Sunk the Red Sub……

[PeterWM]

Hi I’m new to the forums ( and everything else you'll think once you've read this note ). It's a fantastic resource for someone like me – who’s just made a whopping blunder.

I took my 1970 Red Sub for a swim – but with the Crown not fully wound down. To make it worse It was a week before I could get the watch to a watchmaker to open and clean.

I’m faced with having to try and salvage as much as I can – I bought the watch for my 21st birthday some 45+ years ago and we are old friends so I’m not about to give up – though I know very little about how to recover.

I guess that’s what I’m looking for – some sensible starters …. I’ve read what others have done in a general sense – but I should describe as well as I can the damage.

The watch was 7 days with salt water in it and I’m told by the guy who opened the watch for me that the movement is unable to be rescued? I would like to know how to check that and are no parts salvageable …and if that path is truly a dead end .

The Dial has also suffered some water damage though not bad – the worst is a lifting of a small amount of surface material on the very edge of the dial.
I guess I would like to also tune into the forum’s restoration sensibilities – how much repair and how much replacement how to maintain the “trueness” of the watch while getting it back on the road. I’ll send pix of the damage once I get a camera that is good enough to give a clear image.

From reading the Forums there seems to be two approaches – repair and accept the visual damage ( If that’s even possible with a movement 7 days under salt water )… or Rebuild .

Rebuilding seems to involve having the Dial re-finished and a replacement movement - 1575 I think from my reading - and put it back together. I’m living in Australia and we have limited choice for Watchmakers with access to Rolex parts (New or Used) so I’m guessing - alot. I’d also like some pointers as to where to find recommendations ( don’t know if you are allowed ) for repairers and where to have the jobs done once direction is established- then how to get replacement movements, parts .....

Please excuse the length of the report – thanks for reading it all – I’m grateful for any suggestions. I'm just trying; amongst the shock of my stupidity - to get my recovery direction.
Regards and thanks again

Peter

[28A]

Paul Watson at Inside Time at Springwood (In Brisbane) is absolutely an incredible watchmaker and will give you some solid information on it. He is pretty snowed under but might make an exception to something like that, with the damage and all to stop it getting any worse..

You should post some pictures so we can see what the damage is exactly.

[HERITAGE82]

Pictures would help us assess the damage and give advice.

Sorry to hear this happened, but most watches are able to be saved after water ingress even after years of sitting around.

[JJL]

Ouch, very sorry to hear!! Please post some pictures. Hopefully you can preserve the dial as a lot of the value of the Red 1680 is in the dial.

Good luck and let us know how it goes!

[swish77]

Condolences. Good luck in rescuing your "old friend." It will be worth it in the end. It doesn't sound as if you were ever interested in selling the watch anyway, so getting her back up and running is the most important thing. Would be interested to see some photos.

[scooba]

Hi ,May I suggest you contact Jedley1 on here he is a expert on vintage Rolex and is always in Australia , He will know who to speak with and I am sure he will gladly help

[SpaceWanderer]

Wow. That does not sound salvageable but crazier things have happened. I'd contact the gents suggested and you never know. Very best of luck!

[Wahlberg]

Sorry to hear! I'm interested though to see it all fixed up again. Good luck.

[droptopman]

Very sorry to hear this. Please get that watch to an expert soon to evaluate. Hard to provide any direction without pictures. Movements can almost always be fixed, but the dial and hands are more difficult to solve.

[Robbyvm]

a damn shame...
i would love to see some pics of the whole process....
how did she look
how doe she look now
after the spa

good luck in restoring that baby !

[motoikkyu]

I agree with the recommendations: save the original dial if it is at all possible. A donor movement will either furnish all the correct parts, or can be swapped in. Salt water is one of the most damaging things that can happen to a fine watch BUT the techniques of repair and refurbishment have become quite advanced. Good luck with your restoration!

[SearChart]

Very sorry to hear, hope you can save the dial and hands.

[BNA/LION]

OUCH! I hope everything works out for the best...

[Juggernaut]

Don't loose hope...it can be resurrected, it just comes down to how much you want to spend. A white Sub service dial is always an option, unless you can source an original red Sub dial (ouch!!!).
Please keep us updated and best of luck...we're here for you...

[Porter]

Don't worry! Is horrible when happens but can be solve! Sure you will find the person to help you and you will have a new story to add to your watch history!!
Just be patient!

[watchcrank]

good advise above. movements are plentiful for the watch, dials are not. Most other parts are salvageable. good luck

[Xantiagib]

a similar thing happened to my wife and her 70s datejust...

we took it as soon as we could to the AD, who cleaned up the dial as best they could, replacing most of the movent parts as it needed a service anyway....

The lume on the dial went black and the balance staff broke - as the repair was guarranteed they sent it off back to Rolex and it came back new.... they kept the dial (still some slight spots of corrosion remain) but they relumed it and the hands and possible replaced the movement I'm not sure...

[nobbylon]

Even with the crown unscrewed and pulled out it should still be sealed so I dont get how water is supposed to have got in!

[Paul]

Sorry to hear the sad story Peter but all is not lost. Easy enough to source a replacement movement and fingers crossed that the dial and hands have survived.

As a temporary distraction, I recommend a blast in the Ozzie sunshine in that fine Healey with a couple of ice-cold stubbies waiting when you get home

[Mr JJ]

Originally Posted by PeterWM

Hi I’m new to the forums ( and everything else you'll think once you've read this note ). It's a fantastic resource for someone like me – who’s just made a whopping blunder.

I took my 1970 Red Sub for a swim – but with the Crown not fully wound down. To make it worse It was a week before I could get the watch to a watchmaker to open and clean.

I’m faced with having to try and salvage as much as I can – I bought the watch for my 21st birthday some 45+ years ago and we are old friends so I’m not about to give up – though I know very little about how to recover.

I guess that’s what I’m looking for – some sensible starters …. I’ve read what others have done in a general sense – but I should describe as well as I can the damage.

The watch was 7 days with salt water in it and I’m told by the guy who opened the watch for me that the movement is unable to be rescued? I would like to know how to check that and are no parts salvageable …and if that path is truly a dead end .

The Dial has also suffered some water damage though not bad – the worst is a lifting of a small amount of surface material on the very edge of the dial.
I guess I would like to also tune into the forum’s restoration sensibilities – how much repair and how much replacement how to maintain the “trueness” of the watch while getting it back on the road. I’ll send pix of the damage once I get a camera that is good enough to give a clear image.

From reading the Forums there seems to be two approaches – repair and accept the visual damage ( If that’s even possible with a movement 7 days under salt water )… or Rebuild .

Rebuilding seems to involve having the Dial re-finished and a replacement movement - 1575 I think from my reading - and put it back together. I’m living in Australia and we have limited choice for Watchmakers with access to Rolex parts (New or Used) so I’m guessing - alot. I’d also like some pointers as to where to find recommendations ( don’t know if you are allowed ) for repairers and where to have the jobs done once direction is established- then how to get replacement movements, parts .....

Please excuse the length of the report – thanks for reading it all – I’m grateful for any suggestions. I'm just trying; amongst the shock of my stupidity - to get my recovery direction.
Regards and thanks again

Peter

Sorry to hear about your unfortunate damage, what state are you in?
There are two well know and respected watchmakers in Sydney, otherwise I'd bite the bullet and send to Bob Ridley. Keep us posted with how you get on

[PeterWM]

First I should say how reassuring it is to have a forum to demostrate the blunder to. So thank you very much for all who replied.
In Chapter 2 we recover the watch from interim watch maker ( who was a little offended I think), we take photo's and publish and go on the search for the components of a repair.
First the photo's - I've included a few - and some of them are repeats with natural light, incandescent and flash - they each show different aspects better.
I'd like to know from the group on a scale of 1-10 "How bad is this" 1-OK -10 - Stuffed.

From what I've read the best method is to 1 Find experienced Wath Repair guy
2 Purchase replacement 1570 movement, plus try and sell some of the left over components to defray costs 3 See if the dial can be repaired to maintain authenticity. Would you comment on broad shape of plan?
Special thanks to Kiwi who reccomended drive in the country and a course of stubbies..
Regards Peter and thanks for your interest.

Peter

[05carbondrz]

Ouch!! To me that dial is Toast,Michael Young may be able to make it halfway presentable but it will still be obviously damaged.

[scooba]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

Ouch!! To me that dial is Toast,Michael Young may be able to make it halfway presentable but it will still be obviously damaged.

ditto Michael Young , I have seen some of his work its very very good

[timnik]

"A course of stubbies" my me chuckle:

[PeterWM]

Thanks for comments - We're building a catlogue of possible 'engineers" for the Job . I've managed to get the face free from the winder and out of the case so I can show a clearer view of the extent of damage.
regards

Peter

[Juggernaut]

You might not need to replace the entire movement, although if you find good at a fair price, go for it.
But a good watchmaker with a Rolex parts account can decide which parts need replacing and which are still usable....Afterall, during a full service, the entire movement is dis-assembled to all the individual parts and whatever needs replacing is ordered by part number.

[alwayshere]

jesus

why did you go swimming with a red sub..... expensive lesson

[UNLVino]

Originally Posted by alwayshere

jesus

why did you go swimming with a red sub..... expensive lesson

why not? That's what the thing is made for - the lesson learned is to always check to ensure the crown is down.

Hope OP get's it up and running and looking good again - it will have some character when complete.

[05carbondrz]

Originally Posted by UNLVino

why not? That's what the thing is made for - the lesson learned is to always check to ensure the crown is down.

Hope OP get's it up and running and looking good again - it will have some character when complete.

This Thread is why not.

[alwayshere]

Originally Posted by UNLVino

why not? That's what the thing is made for - the lesson learned is to always check to ensure the crown is down.

Hope OP get's it up and running and looking good again - it will have some character when complete.

I'm sorry, do you need to tell the time under the water? lols

Almost all collectors and watchmakers would advise not to go diving with a vintage Rolex submariner - even with the seals replaced.

I'm sure the OP has plenty of cabbage so can replace the dial, movement, etc but like I said, expensive lesson.