Sea-Dweller: Polished Case or Not

[swish77]

Looking for some other opinions on the case of this 1665 GW.

Yes, it's beautiful, and I'd love to have it on my wrist. However, there is a super high premium being asked for it because, among other things, the seller contends the case is inarguably unpolished.

Like most vintage Rolex lovers, I covet an unpolished case, but I'm also realistic and have no problem if a case HAS been polished, as long as it's minimal and done well. What I object to is paying a king's ransom for a piece with an inaccurate description that is used in part to justify a higher price tag.

I've been looking at cases for many, many years, and have owned three 1665s in the past, so I know what original cases usually look like, although I'm not always right, of course.

Thoughts?

[05carbondrz]

It’s been recut in my opinion,The dished lug Holes are a giveaway as well as how perfect the bevel and brushed areas are.

[MP5]

I'm suspect as well. This is why I'm out of vintage. When the Money is high all sorts of trickery will be used to make easy money. What happened to all those washed dials and honest beat up watches? They are all gleaming and sparkling with parts put together from other watches

[stmoore]

you always have amazing stuff and have a fantastic eye.

you can never know for sure, but I believe that watch has been polished at minimum and probably recut and then polished afterward (at some time later).

What's the SN? Those great whites changed a bit case wise. My guess is that it's an early 5 mil.

[05carbondrz]

Notice the raised Ring around the Lug Hole...This is a unpolished Case.Also note all the dings and scratches.

[Fredrik]

I usually look at the lug holes and the left side of the case on older models. The lug holes on this one leads me to think that it has been polished since they lack that drilled raised ring. The left side also seems off, isn't it supposed to be polished and not with a grain? The bottom of the left side also looks polished, it should be evident if you turn it around and check it there.

[swish77]

I agree with all comments above, and I'm glad I'm not going crazy.

Again, I have no problem with the case. But just tell me it's a nice case that's been professionally refinished at some point, and I'd say, "Yes, very nice." But don't tell me it's absolutely unpolished and attach an inflated price tag based on that. Problem is, it's a great full set with cool provenance, so I want it.

The watch is a 6.7 million, so '81-'82ish. I've attached a couple of other shots.

[MP5]

Earlier, 81 was the 666

[swish77]

Originally Posted by MP5

Earlier, 81 was the 666

It was a transition time for the Sea-Dweller. I've seen 1665s as late as 6.8 million serial, so around 1982 was the last year of production. The matte 16660 began around 1978, I believe, so the two references overlapped for several years.

[MP5]

Maybe it is some right overlap

[stmoore]

I would not expect that chamfer on a watch that late.

My two rails didn't have that chamfer and they were 5.7. Pull up a 666 and it's very minimal. This watch is less interesting the more I look at it.

Hold for a MK1 or a MK3 "maxi"

[swish77]

Originally Posted by stmoore

I would not expect that chamfer on a watch that late.

My two rails didn't have that chamfer and they were 5.7. Pull up a 666 and it's very minimal. This watch is less interesting the more I look at it.

Hold for a MK1 or a MK3 "maxi"

Yes, agreed, but they're becoming harder and harder to find. Here's my last 1665 that I sold to help fund my 6263. I wish I could get this one back. Man, it was a nice one.

[05carbondrz]

Originally Posted by stmoore

I would not expect that chamfer on a watch that late.

My two rails didn't have that chamfer and they were 5.7. Pull up a 666 and it's very minimal. This watch is less interesting the more I look at it.

Hold for a MK1 or a MK3 "maxi"

I have one of your old Rails and can confirm that they had much thinner bevels from the Factory than a 1680 or 5513.

[schaumburgla]

Js

[henrylee]

It’s a great case but looks nicely polished.

[crowncollection]

Looks re cut to me


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[JustinK]

I have a 7.2 million Great White and I have seen them into the early 8 millions.

This one appears polished to me.

[springer]

Not only has it been over-polished or refinished, the lugs, especially the lower right lug is way over cut to remove cupping at the spring bar holes. Very poorly refinished in my opinion.

As far as everything being all original, I'm not sure about the bracelet but the end links are service replacements.

[roh123]

Originally Posted by springer

Not only has it been over-polished or refinished, the lugs, especially the lower right lug is way over cut to remove cupping at the spring bar holes. Very poorly refinished in my opinion.

As far as everything being all original, I'm not sure about the bracelet but the end links are service replacements.

Calling that overpolished is imho a bit harsh.

[springer]

Originally Posted by roh123

Calling that overpolished is imho a bit harsh.

I expect that from you - you're harsh and disagree with me in nearly every post!

Overpolished, poorly refinished - call it what you like. Look at the bottom right lug, it's about half there. No rose-colored glasses are necessary to see that.

[roh123]

Originally Posted by springer

I expect that from you. You're harsh!!!

Yup. I’m not very complicated. :)

[swish77]

We all have our likes and dislikes with vintage watches, quirks or certain things that bother us more than others, whether it’s case lugs/bevels, type of patina, importance of original bracelet, etc ... That’s fine. But what isn’t an opinion is whether this specific case has been polished. It has, I think we can all agree.

It’s being offered by a well-known dealer whose office insisted the watch was unpolished when I called a couple of days ago for more details. (Before posting here.)

For the record, here’s the description:

“This mint Rolex Sea-Dweller, Ref. 1665, from 1981 has box, hang tags, calendar, and punch papers from the Navy Exchange in Japan. The original dial on this watch is in excellent condition with great luminescent markers and matching hands. The unpolished case is in near mint condition with thick, well-defined bevel on the lugs. Comes on a heavy Rolex flip-lock bracelet with extension.”

[77T]

Is it an optical illusion or are the top arcs of these lugs different?

One on the left looks like 90° and the other less than 90°




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[DaytonaSubmariner]

It looks like a nice watch as you state, but for sure, as many have already said, it looks like it's been polished to me.
I'm guessing the seller might be playing with semantics. THEY didn't polish the case, but someone in the past sure has.
I wouldn't be paying a premium for it. Keep looking if you're dead set on getting an unpolished piece. They're out there.
To me, this looks like an unpolished case:
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/vint...1-t244312.html

[V.lats97nsx]

Pic of my drsd lugs

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[psv]

Whatever has been done to it - it is surely not "100% unpolished" and/or original. Something has been done to that case. And one could suspect that they bezel has been changed as well - the teeth looks too clean.

[MinMay]

polish for sure. You can see the bottom lug right has been polish much more than the left side....

Also, the lug pin is almost sticking out.

[Gina Marie]

Recut. Laww does good work. Soft transition to crown guard is the tell.

[JBZ]

Stuff like this makes me happy I don't have the money to even think of playing in the vintage sandbox at this level. Scary.