Datejust Authenticity - Need Advice

[Denny]

Hi Guys, I'm totally new here - so please go easy on me.  I recently inherited the below watch and I have some reasons to suspect that it's not genuine.  Before I go strolling into my local Rolex Boutique, I figured I get some opinions on here.

 

Onto the photos:

 

The obvious areas of concern is the bracelet and case which seem to be plated gold (but not on the back)...  Aren't all "gold" Rolex models solid gold?  And the brushing of the Oyster Bracelet seems to be the reverse of a "normal" bracelet..  Happy to answer any questions and/or take more photos.  😊

[Timelord]

49 minutes ago, Denny said:

Hi Guys, I'm totally new here - so please go easy on me.  I recently inherited the below watch and I have some reasons to suspect that it's not genuine.  Before I go strolling into my local Rolex Boutique, I figured I get some opinions on here.

 

Onto the photos:

 

 

The obvious areas of concern is the bracelet and case which seem to be plated gold (but not on the back)...  Aren't all "gold" Rolex models solid gold?  And the brushing of the Oyster Bracelet seems to be the reverse of a "normal" bracelet..  Happy to answer any questions and/or take more photos.  😊

 

Welcome to the forum! Danny !  You have come to a unique and wonderful place where you will be amongst some of the  watch Einsteins of the planet that are equally skilled in what they do in addition to being highly knowledgeable !  Sadly I am on the bottom of the pecking order and am still learning!

 

the pictures you have posted appear to be the Golden egg rolex date model which do exist if you google Golden egg  rolex.  As for yours, it appears to be genuine as I have never seen anyone ever replicate one of these, but that isn't to say that a replica doesn't exist or that the case and dial may be genuine  but had its movement replaced with a non rolex movement!  The odds so far look exceptional in your favour!

 

these models are not plated but capped with gold foil of approximately 120microns of gold. Similar to gold capped teeth!  An American invention going back as far as  the 1950's where they had the toughness of a stainless steel model and the elegance of a solid gold one! I had a few omega  bumper wind models of this make up and were amongst my favourites!

 

the bracelet l am not knowledgeable about this one,?  Maybe our fellow prized member Automatico can chime in here as he is an encyclopedia on watches having decades of experience!  Great specimen and enjoy to.good health!!

Edited August 26, 2019 by Timelord

[mrsoundman]

Welcome to the forum Denny!

 

I'm no expert either, but this looks like a 1970's Reference 1550 Gold Capped (as @Timelord mentioned).

 

Here is a good write-up on the 1550:

https://www.craftandtailored.com/products/1970-rolex-oyster-perpetual-date-ref-1550-gold-cap

 

Personally, I've never seen a gold capped bracelet on one.  That through me for a loop.  Perhaps some of the resident experts can chime in more on that for you.  Wear it in good health and welcome again!

[mymanmatt]

This is gen. They were not plated they were capped. If you look closely at the bottom of the lug, you will see the edge of the gold cap. I’ve serviced a couple of these. It’s 14k gold overlay, including the bracelet. 

[horologist]

your model looks like one I foolishly sold many moons ago.  it was a 15505 Date model which is the gold capped model.  They were in my opinion better than gold plated watches.  Mine had a caliber 3035 movement in it.  Like Timelord mentioned, Omegas also made them and in my opinion were the best models ever made as you had a gold sheet to protect them whilst they had the toughness of stainless steel back bone.

I once read an article by Frank Nikolassen (spelling????) on warpspace who had a nice write up on gold shell omegas which used the same principal,  I could never find his webpage after that and he had a wealth of information where it was a process invented by Jewish American jewelers where they fused gold cap onto stainless steel as it was a very difficult process to do for that era.
There is another one like yours on this website

https://www.auctionzip.com/auction-lot/Mens-Rolex-Oyster-Perpetual-Date-ref.-15505_4CC4F9B84D

 

but without  seeing the movement in your photographs, I cannot say for sure if it is the same.
However, if I were to wager on whether yours is genuine, I would bet money that it is.  Enjoy to good health and welcome aboard!!

i would say yours  houses a 3035 movement based on the back lip of the case meeting the back lid

[alligoat]

I agree that it's probably a 15505. The earlier 1550s would have had a gold capped rivet bracelet. The 78351B bracelet is a later bracelet. Nice watch and it looks all gen to me. As has been mentioned- there are no reps of this watch- all you could do is replace the movement (maybe with a 2836-2).

[automatico]

I have not seen a bracelet exactly like the one on the watch...from the pictures it looks like it is plated on the front and sides only, not the back.  The bracelets I have owned were gold filled/plated over brass or gold plated/filled over steel on all sides. 

This one might be a later model, mine were older bracelets made for four digit watches.

 

I sold a nos 15505 timehead with nos stretch rivet (gold plated/filled over steel) bracelet March 2019.  Do not remember the ref number on the older type bracelet though.  I had the watch 15 years and only one person ever showed any interest in it, and they bought it.

Btw the bezels on these watches are solid gold and the 1550 and 15505 cases are basically the same, a 1570 date movement or 3035 will fit in either one.

 

Here is a 78351B bracelet on eBay:

eBay item number  163792665632

 

'prized member'  

Made me blush.  

 

[Denny]

Thanks for all the super helpful information!  It sounds like mine is definitely the 15505 model.  I was hoping it was worth north of $5K, but that doesn't seem to be the case..

Edited August 27, 2019 by Denny