will probably go look at it and Ill snap a few pictures. The crown looks huge. and the dial looks beveled, odd?