Replace Dial on Explorer II with Tritium Dial

[ExplorerGMT]

I dropped off my Rolex Explorer II 16750 with the tritium dial a couple weeks ago for service. It was running slow and had not been serviced for 10 years. I received a call from the Service Center advising that the Tritium has started to flake off the dial. I bought this watch new 23 years (still have the box, papers an and sales receipt) and wear it quite a bit. It was serviced for the first time 10 years ago so it is due for some work because it is running much slower than before. It used to run up to 3 seconds fast per day but now runs between 6 to 9 seconds slow depending whether it is on my wrist or laying flat.
The Service Center indicated the dial should be replaced and I would get a dial with a new version of lume than the original tritium. I do like seeing the watch in the dark. As I have gotten older, I actually use my electronics less and less and like the simplicity of the glow in the dark Rolex to tell time. I have no plans to sell this watch over the next 10 years.

After service the watch would then be very similar to the Explorer II 16570 with SWISS dial which was made in 1998 to 1999. In the future, if I would sell the watch, what do you all think the best way to classify this watch. Should I be morally obligated to let folks know that the dial has been replaced from Tritium to the SWISS dial? I don’t mind the calling it the SWISS dial version but would I be wrong or not.

All thoughts are appreciated.

[Tools]

If folks want to keep their flaking tritium dials they usually have them stabilized and sealed. Rolex does not do this.

It is much more likely that your new dial would be Swiss Made rather than Swiss.

I am not a moral arbiter, but one should always be straightforward with their transactions. It is very likely that anybody who knows watches would know that this is not an original dial and would approach any purchase accordingly.

[rootbeer7]

You’ll see many variations from the honest ‘service replacement dial’ to the slightly less honest ‘fantastic rare swiss only dial’. Collectors know what they’re looking for! As for having it changed, do it. It’s your watch.

[7enderbender]

Up to you if you want that for functionality - which is always Rolex’ argument. They don’t care about “vintage” appeal and such. There are horror stories here where they have basically destroyed very valuable pieces by swapping to new parts. There is an argument to be made both ways.
If it was me I’d keep it as is - which may mean the Rolex may decline the service. Which RSC is it at?
Rolex needs an official vintage restoration service at this point, like Blancpain has and probably others as well.
As far as disclosing upon sale: yes, that’s the right thing to do and people may figure it out anyway. People looking for older models want them with tritium and in original condition and would pay more probably. Somebody looking for a modern model with modern lume will lean towards more recent versions of the watch.
Get it back from RSC and let people here help you find and independent who can keep the watch intact.

[shedlock2000]

If you had the new dial installed, you would call it a ‘service dial watch’ or a ‘service watch’.

Like you, I prefer functionality over originality — however, the value of it will tank, seeing you have a full set.

Here is a photo on my 1675 service dial watch. I am very partial to the ‘new’ look for vintage pieces (though I do understand why people enjoy original vintage).




This watch, which has all the box etc., is worth half of the watch with original parts — perhaps $10-12k US vs $20-25k. The value is, obviously, important — but not as important as functionality.

The watch is fully serviced with many new parts in the movement. It keeps COSC and is useable at night as well!



In short, you can either maintain functionality or originality; the latter increases value, the former reduces it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[faz]

I suggest the delta in value will not be high enough to worry about it. I would put the new dial in and enjoy the functionally and the nice clean dial.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk