Vintage GMT

[Rafabond]

From Spain I congratulate you for your professional career and for this great GMT that has accompanied you for so many years and I hope it will accompany you for many more years. Thank you for your publication.

[repaircraftsvc]

Just had Ridleywatchmakers.com in Mesa AZ service my watch and put the correct hand back on it.
Phillip Did grate job and I got to see him do the work.
Now have a correct Concord

[TimeLord2]

Looks great! Wear it in good health!

[repaircraftsvc]

Guess someone did not like my watch on another forum they said it was

"Texan a Cadillac Eldorado with horns"

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by repaircraftsvc

Guess someone did not like my watch on another forum they said it was

"Texan a Cadillac Eldorado with horns"

Yee Haw!
dP

[repaircraftsvc]

Love the Pix would he like to buy a Rolex?

[repaircraftsvc]

For you internet detectives, The gold and turquoise part of my watch band on my Rolex GMT was made by a jeweler on south side of 5th Ave a cross the street from the Rolex dealer Wesley Jewelers in Old town Scottsdale AZ in the early 1980's. I had seen it on the cover of an advertisement magazine from Scottsdale.
Me I did not save anything about it at the time. Would like a photo of the cover of the add magazine i saw it on and the name of jeweler that made it. I have had no luck in my search.I thought if I found the add magazine it would tell me who made it.
Good luck and I hope someone finds

[Wahlberg]

Originally Posted by repaircraftsvc

For you internet detectives, The gold and turquoise part of my watch band on my Rolex GMT was made by a jeweler on south side of 5th Ave a cross the street from the Rolex dealer Wesley Jewelers in Old town Scottsdale AZ in the early 1980's. I had seen it on the cover of an advertisement magazine from Scottsdale.
Me I did not save anything about it at the time. Would like a photo of the cover of the add magazine i saw it on and the name of jeweler that made it. I have had no luck in my search.I thought if I found the add magazine it would tell me who made it.
Good luck and I hope someone finds

How much was the bracelet back then?

[repaircraftsvc]

I don't remember but less than $1000 US

[repaircraftsvc]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Yee Haw!
dP

Need Texas Longhorn real horns

[fozzyf18]

You sir, and your watch, have had an amazingly adventurous life. Thank you for sharing your story. I'm not surprised to see that you prefer Snap-on tools, I do as well. Quality tools and tool watches never go bad.

[HK_Expat]

Really cool story and watch
Glad you got the original hands back on. Really unique piece

[Texasjim]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Yee Haw!
dP

That my friend is a complement!

Ef-ing rad watch!

Cheers! Jim

[repaircraftsvc]

I am from Bono Texas and my boy lives in Coat Neck Texas

Here are Photos photos of the book I made about the history of the Rolex GMT Master Concorde and the story about my watch

Originally Posted by Texasjim

That my friend is a complement!

Ef-ing rad watch!

Cheers! Jim

[repaircraftsvc]

Well I have learned a lot on this web site but I have nothing more to say about my watch that is very special to me.this month it went up to $17,006.98 for 30 days supply.

[repaircraftsvc]

If I put an inscription on this watch when I give it to my son will that decrease it value.

[Toptimes]

Beautiful watch and a great experience.

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by repaircraftsvc

If I put an inscription on this watch when I give it to my son will that decrease it value.

Simple answer is it will reduce potential buyers if you come to sell it especially on a rare yellow gold Concorde.

On cheaper 34mm Rolex and Tudor it barely matters or has value implications, but rarer stuff it does.

There are outliers if famous/celebs etc - I have singer CHER’s 1969 5513 with rather oddly ‘From CHER to Dad x’ inscription - bit like she was signing an autograph…as most of us would put ‘To Dad love Cher x’

Of course, that engraving has added a few dollars to its value

If your son is going to keep it though as long as you have, then why not !

Btw They can be easily removed by a laser on stainless steel for £150, but gold removal I’m less sure about.

[repaircraftsvc]

Thanks that is kind of the way I feel.
We are going to change the Bezel insert after lots of thought about that But will keep the old one if anyone wants to but it back.It is so bad you cant read it any more.
again that you

Originally Posted by TuRo

Simple answer is it will reduce potential buyers if you come to sell it especially on a rare yellow gold Concorde.

On cheaper 34mm Rolex and Tudor it barely matters or has value implications, but rarer stuff it does.

There are outliers if famous/celebs etc - I have singer CHER’s 1969 5513 with rather oddly ‘From CHER to Dad x’ inscription - bit like she was signing an autograph…as most of us would put ‘To Dad love Cher x’

Of course, that engraving has added a few dollars to its value

If your son is going to keep it though as long as you have, then why not !

Btw They can be easily removed by a laser on stainless steel for £150, but gold removal I’m less sure about.

[RANCDdiver]

I salute you sir. Your watch is valuable but your history together is absolutely priceless. While most GMT Concordes of the period spent most of their time on safe golf courses, yours was having a much more interesting time, living life in the thick of it.

I've been acquainted with a few vets from the Vietnam conflict, Australian and American, but secret war Air America Laos guys are a rare breed indeed. Tell me, was the movie 'Air America' with Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jnr in any way represenative or was it just Hollywood BS?

Sorry to hear about your prostate cancer. It took my old man out 18 months ago when he was 87, which wasn't a bad innings for a kid who joined the navy at 13 and by 22 was defusing all the mines from WW2 left bobbing about in the Pacific. But I also lost my oldest friend a year earlier to it, who was only 57. Both, as you've also done, gave all us guys the same advice. Get your PSA checked regularly and stay ahead of any potential problem. It's just a simple blood test now days and not the embarassing procedure it used to be that men would rather avoid.

Back to your superb watch. Change anything you want but keep everything. Insert, bracelet, hands whatever. It's a package deal now if accompanied with all of it's historical parts. Whatever the serial number is, that should now be recognised in the Rolex community as the James Dodds GMT. Patriot and adventurer, who used his tool watch exactly as Rolex intended.

[repaircraftsvc]

Thank you for kind remarks.
We now to save ever think. Did'n save box and have lost the guarantee paper. Have bill of sale and the other paper work
S/N is 2,04X,XXX
The move was BS but I thought it was funny.
I can say yes it has been used hard some times But we are spending a few thousand with Ridley watchmakers to get back to original with out repairing all the real life dings that are part of it real life.
It is what it is not new out of the box.
I am going pass it on to son.

Originally Posted by RANCDdiver

I salute you sir. Your watch is valuable but your history together is absolutely priceless. While most GMT Concordes of the period spent most of their time on safe golf courses, yours was having a much more interesting time, living life in the thick of it.

I've been acquainted with a few vets from the Vietnam conflict, Australian and American, but secret war Air America Laos guys are a rare breed indeed. Tell me, was the movie 'Air America' with Mel Gibson and Robert Downey Jnr in any way represenative or was it just Hollywood BS?

Sorry to hear about your prostate cancer. It took my old man out 18 months ago when he was 87, which wasn't a bad innings for a kid who joined the navy at 13 and by 22 was defusing all the mines from WW2 left bobbing about in the Pacific. But I also lost my oldest friend a year earlier to it, who was only 57. Both, as you've also done, gave all us guys the same advice. Get your PSA checked regularly and stay ahead of any potential problem. It's just a simple blood test now days and not the embarassing procedure it used to be that men would rather avoid.

Back to your superb watch. Change anything you want but keep everything. Insert, bracelet, hands whatever. It's a package deal now if accompanied with all of it's historical parts. Whatever the serial number is, that should now be recognised in the Rolex community as the James Dodds GMT. Patriot and adventurer, who used his tool watch exactly as Rolex intended.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by repaircraftsvc

After reviewing this fine book SHADOW WAR, The CIA Secret War in Laos.
written by Kenneth Conboy. I find that is a must read for those that want the details of the CIA secret war in Laos.
Here are some excerpts about Air America CH-47 Chinook helicopters in one part of the war.
YEP me and my Rolex GMT where there in some of this excerpts

Any chance you have heard the name Col. Pat H. Daily, US Army Ret. ? He was operating in Laos and other southeast Asian countries with the CIA in the mid-1970s and retired in 1978.

[repaircraftsvc]

NO But people in the field did not use their real names used names like junkyard or canoe names like that. So lot of times you didn't know there real name if you just worked with them time to time.

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Any chance you have heard the name Col. Pat H. Daily, US Army Ret. ? He was operating in Laos and other southeast Asian countries with the CIA in the mid-1970s and retired in 1978.

[TimeLord2]

Originally Posted by repaircraftsvc

Thanks that is kind of the way I feel.
We are going to change the Bezel insert after lots of thought about that But will keep the old one if anyone wants to but it back.It is so bad you cant read it any more.
again that you

I think you are looking for something like this: https://www.ebay.com/itm/264909421055
That said, it is $1700 for that EBAY period insert. The new ones from Rolex actually look pretty good, and the font, while not quite as fat as what you have, is on the thicker side and only about $60 -$80 for the actual part. They may insist on installing it for an extra $40, which is ridiculous but it is what it is. If you are patient, you can find some good deals on EBAY for a period correct version. You are in good hands with Phillip! He serviced my 1675/3 and sourced a new bezel ring for it. Story here if interested but not a fraction as interesting as yours! rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=660036. Thank you for sharing your story!

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by repaircraftsvc

NO But people in the field did not use their real names used names like junkyard or canoe names like that. So lot of times you didn't know there real name if you just worked with them time to time.

Thank you. I have his entire archive including the transcript of his retirement interview (A few security redactions) where he summarized his entire career from being drafted into in the Army during WWII and then in 43, he moved into the OSS where he stayed through Korea, and then into the CIA during the Vietnam years through the end of the 70s.
An amazing career to say the least.

[repaircraftsvc]

Along with the Rolex watch you had a gold bracelet and Cross pen and pencil.
You have see them on earlier post here is how they were made. Note bar of gold pilled on work bench and price back in 1968.

[dbhak22]

SO. COOL. Thank you for sharing the stories, pictures, and most of all - thank you for your service!

[repaircraftsvc]

Well Phillip CW21 at Ridley Watchmakers Mesa AZ finished all we are going to do for now. I thank him.
Thanks to all that have at this posting

[repaircraftsvc]

My GMT Concorde in it winder sure looks nice

[repaircraftsvc]

Adios Amigos