freddy333

The thing that amazes me (this is the 5th or 6th Passion Meeting, so I am getting used to seeing the watches themselves ) is how everyone is able to identify their own watch when it is time to leave.

I have not handled the finished product, but I assisted DW with the specs of this & some of his other cases. So it should be pretty good in accepting gen parts (you may need to modify the case or install a spacer ring to fit a non-gen movement, but check with DW for details).

Unless you are having ALOT of problems with the SL &/or there was a titanic shift in the earth's crust that relocated Stuttgart's designers and assemblers to the longitudinal plots previously inhabited by Motor City, I think that swapping a modern 'Vette for a modern SL would be a bad idea. And I say that as an ex-'Vette owner (red '68 427cid with black interior - a lightning-fast beauty that could not navigate a corner to save its life).

Whenever I see pics like that, I become suspicious.

I was just going to say that America makes great cars, as long as you drive on wide highways without turns.

They look pretty good depending on the price.

Ditto.

Alligoat - (Of course, with the usual disclaimer in effect that in vintage Rolex world anything is possible) I think those non-chapter ring dialed 5512s had their dials swapped sometime after the watch left the factory, because the only 55xxs I have seen in official Rolex documents that lack both the chapter ring & SCOC text are powered by non-chronometer-rated movements, which make them 5513s.

Very simple. Your 5512 dial without the chapter ring is a 5513 dial. Your 5512 dial that has a chapter ring is a 5512 dial. The chapter ring indicates the watch is powered by a chronometer-rated movement (the 5513 is NOT chronometer rated).

The 1st rep I ever saw (& bought) that was powered by a 'real Swiss-made movement' (this was a big deal back in the mid-80s when all reps came with either quartz or cheap, unbranded Asian-made/designed mechanicals) had an ETA 2846 & it ran fine for 20 years without a service. It was 2nd watch I ever overhauled when I was learning watchmaking & it is still running well today. Of course, now that I know better, I know not to let a movement go without an overhaul that long, but the point is that any movement is only as good/reliable as its last overhaul. If done well, they will run well for many years. If done poorly or not at all, you are likely to experience problems from day-1.

Assuming the 2nd watchmaker is correct about the condition of your balance, Borel has the complete balance assembly for $47.

I was going by this pic I do not see the internal valve components at 4 o'clock, or even the cut-out in the inside wall of the case where they would fit? I will check my archives for a better pic, but this should give you an idea of what it should look like

5512s have a chapter ring that runs around the circumference of the dial, which is how you can tell them apart from the standard 5513, which contains a non-chronometer-rated 1520 movement (5512, depending on vintage, is powered by 1530, 1560 or 1570).

I think they are all gens, but every 1 has issues. Each watch has some component or components that appear to be either aftermarket, swapped from a different gen model or modified in some way. That said, while $100 grand is alot of cash, it may be a good deal if you price each watch individually. The way I see it, he could probably get another $20k by parting the collection out. So, if you look at it that way, it is a bargain. Still, you would not end up with 100% correct examples, which I am sure is why the seller is offering them as a package deal.

It is a beauty. If you want to tweak it a bit more, consider installing a working He valve & have the dial relumed with non- or barely-glowing lume (or paint). Very few of the gens have any glow left in them (I have never actually seen 1 that glows in the past 10 years), let alone that give-away green hue I see in some of the pics that denotes modern lume.

(Click pic for link)

I am not normally a fan of yellow gold, but in this case I would make an exception. In any case, a beautiful watch, Ubi. Stay tuned................

A bit off-topic, but on another tv show, Million Dollar Listing on Bravo TV, everyone wears a Rolex (& never misses a chance to display it - Rolex must be spending half their profits for 2012 in product placements here)

5512 contains a chronometer rated (by COSC) movement while the 5513 does not. This is why the '12 contains the additional 'Superlative Chronometer Officially Certified' text on the dial (or the chapter ring) & the '13 does not. Otherwise, the cases & ancillary components are the same.

Cannot be 100% certain, especially without good, clear macros of the surface texture (very difficult to replicate the natural patina of 40 years of age/use), but it looks good. That said, consider its condition, I think I would opt for a PMWF or, if you can afford a couple hundred $, another gen in better condition.