Need help with 1680 tropic sub

[Bk100]

Hi all ,
New here .... AA PILOT living in dallas texas.


I acquireed this 1680 sub .... Mark 2 or 3 tropic dial , I believe .... Meters first

All original , last serviced by rolex dallas service center in 1981.
Box and papers may be forthcoming if he can find them - sez he has them.

I just returned from seeing bob Ridley in dallas ...
He can restore it for around $3k....

Needs movement repair , full service , crystal , case repair of scratches and a new diver extension ....

Any thoughts ?
What would you have done to it , or not done to it ?

It is a early 2.3 million serial number from 1969 ....
Pictures are from Bob with his permission...

Thanks , bill







http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3a0124ec.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...psca1ba0d5.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...ps604c1e8a.jpg

http://i1315.photobucket.com/albums/...psedfb1971.jpg

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[MitchSteel]

I would give Bob 3 grand, knowing that he's probably one if the very best in the field.Youve got a rare sub, 3k would be worth it for me.Good luck

[greekbum]

nice project but for me it will all be about how much i can buy it for and what will it be worth when I'm done fixing it. The dial is in bad shape and will never be 100% since this is the majority of the value of the watch its not a keeper for me. If you are looking to sell it then you will be best to sell it as it is as you will never recoup your service estimate of 3k imho. If you are looking to keep it I would try and stay on a strict tight budget as the dial and case are not in super restorable condition.

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by greekbum

nice project but for me it will all be about how much i can buy it for and what will it be worth when I'm done fixing it. The dial is in bad shape and will never be 100% since this is the majority of the value of the watch its not a keeper for me. If you are looking to sell it then you will be best to sell it as it is as you will never recoup your service estimate of 3k imho. If you are looking to keep it I would try and stay on a strict tight budget as the dial and case are not in super restorable condition.

As usual, Mr. Bum is on the money.

In addition, you could get a second bid from Rik at Time Care, Inc. If he doesn't think he can do it, he'll tell you as much.

[Rick-O]

Originally Posted by greekbum

nice project but for me it will all be about how much i can buy it for and what will it be worth when I'm done fixing it. The dial is in bad shape and will never be 100% since this is the majority of the value of the watch its not a keeper for me. If you are looking to sell it then you will be best to sell it as it is as you will never recoup your service estimate of 3k imho. If you are looking to keep it I would try and stay on a strict tight budget as the dial and case are not in super restorable condition.

Well said.....couldn't agree more

[shofzr]

I would fix it and keep it.
Welcome to TRF from a fellow North Texan.

Cheers
Adrian

[Bk100]

Well , I fully trust bob based on all the stuff I've read about him - superlative .
Spent a little over an hour with him today and was very impressed .....

He says he can repair the case ..... Should I do that ?

I figure , worst case , I'll have a fairly nice 1680 when he's done , with a ratty looking dial ..... But it's an original tropic , ratty as it is .....

He said he's seen much worse and been able to give them a new life .
I'm going to let him do it , I'm just trying to decide how much money to spend on it ...

Will it ever be worth anything with the current dial ? Or should the dial be replaced at some point in the future ?

-bk

[springer]

Send me a private message and I'll help you out with a very competent watchmaker here in Dallas that can repair all of the items you were quoted on for substantially less. Many of us on the forum use him, as well as others throughout the state. Include your phone number in the message.

[CrownMe]

I think weather on not to have it restored really depends on how much it was purchased for. While that is a rare sub, the price should reflect the condition. Goodluck with the restoration. Look forward to seeing the after pics.

[Bk100]

Not sure I wanna say what I paid for it in public ..... But at what purchase price would u think it would be worth restoring ?

Don't plan on selling it - pass it on to my son .... But , I do want to come out ahead ....

I WAS very impressed with Bob .....

Thanks,
Bk

[CrownMe]

Originally Posted by Bk100

Not sure I wanna say what I paid for it in public ..... But at what purchase price would u think it would be worth restoring ?

Don't plan on selling it - pass it on to my son .... But , I do want to come out ahead ....

I WAS very impressed with Bob .....

Thanks,
Bk

I spoke with Bob the other night for about a hour. He was talking about the new watchmaker hes working with. Hes a great guy and will do an amazing job if you use him.

Now as far as "Coming out ahead" thats tricky. That depends on what you paid for the watch and how much the watch is worth after the restoration. The problem is its hard to value a watch after its been restored to that extent.

[Bk100]

Gotcha ...
Thanks for all the input , everyone .....
Restore the case , or not ?
That's my main delimma ?
Cost of case fix is not an issue ....
Everything else is a no brainier ... It has to be done ....

-bk

[CrownMe]

are you having the case refinished or Laserwelded and reshaped?

[MitchSteel]

If you're planning on keeping it and passing it on, I would invest and bear down the costs......besides it's just money

[Bk100]

Laser welded and re-shaped , I think is what he was talking about - not just a polish .... Fairly deep scratches and worn lugs ...

I shoulda added earlier , by coming out ahead I meant fixing it with the current dial vs. putting on a ( obviously ) black red dial in good condition , if I can find one .

I presume this dial is worth mre than a black red feet first in decent condition ? Am I wrong ?

Honestly , the case condition really doesn't bother me too much .....

-bk

Ps- I really do appreciate the input .... I don't wanna mess it up ( funny , huh , given its current state ..... )

It's just that these don't come around that often , especially given what i paid for it , even in its present condition ....

-bk

[MUCCI416]

a Diamond in the rough...cant wait for the after pics

[robisan]

If you're looking to keep it and use it then go for it.

[Bk100]

I presume he was talking about laser weld and reshape - fairly deep scratches .....
I really appreciate the advice everyone ....

I have 7 rolexs ( 3 daytonas , gmt , date just , and airking and my wife's ) but never had a sub ...
Owned them all forever - never sold a single one .. My kids gonna be lucky when I croak !

Just don't know much about subs ....
Don't wanna mess it up ( funny , huh , given its present condition ! )

All I know is red is good , and tropic is better ?

-bk

[Hawk99]

Any idea of what happened to the watch to put it in this condition? I am hoping for a good story.

I would definitely go for the full restoration.

[Bk100]

Originally Posted by Hawk99

Any idea of what happened to the watch to put it in this condition? I am hoping for a good story.

I would definitely go for the full restoration.

Was a one owner watch , obviously abused ....
He wore it daily while working on oil rigs in the gulf and Middle East .
Only had it serviced once ....



Bk

[Hawk99]

Originally Posted by Bk100

Was a one owner watch , obviously abused ....
He wore it daily while working on oil rigs in the gulf and Middle East .
Only had it serviced once ....



Bk

I was looking for info on how mud/debris somehow got into the case? It seems a little more severe than it falling on the ground/rig, crystal shatter, and some dirt getting on the dial. Looks like it lived underground for some time.

Looking forward to the after pics!

[Bk100]

Originally Posted by Hawk99

Any idea of what happened to the watch to put it in this condition? I am hoping for a good story.

I would definitely go for the full restoration.

It got wet ...

Bk

[katana]

You have a watch that needs to be repaired, so there is not much to think about. You want to keep it, then you just have to decide which watchmaker to do it .....It does not get cheaper the longer you wait.

[CrownMe]

Clean tropic dials are very valuable. Your dial was damaged by weather and while its tropic looking its in rough condition and needs serious work done. It will look amazing when its complete.

[Robbyvm]

This is a special one that's for sure
If it was mine i would have it serviced, clean up the dial (not restore it) new plexy and that's it...
The case has lived, let it show it's history...

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by Robbyvm

This is a special one that's for sure
If it was mine i would have it serviced, clean up the dial (not restore it) new plexy and that's it...
The case has lived, let it show it's history...

x2 Having been on my share of rig floors, I can only imagine how those deep scratches in the case side were earned. I bet there were a few close calls...

I think the case looks great. Service the movement, maybe get a new crown and bezel/insert, new glass, clean (or new) date wheel, and touch up the dial.

Maybe ask Bob if he can do the work in stages so that you can see how it looks as it progresses?

[springer]

Originally Posted by Robbyvm

This is a special one that's for sure
If it was mine i would have it serviced, clean up the dial (not restore it) new plexy and that's it...
The case has lived, let it show it's history...

I would agree. Get it operational again. Clean the dial up, service the movement and get the bracelet repaired. While a very nice find, the value of the watch would be fairly much the same whether it is original or "restored" - at least that is based from my experience.

[waQstar]

Originally Posted by Robbyvm

This is a special one that's for sure
If it was mine i would have it serviced, clean up the dial (not restore it) new plexy and that's it...
The case has lived, let it show it's history...

x2

[Bk100]

I agree ....
Laser weld and reshape the case or not ?

-bk

[Cc1966]

Originally Posted by Bk100

I agree ....
Laser weld and reshape the case or not ?

-bk

Not...have a LIGHT polish done for now and see how you like it.