First ever post and it's a cliche: Help me identify my father's watch? (Modem burner)

[AMDB2]

Ok long time lurker and horologeek here. I've never had much to contribute here, but always enjoyed reading what you all had to share.

So at last, I come to you all, wondering if you can perhaps help me identify the watch pictured here. I will preface this saying that I have spent a couple weeks researching the watch. There are no ref #s on the case, only the model number: 418212. This places the watch made 1947.

I have found a handful of similar watches, but none that are identical or definitively the same. Some have round buttons and 2 and 4, some read "telemetre" instead of "mileage," some were made over a decade earlier, etc/

My father remembers next to nothing about this watch. Though, as a stockbroker by trade, he of course remembers paying $400 for it sometime in the 70s or 80s.

There are no markings on the caseback asides from the crown and serial# pictured. I am sure there would be lots of fun stuff to discover if I opened it up, but I am not comfortable doing that. So, any help oh Sages of the Sub?

Thanks in advance fellas!

[Welshwatchman]

My view is that the case is not a Rolex. It is as rough as hell, certainly not an Oyster and the markings are obviously hand done by a non watchmaker, the winding crown obviously not Rolex, ditto the bracelet.

I'm trying to find a vintage Rolex pic with the fat/flat chrono pushers like yours, without success at present.

The dial seems to have been refinished at best, to me at least.

Perhaps the movement is a good un. Become comfortable and pop that caseback.

[Welshwatchman]

The oldest Rolex chrono I can find is 1956 (6234).

Looks like this ..... nice.




edit .... Hang on ... 1950 here.

[Saxon007]

Here is a quite handsome and valuable one from 1943 - nothing like the OP's watch though.

Warning - big pic (and not my photo or watch).



I found the story fascinating.

http://www.timezone.com/library/extras/200704246126

[AMDB2]

Originally Posted by Welshwatchman

My view is that the case is not a Rolex. It is as rough as hell, certainly not an Oyster and the markings are obviously hand done by a non watchmaker, the winding crown obviously not Rolex, ditto the bracelet.

I'm trying to find a vintage Rolex pic with the fat/flat chrono pushers like yours, without success at present.

The dial seems to have been refinished at best, to me at least.

Perhaps the movement is a good un. Become comfortable and pop that caseback.

Thanks for the reply Welsh.

I had the same concern over the crown. It had some scuffs on it but clearly there was never a rolex crown on there. Secondly, the bracelet was not original to the watch--my father said he picked it up in switzerland sometime after buying the watch.

As for the caseback, interesting theory. The detail on the crown always looked impressive to me, so I had ignored the lack of ref# or other markings. Though I admitedly do not no much about these older rolex'.

When you say it looks "refinished," do you mean it looks as though it was "given" its patina purposely?

Great finds on those pics, haven't seen those before. But, once again, they are two watches that are very close to mine, but also very different. Differences in indices, placing of arabic numerals, two registers vs three, different markings on the dial.

I certainly don't mean to nitpick, I've just become very invested in tracking this bad boy down.

[AMDB2]

Originally Posted by Saxon007

Here is a quite handsome and valuable one from 1943 - nothing like the OP's watch though.

Warning - big pic (and not my photo or watch).



I found the story fascinating.

http://www.timezone.com/library/extras/200704246126

Wow, talk about provenance there. It is these sort of stories that got me into watches in the first place.

[JimSnyder]

Here is a C.1940s "Anti-magnetic" Chronograph in Steel. But I'm no expert I can't say if its for real.



http://www.passions.com.sg/v2/watch/...onograph-steel

[Sose]

Can you take it to a RSC to see the innards?

[wokafu]

while the watch is being identify...I'll have to say it looks really really cool as it is... some more pix when its done touching up..??

[WatchTimes]

Opening the case should not be that hard at all....

It looks cool but I am sorry to say its likely a fugazi...

25 + years ago fakes were rampant in the vintage world and
people were taken advantage of left and right

[Yazo]

Curious to see where this goes..............

[AMDB2]

Sorry for the delay in my replies gentleman. Since I am new to the forum, all my posts are moderated.

[AMDB2]

Originally Posted by JYogi

Opening the case should not be that hard at all....

It looks cool but I am sorry to say its likely a fugazi...

25 + years ago fakes were rampant in the vintage world and
people were taken advantage of left and right

Thanks for the reply.

I had not considered that this watch might be fake until it was suggested on this thread. I am certainly not closed off to the idea. But I Must say that I am not yet convinced. I do not mean to seem as though I doth protest to much. But, until someone could point out a detail which showed an error in a known detail on this ref, I'm still investigating.

The markings on the case back, while unique, are similar to a number of other 30s and 40s chronos. Additionally, many other period pieces did not have a signed crown either.

In fact, the only details that I haven't found in another piece are the gold hands, unique arabic numerals, and "mileage" written on the dial. Other than that, it looks quite similar

Thanks everyone for the help and ideas here. I will be putting up more pictures tooday, and updating the thread with any news.

[Sose]

OP, take it to an RSC. It's more than likely due for service anyway if it's been kept for so long. They could open it up, show you the inner workings and identify it.

[AMDB2]

Originally Posted by Sose

OP, take it to an RSC. It's more than likely due for service anyway if it's been kept for so long. They could open it up, show you the inner workings and identify it.

Thanks Sose, looks like I will end up doing that. Does anyone have any info on the NYC RSC? Do I need to send it in, or is there a sort of walk-in location.

Also, movement pics coming in a few minutes.

[AMDB2]

Ok, after some encouragement from members her at TRF, I cracked her open.
Looked beautiful to me, but maybe you guys have some knowledge on the markings and movement?

There is a small engraving done by hand on the case back, I couldn't get a good photo of it, and I forgot to write it down. So, I guess it is ref. 2508, doesn't seem to help much as there seem to be dozens of iterations of the ref. But, here you go.

[Sose]

BEAUTIFUL!
I wish I could tell you something about it, but I am no connoisseur.
Hope someone here can assist you!

[bfleischer]

Love theses threads ... Do keep us updated !!

[Hydrographer]

thats pretty, more attractive than the newer movements, guess its cos ther is no winding rotor in the way

[SS Oyster]

Is it just me or does that crown look like it's at an odd angle - doesn't come straight out from the case (like it's been bent)?

[Tools]

It looks like a Rolex model 2508 from around 1940..

[Lion]

I always enjoy looking at the movement when the caseback is off...I guess that's why I like pocket watches too!!!

[TheVTCGuy]

I have no idea if it's real or not, but it sure is interesting and I hope it works out for you OP. DO keep us updated (and for gosh sakes, change that hideous bracelett! That thing looks like a "twistoflex" from a Seiko in the 1970s). Just MHO....

[PeiMei]

crown looks bent to me to. get that thing cleaned up by a pro, my brother just had his refreshed they did an amazing job on it.

[AMDB2]

Originally Posted by PeiMei

crown looks bent to me to. get that thing cleaned up by a pro, my brother just had his refreshed they did an amazing job on it.

Yeah Pei, the winding crown is bent. Don't know how it happened, but it does not want to go back easily.

Does anyone know someone in the NYC area who could do a service and slight restoration on it? Could someone give me the info on the nyc rsc?

[The GMT Master]

This looks pretty similar, and the movement looks like it matches up. You might have something pretty special here

[AMDB2]

Originally Posted by The GMT Master

This looks pretty similar, and the movement looks like it matches up. You might have something pretty special here

Nice find GMT, thanks! Verry similar: Gold hands, identical case back, identical movement, gold hands, arabic numerals (at 12, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10), no crown on dial, rectangular pushers. Only differences here are the dials are painted differently. Thanks for the link. Guess I have to take this to the pros.

[AMDB2]

Sorry in advance for the self bump. Is there anyone who has experience with NYC area vintage watch restoration/repair? Care to forward on any of those resources?

I've searched the forums and read up at other blogs, but one can only glean so much from a store's website. Thanks

[Sose]

Wish I could help you there. However, whatever you find, please share with the rest. I'm sure a lot of us are curious to see how this turns out.

[Saxon007]

You should contact someone like Bob Ridley ( http://www.watchmakers.com/ ) who has experience with vintage Rolex watches. His gallery has a photo of a watch similar to yours that he restored. http://www.watchmakers.com/gallery.html