Vintage watch w/service dial...

[kayaker21]

Would love to get even a red service dial.

[Tudor66]

Thanks for advice, my watch with it's perfect newer 93150 band and all new Rolex parts is just a much better watch than the 1971 Pepsi. Besides, I already have a 1969 Pepsi--- How many pepsi's does one man need anyway...

Wearing the 1680 today, and loving the posts... I just saw the SD with the service dial....Nice...!!!!

Keep the posts coming...

Originally Posted by Tudor66

---Alert. My friend just offered his 1970 Pepsi gmt to me, but he wants my uber cool 1680 service dial watch posted here. Damm, I want another Pepsi, and I don't want to use cash when I have a few extra stainless steel rolexes.

This is a thread hyjack---" would you trade your 1680 for a very nice older Pepsi....?
I have 24 hours to decide before he sells it to another....

Originally Posted by G-Web

Funny Al, since this thread has gotten going, I've found myself looking around for 1675's with service dials. Regardless of whether your friend's has a service dial or not, I understand that watch's appeal. After all, my dad used to point it out to me every time we watched Magnum P.I.

But this is not about me. My 2 cents: Sounds like you want to keep the 1680. So maybe you let this one pass, and sell something else to fund a 1675 in the near future.

Good luck and keep us posted.
-Grant

[strafer_kid]

Some really nice pieces here guys!

[John in MA]

Here's my 1680. Service dial and hands. The originals are tucked away.



And while it doesn't count technically as a service dial, I did have a 2nd matte dial relumed with superluminova and service hands for my 16800.

[SubKing]

Originally Posted by G-Web

The Red Sub with the Luminova service dial is the bee's knees.
Just how 'unobtainium' is it?
Does anyone know the likelihood a US RSC will install one if you sent in a Red Sub for service? Or is this the kind of thing only Rolex knows?

Regardless, great thread.
Keep 'em comin'.
-GW

I checked into this.. RUSA parts denies existence of a red service dial, (because they don't know much of anything) got intouch with a supervisor in Rolex customer service. I had to be forwarded to her supervisor to get her to admit red dials are still being made. She said yes, they are special order only from the rolex HQ and have a 6 to 8 week lead time to get in, and they only exchange red for red period. Your original red is sent to rolex HQ in Switzerland for Authentication, they then in return send a red service dial...

Even though I was able to prove my white dial 1680 was in the serial number range and date that it originally had a red dial, they don't care. Red for RED.

only advise is purchasing a ruined and destroyed red dial for a grand and throw it in your watch, then send it in to rolex for service and request a new service red dial to be special ordered.. The red service dials are not really seen because no one in their right mind wants to replace a red tritium for a service lume red dial. unless they don't know any better of course.

so people at Rolex Texas just don't know.. but I recently raised such a stink, that they are all informed now that they do exist and not to feed customers false information because of their lack of knowledge.
I find that red service dial 1680's tend to sell for 1k more than a standard 1680 white service dial watches when they pop up for sale.

[pablofields]

Originally Posted by SubKing

I checked into this.. RUSA parts denies existence of a red service dial, (because they don't know much of anything) got intouch with a supervisor in Rolex customer service. I had to be forwarded to her supervisor to get her to admit red dials are still being made. She said yes, they are special order only from the rolex HQ and have a 6 to 8 week lead time to get in, and they only exchange red for red period. Your original red is sent to rolex HQ in Switzerland for Authentication, they then in return send a red service dial...

Even though I was able to prove my white dial 1680 was in the serial number range and date that it originally had a red dial, they don't care. Red for RED.

only advise is purchasing a ruined and destroyed red dial for a grand and throw it in your watch, then send it in to rolex for service and request a new service red dial to be special ordered.. The red service dials are not really seen because no one in their right mind wants to replace a red tritium for a service lume red dial. unless they don't know any better of course.

so people at Rolex Texas just don't know.. but I recently raised such a stink, that they are all informed now that they do exist and not to feed customers false information because of their lack of knowledge.
I find that red service dial 1680's tend to sell for 1k more than a standard 1680 white service dial watches when they pop up for sale.

Great info. Thanks for your persistence and sharing!

[G-Web]

Just thought I'd add this one to the mix.
A new (to me) early 60's 5512 with Luminova dial.
Probably the coolest watch I've ever owned.
Cheers,
GW

[etp095]

Originally Posted by SubKing

I checked into this.. RUSA parts denies existence of a red service dial, (because they don't know much of anything) got intouch with a supervisor in Rolex customer service. I had to be forwarded to her supervisor to get her to admit red dials are still being made. She said yes, they are special order only from the rolex HQ and have a 6 to 8 week lead time to get in, and they only exchange red for red period. Your original red is sent to rolex HQ in Switzerland for Authentication, they then in return send a red service dial...

Even though I was able to prove my white dial 1680 was in the serial number range and date that it originally had a red dial, they don't care. Red for RED.

only advise is purchasing a ruined and destroyed red dial for a grand and throw it in your watch, then send it in to rolex for service and request a new service red dial to be special ordered.. The red service dials are not really seen because no one in their right mind wants to replace a red tritium for a service lume red dial. unless they don't know any better of course.

so people at Rolex Texas just don't know.. but I recently raised such a stink, that they are all informed now that they do exist and not to feed customers false information because of their lack of knowledge.
I find that red service dial 1680's tend to sell for 1k more than a standard 1680 white service dial watches when they pop up for sale.

This is good news to all,thanks for your perseverance.

[Rwc13]

I bought a 1964 5513 last year as an early 50th birthday present to myself. I love it and would never part with it. I've had a SubC and a SD, but this is the only sub for me.

However, I miss having lume and the bezel is a bit worn. These photos and views are making me think very hard about getting a service dial and replacement bezel fitted so that I too have all the real benefits of an up to date Sub on my vintage. Would the RSC return the original dial and bezel to me so that I could refit in future if I so desired?

[eVojlib]

I'll play....

I've got my 78360 waiting to be installed, just need my 580's to show up :)

[vintagewaferthin]

Originally Posted by Rwc13

I bought a 1964 5513 last year as an early 50th birthday present to myself. I love it and would never part with it. I've had a SubC and a SD, but this is the only sub for me.

However, I miss having lume and the bezel is a bit worn. These photos and views are making me think very hard about getting a service dial and replacement bezel fitted so that I too have all the real benefits of an up to date Sub on my vintage. Would the RSC return the original dial and bezel to me so that I could refit in future if I so desired?

No, sadly RSC will ot returned any replaced parts.

[G-Web]

Originally Posted by eVojlib

I'll play....

I've got my 78360 waiting to be installed, just need my 580's to show up :)

Fantastic looking GMT!
-GW

[sishac]

Since a 5513 service dial is a gloss dial with WG surrounds, what are peoples' thoughts on replacing a 5513 matte dial with a 5512 service (lumi) dial? It is my understanding that sometimes parts were interchangable.

[DrLindaPhD]

great pics and love the lume

[Wing Zero]

I love the combined look of the Old and the New.
perfect Marriage of parts IMHO.

Great looking and FUNCTIONAL !!

[Charlie farley]

I love these pictures I have a 65 5513 with service dial love it will put some pics up I was scared to before in case I got shot down in flames. Nice scenery shots

[GeoGio Greece]

Although these pictures are VERY nice, under the condition that my originals will not be returned by the RSC ( dial and hands ), as to replace them if required in the future, I prefer to keep my 1983 5513 as original as possible. SO, no change.'

[zeuloa]

great pictures!

[John in MA]

Forgot about these. Don't own then anymore but they were great.

Started with this blue.


Followed by this black



And then another blue.



Love the service dial snowflakes and Still regret selling that first one. It was my first sub and I had it the longest. 6 years. If another ever pops up for sale ill try and grab it and sell the one I currently own.

[John in MA]

Originally Posted by GeoGio Greece

Although these pictures are VERY nice, under the condition that my originals will not be returned by the RSC ( dial and hands ), as to replace them if required in the future, I prefer to keep my 1983 5513 as original as possible. SO, no change.'

Source a 2nd dial and have it relumed like I did. An rsc replacement would be glossy with wg surrounds which IMO doesn't work for a 5513.

[Walter Wharton]

Dear Members,

I hope someone will tell me how old a Rolex has to be to be classed as a vintage watch
I have a date just which is dated 1977

Kind regards

W.W.

[powerfunk]

Originally Posted by Walter Wharton

Dear Members,

I hope someone will tell me how old a Rolex has to be to be classed as a vintage watch
I have a date just which is dated 1977

Kind regards

W.W.

This questions pops up pretty frequently, and there are a few definitions. If it has an acrylic crystal and/or is 30+ years old, you can call it vintage I'd say.

While I'm here I may as well add my wife's vintage Air-King-Date with a fresh tritium-marked lumi service dial to the thread:

[tudorluv]

congrats on such great pieces - threads like this are what I love about TRF

thanks for sharing!

[Mike1066]

Red service dial in my father's watch. Man, he loves this watch so much.

[pablofields]

Just put this on the 16750

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by Mike1066

Red service dial in my father's watch. Man, he loves this watch so much.

That looks great Mike. Congrats........Easy to see why your father would love it.

[Stag]

My 1680 fitted with service insert but has original dial and hands

[GeoGio Greece]

Originally Posted by powerfunk

While I'm here I may as well add my wife's vintage Air-King-Date with a fresh tritium-marked lumi service dial to the thread:

So nice and much promoted by the excellent photo. Bravo

[GeoGio Greece]

So many nice watches and pictures. Thanks to all

[Tom R]

Originally Posted by Walter Wharton

Dear Members,

I hope someone will tell me how old a Rolex has to be to be classed as a vintage watch
I have a date just which is dated 1977

Kind regards

W.W.

Any watch that is 25+ years old is vintage imo.

You can't use the acrylic crystal argument that many like, because there are too many old watches out there, some more than 30 years old, that are very much non-acrylic.
And what about in 5-10 years time? Even more old watches will be non-acrylic. in 2023 is a 1990 18k 18k Gold 18308 DayDate is not going to be classed as vintage just because it has sapphire crystal instead of acrylic? That's just plain silly, isn't it?

No. Vintage can surely only realy be defined by the age of a watch itself, and not defined by just one of its many parts i.e. the crystal.
And that age, imo, like with many other things (particular cars) is 25 years old+.