Advice on Vintage Double Red Sea Dweller 1665

[DLB]

Hi all. I'm new to posting but have found immense value in the forum from an information perspective with my previous purchases, I thank you wholeheartedly for that. I have a 5512 and 16750 and i'm considering a DRSD MkIII 1665. This makes a significant step up cost wise and I need some expert opinion on the piece i'm looking at.

The watch comes without box and papers or bracelet. It's being offered by a jeweler in NYC (great guy that I have dealt with previously) but he obviously wants to move the piece, so I'm looking for some unbiased opinions.

My concerns are as follows, pictures accompanying -
Dial - Slight damage at bottom edge to the left and underneath the 'swiss'.
Hands - Very different color to the lume plots
Bezel - Seems like a replacement
Date disk - Seems a little white, could it be a service disk?

As you can see, it's unpolished, and seems pretty original.

Would love thoughts on the watch. Any suggestion of value? Should I avoid because of the dial damage?

Many thanks in advance.

[HL65]

Damaged dial kills watch value and personally wouldn't think twice because of that alone.

[lee fowler]

It will all come down to price and if you would be happy with the dial. The insert is a later service replacement.

[Robbyvm]

move along... if you go for one pick one in great condition and don't compromise beause you'll regret it

[bieb1]

These are high value items for a relatively small and very select audience of experienced collectors. The damaged dial will make it very very difficult to re-sell later.

[swish77]

The damaged dial is the main reason to pass, IMHO, but the mismatched patina on the hands would drive me nuts, and also raise some questions. What's the asking price?

[DLB]

Thanks for these responses all.

Asking price is 21,500

[Max72]

Pass

[lee fowler]

Originally Posted by DLB

Thanks for these responses all.

Asking price is 21,500

$ I presume??

[Fleetlord]

Pass without hesitation.

[droptopman]

Pass. Too many issues.

[watchlovr]

I bought a perfect mk3 with 2 bracelets for that.
Not easy but if you are patient.
That one would need to be much cheaper.

[swish77]

At that price point, you should never settle. I'd rather pay more for a better example, than less for a flawed example.

[bbturbo]

Originally Posted by watchlovr

I bought a perfect mk3 with 2 bracelets for that.
Not easy but if you are patient.
That one would need to be much cheaper.

$21k for a perfect mk3 is an amazing deal

And mk3 is more rare yes? well done

[el1125]

Originally Posted by droptopman

Pass. Too many issues.

Agreed

[fusionstorm]

If it were $10K less, then the advice might be different.........

[Fredrik]

Originally Posted by DLB

As you can see, it's unpolished, and seems pretty original.

Look at the lug holes, they are rounded, this is because it has been polished.

The condition it is in I would describe as "polished a long time ago and now scratched up again".

And I also think you should pass because of the damaged dial.

[The_Walrus]

I took would pass because of the dial..

[nick c]

Look for something else

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by fusionstorm

If it were $10K less, then the advice might be different.........

[stmoore]

Pass. That insert is from a non plexi sub / sea dweller. That dial is a no no. Don't buy a project like this....

[harry in montreal]

It also had a ratty band that gnawed on the lug inners. Look at the pic where it's flipped over.

[colpol]

Originally Posted by swish77

At that price point, you should never settle. I'd rather pay more for a better example, than less for a flawed example.

Agree

[alubin]

Hard Pass. Nothing on it is really in good shape and the price doesn't reflect that.

[RolexAuthority]

Don't buy damaged no matter what better to keep searching and buy perfect
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[RLX-lvr]

Pass, without a doubt.