Old Datejust expert?

[Tedwin]

If so, I'd love to hear something nice about my new watch!

Advertised as a 70's 1601. I thought it must be a 1603, tried it on, fell for it....

(First pic is as it looked through my rose tinted specs in the shop)

Lovely right? Had a box, tag and papers, was top dollar really but with a new tube and crown why not. No quickset, and non hacking (but second hand can be stopped with a little pressure on the crown as its supposed to)

Got home had a closer look, big splurge under the 16 on the date wheel (dealer said no problem, bring it back, I'll get that cleaned off) So that's no problem. I measured the stretch of the 6251H bracelet, about half an inch which according to the Michael Young thread is 'moderate' so I'm happy its safe (very comfy anyway)
But, case number between the lugs is 1601, although its definitely the bezel from a 1603. Would you think safe to assume a frankenwatch? Or could that possibly be as it was originally? The serial number is far too worn to make out. Also, between lugs on opposite side is what I'd have to describe as serious corrosion. Do you think it looks serious? Maybe you've seen lots like that and its no worry?

Despite the few queries I'm really very pleased with it :) I probably wouldn't have paid the price if I had seen the corrosion, but I think I'm ok with it. It wears really nicely. Thought I would post this here and see what you guys think?

Thanks in advance for any input!

Ted.

Pics..

[crowncollection]

Bezels been changed for sure


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[Tedwin]

Thanks for your thoughts. Have spent a while looking up info. Yes, a changed bezel, but it doesnt seem to matter much or be uncommon.
I haven't found a picture of corrosion as bad a mine, but I'm wearing it on a leather strap and assume if that area kept clean it shouldn't get any worse.

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by Tedwin

Thanks for your thoughts. Have spent a while looking up info. Yes, a changed bezel, but it doesnt seem to matter much or be uncommon.
I haven't found a picture of corrosion as bad a mine, but I'm wearing it on a leather strap and assume if that area kept clean it shouldn't get any worse.

you can get rust stop solution

[Tedwin]

Hopefully now rust removed corrosion will stop on its own(?)

I'll keep an eye on the classifieds, maybe the correct bezel will show up, would be nice to make it all original :)

[Tedwin]

Details someone might find interesting. The indices and hands are a 'v' shape, round lume dots haven't yellowed, but do glow for all of ten minutes after charging with a torch. The dial is jet black most of the time, but in direct sun has a sought of brownish shimmer (tricky to show in a snapshot though) Plexi crystal looks clean, then you take a close picture and its filthy!

[Tedwin]

Would really appreciate a little input again if anyone has an opinion?

Looking closely the Rolex logo applied to the dial is at a slight angle, the top 'bobble' is just to the right of the top minute marker (not a trick of the acrylic) the batons with the V seem unusual (unique?) from looking around online as does the font (round S in Datejust, thin lettering)

Looking through a magnifying glass the detail is perfect on the type, and the applied logo beautiful. Hard to believe a fake dial could look that good, but would Rolex really send out a wonky logo? I have read about refinished dials, but the text seems very nicely applied through a 10X magnifier...

Any thoughts? I'm trying not to think about it, but it does nag!

[Tedwin]

Thanks to TRF user jvmartin, watch now back to original white gold bezel :)

If pushed I think I slightly prefer the steel one for looks, but am happy too have the watch as it should be. New crystal too, and in this picture its on the jubilee from my GMT instead of its original one pictured in first post. Just for a change.

One last thing I might do is put in a genuine Rolex crystal if one shows up, watch passed a 50m pressure test, but the 100m test was abandoned by machine due to excessive flex! (I think the crystal actually touched the second hand) still, at least I know its watertight :)

[SLS]

Not an expert, but I wanted to say it looks great, Congrats!

[cenzor]

If the indexes glow for 10 minutes and judging by the crown misalignement, the dial is probably aftermarket or repainted (and they do miracles with these).
Mine says hello (and the dial is refinished as well, but I selected it myself like this )




Here is an Ebay sample, repainted :

[Tedwin]

Thanks for the feedback folks :)

I like a white dial Cenzor, guessing thats a later bracelet on yours too.

I was supsicious of the black dial on mine, had it looked at by one watchmaker who said it was all original, but yes, a wonky crown. I still doubted it so took it to a Rolex guy, he confirmed original, but yes, with a wonky crown! Everyone makes mistakes sometimes it seems...
I don't think you can get that sort of reflective sheen, the bronze reflecting that wander around the dial as you twist it in the light, on a repaint(?)

One other small thing others might like to know, standard aftermarket spring bars didn't fill the drilled lugs properly, the ones from ofrei do (FB-7891)

[RolexJNJ]

Originally Posted by Tedwin

Thanks to TRF user jvmartin, watch now back to original white gold bezel :)

If pushed I think I slightly prefer the steel one for looks, but am happy too have the watch as it should be. New crystal too, and in this picture its on the jubilee from my GMT instead of its original one pictured in first post. Just for a change.

One last thing I might do is put in a genuine Rolex crystal if one shows up, watch passed a 50m pressure test, but the 100m test was abandoned by machine due to excessive flex! (I think the crystal actually touched the second hand) still, at least I know its watertight :)

Looks great!

[cenzor]

Originally Posted by Tedwin

Thanks for the feedback folks :)

I like a white dial Cenzor, guessing thats a later bracelet on yours too.

I was supsicious of the black dial on mine, had it looked at by one watchmaker who said it was all original, but yes, a wonky crown. I still doubted it so took it to a Rolex guy, he confirmed original, but yes, with a wonky crown! Everyone makes mistakes sometimes it seems...
I don't think you can get that sort of reflective sheen, the bronze reflecting that wander around the dial as you twist it in the light, on a repaint(?)

It might be repaint (or just relume plus crown/indexes adjustment) on the original dial. I suppose the bqck should read Bayeler as manifacturer, if it is genuine.

As for my bracelet - yes, I swapped the original 6251H folded steel bracelet for original 62510H with solid links and I like it a lot. Production year for the bracelet is close to that of the watch so I am happy about it. :-)

[Tedwin]

Some better pics..

[donq]

Lovely watch. Don't worry about it too much, just enjoy it.

[Tedwin]

Originally Posted by donq

Lovely watch. Don't worry about it too much, just enjoy it.

Great advise, thank you. Its one of the best and worst things about me, wanting everything to be as good as I can get it! A constant reminder on my wrist that not perfect is just fine sometimes :)