Rolex commissioned redial

[freddy333]

Here is something that I have not seen in decades - a redial commisioned by Rolex SA & sold through Sotheby's

(click pic for link)

 

 

As far as I am concerned, this seriously blurs the line between gen & franken. In fact, it forces a rethinking of the term 'franken' & causes me to reconsider whether I even need to qualify some of my all-gen-except-for-professionally-repainted-gen-dial watches. Apparently, if a professional dial repainter repaints a gen Rolex dial using a gen  Rolex template, the dial, as far as Rolex SA & Sotheby's is concerned, is gen. So, using that specification as a guide, this

 

&, excepting the insert, this are genuine Rolex watches

[cc33]

Now there's a shocker, I would love to know who had the ability to get them to do it! My dial maker told me that the few really good redialers are kept a secret by the vintage elite. There are more redials going around then we like to believe. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as it is disclosed.

By the way Freddy that's a really really nice tog

[freddy333]

There are many redialers, but only 1 or 2 that perform commission work for Rolex SA (1 of them did my watches).

[cc33]

There are many redialers, but only 1 or 2 that perform commission work for Rolex SA (1 of them did my watches).

Now I'm seriously jealous. I now agree with you that it's the exact same thing, it's just that you commissioned them not rolex. Same difference really. Still, full disclosure was made in the auction's description so likewise if you were to auction yours off the buyer would expect the same disclosure.

[JoeyB]

I would agree with you.

[denimhead]

I often wonder before the internet existed how much of this simply went under the radar? What percentage of the Vintage Rolex watches out there are in fact Frankens of a kind? 

[automatico]

"What percentage of the Vintage Rolex watches out there are in fact Frankens of a kind?"

 

Many, many more than suspected would be my guess. They would have to be so good that no one can tell after they leave The Doctor's Laboratory.

We assume the best cases available come from Phong, Yuki etc but there are probably a few 'unknown' case makers who are a lot better that we do not know about, same goes for dials etc. I say this because vintage rolex watches have gone up tremendously in price and the profit margin would now be large enough for a skilled 'fabricator' to go to the effort.

 

A skilled, dedicated machinist could make cases exactly the same as genuine...if they wanted to. All they need is a case that is very close to genuine to start with. I doubt anyone would go to the trouble to make cases from sheet metal blanks though.

For example...being the Dumbass that I am, I can make near perfect 1600/16000/16200/1016 smooth bezels from bezel blanks (cut from 316L seamless ss tubing), and RWG's resident machinist can surely make them faster and better...but it is simply not worth the effort. Besides, ST now has 16200 smooth ss bezels for $15! No way I can beat that.

 

I have seen a few high grade replica cases from the Regular Suspects and the only thing that prevents them from passing the 'genuine test' is usually the lettering and a minor detail or two. It just seems like they do not care enough to go the extra mile.

 

Lettering/case numbers etc...many do not realise how difficult it is to match genuine vintage letters and numbers. They look like a cross between hand work and an engraving machine...very, very hard to duplicate.

[Tonyyammine]

Holy crap ill take that panam before that sothebys anytime