1601 Datejust - Authentication/Advice

[sdm038]

Hello to everyone at this fascinating forum! I'm a complete newby, but have owned a Rolex given to me by my father for donkeys years, although never worn it, nor really been that fascinated by it, until recently!

I'd be grateful if anyone could offer me advice re getting this serviced - I'm in the UK. The watch does work, but I don't think it's keep time very well. I managed to make out the serial number, although it's quite faded, 6 digit starting 998... which dates it to either 1953 or 1963 according to a few look up tables I found online, although have no idea how accurate they are.

I'd also be keen to know how valuable it is, or where I could take it to get a proper valuation. Have attached some photos. Thanking you all in advance.

Steve

[ronricks]

If you get it serviced DO NOT let anyone replace the dial, hands, or date wheel. Best to take it to a good independent watchmaker vs Rolex. Also, hard to tell from your pics but looks like springbars could be stainless steel? If they are get them swapped out for gold ones they aren’t that expensive.

[sdm038]

Thanks for the reply - yes I heard that Rolex will swap everything that is not up to scratch or damaged. It's also becoming apparent that collectors seems anti polishing these days!

[rootbeer7]

Lovely watch. We don’t do valuations here, but it’s worth more than it’s weight in gold (literally).
Depending on where you are in the UK there are a number of independents for service. A lot of people use and trust https://www.shwr.co.uk/
I have trusted Rolex to service some vintage, this one may be a bit too old for them. Again, as above, ensure dial & hands aren’t replaced, but don’t worry about crystal.

[TimeToGo]

.
Welcome to the Forum!

A very nice heirloom.

The 1601 came into production around 1960 so production date based on serial should be around 1963 (after the reset of the production serials).

If you look on Ebay, "asking" prices vary from $7-10K for head only. A very nice plus that you have the bracelet!

Barring a better picture of the dial (can you confirm?), appears parts of the lettering are missing (such as the E in Rolex). Nothing wrong if you wanted to change the dial but Alpha hands are nice!

Keep us posted on your project.

[sdm038]

hey thanks for the reply. and thank for clearing up the production date. I was aware of the reset of numbers but now that you've told me what year production started, it makes sense that mine is from 1963. the 'E' is actually in tact, so i think that must be just some kind of scratch on the crystal that has made it look that way.

do you think the hour and minute hand would have had some kind of luminescence on them originally and has just worn off?

steve

[Dan S]

That's quite the heirloom. There is lume in the hands BTW. Look closely. It won't glow by itself after all these years, however.