Identifying a Vintage MBW 1680 - Pics Added

[manny816]

I have read the following thread and found it to be very informative.

http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=107

Should all MBW's 1680 have the characteristics mentioned? Have you ever seen a MBW 1680 with different engravings such as REGISTERED DESIGN 1680 and STAINLESS STEEL with a completely different serial#? Here are the pictures. The crystal seems to be glued to the case.

[manny816]

Pics added. I was sold this watch as an MBW.

[Pugwash]

As posted on RWI ...

This is an MBW 1680:

The bezel construction is like the original 1680 with a compression ring that holds the crystal in:

The Compression Ring is visible at the back, under the packaged crystal. Note the groove for the rubber o-ring. My watch didn't come with an o-ring, but it still had the groove. I fitted an o-ring for waterproofing and accuracy.

If your watch has a spring holding the bezel in, like it appears to have, it's not the good kind of vintage 1680 rep.

[Jetsons]

The bezel assembly with the retaining spring is not MBW. Never seen this on the MBW vintage sport models.

It should look like the one on the right which is the same design as the gen. The left bezel assembly is from an old CN.

MBW case on the right. On the MBW, the T-127 will fit over the outer lip and rest on the case. It is pressed with a retaining ring (pictured above below the bezel washer) over the crystal just as the gen. The MBW also has a case groove for an "O" ring to seal the crystal on the case.

[elprimerozen]

My friend this is not MBW!Where did you get that from?

[manny816]

My friend this is not MBW!Where did you get that from?

I purchased it from another member here. It was advertised as an MBW. I really think that he purchased it from someone else and was not aware that it was not an MBW. I am trying to have my money refunded. I just needed to be 100% sure that it was not an MBW. I paid a substantial amount for it!

Thank you all for the help!!

[elprimerozen]

Pics added. I was sold this watch as an MBW.

oohh ok your answerwas fast

[rag9fx]

oh lordy lord, irony of ironies ... you have to watch out for those fake MBW's.

sorry to hear about your luck... i hope this get sorted out for you

[freddy333]

The bezel construction is like the original 1680 with a compression ring that holds the crystal in:

The Compression Ring is visible at the back, under the packaged crystal. Note the groove for the rubber o-ring. My watch didn't come with an o-ring, but it still had the groove. I fitted an o-ring for waterproofing and accuracy.

Pug -- I have a WM/MBW 1665 that also came without that o-ring for the crystal. Can you tell me where you got yours and what the part number is? I will be disassembling my case again (as soon as I locate a drill press vice for my mini-drill press) to finish an He valve mod and I will be replacing the crystal at that time too.

[Pugwash]

Pug -- I have a WM/MBW 1665 that also came without that o-ring for the crystal. Can you tell me where you got yours and what the part number is?

I'll be honest, it was a gift from a friend. I don't know if I should tell everyone who he is in case he gets inundated with requests for them.

I don't know where to buy them, but if anyone has any ideas, I'm all ears as my 1665 needs one too.

[freddy333]

That makes sense. Since most of the insulation is due to the press-fit of the crystal to the case, I wonder if the type of o-rings sold in hardware and plumbing supply stores might work if matched in size for the case? Once you coat it with silicone, I would think that might do the trick, at least as a backup option in case we are unable to locate a source for the OEM part.

Pug (or anyone else that has the OEM o-ring), any chance you could measure the inside & outside diameter of yours so we might be able to source a generic o-ring?

[mojo2001]

I bought some generic gaskets on ebay...assumiing that the one that fits the crystal is the same as the one that fits the caseback (think so), the pn is 29-325-10.

I have a couple extras...pm me.

mojo

[freddy333]

Mojo -- Unfortunately, I do not have my watch with me, but assuming the crystal o-rings (gaskets) are the same as the case gaskets, Ofrei.com has them 3 for $5.25.

Here is the description --

Generic Gasket to Fit Rolex 29-325-10, pkg. of 3

$5.25

ROL-29-325-10

Fits Cases: 1019, 1655, 1665, 1675, 1680, 5512, 5513, 9401, 9411, 16550, 16660, 16750, 16753, 16758, 16760, 16800, 16803, 16808, 94010, 94110

Here is the page link (about 3/4 from the top of the page)

[Guest avitt]

Mojo -- Unfortunately, I do not have my watch with me, but assuming the crystal o-rings (gaskets) are the same as the case gaskets, Ofrei.com has them 3 for $5.25.

Here is the description --

Generic Gasket to Fit Rolex 29-325-10, pkg. of 3

$5.25

ROL-29-325-10

Fits Cases: 1019, 1655, 1665, 1675, 1680, 5512, 5513, 9401, 9411, 16550, 16660, 16750, 16753, 16758, 16760, 16800, 16803, 16808, 94010, 94110

Here is the page link (about 3/4 from the top of the page)

I've ordered 1665 case back gaskets from Ofrei (I can't remember the PN) and they did not fit my case. I ended up getting one from my local watchmaker.

[Bodo]

I have read the following thread and found it to be very informative.

http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=107

Should all MBW's 1680 have the characteristics mentioned? Have you ever seen a MBW 1680 with different engravings such as REGISTERED DESIGN 1680 and STAINLESS STEEL with a completely different serial#? Here are the pictures. The crystal seems to be glued to the case.

If this is the watch you purchased from Josh I can simply clearify that.

I bought the watch from MBW a few years ago.

When I say from MBW I mean from MBW personally!

They may have changed meanwhile - I can

[Bodo]

Hahaaa Bodo - smells like a genuine "Kanone" modified piece to me - put in an MBW and out you get something crappy...

It is defintely a Kanone or Hemicuda modified piece.

It may be the way you say.

I can only tell the story formerly posted.

I sent him my "genuine" MBW and he did all the modding.

[Guest avitt]

Have you been refunded yet, Manny?

[elprimerozen]

Come on people....what is the story of this watch???

I think that this watch maybe came from RWI trade area...Who made the mods on this piece?

[elprimerozen]

....and btw when a "collector" advertise something "with litle white lie" we have everybody going crazy(which is good by me)...and here we have a member that gave 4 times more than an ordinary CN vintage(new)..or 5 times more...and we are acting like girls...give the guy out public so we can find where it all started.

ps:maybe im wrong...but when i put my self in his position...im going crazy!!!!!

[J-Auz]

welll, i am the middle man in all of this. I bought the watch from Bodo, advertised as a MBW. I sold the watch a couple months later as an MBW to manny. Manny wants his money back because it isnt an MBW. i also was buying it thinking it was an MBW. where should this go? experienced members, please help!!!!

[J-Auz]

Come on people....what is the story of this watch???

I think that this watch maybe came from RWI trade area...Who made the mods on this piece?

watch was purchased from Bodo off TRC board.

[elprimerozen]

So my opinion is this:

Bodo sends the watch to hemicuda for mods...Question:Did bodo toled hemicuda that its an mbw that needs mods?If yes ,when hemicuda recieved the watch did he informed bodo that the watch is not mbw??

If hemicuda toled bodo that its not an mbw then its bodos mistake all the way....

Think about that for a while and this story will continue...

[Guest avitt]

There were two separate transactions:

J-Auz should be responsible for correcting the situation with Manny. In turn, J-Auz seems to have a valid claim against Bodo.

...Now go do the right thing.

[elprimerozen]

Yes they have to correct this one....btw its realy easy to identify an mbw.....Ubi has the answer to that as we all know...you only have to take the bracelet out...and if you are not sure pop out the bezel also...

[freddy333]

I think the 1680 MBW says 'Polex' (instead of Rolex) on the side of the case underneath the end link (after you remove the bracelet).