Got 2 OP41s - Can I theoretically swap dials?

[cari66ean]

Long story short: I was lucky enough to get one of the discontinued color OP41 half a year ago. I've rocked it as a daily until they've suddenly been discontinued and now it's become more of a special occasion watch to me. It's in good condition but still got some micro scratches. Now I've also received a plain non-discontinued OP41 that I initially planned as a replacement for a daily rocker.

I've got 3 options now that I'm thinking of:

• Keep them both "original", wear the slightly worn discontinued "Stella" dial on special occasions and the new plain one as a daily.
• Swap the bracelets and put the new one on the "Stella" OP41 to keep it fresh for the special occasions and the slightly worn one on the plain OP41 for daily wear.
• Keep the new plain OP41 in pristine condition and rock the discontinued "Stella" as a daily. Years or decades down the road I could just have the dials swapped and have a "fresh" Stella.

I'm especially interested in the last option. But the situation with dial swaps at the RSC is a little intransparent currently. AFAIK they don't swap dials to other colors (anymore), even though they are not coded into the model number for the OP41. It's understandable since there is such scarcity of those special (and now discontinued) colors. But if I were to supply the RSC with 2 OP41s, would they perform the swap during a service? What are your opinions on this? Thanks!

[wetsum3]

Wear what you want as a daily. I don’t think the increase in value of a pristine op41 vs a worn over our lifetime matter much. When youre on your deathbed, it certainly won’t matter at all. Plus whenever you send it in for service, RSC can make it look new again. Just put your conundrum in to perspective. Wear the one that gives you the most enjoyment now, knowing that it can either be restored or that the money is a small amount.

[cari66ean]

Thanks! I'd rather not have them polished/brushed down the road. Would just be grateful if anyone knows if they'd swap dials in this case.

[drrd]

Ask RSC. Easy.

There’ve been numerous posts on this and all the most recent ones afaik said that RSC won’t swap OP dials.

Even if RSC would swap dials I understood they only allow swaps to current configurations (not discontinued ones).

The dial colour is actually coded on the full model reference. It’s on your white tag or that white box sticker. For example turquoise is 124300-0006.

The watch serial number is linked to that full reference code. If you just got a watchmaker to swap the dials then that will be flagged up immediately that the watch is returned to Rolex for any work. You’d have the choice of either take the watch back without service or they’d swap your colourful dial out to the original factory spec.

Even if you never return the swapped dial watch to Rolex it’d still be viewed as a Franken-watch if you come to sell it and value will be affected.

[cari66ean]

Thatnks that's exactly the info I was looking for and the concerns I had. That being said, option 2 with swapping the bracelets should be fine though, right?

[drrd]

Originally Posted by cari66ean

Thatnks that's exactly the info I was looking for and the concerns I had. That being said, option 2 with swapping the bracelets should be fine though, right?

Bracelets are fine and the crown and bezel are pretty cheap swaps at service too I think. The steel oyster mid-case is really a perfect daily wearer and is easily cleaned up at service. I’d just wear and enjoy.

[dannyp]

Option 2 seems like the no-brainer. Zero risk, easiest to do, etc.

[cari66ean]

Thanks all! I'll proceed with option 2. Bracelet swap to keep the "Stella" in stellar condition for longer and rocking the plain OP as a daily.

[Andy355]

I would get someone else to swap the bracelets over unless you are very good at it. It’s easy to scratch something. As to the dial swap question I don’t think they would as they would be changing the original configuration of the watch but you can ask.

[dannyp]

Originally Posted by Andy355

I would get someone else to swap the bracelets over unless you are very good at it. It’s easy to scratch something. As to the dial swap question I don’t think they would as they would be changing the original configuration of the watch but you can ask.

I agree. I didn't mean to imply that the OP should necessarily do it himself, unless skilled at it.

[cari66ean]

Yeah, of course. Typical strap changing tools are not fine enough to fit the current Rolex endlinks anyway. Thanks though, the answers have been all very helpful.

[Vesper Lynd]

Pictures of both Oyster Perpetuals would be nice.

[harvey]

…i mean no offence when I say this, it’s an OP. why wouldn’t you wear it every day? they’re a fun reference!

[Mags01]

I also vote for option 2. Out of curiosity, which dials have you got?

[cari66ean]

These beauties...

Originally Posted by harvey

…i mean no offence when I say this, it’s an OP. why wouldn’t you wear it every day? they’re a fun reference!

They are and I did wear it as a daily. But given how rare they've become due to being discontinued, I just don't want to rock it as a daily anymore.

[Lamontsanders]

Just wear them. Don’t let the potential value thing ruin your enjoyment of a really cool watch.

[Oyster Al]

Congrats on the yellow.

[RogerOP]

Originally Posted by cari66ean

These beauties...





They are and I did wear it as a daily. But given how rare they've become due to being discontinued, I just don't want to rock it as a daily anymore.

Just wear them man! Service and insure them and don't have any worries

[brandrea]

You’re overthinking this. Wear them both and enjoy

[samson66]

Of the options #2 for sure

Sent from my Galaxy S20 using Tapatalk

[cari66ean]

Originally Posted by harvey

…i mean no offence when I say this, it’s an OP. why wouldn’t you wear it every day? they’re a fun reference!

Originally Posted by samson66

Of the options #2 for sure

Sent from my Galaxy S20 using Tapatalk

Yes, that's the one. Black with the "old" bracelet is going to be my daily beater and the yellow is going to be used more occasionally.