Pete Sinclair

Excellent , sounds like the same guy from eBay probably. That’s inflation for you [emoji2]Great picture of your grandfather and the watch looks amazing, a real icon. I can understand your love for it . Enjoy wearing it in good health. You’ll find yourself looking down at your wrist a lot! [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi Rob Congratulations on your very nice inheritance! Your grandfather had great taste! That looks like a great dial, and original hand set, obviously unusual to see a sub bezel fitted ,obviously the reason for your search. The sub bezel must be worth a tidy bit. That also looks like it could well be a Gay Freres bracelet which are quite rare. I don’t know if you read the earlier part of the thread about my experience and thoughts on the purchase from eBay . It’s at the top of this thread. I basically stuck with that aftermarket “Fakelite “bezel. It is by no means perfect but does look nice as it looks like how the originals darken over time. There is a guy who often pops up on eBay from the states who makes his own very authentic looking bezels for around $370. There’s also a guy on RWC ( I think his names JoeyB it’s in the thread) who makes some nice ones. Who like the guy who makes his own on eBay manages to make them look weathered and are very good. I also managed to get an original service bezel and aluminium Pepsi insert so I can swop them around with either a jubilee or rivet bracelet. I was also lucky to pick it up for only £800 for both which was a good deal. Real Bakelites are way out of my price range starting at £10,000 ! I hope you get on well in your search. May I respectfully suggest you join and post on Vintage Rolex Forum if not done already. You’ll get a great deal of interest and great advice from the great members on there . Above all don’t touch anything leave it all as is except the bezel of course ! Anyway get back in touch if you want to know more. Kind regards Pete Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thanks JSebWC totally agree 👍🏻

Thanks Nanuq, it is very comfortable and is a genuine Rolex jubilee as is the watch , Just the bezel which is aftermarket with a Fakelite insert. Cheers Pete

Cheers alligoat and thanks for your help, much appreciated 👏🏻

This time on a jubilee [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi to the good folks on the forum. I thought I’d just post a wrist shot with my watch on a jubilee, I’m starting to think I prefer it more than the rivet bracelet 🤔 Nice dilemma to have though 👍🏻

It would be rude not to [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Oops no idea why there’s two Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi automatico, thank you very much. Some really interesting anecdotes .I agree with your comments in regards to the average joes knowledge of the reference . I have to say it’s gone absolutely crazy with all the watches you mentioned although they are beautiful things to have. I guess it’s just supply and demand and people want these beautiful and amazing timepieces . I’m extremely lucky and I agree with you as my preferred option will definitely be the bakelite style. Who knows I may decide never to swop it over with a Pepsi one but it’s a great dilemma to have, regards Pete

Ideal, thanks for the info, I have found a supplier over here so sounds like another good option to consider, regards Pete

Hi JSebWC thanks , it’s taken a while lol. Thanks for your sound advice which I’ll look into. That’s very generous of you for the offer but don’t worry I’ll get some over here across the pond!. Thanks for the encouragement to achieve my aim. Wear yours in good health. Kind regards Pete

Thanks Joeyb I have seen those with the cutouts on the vintage forum website , so that makes sense . Thanks for the advice, forgive my ignorance RTV ? Thanks Pete Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

You’re most welcome, kind regards Pete Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bezel Update So the bezel set arrived . Overall I’m very happy with the package with a slight reservation. So this is what you get in the pack; the brass (Nickel plated) bezel with spring fitted; spare spring; plus another wire ( presumably to make up another spring if required) which is handy, two different crystal retaining rings of different thicknesses; a very nice replica Bakelite insert and the bonus of an extra faux faded Pepsi insert. First the good, the bezel looks well engineered although not perfect it’s pretty close. The Bakelite (I’ll call it) looks amazing, but here’s the not so good, the insert does not fit tightly in the bezel so would require glueing. For me something like contact adhesive (so removal would be possible later ) would be required. Not ideal and a bit of a faff but to me this scenario may be preferable as I may want to occasionally change the inserts and I could foresee a problem if the insert was too tight a fit and being plastic it could be liable to breaking when trying to pop it out and bang goes the look. So not a deal breaker for me . If you don’t want to change out the inserts and keep the Bakelite look, then not an issue really, just glue it and forget about it. So in truth I personally find that perfectly acceptable all things considered. I’ve no doubt not everybody will see it that way and may want to look elsewhere . Note the Bakelite is also luminous (see picture).The Pepsi style insert fits in tight as it should but obviously being aftermarket it is not the quality of the genuine article, (as expected) and it’s quite thin and flexible, so inserting and removing on a regular basis could possibly distort it I suspect, but it does the job. It’s not really to my taste although they’ve made a reasonable attempt at the fonts (not hooked 2’s etc) it’s just about passable. I prefer to get a genuine Pepsi insert in any event and fit that. As I mentioned the bezel itself is decent quality. It fitted over the original 6542 crystal retaining ring ok with a bit of manipulation with a nice solid click but it’s a bit tight to click turn the bezel easily. I have read on the web where others also with genuine 6542’s have used aftermarket bezel assemblies and ended up having to use the crystal retaining rings supplied with them for it function correctly as the original was very slightly too big , or should I say the replacement is too small. I believe I have the same scenario, so will attempt that at a later date via my watch repairer. All in all I’m very happy with the look of the set despite the issues I’ve mentioned. My honest opinion from what I've seen is Joeyb's on this forum would be be better, but I can't grumble as it has an added insert and spare. It’s certainly better than staring down at a crystal retaining ring and it does give a beautiful watch that authentic look, (albeit non original). This would otherwise be almost impossible to achieve nowadays unless you want to pay the insane prices (£5,800 the eBay asking price presently for just a bare bezel ! ) Double that for a decent Bakelite if you could ever find one! I’ve attached a few pictures showing both inserts. You can make your own minds up as to whether they'd fit the bill for your particular project if you're in the market for one. Hope this is of use. PM me if you want all the dimensions of the parts. All the best Pete

Wow that looks amazing, no wonder you’re pleased! Just hope mine can stack up against that! Just finishes it off to near as dammit perfection [emoji1303] Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hi JsebWC , not sure what’s going on with the replies but the above is out of sync and refers to NDT who never got back to me. Anyway in respect of the bezel I was hoping to have it in my possession as my relative was going to bring it over to the UK last month, unfortunately the trip has been delayed so I have to wait until the end of May ? , sorry it’s a shame as I’m desperate to have it. As soon as it’s in my possession I promise I’ll post pictures. On another subject a few guys / gals were asking about Ruby from Ruby’s watches. I have managed to make contact with her within the last week by posting a question through the Ruby’s Watches website. She got back to me the following day , in case anyone’s interested regards Pete

Hi guys, their website is still up and running. I’ve emailed them today for prices availability. I’ll let the forum know I’d I hear back, regards Pete

Thanks for all the information folks its been really useful. Just to let you know I heard nothing back from NDT trading so presumably they no longer around. In the end I plumped for a bezel set from ebay that alligoat pointed me to. They look pretty good and what I liked is they come with two inserts a Pepsi & a faux bakelite, so I have a choice to wear. He also offers a no quibble returns if your not happy (apparently). Seems a decent guy I threw a number of questions at him which he answered very quickly. His trading name is tt6204vintage. I suspect he may be known to some on the forum already as apparently he has over 50 happy customers lol. Anyway I'll let you know the quality and post some pics when it arrives . Thanks again for all your help Pete

Wow, thanks Joeyb I'll take a look, thanks.

Hi guys, their website is still up and running. I’ve emailed them today for prices availability. I’ll let the forum know I’d I hear back, regards Pete

Wow that’s a beautiful thing I’m sure you’re rightly proud of it . Its just as well that there are passionate people like yourselves and others on this site that try and keep the history and dream of owning a genuine or faux Rolex alive. Don’t get me wrong I know that collectors are passionate and have a great love of these watches just the same way but we can’t all own a genuine watch and what’s wrong with coveting one whether a franken Rolex or made up . People spend lots of time and a lot of money to achieve that dream, what’s wrong with that? There’s nothing sneaky or underhanded about it and it shouldn’t be sneared at ( unless an attempt to pass one off as genuine) of course. What I’ve seen on here is a real passion of people wanting to have a beautiful timepiece on their wrist and being prepared to put in their hard earned cash to do it . It’s funny, I was thinking the same thing as you, what happens when all the originals are snapped up by collectors? I personally don’t get the fascination for patina where it’s to the point of lume flaking off and dials faded to a point that they’re almost unreadable. It’s strange you can restore a masterpiece, a vintage or classic car , furniture correctly and it will add value , but for most, but not all, if you touch the dial or hands of a vintage watch it undermined its integrity and devalued it. As I’ve said a watch is to wear and to cherish, not to lock away or be too frightened to wear in case the fragile bakelite breaks. I wonder what will happen when the supply completely dries up too, will genuine watches with refinished or restored dials be the next big thing and best option for collectors, time will tell? It’s an immotive subject which seems to divide the vintage watch community. All I know is a Rolex watch is to be worn, looked at, admired, loved and cherished. I’ll get off my soap box now! Kind regards Pete

Hi JSebWC, wow that looks incredible ! If thats not an original dial that also looks amazing too. Thanks so much for the link I'll look into it. I had no idea you could get such amazing pieces. In an ideal world I'd like to get the real thing but prices are sky high. I'm not a collector and not interested in the watch being put away in a cabinet they're made to be warn and cherished in my opinion. Kind regards Pete

Hi Nanuq thanks for your kind words, I guess he didn’t really know what he had at the time but 60 years after it was made (1958) who’d have thought.Just a shame he didn’t hang in to the bezel as I’d dearly love to keep it as original as possible but when the bezel insert broke in the late 60s early 70’s he couldn’t have known the implications so discarded it. I can’t prove it’s from a Milgauss but it would have been end of the 60’s early 70’s when he replaced the bezel with the current one. His amateur Rolex watch dealer friend sourced it , I’m given to understand that the 6541Milgauss and the 6542 have the same size case , so it would fit, but I have no papers to prove either way unless it has markings underneath but on the balance of probabilities I’d say it is. Thanks for the advice about the bracelet I was made aware on another forum that that’s the best period bracelet to have. Thanks again , kind regards Pete

Revere many thanks, I most certainly will do , kind regards Pete

Many thanks folks for the very helpful suggestions. I'll wait to see what else comes through before deciding which way to go, thanks again I'm grateful Pete