First Vintage Watch - with a Catch

[NumbersGuy]

Good morning from Florida, gents.

I'm new to TRF but have spent some time reading around as I was first in the market for a 5513 Maxi until a 1016 caught my eye. The Explorer was advertised as all original (which I was skeptical of, even though this is a trusted dealer) and asked them to confirm that all was original. Long story short, we made a deal and the watch will arrive today.

I was digging through the Vintage Forum stickies last night, as I could not sleep in anticipation, and found the "Is your Rolex REALLY all original?" thread. I quickly learned the serial on the watch would place it from 1963 and may have been produced with a different dial than the common tritium dial that we see on most 1016s.

I hate to be "that guy" who comes through and asks for advice but as my first vintage watch purchase, I want to feel as if I did everything right.

Can anyone weigh in on the dial conundrum?

The watch comes with papers and a service ticket from 1984. It would be hard to imagine Rolex would pass up the opportunity to replace the dial and hands during this service.

To caveat, the price was at the mid to high end of the 1016 market right now because it was promised to be all original. Am I out of line to request a partial refund due to the misinformation or send it back for a full refund?

Thanks in advance for helping out (yet another) vintage rookie.

-Anthony

[roh123]

Post a pic and serial of the watch. If 1963 serial is around 900-1.0m and then the dial should be gilt. That means it normally will cost you from approx 9k and upwards.

[stewester]

Definitely well within your rights to ask for a refund for a watch sold as original when it's not.

[NumbersGuy]

Well.. just opened the box. No gilt dial found. Still a tritium dial in awesome condition but not the correct dial for a 901XXX serial. I'm sending it back and so the search continues...

Thanks for the input!

[Cantab]

Wise move, definitely not that of an impulse buyer. If you pay the price for originality, it should be implicit in the contract that you get it.

[Kingface66]

Anthony, let us know how things turned out (ie. how the dealer responded)

[adam78]

All original to a seller may not mean the same as to a buyer. If it is a service dial/hands and original Rolex parts, then it is technically "original", albeit not original to the watch as it left the factory.

[chris333]

People often use the term "original", when they mean something more like "genuine". Frustrating.

[NumbersGuy]

Thanks again for the input, fellas. I emailed the dealer to let them know I would be sending the watch back and requesting a refund (and to let them know they accidentally charged my card $10,000 too much). They were extremely prompt in responding and apologetic. They refunded the overcharge, sent me a FedEx label to overnight the watch back to them, and the owner even emailed me to apologize for the mix up and offered to help search for the right 1016 example for me. I was impressed.

[Kingface66]

Glad it all seems on its way to being resolved, but the...

Originally Posted by NumbersGuy

and to let them know they accidentally charged my card $10,000 too much

....would've freaked me out.

[Cantab]

$10k accident? I agree with Kingface66, it would have freaked me out on the to immediately dispute the charge. So happy that it all work out, which, these days, is often not the case.