Insert-pearl question-advice needed

[jguerrad]

Hello to anyone that reads this, what is your opinion on the importance of having a "pearl" on the insert, I have tried this before and it never seems to match, I have two examples with nice inserts (to me at least), missing the pearl, I tried to replace and keeps looking like "not right", is this really something to think about or am I getting excessively shallow, all opinions welcome.

[Tools]

I think that you have been staring at inserts without a pearl too long..


That's what looks "not quiet right"

[jguerrad]

jajaja good point!

[jguerrad]

probably just needed to get the question off my chest! thanks for being blunt

[ahnets]

There are two types of people in this world. Some who are bothered by things like this. Some who aren't. If you're asking the question, it probably bothers you :-)

Personally, I would consider it a fun game to play over the years - to see if you can find the pearl over time - and not worry about it in the near term. Your watches really are beautiful as they are

If the nagging inside you is great... you will most likely find the right pearl when you see it in person - and not over the Internet, where camera quality, lighting etc. is not the same - so you could give calling all your local dealers/vintage stores a shot to see what they have in their collections and visit them in person.

[jguerrad]

Thanks, for your reply, not greatly bothered, but why not have it complete? just wanted to see if I am the only psycho looking at this bs stuff. It is certainly cheaper to hunt for a dot than it is to hunt for a watch.

[Frogman4me]

matching pearl is just like adding icing on the cake.

[jguerrad]

starting to feel better with my shallow post, for a moment I felt like a 15 year old teenage girl concerned about what shoes to wear...thanks of your reply.

[Vincent65]

First of all, they are both gorgeous! Secondly, I would certainly source nice pearls for them. Doesn't have to be an exact match.

[jguerrad]

Originally Posted by Vincent65

First of all, they are both gorgeous! Secondly, I would certainly source nice pearls for them. Doesn't have to be an exact match.

Thank you very much for your comment! will do that, your response kind of cleared my conscience over such a trivial matter!
Cheers!

[Robbyvm]

Nothing shallow about wanting to complete an incomplete watch... I guess it's part of our hobby to look for the best... Just keep in mind that it's a nice to have and take your time. Great watches by the way !!

[jguerrad]

Originally Posted by Robbyvm

Nothing shallow about wanting to complete an incomplete watch... I guess it's part of our hobby to look for the best... Just keep in mind that it's a nice to have and take your time. Great watches by the way !!

Thanks Robbyvm for your comment, as you say "in this hobby we look for the best" I guess "vintage collecting" is a an oxymoron, we all strive for the "best" but in vintage that "best" typically constitutes defects: patina, faded, tropical, spiderweb, unpolished, etc etc, so the contradiction is to find "the best" of the imperfections.

Hoping now that the new in-thing becomes "pearl-less".

[Andad]

The 'right' pearl will transform both watches.

[cwilson13]

Look for a match. If it's bothering you now, it will always bother you.

My red came with a newer rock and it drove me crazy. It's where my eye went first each time I glanced at the watch.

Sourced a pearl that matched patina, had ABC install and not much much happier.

Good luck. Great looking pieces you have there.

[Jp28]

Definetly source them. The cherry on top of the cake. I actually got one from TurboWatch on this forum for my 1680. He had a number of different shades at the time.

[CharlieMae]

I always keep a bunch of pearls in my parts bin to try and match inserts on vintage purchases I make. I think the pearl makes the watch complete and when I see watches and inserts without them they look void or missing parts, which they actually are.

One of these days I'm going to sell some because the old tritium ones sell for $200 and becoming more difficult to find. I must have 10 of them in various shades.

[Robbyvm]

Originally Posted by CharlieMae

I always keep a bunch of pearls in my parts bin to try and match inserts on vintage purchases I make. I think the pearl makes the watch complete and when I see watches and inserts without them they look void or missing parts, which they actually are.

One of these days I'm going to sell some because the old tritium ones sell for $200 and becoming more difficult to find. I must have 10 of them in various shades.

you should be able to help the OP

[AS1]

Agree with these comments! It's not considered essential but certainly nice to have. And if it bothers you now, chances are it always will. Enjoy the hunt for the pearl!

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by AS1

Agree with these comments! It's not considered essential but certainly nice to have. And if it bothers you now, chances are it always will. Enjoy the hunt for the pearl!

[JohnBaker3]

If you do find one, remember that they are very fragile...

They are made out of a thin wall of acrylic; this is why so many break in the first place.

I even had an overhaul done on my 5513 and the watchmaker broke it in the process!

They are a "press fit" into the insert hole. I covered the pearl with a small piece of painters tape, then pressed down with a piece of peg wood. A small "click" and my Red 1680 was now "complete"...

Good luck on your search; you will be very pleased with the results.

[PoderEsBueno]

Nice watches I am sure you will come by nice pearls in near future, there are many around.

[Storky]

Beautiful watches! But IMO ... if you had a beautiful vintage Ferrari would you want to have the wheel centres missing??!
(I don't even know if vintage Ferrari's have wheel centres.. but I think you know what I mean!)

[jguerrad]

Thanks all for your comments, I am going to find for the right one, but best to see them in the flesh because to match patina with photos never works!!

In the meantime I followed John Baker III advice and used some "do it yourself", removed the pearl on two inserts that I had (one was from a newer service insert and the other one from a brown faded older insert)......this is the outcome.....this will do for now until I find the perfect match....thanks all for looking and for the advice.

[Vincent65]

that's already better, especially the amber one ^^

[jguerrad]

yes agreed, the other one is snow white! but will do for now, until I replace! the amber one i kind of like...thanks

[jguerrad]

btw...this whole "pearl replacement" was a microscopic work, after 30 min trying with tweezers (unsuccessfully) I ended up sticking the pearl to my wet index finger and just pushing it in, and then "click" that thing just works, amazing little piece of Rolex engineering!

[Tools]

pretty good match

I think that the look is a bit more complete now.

[omitohud]

Beautiful watches with beautiful inserts which deserve the pearls. 👍


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[TudorSnowflake]

Would drive me crazy to not have the pearl in there.

[LunetteVerde]

LOL! First world problems ? ;-) Anyway, I am too OCD to leave an insert without a pearl - damn distracting? Original tritium dots are like $100 a pop if you find them - just be prepared




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