bruce79

Service was done a local Rolex AD's watchmaker who is a very good friend of mine. A light polish was done but I made my concerns known before regarding over polishing and I was quite pleased with the results. The watch had been polished before during a service or two by the original owner, as can be seen in the pics above. So it's not like I was dealing with a never polished specimen. I chose to have the previous owner's scratches polished out...so I can add my own over the next 33 years.

Is the case 42mm? If so I might pick this one up. I want the gen but will probably try this one out first.

Bought from original owner. Worn by him every day for 33 years...he was an iron worker, retired now. Was able to speak to him on the phone while closing the deal (trade). He said he wore this watch on some of the biggest industrial projects in the history of the US...projects that helped shape the country. From Skyscrapers to Nuclear Subs. The watch has been with him for some very fond memories. Why he wanted to part with it I don't know but I feel honored to have it now. It's a 5.1 mil. These pics are pre-service. Post service pics to come.

Looks like they threw the retail of the new sub onto the old subs too. I would never pay retail anyhow...second hand is always the best bet in my opinion. I'm really gonna try and pick up the new explorer when it comes out...but I'll have to wait a bit for the prices to come down on the second hand market.

The topic has been beaten to death on VRF (as was mentioned above). There are several theories but no one really knows for sure. It's interesting though to look at Panerai. The patina on many of their models using tritium is quite remarkable. And these are watches that are 15 years old, not 40. It seems like it has more to do with the binding agent used with the tritium rather than the tritium itself. The quality of the binding agent and how that agent reacts with it's surrounding elements and how it holds up over time...would be my guess.

Love that strap..it is my favorite OEM gator and I've had just about all of em. It's my go to. Nice watch too.

Tough angle but that looks like a 702 trip lock crown. I don't think there are reps of the 702.

Very nice build!

Here's a pic of my old matte dial 16800. I traded it off some time ago but it was a beauty.

Omega, would you mind posting pics for reference. That would be super. Most of the rounded 3s I've seen on the gens have been from the mid to late 90's. Thanks.

Very nice re-dial. The gen is much more...gen. But the re-dial is nice.

Ok, try http://67.43.1.1/index.php looks like they are using this URL until they can get things sorted.

I don't know either...I still get nightly updates to their selling corner so I know some folks are able to get into TRF.

Beautiful watch and nice piece of originality. The restoration turned out gorgeous. Congrats!

Here are some pics of a few gens with rounded 3s, the last pic being mine. If you look at the spacing of the 9 3 1 5 0 on the gen, the numbers are closer together. The numbers are less elongated on the gen vs. the rep. The rep numbers seem a bit stretched vertically if you will. Please chime in here if you can with comments and/or pics. This is something even the "gen experts" can't figure out. I would love to be able to crack this mystery. Also, something worth noting, the 1st and 3rd gen bracelet pictured have a V clasp code...the 2nd picture is an X serial sub. Now here are 2 rep bracelets. The first is Ubi's, same as pictured above and the other is a very nice rep I had a couple of years ago on my franken 16800. I found the pic while going through my library. Look at the spacing of the 9 3 1 5 0...it's a bit more spaced apart. And look at the elongated shape of the 3. Taken from a forum member for reference, hopefully ok, if not let me know.

Yeah, I'm gonna contact him and just make him aware of my concerns. The seller is quite knowledgeable and is a contributing member of VRF. I must say though, I've owned a quite a few gen Rolex pieces over the past couple of years and this bracelet didn't raise so much as a hair on my eyebrow...until I saw the rounded 3. Sooo...we'll see.

Let me add I bought this from a collector just up the coast, didn't really ask for detailed pics but he has a Rolex parts list as long as my arm. He had 8+ 93150s to choose from, I told me to send me his best one.

So very every and any year of the 93150 bracelet, never was there a round 3 in the 93150? Just want to be sure before I contact the seller. I've been scouring the web since receiving the bracelet and I just want to be sure. I know he will make good on the bracelet, I just want to be 100% sure when I confront him.

Just curious, when did Rolex start stamping the 93150 with the rounded 3 vs. the flat top 3? The 93150 bracelet from my 5.1 has a flat 3 but I just picked up a nice 93150 bracelet from 1996 (V8 clasp code) and it has the rounded 3. Just want to make sure all is good.

Not sending it into RSC, I've got a local CW21 watchmaker with a parts account. And he is allowing me to document the whole process. I'm going in there Wednesday. I said I didn't want him to take out any dings or dents (not that there are many) and that I just want him to buff out the surface scratches. The crown looks like it was replaced during the service in the 80s. My watchmaker said the crown/tube that are on there now are still good and just need new gaskets. I asked about sourcing an original 702 crown and he said he may have an old one in his parts pin but he's sure he doesn't have a tube for it. And I'm replacing the crystal as the one that is on it isn't original either. He's got an OEM Rolex crystal of course. I'm going to see about a top hat but he might only have the beveled crystal. I'll put some pics up when it's done.

The clasp is indeed a mystery. The last time it was touched by a Rolex AD was '94 so I don't know what to think. I'm buying another bracelet anyhow so it doesn't matter. Just met up with my watchmaker today. Uncased the movement real quick and I was able to get a look at that matte dial, beautiful!!!! Going back on Wednesday to take detailed pics of the movement while it's apart.

Amazing project...a true one of a kind franken. WOW

Ok, just heard back from the original owner regarding the clasp. Now I'm very confused as to this clasp dating business. Apparently I misunderstood what he had originally told me about the crystal & insert replacement...it was actually earlier than originally thought. In 2000 I was workings nukes all over the northeast . I am sure that that watch did not go in to any Rolex ad for any reason. I would bet my bike on that ,and that