freddy333

I think it is fitting that I post 1 of my favorite reps & 1 that would not be in my collection were it not for RWG (& it has a green hand for St. Patrick's Day) Happy Birthday RWG

It's a Mystery again

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 have yet to find a rep with the correct engraving, but let us know if yours fits the bill.

Wearing Patek today

Where did you locate a correctly engraved case?

In my experience, something more robust than a razor is required to unbend the steel links - like a pair of flat head screwdrivers. I would add that the 2 times I have tried to unfold/refold links myself, they ended up bent/mangled/deformed, so I would seek the assistance of a Rolex watchmaker unless you do not mind some crumpling or feel very lucky/courageous.

Any of the following (depending on the age of the 1680) are correct for the 1680 (bracelet model/end links)- (Riveted) 7206/80, (folded link) 9315/280 or 380 or (solid link) 93150/580 Andy, MY, TZ or ebay.

Nanuq - The pearls in the pics I posted above are gens (the '6200' insert came from MY).

No, slightly smaller (both the pearl & its hole in the insert). From what I have seen, these early pearls tend to vary a bit in size. The later pearls on the 1665 & 551x slightly overlap the triangle's outer bounds while the 1 constant seems to be that the 55xx/653x Sub pearls always fit within the confines of the triangle

Somewhat amazingly, my chs from the initial run (with gen crystal, crown & tube) is still going strong

A Mystery today

Some have painted or varnished the pearl, but I think the best (most natural looking) method is, as Gorilladame suggested, to drill (or pick) the contents out & refill with your choice of colored substrate/paint. Here is a gen that is probably close to the color you are after

I am not sure about this particular combination of clasp & links, but both look gen to me. Could be some variation of the original Gay Fr

I think most Rolex sports watches of that period were fit with a standard Twinlock, but the initial runs, with Brevet signed cases, would have had a Brevet crown

Is it a 5508 or a 6536 (as the seller described the watch in the Description section)? Obviously relumed dial & aftermarket bracelet (& incorrect for this model).

I did this a couple of years ago & write a mini-tutorial that you may be able to search out. But, basically, I just used a dremel with a grinding head & ground off metal until I had the shape I needed. Then switched to polishing/buffing wheels with the usual green rouge until the surface was finished. There is really no magic or complicated procedures involved. Just grind & polish with your tool of choice.

Not much to add regarding the transaction/shipment itself, but, in general, never include the word 'watch' on any declaration or contents listing. It will catch the eye of every miscreant along the way. Instead, use 'clock' or 'timing' or something synonymous that is easily explained (as a means to counter postal theft) to a customs official should they inquire.

Like it or not, I think every watch enthusiast should have at least 1 classic Rolex - either a Sub or DJ, rep or gen. So 1 of my 1st rep watches was a DJ & my 1st gen was also a DJ. I have sampled just about every type & style of wrist watch over the past 25+ years - big, small, flashy & plain, but always come back to Rolex. Fashions may come & go, but a classic (gen) Rolex will always command attention. And, in the end, I think the old axiom is true - 'When you feel you have finally made it, you owe yourself a (gen) Rolex'.

Learning the intricacies of vintage Rolex is a never-ending educational process. And to add to the confusion, when it comes to vintage Rolex, there are exceptions to just about every rule. Still, it is good to have a working understanding of the general scheme of things before diving into the vintage Rolex pool.

The parts containing these errors do not belong to DW. They are essentially off-the-shelf rep parts that he (& others) includes with his watches/kits. Some of my kits contained these parts (which I replaced with parts from other or gen sources) & some did not. When you order a rep watch/kit, you get whatever parts were available at the time. Like all aftermarket parts, QC is negligible (at best) & you should keep this in mind when ordering.

Still wearing this while putting something together to attach to this

Ditto that. Satur-day

I had a feeling this was coming. Here are a few of my more mouthwatering pics Bon appétit!