Vintage Rolex Servicing/Appraisals?

[1369]

Greeting all, I found this forum while researching a watch I unfortunately inherited from my Father (read: passed away), and was looking for some guidance.

What I have is a 1019 Milgauss, CERN (or the civilian version as their is zero tritium or luminescence on the face) face, no original band and from what I can tell, a 1963 vintage as the serial number is 1636XXX. This was my Father's everyday watch and therefore the crystal is slightly scratched/chipped and has wear on the case (I'll see about posting pics later as my phone camera won't macro close enough).

Couple of questions:

1. Will Rolex even service this watch anymore? I've read elsewhere that if a watch is over 20 years old, Rolex will no longer provide servicing for it.

2.. Looking on line at watches of similar design, if this is what I think it is I need to have this insured. Local Rolex dealer said he could only provide appraisal value to replace with a current model Milgauss, so he could not accurately value the watch (That seemed kind of odd to me).

Thanks in advance for your help.

[Tools]

Welcome to the forum...

The early Milgauss has recently sky rocketed in value...depending on the condition.. at this age, the tritium would no longer provide any glow..

Rolex will service our watch as long as they have the parts for it. You have one in Dallas, it never hurts to call.

Sounds like the biggest expense might be a new bracelet for about 800 bucks.... It if it were mind I would definitely have a go at it..

[1369]

Originally Posted by Tools

Welcome to the forum...

The early Milgauss has recently sky rocketed in value...depending on the condition.. at this age, the tritium would no longer provide any glow..

Rolex will service our watch as long as they have the parts for it. You have one in Dallas, it never hurts to call.

Sounds like the biggest expense might be a new bracelet for about 800 bucks.... It if it were mind I would definitely have a go at it..

Thanks for the heads up Tools. I'm certain that the there never was any tritium on the face as all the "inserts" in the hands and numeral indicators (Don't know what else to call them) are all black and there is no indication of the tritium "pips" on the outside of the numeral indicators I've seen in other images.

I'll look up the service center in Dallas and give them a call.

Thanks again.

[Tools]

Well... CERN dials are pretty rare... I understand that possibly fewer than a thousand were made.... quite a rare piece...

In any event, there would never be a need to replace that dial..

[ippon20]

Do you have any pics? I have never seen one. My advice...keep that watch for as long as humanly possible. No amount of value is worth more than the fact that it was your father's watch.

[mike]

Hi 1369 and welcome.

If in fact the dial and hands are devoid of any tritium you may well have a CERN version of the 1019. These pieces were originally made for those working in an enviornment where NO radition of any type was allowed.

Estimates vary on how many of these pieces were made, but some feel as few as 6 to 7 hundred. It is true that a certain amount of them made it into the general system.

I would be very carefull as to who did any work to the watch and it is my understanding (reference James Dowling) that Rolex USA does not have parts to service the 1019 movement.

I wouls seek the help of Bob Ridley,

http://www.watchmakers.com/index.html

and have him work his magic on the watch. Bob has serviced some very expensive pieces (of which your's is one) and understands all that is involved.

Secondly, I would do a bit of research on the current value of your watch. Vintage fora would be the best place to start with this being an excellent start.

http://www.network54.com/Forum/207593/

I would not want to hazzard a guess as to your watch's value--so many factors-- but I would imagine you're into solid 5 figures.

Good luck and if you can post a photo.

[1369]

Originally Posted by ippon20

Do you have any pics? I have never seen one. My advice...keep that watch for as long as humanly possible. No amount of value is worth more than the fact that it was your father's watch.

I'll get pics up either later tonight or tomorrow.

Called Dallas and they had the watch in in 2005 for servicing, so I should be good for a while.

ippon20, I fully intend to have this watch one day on my three year old son's wrist.

I vaguely remember the story of why my father bought this watch. He had been doing some work around some hydroelectric turbines (We work for a heavy industrial construction company) and he had wasted a couple of watches due to the magnetic fields. I don't know how he settled on this particular watch, but he had it ever since.

[acollins10]

I had the same issue with my wife's watch. Our AD sent it to RSC, but they returned it stating that it was too vintage to service. I was able to find a guy here in town that could service it. I pick it up today, so we'll see how it turns out.

[1369]

Let's see how this works. The hands and face are all clean, the macro setting really shows the crystal scratches...

[mike]

Originally Posted by 1369

Let's see how this works. The hands and face are all clean, the macro setting really shows the crystal scratches...

Attachment 47804

Lighting's not the best.

Compare to the one in this thread.

http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=33562

Paperwork from an RSC is a big plus. It must have got in under the wire. I believe the concern with Milgauss parts came about a couple years ago.

[Z-Sub]

Nice. I think an experienced watchmaker can polish out your crystal.

[SLS]

Try some poly watch on the crystal, apply it with your finger and clean it with a tissue. If you do not have that, plain old toothpaste will do the trick, as will brasso. Congrats on the piece.
~Scott

[ippon20]

Geez, 1369....that is a beauty! A little polish on the crystal and you'll be in good shape. Thank you for the pics...she's a keeper!

[redshirt1957]

I have three watches with Bob Ridley right now and am sending one a week for him to service. He can get Rolex parts.

[BTSinAustin]

Originally Posted by 1369

Greeting all, I found this forum while researching a watch I unfortunately inherited from my Father (read: passed away), and was looking for some guidance.

What I have is a 1019 Milgauss, CERN (or the civilian version as their is zero tritium or luminescence on the face) face, no original band and from what I can tell, a 1963 vintage as the serial number is 1636XXX. This was my Father's everyday watch and therefore the crystal is slightly scratched/chipped and has wear on the case (I'll see about posting pics later as my phone camera won't macro close enough).

Couple of questions:

1. Will Rolex even service this watch anymore? I've read elsewhere that if a watch is over 20 years old, Rolex will no longer provide servicing for it.

2.. Looking on line at watches of similar design, if this is what I think it is I need to have this insured. Local Rolex dealer said he could only provide appraisal value to replace with a current model Milgauss, so he could not accurately value the watch (That seemed kind of odd to me).

Thanks in advance for your help.

I got an old one from my father in law from 1957. Rolex would not touch it. One of my best friends is an AD in Texas, his watch maker did a great job on the restore. PM me for info.

Here is an after shot:
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2046/...2c315e93_o.jpg