DRSD - Restored back to Fat Font Bezal Insert

[wallasey runner]

Following the advice of several forunites, I have had the service replacement thin font bezal insert with luminous pearl (dot or pip if you prefer) replaced by an old and slightly faded mark 3 fat font insert. I had the non lumious tritium pearl fitted by a professional watchmaker this morning.

The next stage, if there was to be one was the consideration of changing the plexi glass for a T39 superdome. It was decided that it would be unwise to do this as most glasses up for sale are not genuine Rolex pieces and removing the watch from the case could risk damage to the dial. The watchmaker and a very well respected vintage Rolex expert both advised me to leave the glass as is. The watch is still under warranty following a 2013 service by Rolex and that would also be jepordised.

I only seem to be able to post one image, so here is the before:

[wallasey runner]

And here is the after:

What do you think chaps, worth the effort and cost ?

[southtexas]

Yes big difference. Worth the cost?...depends on what it cost you;)


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[wallasey runner]

Originally Posted by southtexas

Yes big difference. Worth the cost?...depends on what it cost you;)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Well, might as well be honest and upfront in case anyone else is thinking of going down the same road. The insert (without the pearl) was GBP£300.00 and with the cost of the pearl and getting it professionally sorted out, just short of GBP£400.00.

Not bad when you see people listing the inserts alone at over 1k.

[Dries]

Originally Posted by wallasey runner

And here is the after:

What do you think chaps, worth the effort and cost ?

Looks great Congrats!

[linesiders]

Looks awesome!

[morafa4]

Looks good to me! But would def give that extra oomph with the superdome crystal...

As far as damaging the dial while removing the crystal, this is the first time I've heard that with these 1665's. Aren't these matte dials pretty robust? I could see the reason to be extra careful on a old glossy dial that might risk crazing or flaking of the lacquer, but I think you'd be safe with one of these. Any additional thoughts on this?

[rootbeer7]

The bezel looks amazing, tho' definitely needs superdome!! (although mine not DRSD).

[Smartyjones18]

Worthy replacement, very nice with ff insert. Congrats

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by wallasey runner

Well, might as well be honest and upfront in case anyone else is thinking of going down the same road. The insert (without the pearl) was GBP£300.00 and with the cost of the pearl and getting it professionally sorted out, just short of GBP£400.00.

Not bad when you see people listing the inserts alone at over 1k.

Yes it was definitely worth it! It looks great.

[wallasey runner]

Thanks all, positive comments much appreciated. The superdome issue is a tricky one. As you know with red subs and DRSDs the dial is everything and those little chips you often get around the minute markers tend to occur when the dial is removed from the case. I think my dial must be pretty robust because the case back inside contains the scrathings of at least 7 or 8 services during it's 41 year life.

Finding a NOS superdome that is 100% genuine Rolex is not easy. Chrono-shop.net based in France have some listed, they are not cheap though. Anyone had any dealings with these people and is their stock totally genuine ?

I think in the pecking order of things the service replacement insert just looked wrong and needed sorting. The superdome is a nice to have that can wait for another day rather than losing sleep over it. The glass currently on is a service replacement domed glass.

[azguy]

Pricey, but looks great

[nsumner]

Originally Posted by morafa4

Looks good to me! But would def give that extra oomph with the superdome crystal...

As far as damaging the dial while removing the crystal, this is the first time I've heard that with these 1665's. Aren't these matte dials pretty robust? I could see the reason to be extra careful on a old glossy dial that might risk crazing or flaking of the lacquer, but I think you'd be safe with one of these. Any additional thoughts on this?

These dials are indeed very fragile. Every time the movement/dial is decased, you run the risk of dammage. Mainly to the edges where they contact the lower rehaut. Now.....you technically can replace the crystal without removing the movement/dial but this is a risky proposition when pressing it all back together.


Great watch OP.....the insert looks incredible.

[Vincent65]

great look!

[liuk3]

Very nice!

[AS1]

Beautiful watch mate

[mluther]

looks superb with the new/old insert

[Jp28]

Originally Posted by wallasey runner

And here is the after:

What do you think chaps, worth the effort and cost ?

If you don't mind me asking where did you get that insert? Looks great.

[wallasey runner]

Originally Posted by Jp28

If you don't mind me asking where did you get that insert? Looks great.

I started hunting everywhere, e-bay, chrono 24, chrono-shop.net and generally googling what i was after in the UK and found the attached quite by accident:

http://www.nicklamont.co.uk/apps/web...s/show/5983836

It is obviously sensible to treat any item for sale with suspicion, so did a lot of image comparisons on sites like the attached:

http://www.vintagehour.com/visual-co...nserts-part-2/

I also did some research on how you could fake fading on an insert, fine sand paper leaves tiny scratches, bleaching can leave either uneven colour or even front and back fading and both of these tricks would remove the original sheen. If an insert was faded by the sea and the sun - a well used divers watch, the reverse would still be a lot darker.

Anyway, this insert passed all my tests so i bought it and showed it to one of the UKs most respected vintage Rolex expert and he thought that i had bought well.

I thought getting your head around DRSD dials was a challenge, but inserts are something else focus on the 4 in 40 and 5 in 50 as that's were most of the variations are.

I then went through a similar process to find a non luminous tritium pearl.

Hope this helps if anyone is thinking of doing something similar - do you homework !!!

[Wing Zero]

Amazing look, I much prefer the faded mk3 ff insert.
for 350, it's a steal.

[wallasey runner]

Originally Posted by Wing Zero

Amazing look, I much prefer the faded mk3 ff insert.
for 350, it's a steal.

Many thanks, if you look at the listing he was open to offers, so i offered £300.00 and he accepted.

Pricing is a nightmare, from repros on e-bay for a few pounds to people wanting well over 1k for one. Even on the sales on vintagerolexforums etc, people are asking serious money. They still have some on chrono-shop.net with the pearl, still attached to a bezal ring, but these are 1.5k to 2k euros - which is serious money.

A few other tips that i learnt - never attempt to put a pearl in a loose insert - you can split the metal at it's weakest point. Have the insert fitted in the bezal and that supports it whilst the pearl is inserted.

Second tip, if you have paid a lot of money for an insert or a pearl - do not fit it yourself, pay a professional watchmaker with the correct tools to do it for you. I paid £10.00 for the insert and pearl to be fitted - hardly a kings ransom.

[Wing Zero]

Originally Posted by wallasey runner

I started hunting everywhere, e-bay, chrono 24, chrono-shop.net and generally googling what i was after in the UK and found the attached quite by accident:

http://www.nicklamont.co.uk/apps/web...s/show/5983836

Wow thank you for leading me to that store.
Just picked up a pair of 501b end links for £30 !!

[wallasey runner]

Originally Posted by Wing Zero

Wow thank you for leading me to that store.
Just picked up a pair of 501b end links for £30 !!

Excellent, well done - pleased to be of help.

He was great to deal with and sent the insert by next day special delivery - which he paid for.

All round good guy !!

[QueueCumber]

Glad you removed the service insert. It always irks me when people keep the service insert on these...

[Franks07]

Originally Posted by QueueCumber

Glad you removed the service insert. It always irks me when people keep the service insert on these...

Agreed 100%...Looks outstanding with the faded / correct insert.

[morafa4]

Interesting. News to me; my understanding was that the vast majority of crystal replacements occurred by removing the bezel/ring, spring, crystal retention ring, working the crystal out and pressing a new one into it's place. Anything more (removing movement, etc), I assumed was capitalizing on installing the crystal during a full service.

I ask because I'm curious about this possible fragility, as I have a 1665 I'm contemplating swapping the crystal out of. Last thing I'd want is chips around the circumference of the dial.

Originally Posted by nsumner

These dials are indeed very fragile. Every time the movement/dial is decased, you run the risk of dammage. Mainly to the edges where they contact the lower rehaut. Now.....you technically can replace the crystal without removing the movement/dial but this is a risky proposition when pressing it all back together.


Great watch OP.....the insert looks incredible.

[jdmi32]

Looks much more "complete" with the proper insert. I agree with those that say that a T 39 is the way to go to finish it off. Very nice watch you have there.

[sdwtchlvr]

Much much better.

[colpol]

Big difference - well worth it

[M4rkg4rd3n]

Good work looks excellent well worth the investment.