sacrilege?

[drifter01]

I bought a movement/dial/hands/caseback for a 1958 5500 A-K with 1530 movement. They didn't have the case. I am looking for a late 50s 5500 case, but until I find one, would it be sacreligious to use a mid 60s case for it?
I was surprised at the condition of the movement and it will be an easy overhaul to set it right.
Another question...what should I do with the dial and hands? Should I leave them as is, worn and aged, or refinish them with new lume and polish? I won't touch the dial itself, other than maybe polish the hour markers a bit and relume, if you guys think that would be okay. I aklso have no real issue with leaving it aged as is.

Dave

[jedly1]

pretty sure I've got some 5500 1950's cases lying around the parts drawers , in fact i vaguely remember a 3xxxxx that should be 58 amongst all the 16xx, 16XXX etc ....i'll be home by thursday if you shout me then i'll grab one out ....

[andromeda160]

I'd leave everything as is, and if he'd has a case I'd get it from him, it appears your missing a few parts to your movement, but should be a nice watch once in a fresh case

[joe100]

The 5500 case didn't change much in its 37 years of production. You could use a 1960s case and no one would be the wiser

[drifter01]

andromeda160, I've checked it through and all the movement parts are there except the rotor. I am hunting for a butterfly rotor which was the correct one, but until then I have a spare later, slotted rotor I can use. Once in the case, it isn't seen anyway, but I'll know.
I'll check later with jedly1 about the correct era case.
Dang...I love old Air Kings!

Dave

[drifter01]

Originally Posted by jedly1

pretty sure I've got some 5500 1950's cases lying around the parts drawers , in fact i vaguely remember a 3xxxxx that should be 58 amongst all the 16xx, 16XXX etc ....i'll be home by thursday if you shout me then i'll grab one out ....

I'll give you a holler on Friday about the case. Thanks!

Dave

[joe100]

Nice to see these old parts resurrected into a nice watch .

[drifter01]

Thanks joe100. I am a throwback anyway and prefer older things. Cars, watches, clocks, lamps, etc. I hate now technology, even though it does come in handy sometimes.
I plan to make this 5500 my daily wear watch. I have an AK from 68, and 72 and a 1500 from 62 as well as some other brands from the 50s up to the vietnam era. Several military watches from that era. Of course, being 60, the 60s were my prime and even then I prefered stuff from the 40s and 50s. HEck, I even use a cleaning machine from the 50s!

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by drifter01

Thanks joe100. I am a throwback anyway and prefer older things. Cars, watches, clocks, lamps, etc. I hate now technology, even though it does come in handy sometimes.
I plan to make this 5500 my daily wear watch. I have an AK from 68, and 72 and a 1500 from 62 as well as some other brands from the 50s up to the vietnam era. Several military watches from that era. Of course, being 60, the 60s were my prime and even then I prefered stuff from the 40s and 50s. HEck, I even use a cleaning machine from the 50s!

Though our age is 40 years apart We have very similar tastes, I had an AK from 68 as well(5501 two tone), a 1500 from 63, and my 6426 is from 72 lol. I had a 64 gilt seamaster too which I regrettably sold.

Things were much better in the 60's and 70's. I just wish I was there to experience it.

[Base-Z]

The early AK 5500 are great watches.
My 1960 AK says Hi, I love the dial variations
that took place around this period.

[drifter01]

For sure the early Rolexes (especially the AK and the Date) are more interesting than some of the later ones. I realloy don't care for the new AK dials, and even the conventional stick hands aren't as cool as these early (I think Dauphine) hands.
BTW, Base-Z, I really like the blued seconds hand on yours. I am debating on blueing the seconds hand on mine.

[Max72]

Love that retro dial!

[watchcrank]

Good project, good taste! Much success. M

[andromeda160]

Originally Posted by drifter01

For sure the early Rolexes (especially the AK and the Date) are more interesting than some of the later ones. I realloy don't care for the new AK dials, and even the conventional stick hands aren't as cool as these early (I think Dauphine) hands.
BTW, Base-Z, I really like the blued seconds hand on yours. I am debating on blueing the seconds hand on mine.

They're alpha hands. Seems a lot of people get them mixed up, I know I used to think they were dauphine too until a few forum members corrected me.

[powerfunk]

Originally Posted by andromeda160

They're alpha hands. Seems a lot of people get them mixed up, I know I used to think they were dauphine too until a few forum members corrected me.

Yeah, me too. If I'm not mistaken, dauphine hands are always creased down the middle, but alpha hands are flat and just have a line down the middle (if anything).

OP, I'd leave the dial and hands alone, personally. Good luck with the project!

[joe100]

Leave it original.

The serial on the case will never match up with the movement number and the differences between an extremely late 50s AK case and a 1960s case is nonexistent. The real gems here are the dial and that 5500 case back. A caseback stamped with 5500 is far less common than say a 1002 case back or whatever else Rolex had in the parts bin. Rolex had a practice well into the late 1980s of putting whatever fit on the back of the watch

[The moose]

Great patina on that dial! Love it! Leave it as is...!

[drifter01]

jedly1 has kindly sold me a 1958 5500 case, and I goods I need to rebuild the movement, so tomorrow I will begin the overhaul.
I have one question I would like some help with. The original lume is coming off in places on the hands, and I am a bit worried that more may come off and get into the movement. Would you leave it as is, and risk that, or relume the hands, or just remove the hand lume altogether?
The only part I am now seeking is a butterfly rotor.

Dave

[joe100]

There is a way to stabilize the Lume so it stops flaking. I'd go this route before a relume or removal. Keep us updated on this project and take some photos as you go along. Very interested in the outcome.