1958 6536/1 Sub Dial question.

[Dan S]

That dial is definitely not original. In my opinion, it has been totally repainted, a pretty half-hearted effort TBH. The printing (fonts, coronet, etc.) looks completely wrong to me.

[Juhuatai]

Dial is 100% refinished no question about that.

[joli160]

If this is the watch your father looked at everyday for the last 5 decades I would not want to change the dial but keep it as it is and look myself at the same dial, hopefully for decades to come.

[decisive]

Originally Posted by subx

it's a 6536-1. which is my favorite sub, congrats.
However it will need a dial (unobtainium), correct hands, and correct bezel insert (58 is very expensive usually a red triangle)... look to spend $15K-20K+ to put it back to spec :(

The insert alone will cost that. You can probably double that number.

[indianmachine]

Originally Posted by decisive

The insert alone will cost that. You can probably double that number.

+1 TW recently posted one from the era if interested

https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/f98w

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by indianmachine

+1 TW recently posted one from the era if interested

https://tropicalwatch.com/watches/f98w

Someone clearly lost their marbles when they started selling inserts…

[330ci]

Is it possible this could be an early service dial? Honestly looks far better than any 50yr old refinish I've seen

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Is it possible this could be an early service dial? Honestly looks far better than any 50yr old refinish I've seen

Look again, it's quite bad. I don't think it's helpful to continue to give the OP false hope. If he wants to keep the dial as is, that's fine, but it's always better to face the truth IMO.

[Senior_Movements]

I'd at least like to order a new crystal while I have it apart to clean the case. The original dome one had been replaced around 20 years ago when it started to crack (did I mention I wore this watch every day since graduating from high school?) My father had replaced the crystal with the one I have now on it which is still raised however it has more of a 90° bevel than a radius dome.

I've seen "original" bezels on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/25535418246...Bk9SR7CHtO26YQ with the red triangle. The original Rolex one had the silver (edit) triangle FWIW.

Honestly, I did want to keep this watch forever but since my divorce and having 3 boys, I just haven't been able to ever keep my head above water. I've thought about seeing what it might be worth to see if it would be worth me getting rid of it to get my life more back on track.

[baumare]

[QUOTE=Senior_Movements;12577689]Finally had some time to take some detailed photos with my microscope of watch. Let me know your thoughts.
Also, I've seen photos here: https://rolexhaven.com/6536-1-tropical--58.html that appear to show the dials with the "Swiss" at the bottom so is it possible that this dial is original? Like I said, my father acquired the watch late 70's ish and never replaced the dial so I'm at a loss there.[/QUOTE

As you can see even in the page you posted the original dial was a chapter ring gilt dial with 100m/330ft depth rating, so it cannot be the original dial

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Senior_Movements

Honestly, I did want to keep this watch forever but since my divorce and having 3 boys, I just haven't been able to ever keep my head above water. I've thought about seeing what it might be worth to see if it would be worth me getting rid of it to get my life more back on track.

This thread is not the place to sell. Someone will buy it for the case and movement, but the value can't be compared to that of a complete 6536, because it is missing two of the most critical and highly visible parts.

[fmc000]

Replacement crown too.

[TuRo]

Glad to see case all ok. If £12-17k is a stretch... the cheapest route to a nice all Rolex very wearable watch, is to source a white writing not gold (gilt) writing T25 service dial and silver steel service hands and a later service bezel insert. With a fair wind you could do that for about £3-4k but it'll take some looking about on eBay and the like.

[linesiders]

Michael,

I would not bother taking the dial off to check the back, as mentioned earlier it is almost certainly a refinished dial or even a slight chance at an early aftermarket.

Finding the correct dial would be difficult and expensive, but not impossible, after some research and an effort to find.

The bezel looks like a service stainless steel bezel, so the original insert would not fit anyway, whereas a decent Long5 would not look out of place on a sixty-five year old watch.

There is a very expensive service dial ( T SWISS < 25 not only SWISS) on Ebay that looks to be the early 60s tritium service replacement dial for the 50s Radium dial. I am not yet convinced it is real and would need to do a lot of research to be certain https://www.ebay.com/itm/154902571170

I do think 15-20K is way too low to get this back to factory original but could get you back to a 60s service version. Below is the Tudor version (1957) with service bezel, 60s insert, 1961 tritium version of original dial.

I could look at it but I am not a buyer unless at insulting prices and I don't want to insult you.

Cheers from the west side of 'Gansett Bay.

[Juhuatai]

The dial on eBay is real. I know the seller. It’s a gilt glossy service which is exceedingly rare.

[linesiders]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

The dial on eBay is real. I know the seller. It’s a gilt glossy service which is exceedingly rare.

It looks real to me but I would want to have super sharp hi-res photos to compare certain things on the gilt underlay IYKYK . Ebay photos are a little unfocused

[Juhuatai]

Fair enough. OP, I would enjoy the watch the way it is.

[Senior_Movements]

Hi all, thanks for the info. I'm just going to throw it back together for now. I'm having difficulty locating a part number for the crystal thought. Can someone please point me in the direction of some sort of parts by model catalog or something of the like? Google did not get me too far. Thank you.

[Juhuatai]

Should be the Tropic 16

[Senior_Movements]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

Should be the Tropic 16

Thank you and Yikes, NOS $400. I'll be giving the one I've got a good buff :)

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by TuRo

Just to show how they can be found cheaper end of scale - here's a SL Rolex Service Dial £2500.00
https://www.chrono24.co.uk/rolex/dia...13069.htm#gref

Hi OP Michael.

Been surfing about every now and then for you for a nice cheap 100m small crown gloss gilt dial.

Here is a period(ish) and legitimate (almost identical to 6536/1) 5508 that I think it would fit ....if watchmakers could confirm pls, radium dial that will I suspect sell quite cheaply).

Rgds Paul

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204276175...mis&media=COPY

[Arnozerosix]

Originally Posted by TuRo

Hi OP Michael.

Been surfing about every now and then for you for a nice cheap 100m small crown gloss gilt dial.

Here is a period(ish) and legitimate (almost identical to 6536/1) 5508 that I think it would fit ....if watchmakers could confirm pls, radium dial that will I suspect sell quite cheaply).

Rgds Paul

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204276175...mis&media=COPY

I think this one is for a 1530, while OP has a 1030, not sure about feet position :-(

[alwayshere]

Originally Posted by Arnozerosix

I think this one is for a 1530, while OP has a 1030, not sure about feet position :-(

thats correct. Dont think it fits.

[TuRo]

Cheers both...every days a school day ✓

[Juhuatai]

I find that ebay auctions will generally spike in the last minute of bidding. And yep, dial feet for 6536 won't match 5508. Cheers.

[PaulMiami]

I have a 1965 gilt dial 5513 that my great uncle gave me. This dial was all messed up, a service dial that had been touched up and had spots where the paint was damaged and peeling. I couldn’t find a period correct dials that was is good condition, even paying up ridiculously in price. So, I had Rik Dietel send my dial to an expert refinisher he uses that is based in London. Back in 2017 it was $2,000 to have the dial redone, and several months wait. But this guy’s work is impeccable. Look up my posts for before and after pics. I highly recommend Rik.

[Arnozerosix]

Originally Posted by PaulMiami

I have a 1965 gilt dial 5513 that my great uncle gave me. This dial was all messed up, a service dial that had been touched up and had spots where the paint was damaged and peeling. I couldn’t find a period correct dials that was is good condition, even paying up ridiculously in price. So, I had Rik Dietel send my dial to an expert refinisher he uses that is based in London. Back in 2017 it was $2,000 to have the dial redone, and several months wait. But this guy’s work is impeccable. Look up my posts for before and after pics. I highly recommend Rik.

Same experience on a gilt 5512, it cost me 2.3k and 3 months wait just before covid, the result is satisfying...