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statsman · 21 August 2015, 01:47 AM

This was my dad's watch. He was the West Point Pistol Team coach, and somebody left it on the range. He posted a sign that it was found, and a year later, under orders to move to Ft. Benning, GA, with nobody claiming it, he figured it was his.

As an Army sergeant, raising a family, he was never set up to maintain it. The band broke, it got dinged, and it went into the closet. Years later he asked if I wanted it. 20 years ago, my wife (we were newly wed and poor) got a watchsmith (not Rolex trained) to "service" it. He put on an aftermarket crystal and a generic aftermarket Jubille style bracelet that never fit well. I wore it a few years and when the band broke, it went into the closet.

For Fathers Day, my wife said she wanted me to fix it up, and to do it right. I am fortunate that the Riddeleys' Watchmakers International is in Arlington (learned of them from this forum) and was able to take it there. I had some great conversations with Phillip where we discussed what I wanted in the watch, and made a bunch of decisions of repair-or-replace. He put in a period-authentic crystal, and a genuine Rolex replacement bracelet (78360- he offered options, including a period authentic 7836, but this is what I wanted).

What do y'all think? I am really loving it. I told Phillip that time accuracy was important to me and he got it regulated well within "superlative chronometer" specs.

The next heirloom to worry about fixing up is my Great Uncle Curtis' 100 years old M1911 (that's a Marine Corps Colt .45 automatic for the non-gun nut types). He got (as he put it- Great Uncle Curtis was a truly "great" uncle, but had the worst war stories) "shot up in Guam so bad that I was able to hide it in the bandages and take it home".

jdmi32 · 21 August 2015, 01:52 AM

I think it's a fantastic Explorer with a great history. Love the frog foot dial.

joe100 · 21 August 2015, 01:57 AM

A fine watch now. Standing up tall

lhanddds · 21 August 2015, 02:34 AM

Very nice, good for you

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

watchcrank · 21 August 2015, 07:08 AM

Nothing wrong with a sweet 1016. Wear it often.

schaumburgla · 21 August 2015, 07:35 AM

It looks like a mid-late 60's model.
The 1016 is one of my favorite Rolex references.
Congrats & enjoy the watch. It should last a lifetime with proper care.

Justin

cop414 · 21 August 2015, 07:43 AM

Looks great, any before pictures?

sfbay6694 · 21 August 2015, 08:05 AM

What a nice looking explorer. Congrats.

statsman · 21 August 2015, 08:18 AM

It is a 1972. I'll try to load the before pics. Let me tell you- after is much better.

sea-dweller · 22 August 2015, 11:12 AM

Looks great!

springer · 22 August 2015, 11:21 AM

Great watch and story....from Flower Mound.

droptopman · 22 August 2015, 11:38 AM

Awesome piece and a great story. Love these vintage 1016's. Classic watch and example of how Rolex will last lifetimes.

sutats · 23 August 2015, 09:03 AM

What a story. It's lovely that you brought it back to its former glory. Enjoy it in good health.

Karbo · 23 August 2015, 04:26 PM

Nice story !! Love the 1016
I have mine from my Dad too thats funny

21 August 2015, 01:47 AM	#1
statsman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 394	My (Newish) Model 1016 This was my dad's watch. He was the West Point Pistol Team coach, and somebody left it on the range. He posted a sign that it was found, and a year later, under orders to move to Ft. Benning, GA, with nobody claiming it, he figured it was his. As an Army sergeant, raising a family, he was never set up to maintain it. The band broke, it got dinged, and it went into the closet. Years later he asked if I wanted it. 20 years ago, my wife (we were newly wed and poor) got a watchsmith (not Rolex trained) to "service" it. He put on an aftermarket crystal and a generic aftermarket Jubille style bracelet that never fit well. I wore it a few years and when the band broke, it went into the closet. For Fathers Day, my wife said she wanted me to fix it up, and to do it right. I am fortunate that the Riddeleys' Watchmakers International is in Arlington (learned of them from this forum) and was able to take it there. I had some great conversations with Phillip where we discussed what I wanted in the watch, and made a bunch of decisions of repair-or-replace. He put in a period-authentic crystal, and a genuine Rolex replacement bracelet (78360- he offered options, including a period authentic 7836, but this is what I wanted). What do y'all think? I am really loving it. I told Phillip that time accuracy was important to me and he got it regulated well within "superlative chronometer" specs. The next heirloom to worry about fixing up is my Great Uncle Curtis' 100 years old M1911 (that's a Marine Corps Colt .45 automatic for the non-gun nut types). He got (as he put it- Great Uncle Curtis was a truly "great" uncle, but had the worst war stories) "shot up in Guam so bad that I was able to hide it in the bandages and take it home".

21 August 2015, 01:57 AM	#3
joe100 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Joe Location: New Mexico Watch: Explorer Posts: 12,840	A fine watch now. Standing up tall __________________ It's Espresso, not Expresso. Coffee is not a train in Italy. -TRF Member 6982-

21 August 2015, 07:35 AM	#6
schaumburgla 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Justin S. Location: Southeastern U.S. Watch: 5513 Sub Posts: 790	Great story & beautiful watch It looks like a mid-late 60's model. The 1016 is one of my favorite Rolex references. Congrats & enjoy the watch. It should last a lifetime with proper care. Justin

21 August 2015, 07:43 AM	#7
cop414 TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron Join Date: Apr 2012 Real Name: Tim Location: Pennsylvania Watch: 14060M Posts: 72,234	Looks great, any before pictures? __________________ Rolex Submariner 14060M Omega Seamaster 2254.50 DOXA Professional 1200T Card carrying member of TRF's Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons TRF's "After Dark" Bar & NightClub Patron P Club Member #17 2 FA ENABLED

22 August 2015, 11:12 AM	#10
sea-dweller "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Dennis Location: Bay Area - 925 Posts: 40,018	Looks great! __________________ TRF Member #6699 (since September 2007)

21 August 2015, 01:52 AM	#2
jdmi32 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Real Name: Ky Location: Bay Area, CA Watch: 16570 Posts: 2,362	I think it's a fantastic Explorer with a great history. Love the frog foot dial.

21 August 2015, 02:34 AM	#4
lhanddds Banned Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: USA Watch: of course Posts: 8,429	Very nice, good for you Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

21 August 2015, 07:08 AM	#5
watchcrank "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: michael Location: Florida Watch: explorer II cream Posts: 1,664	Nothing wrong with a sweet 1016. Wear it often.

21 August 2015, 08:05 AM	#8
sfbay6694 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: san francisco Posts: 2	What a nice looking explorer. Congrats.

21 August 2015, 08:18 AM	#9
statsman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Arlington, TX Posts: 394	It is a 1972. I'll try to load the before pics. Let me tell you- after is much better.

22 August 2015, 11:21 AM	#11
springer 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: jP Location: Texas Watch: GMT-MASTER Posts: 17,319	Great watch and story....from Flower Mound. __________________ Member of NAWCC since 1990. INSTAGRAM USER NAME: SPRINGERJFP Visit my Instagram page to view some of the finest vintage GMTs anywhere - as well as other vintage classics.

22 August 2015, 11:38 AM	#12
droptopman "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Real Name: Mark Location: Washington State Watch: SUBS and GMT's! Posts: 9,664	Awesome piece and a great story. Love these vintage 1016's. Classic watch and example of how Rolex will last lifetimes. __________________ Judge Smails: Ty, what did you shoot today? Ty: Oh, Judge, I don't keep score. Judge Smails: Then how do you measure yourself with other golfers? Ty: By height.

23 August 2015, 09:03 AM	#13
sutats "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: London Posts: 1,225	What a story. It's lovely that you brought it back to its former glory. Enjoy it in good health. __________________ There's no such thing as a Submariner No Date, it's simply Submariner. You don't call a Porsche 911 Turbo, a Porsche 911 Turbo No S. www.instagram.com/sutatshorology Post Your Rolex/Tudor Watch Weight (PYRTWW)

23 August 2015, 04:26 PM	#14
Karbo "TRF" Member Join Date: May 2011 Location: Paris, France Watch: Dayto/5164 Posts: 1,631	Nice story !! Love the 1016 I have mine from my Dad too thats funny Attached Images __________________ IG : @aka_karbo

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