OLD GMT on the timegrapher

[patrolmi]

Kind of neat to get this kind of reading for accuracy. Amplitude though seems low? This is a 1982 16750 with what looks like a later service dial with the gold markers- I thought maybe I overpaid at 7 but since it's running pretty decent and IDC about the service dial I think it's ok. Now I just need the jubilee bracelet.

[dhknola]

Is it definitely service? I thought some WG surrounds were original to dials as early as 1981?

[patrolmi]

Originally Posted by dhknola

Is it definitely service? I thought some WG surrounds were original to dials as early as 1981?

I really don't know, I was going by what some people had said earlier on here. From the way the tritium looks, it seems old.... I do know that even though it registers as a 1981 it wasn't sold until 1985. So there's that.

I think this all ads up to the mysteries of the "exact" dials and sn's and why it's not at all an exact science and some of the values people put on rarity's border on absurd.... but I suppose if they can get $$ with a story that's good for all.

Multiple versions of "correct" dials might definitely something to consider if anyone is laying down some of the big numbers 12-15k + now for GMT - I'm more a believer in the guts functioning well then the exact look of the dial so that makes me not a purist I suppose. And also even though it might be "correct" it's still not "preferred" and I agree the non-gold surrounded dials do look more vintage.

[Tom1675]

What is the serial? "1982" could be the issue with your dial...

[patrolmi]

Oh I just remembered the earlier gloss dials with gold surround that are original don't say "Date" on them too. They just say Oyster Perpetual. So this is a SD.

SN is 7.1m

[springer]

Originally Posted by dhknola

Is it definitely service? I thought some WG surrounds were original to dials as early as 1981?

Just curious where you came up with that information of the dial?

[patrolmi]

Originally Posted by springer

Just curious where you came up with that information of the dial?

I've seen gloss dials with gold surrounds both with and without the "date". Since the "no-date" was the early editions of the non gold surround, I was figuring it was probably the early version of the gold surround too.

There is a good post on the GMT dials here, but it's not quite complete or I just haven't found all the data yet.

Now I'm trying to find the jubilee bracelet with hopefully an H or I clasp date.

[patrolmi]

This is probably what happened to this one.

Originally Posted by R.W.T.

You have to also realize that dial swaps were common practice at AD’s with watchmakers on premise. The old style dial was old. The watches in certain areas and models did not FLY off the shelves. It would not be AT ALL uncommon to have a gloss dial put in an older watch to make it current and sell faster and easier. My mentor was the Certfied Rolex Watchmaker on premise at the Bailey Banks and Biddle chain store and he and his associate at the other BB and B chain store changed literally 1000’s of dials and very often they ended up with the “take offs”. Dials were not appreciably expensive and often times Rolex would only offer partial credit for returns. He would offer slightly more than Rolex would pay and end up with a LOT of dials. Dials were available on order from Rolex to dealers with no hang up. When my mentor bought the shop of the other CRW who worked at the other sister store he obtained 100’s of dials in the sale that were all really new dials pulled from stock watches.

[ILuvSubs]

Nice patina on the dial. I prefer the oyster, but getting a jubilee will give you the option to change the look.

[dhknola]

Springer: Someone was selling a 1981 sub locally with WG surrounds on the dial and swore up and down it was the original dial. I passed on it after spending entirely too much time researching and thinking that was not the case. It seems there was a transition time in the early 80's where some dials came matte and others with WG surrounds. I was only looking at Subs at the time and have no idea the case on GMT's, probably should have kept silent.

[sillo]

Originally Posted by dhknola

Springer: Someone was selling a 1981 sub locally with WG surrounds on the dial and swore up and down it was the original dial. I passed on it after spending entirely too much time researching and thinking that was not the case. It seems there was a transition time in the early 80's where some dials came matte and others with WG surrounds. I was only looking at Subs at the time and have no idea the case on GMT's, probably should have kept silent.

The waters are murky with transitional Rolex, but the 8.4mil serial cutoff from matte to gloss seems pretty reliable.

[Glosstritium]

My sub is all original and bought in 1984 with wg surrounds from a Rolex dealer brand new serial number 3.395k... 8.388k was the starting serial number they started transitioning to wg surrounds...Gmt I'm not sure