Is this a 4 or 5 digit Datejust?

[the dark knight]

Originally Posted by 77T

Let’s assume the midcase is original. I am guessing the original DJ had a 'pie pan' dial. But there might have been a problem if the 1575 movement needed replacing sometime in the ‘80’s. That’s because the 3035 movement sits higher in the case by just under 1 mm. And because of the pie pan dial....that watchmaker replaced an original pie pan with that tapestry dial. That gave just enough room to fit a 3035 into the case without a lot of other bother.

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Sorry, didn't see this when I first replied. So a 3035 movement with a non-pie pan dial will definitely fit in a 1601 case? That was a question I had.

And of course the 7million serial is throwing me off, as that appears to be a 1981 build, more likely to be a 16013, and would jive with what we know of the watch's history.

Of course what you outline is certainly a possibility. Although my dad is sure that the dial was not changed when he serviced it in 2000. And I'm assuming if a new movement was needed at that time they might have put in a 3135?

There is a chance my grandpa got it serviced sometime in the 80s, sure, but that's very unlikely from what my dad remembers. He was the type to just put the watch away if it broke, as he didn't fully understand the value of a Rolex. Definitely not the type to pay to service a broken watch.

But this is all conversation. I asked them to have a service tech take a look at it one more time. If they confirm 1601, I doubt they'd screw it up a 2nd (or actually 3rd?) time, so I just get the watch back and take it to an independent. I'm just curious more than anything at this point. And I'd still like RSC to service it if possible, though that seems unlikely.