A suspect recasing - help!

[s.mansoor]

Hi everyone!

Came across this piece today and it has precisely what I want desperately from a vintage Rolex - fluted gold bezel, cream dial, date.
Its tagged as a Rolex Explorer 5701/1500 (????). The dial looks like its been refinished, but I have never seen this combination on a 5701 - "Oyster Perpetual / Explorer / Precision".
When I'm looking at the dial from the left hand side picture, something just seems off - is it me or is it all good?
The back cover says the model is 1500 (???). The movement seems to be what Rolex used in the Air King at this time, a 1530.
The caseback is likely not original, is the dial original?
Is this a legitimate model from the late fifties/ early sixties, or simply a frankenwatch?
Would asking for any or all of the movement number, case number, first four digits of the serial number, and a picture of the model number on the case do any help?

Thanks!!
Sam

[77T]

You're right about the caseback I think. The dial from that era would've said Explorer Date IIRC. A 1530 is the correct caliber but you'd need to do some sleuthing to see if the movement number is from same era as the case number.

Who is selling it and are they representing it as being all original?

[Old Expat Beast]

Redone dial. A 5701 should say Explorer Date (or Air-King-Date) in an Air-King style font.

Like this. Not my pic.....

[s.mansoor]

Thanks for your help guys. The private seller on eBay is adamant that the dial is original, not redone, refinished and redialed. Additionally to quote "This is a rare transition explorer dial. The case back is original since the this rolex is reference 5701/1500 but on the inside of the backcase it states 1500, however, between the lugs it states 5701...The serial number is 154xxxx"
Still doubting but at this point I'm curious enough to buy just to see if this is BS.

[Tools]

Unless that seller has had the watch since it was first sold, and kept all provenance, it's unlikely that he can back-up his claims..