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greg.harvey · 7 May 2008, 08:52 AM

Hi all,

First post here! Hopefully first of many!

I bought a Rolex from a colleague of my girlfriend's, an antiques dealer here in London, which he told me was a 1970-something dress watch. Now I knew little about watches at the time (and I'm still only beginning to learn) and I took him at face value, because we'd known him for quite a while. In fact, I'm still sure he wouldn't knowingly rip me off, but perhaps he doesn't know as much as I thought he did. Here's why:

The dial of the Rolex I bought from him (see attached) is marked "T SWISS T" at the bottom, which I now know means "Tritium", except there is no tritium on this watch's dial or hands. Something is fishy. Either this is an inaccurate redial, the hands would've once had tritium on and have been changed or some other scenario is at play here. Whichever, it clearly doesn't add up the way it is.

It is a Rolex signed crown, movement and 9ct gold case, that much seems fine. Given there is something funny about the dial, will this drastically affect value? I paid about $2,000 for it. I don't mind keeping it, because it is a handsome watch. But if I've been ripped off, inadvertantly or otherwise, I'm taking it back!!

Wolfgang427 · 7 May 2008, 09:31 AM

Welcome and congrats.

Dial does not appear to be a redial.

Scarface · 7 May 2008, 09:37 AM

It must be genuine.

rob · 7 May 2008, 09:57 AM

Nah, looks untouched from this end.

greg.harvey · 7 May 2008, 10:01 AM

Oh, that's good news. Thanks guys! :)

Always nerve-wracking to spend so much money on a watch without really knowing what you're looking at. That's why I'm determined to learn more. I love vintage watches and this one is my favourite so far!

Anyone know why it would be marked with the "T SWISS T" at 6 o'clock, instead of just "SWISS"?

Tools · 7 May 2008, 10:25 AM

Proper markings would be a plain "Swiss"

But Rolex has been know to use whatever lparts they had in stock at the time of production.

Have you had the caseback opened...it should have the date of manufacture stamped there

greg.harvey · 7 May 2008, 06:15 PM

I haven't. I wasn't there when the jeweller opened it to check and I don't have a case knife. I don't want to risk scratching it (or gouging my finger with a pen knife!) so I am going to order a case knife as soon as the guy I buy that sort of stuff from gets a new stock of watch travel pouches. No point in placing an order until he has everything in I want! As soon as I get one, I'll pop the back off and take a photo to post here.

SPACE-DWELLER · 7 May 2008, 06:41 PM

Welcome to TRF!

Wolfgang stating the dial's fine convinces me. He knows his stuff!

BiG JeEzY · 7 May 2008, 06:55 PM

The dial looks original and untouched to me! In fact it looks aged to perfection.

Welcome to TRF!

7 May 2008, 08:52 AM	#1
greg.harvey "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Essex, UK Watch: Rolex Precision Posts: 13	Rolex Precision appears to be a redial ... what do you think? Hi all, First post here! Hopefully first of many! I bought a Rolex from a colleague of my girlfriend's, an antiques dealer here in London, which he told me was a 1970-something dress watch. Now I knew little about watches at the time (and I'm still only beginning to learn) and I took him at face value, because we'd known him for quite a while. In fact, I'm still sure he wouldn't knowingly rip me off, but perhaps he doesn't know as much as I thought he did. Here's why: The dial of the Rolex I bought from him (see attached) is marked "T SWISS T" at the bottom, which I now know means "Tritium", except there is no tritium on this watch's dial or hands. Something is fishy. Either this is an inaccurate redial, the hands would've once had tritium on and have been changed or some other scenario is at play here. Whichever, it clearly doesn't add up the way it is. It is a Rolex signed crown, movement and 9ct gold case, that much seems fine. Given there is something funny about the dial, will this drastically affect value? I paid about $2,000 for it. I don't mind keeping it, because it is a handsome watch. But if I've been ripped off, inadvertantly or otherwise, I'm taking it back!! Attached Images

7 May 2008, 09:37 AM	#3
Scarface "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Minas Location: London UK Watch: Rolex , Omega Posts: 1,370	It must be genuine. __________________ *Rolex* Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master ll *Rolex* Oyster Perpetual Datejust *Omega* Seamaster Professional Chronograph

7 May 2008, 10:25 AM	#6
Tools TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: May 2007 Real Name: Larry Location: Mojave Desert Watch: GMT's Posts: 43,514	Proper markings would be a plain "Swiss" But Rolex has been know to use whatever lparts they had in stock at the time of production. Have you had the caseback opened...it should have the date of manufacture stamped there __________________ (Chill ... It's just a watch Forum.....) NAWCC Member

7 May 2008, 06:41 PM	#8
SPACE-DWELLER "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Bo Location: Denmark Watch: Rolex, of course! Posts: 22,436	Welcome to TRF! Wolfgang stating the dial's fine convinces me. He knows his stuff! __________________ With kind regards, Bo LocTite 221: The Taming Of The Screw...

7 May 2008, 06:55 PM	#9
BiG JeEzY "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Real Name: Jerome Location: N. California Watch: GMT I/EXP II/DJ Posts: 3,351	The dial looks original and untouched to me! In fact it looks aged to perfection. Welcome to TRF! __________________ -Rolex Explorer II Black dial 16570 (circa 2001) -Rolex GMT Master I Pepsi 1675 (circa 1978) -Rolex Datejust TT Champagne 16233 (circa 1991) -Vintage Longines Automatic La Grande Classique -Vintage Seiko 6138 Automatic Chronograph with "Kakume" Dial

7 May 2008, 09:31 AM	#2
Wolfgang427 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Real Name: Wolfgang Location: New Jersey. Watch: Rolex Tudor Omega Posts: 5,592	Welcome and congrats. Dial does not appear to be a redial.

7 May 2008, 09:57 AM	#4
rob 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Northern Ca. Watch: SS only Posts: 865	Nah, looks untouched from this end.

7 May 2008, 10:01 AM	#5
greg.harvey "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Essex, UK Watch: Rolex Precision Posts: 13	Oh, that's good news. Thanks guys! :) Always nerve-wracking to spend so much money on a watch without really knowing what you're looking at. That's why I'm determined to learn more. I love vintage watches and this one is my favourite so far! Anyone know why it would be marked with the "T SWISS T" at 6 o'clock, instead of just "SWISS"?

7 May 2008, 06:15 PM	#7
greg.harvey "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Essex, UK Watch: Rolex Precision Posts: 13	I haven't. I wasn't there when the jeweller opened it to check and I don't have a case knife. I don't want to risk scratching it (or gouging my finger with a pen knife!) so I am going to order a case knife as soon as the guy I buy that sort of stuff from gets a new stock of watch travel pouches. No point in placing an order until he has everything in I want! As soon as I get one, I'll pop the back off and take a photo to post here.

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