1803 President

[BigBlue1]

I recently picked up an 1803 at $6700. Definitely has stretching for sure. Not sure what to make of it. 53 End Links. Serial Number puts it at 1972. Bracelet date is 1972. It has the numbers 0869 on end link scratched in. Also 245 scratched in by the model number 1803. The clasp almost seems rose gold.
What the hell is it?

[SubMarine]

Rare Wideboy handset is mismatched for this dial. Handset alone is worth $1k

[yoniman]

Originally Posted by SubMarine

Rare Wideboy handset is mismatched for this dial. Handset alone is worth $1k

It's a Buckley dial...printed Roman numerals but then the hands are indeed for wideboy.


It's just all about health, happiness & family. The rest are just necessary inconvenience we have to deal with.

[SubMarine]

Correct handset is a blackened Buckley handset. I have several pairs. OP, feel free to Pm me. $6700 is a great piece, congrats.

Originally Posted by yoniman

It's a Buckley dial...printed Roman numerals but then the hands are indeed for wideboy.


It's just all about health, happiness & family. The rest are just necessary inconvenience we have to deal with.

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by submarine

correct handset is a blackened buckley handset. I have several pairs. Op, feel free to pm me. $6700 is a great piece, congrats.

pm

[Chewbacca]

I like it. Even if it has a few oddball parts.

[freefly]

Originally Posted by BigBlue1

What the hell is it?

As surmised in the Watchout! thread, it's a franken 1803 with an (aftermarket) florentine/morellis finish.
As others mentioned, it's either a Buckley dial watch with the wrong hands, or a Wide Boy with the wrong dial (or it could be a complete parts-bin special).
Bracelet looks genuine, but severely worn.

Look at how much that clasp pin has worn through!

Originally Posted by BigBlue1

[Chewbacca]

Originally Posted by freefly

As surmised in the Watchout! thread, it's a franken 1803 with an (aftermarket) florentine/morellis finish.
As others mentioned, it's either a Buckley dial watch with the wrong hands, or a Wide Boy with the wrong dial (or it could be a complete parts-bin special).
Bracelet looks genuine, but severely worn.

Look at how much that clasp pin has worn through!

Easy $100 fix at a jeweller.

OP did well with this one.

[GGGMT]

Franked up but cool.


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[zapokee]

Well polished and loved, and that bracelet should fit a big wrist.

Enjoy it for a few years and perhaps give it some more sympathetic hands, and you might just get your money back if/when you sell it on.

[Patou Batemanou]

I would have passed on this one, too many odd details

[Verdi]

Hi,

Have you bought it already?
I am also curious how was it advertised?

LE: I saw you got it. My thoughts:

-its great that it came with that bracelet but I would not risk wearing it in that condition. It looks like it can break any time. So, consider some work from MY or Rollie.
-I would also factor in a service and the right set of hands.

6700 is ok but there is another 3-4k to be spent on it imo. So, all together it is 10k watch with what it needs to be done on it. All this work might take a while to be done....that is something to be considered when you make a purchase of a watch. I always ask myself, am I ok to wait? It can be months before I get it in the shape I desire to be.

[nevergiveup]

What you have is a pile of brown stuff that smells ! You way over paid .

[Jim Smyth]

The second set of pictures confirms my suspicions from the first set in the watchout section. Way to rough for my liking. Hate to see whats on the inside.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by nevergiveup

What you have is a pile of brown stuff that smells ! You way over paid .

Why make comments like this? Way to embarrass yourself, nevergiveup

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by nevergiveup

What you have is a pile of brown stuff that smells ! You way over paid .

That's really classy.

[rootbeer7]

I think what you have is an old pre-loved watch that someone who wasn’t a WIS decided to update over the years. The fact the dial glows suggests a relume, the wide-boy hands also. The bracelet is ratty but with the value of the gold, you could sell, swap to a beautiful leather and buckle, matching period correct dial and hands, service and probably have change for........well you decide!!!

[BigBlue1]

Ya, definitely wore the pins thru. Much wrist time for sure. I had my suspicions and ultimately were confirmed. Definitely a Frankin. I could always return it. See what happens.
Thank you for all the replies.

[offrdmania]

I don’t think you over paid at all. A complete and nice 1803 is around 10 grand everyday so you did ok. The Buckley dial is pie pan which was originally thought to be flat so that’s a plus. Find a set of correct Buckley hands, sell the wide boy hands to help fund the project and call Mike at Rolliworks for a estimate to rebuild the bracelet and to maybe build up those lugs if need be.
And yes, the clasp on a president bracelet is always rose gold. It has more alloys in it for strength compared to the softer yellow gold.

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

I don’t think you over paid at all. A complete and nice 1803 is around 10 grand everyday so you did ok. The Buckley dial is pie pan which was originally thought to be flat so that’s a plus. Find a set of correct Buckley hands, sell the wide boy hands to help fund the project and call Mike at Rolliworks for a estimate to rebuild the bracelet and to maybe build up those lugs if need be.
And yes, the clasp on a president bracelet is always rose gold. It has more alloys in it for strength compared to the softer yellow gold.

I like your thinking.
What would a pair of hands run cost?

[freefly]

Originally Posted by BigBlue1

I like your thinking.
What would a pair of hands run cost?

Or, you could go the other direction:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323928233551
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362618040994
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332303038443

You could also scrap the bracelet if it's too far gone and/or too costly to restore.
Selling it (and the current dial) would fund a very nice strap/buckle, as well as a replacement dial, crystal, service, case refinish, etc. YMMV of course...

[SunTzu]

Originally Posted by freefly

Or, you could go the other direction:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323928233551
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362618040994
https://www.ebay.com/itm/332303038443

You could also scrap the bracelet if it's too far gone and/or too costly to restore.
Selling it (and the current dial) would fund a very nice strap/buckle, as well as a replacement dial, crystal, service, case refinish, etc. YMMV of course...

Smart thinking! I like this idea.

Or, sell the hands and bracelet and buy a proper set of hands and quality strap and what's left put towards a service and case polish. The vintage DayDates always look nice on a strap.

Lots of options to play with to keep additional cost down and come out with a fine vintage piece.

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by BigBlue1

I like your thinking.

What would a pair of hands run cost?

You can paint a regular set if you don’t have the inclination to find (pay for?) an original black set. Very cool find. If original, that dial is awesome.


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[zapokee]

Originally Posted by southtexas

You can paint a regular set if you don’t have the inclination to find (pay for?) an original black set.

It would bug me knowing the hands weren't quite right. With a project of this scale, it would be a shame to cut corners.

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by zapokee

It would bug me knowing the hands weren't quite right. With a project of this scale, it would be a shame to cut corners.

I don’t want to buy a repro set and or paint any either. I will just go ahead with a service and bracelet repair.

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by southtexas

You can paint a regular set if you don’t have the inclination to find (pay for?) an original black set. Very cool find. If original, that dial is awesome.


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I just can’t find a set of hands and some on this board who claimed to have a set totally ignored my PMs. It’s all good. I may just keep the fattys on. Send it out to be service this Saturday if all works out.

[lupus66]

No minerva mark on the clasp?

[BigBlue1]

Originally Posted by lupus66

No minerva mark on the clasp?

?

[freefly]

Originally Posted by BigBlue1

?

I believe he is referencing the lack of gold hallmarks.

For some reason, there were president clasps in the early 70's (when the hidden clasp was still "optional" on President bracelets) that didn't receive the proper hallmarks.

[BigBlue1]

Do these weights seem correct?


61.16 Grams



56.83 Grams




Shot on my wrist