Vintage 1987 Day Date Question

[astndnbr]

Hey All

I recently purchased a BY DD from Chrono24 (first time from seller, site, and admittedly impulsive) to add to my collection. That said, post purchase and pre-receiving, I deep dived some more into the seller in LA (which online has good reviews and won’t take that away…) but somehow completely bi-passed the custom dial piece (which is on me). Always wanted a green (preferably Stella DD) but I know I’m not the only one. I’ve overlooked all the casing and bracelet and have checked out that it’s original to its year (1987 - from my unpro eye but have been collecting for 10 years - pics below) but wanted to share to the larger community for gauge and thoughts on the original refinished dial and new markers + lume (not orig). I 1000% understand the polarization of custom dials and have another dial from that year (also supplied by vendor) if I wanted to go back. Not factory per say since the one from the case is painted. Any options or anything other than internal gut workings to check on other than the obvious dial difference?

[Filipão]

Still no pics added?

[astndnbr]

https://ibb.co/RSjZ7D7
https://ibb.co/8YH3N8D
https://ibb.co/vqLg5bY
https://ibb.co/7Sggyrk
https://ibb.co/3sdbNDb
https://ibb.co/BcLkdwv
https://ibb.co/N1LhYW9
https://ibb.co/LtST8yK
https://ibb.co/XtpsVcM

[swish77]

It seems you've already identified the issues on this DD, which is an aftermarket and/or refinished dial.

The watch looks fine otherwise, but it has very little value as a vintage piece because it's missing its original dial. You could always try to source an original dial/hands, but they're pricey and tough to find.

If you like the look as is, I suppose it doesn't matter that it doesn't have its original dial.

[MrChamfers]

hm, I like the look of the watch, and would wear as-is.
I don't think it will be expensive to replace the dial with an original one too.

[TuRo]

For once, I slightly disagree with Aaron ;-)
The dial on a DD is rare in that it is only about 10-20% of the value of the whole watch on most DD'S (only early DDs like Red Writing 6510/11 & 6611(b) etc are much higher % like a sub/GMT etc),
So unlike the dial on an exotic Daytona 90% of watches value or Comex 95%....this is a relatively cheap fix if all else is well. Custom dials are rife and while not be everyone's cup of tea they are quite common.
Also there are quite a few DD dials out their eg for 18038 for just a couple of thousand dollars or less and it seems you have one anyway.
Stella dials though are very, very expensive and a cautious area to even tentatively investigate as tons of fakes !

[Dan S]

I assume that the dealer would swap it out for him.

[Toronto Soup King]

Rolex in Toronto sold me a new blue dial for my 1803 when I asked them, at a full service of course. I wouldn't hesitate to buy a wrecked-dial 1803 or 1601 if the rest of the watch was a screaming hot deal...these are not big-dollar watches anyway compared to those racing stopwatches and old GMTs, and parts are widely available

[Incroyable12]

Factory dials for YG 18038s are very easy to find even the rarer variations such as the string or wooden dials.

John Buckley usually has a ton of them.