bruce79 Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Some how fell into this vintage world and I'm loving it. 5.1 mil 1680. Picked it up from the original owner. Going in for a service next week. Love the acrylics. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AllergyDoc Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Lots of character there! Good for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronin Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Stunning. The battle scars give it character. Wear it well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freddy333 Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Well done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coolfire Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Excellent acquisition! Wear it well! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwhitesox Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Beauty Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cats Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Great looking watch you got there. It got a lot of wearing signs. Wear it well Carpe Diem Cats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vlydog Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Great looking watch you got there. It got a lot of wearing signs. Wear it well Carpe Diem Cats A fantastic piece J; nice score. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alligoat Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 The dial and hands look very nice. Insert looks like a later lumi replacement to me and I don't know if you can Poly-Watch the crystal or if you just have to replace it. Looks like the bracelet took most of the beating. With a little bit of cleaning up, it ought to be a very nice watch. Congrats! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 I agree with Ronin- Every scratch and ding gives the watch character. A life lived. Very nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Nice one, J. Congrats on the pickup. Now let's get an older insert for it and spice it up a bit more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrianT Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Nice find! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FxrAndy Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 me like too is that a white or silver date wheel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
omgiv Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Great looking watch. I personally like the added character. This makes it look more like the tool watch it is. Wear it well!!!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce79 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Thanks for the comments guys. This one has been well worn. Just a few words that the original owner emailed me after I received the watch. He was an iron worker all his life: I wore it everyday, it has been in some amazing places . On a nuke sub we had to do a repair job , very tall buildings in Manhattan , Super clean rooms At Intel. The biggest crane in the world-we were changing out 4 540 ton steam generators . Its been on some of the biggest industrial projects in this country....I never thought of it until your email but it really does have an amazing history. The pearl was replaced along with the crystal 10 years ago or so. I've got a tritium insert in the works and will replace the crystal since this one is not the original crystal. Hasn't been serviced since the late 80s and it's running +7 seconds a day...amazing. For the real vintage experts, answer me this. This watch has been on his wrist since new with the exception of a full service in the late 80s. The clasp code baffles me. On all of the charts I've seen, DE dates to 2000/1 but he said he has never had the clasp replaced. I have no reason to doubt his word as he has no reason to lie. Am I missing something here? The wear on the clasp matches the wear on the bracelet...they fit like puzzle pieces. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce79 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Oh yeah, silver date wheel. Tough to see through that crystal though. Can't wait to get it replaced. It's going in Tuesday for a complete service and new crystal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 DE is around 2001... DE10 is Oct 2001. '02 should be DT and '00 AB(?). Odd... EDIT: I just noticed the 'S' stamp... Double Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HauteHippie Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 I wore it everyday, it has been in some amazing places . On a nuke sub we had to do a repair job , very tall buildings in Manhattan , Super clean rooms At Intel. The biggest crane in the world-we were changing out 4 540 ton steam generators . Its been on some of the biggest industrial projects in this country....I never thought of it until your email but it really does have an amazing history. Love it. That makes it special... more than just an horological device. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redwatch Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Amazing history to that watch! Very cool that he was willing to share all that information with you!! Congratulations on a great pick up!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce79 Posted May 28, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 DE is around 2001... DE10 is Oct 2001. '02 should be DT and '00 AB(?). Odd... EDIT: I just noticed the 'S' stamp... Double Yeah, very confusing indeed. I have posted the same questions on the gen forums with zero comments. I was hoping someone would be able to shed some light. It's really not a big deal for me as I'm searching for a replacement bracelet anyways but I just want to know for the sake of knowing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubiquitous Posted May 28, 2010 Report Share Posted May 28, 2010 Well, a service clasp with a DE code correlates to the replacement of the insert and crystal, and if you think about it, 10 years of heavy use is still going to do a number on external parts like that; especially something like a clasp, which is like an anchor for wear for even just desk diving. In physical conditions, I can see a new part like that developing age and patina rather quickly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce79 Posted May 29, 2010 Author Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 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 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmj Posted May 29, 2010 Report Share Posted May 29, 2010 Beuatiful watch and great history too. Great find!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pr0digy30 Posted May 30, 2010 Report Share Posted May 30, 2010 Beautiful catch... and the vintaging came for free. What did it set you back? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rolexmaniac88 Posted May 30, 2010 Report Share Posted May 30, 2010 Congratulations on a great find! Great history too! As for the clasp, the S plus the DE10 really is STRANGE and exciting at the same time! Keep us posted on any outcome regarding this matter! It is almost as good as looking to good old thriller! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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