My first true vintage. It's a project of a 1503.

[Doc Strange]

I pulled the trigger on this beat up beauty. I am just so drawn to that blue textured face against the rich yellow gold and the minty lume.
Although I haven't even had the strap off yet, I trust the seller. It dates to 1962.
My next step it to replace the crystal. Any recommendations on a nice place in NYC to have the crystal replaced and have the thing gently serviced?
And yes, a new strap is a priority.

[Vincent65]

Congrats - I think it's a 'linen' dial, very nice. Is the lume dot at 9 missing?

[GeoGio Greece]

I like it. I would like such a watch myself too. Congrats.

[Frosty]

You are going to enjoy it!

[crowncollection]

Nice one congrats

[Doc Strange]

Vincent65 - yes, it is missing. I don't mind given the overall patina of the watch. My fear is that it may have worked its way into the movement at some point.

[V.lats97nsx]

Here's mine just had it serviced and dial swapped. I love your dial. Although it has been relumed, notice the 6 oclock lume is overlapping the "SWISS" also the 3 oclock marker you can actually see the old lume and the new lume on top. Also the white date wheel is great. Hows it keeping time?

[Doc Strange]

v.lats97nsx Yours is a beaut! It's a strong look with the blue strap.
I noticed the sloppy lume but I didn't know if it was a re-lume or some corrosion from exposure of some sort. Thanks for the info.
The date wheel has a shine to it that doesn't quite come across in the picture.
Any info on where I can get it properly serviced and have the crystal changed here in NYC?

[V.lats97nsx]

My original crystal had chip on the edge. Yours looks good. I would advise you to apply polywatch to it and it will look great. If it runs really slow or winds rough then it's in a need for service. If not then your good.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by Doc Strange

v.lats97nsx Yours is a beaut! It's a strong look with the blue strap.
I noticed the sloppy lume but I didn't know if it was a re-lume or some corrosion from exposure of some sort. Thanks for the info.
The date wheel has a shine to it that doesn't quite come across in the picture.
Any info on where I can get it properly serviced and have the crystal changed here in NYC?

go to the antiques building on 25th st @ 6th ave and see george at tempus fugit.

Gallery #: 29
Contact Name: George Aloi
Tel #1: 212-673-1995
E-Mail: info@tempvsfvgit.com
Website: www.tempvsfvgit.com
Hours: Thur - Sun: 10:00 - 5:00

he is a straight shooter and knows rolex in and out. his watch tech is the best of the best and all work is fully guaranteed. everyone in the NYC vintage watch arena knows george.

good luck on your new rolex it's a beauty!

[BLP]

In NYC Central Time seems to be a very legit operation. They appear to have the capability to handle modern and vintage Rolex. I personally have not had any work done by Hodinkee did a write up of the family-owned business. At a minimum you should stop by there.

[Floorguy]

Did a google search on central time a while back just for the hell of it, and read some, not to good reviews. I would do some research on them, if you need to stay local. Me, on the other hand, I send my watches to Rikki at Time care for piece of mind!

[sea-dweller]

Congrats!

[dysondiver]

dial looks great , not seen that texture before.

[Doc Strange]

Ugh! I just dropped this watch on the tile floor this evening. No damage to the crystal beyond what was already there but I feel like I can hear the rotor when I shake the watch. I hadn't listened to it much before the drop and now I can't tell if I did any damage. It appears to be running fine, at least for the last two hours. I'm planning a service for it anyway, someday, but this has me a little anxious.
It was about a 4 foot roll of a drop and put a small dent in the tip of one of the lugs. Do I have much to worry about here? Isn't this thing robust enough to handle a bump here and there?

[Doc Strange]

For anyone interested, while I wait to decide how much more to invest into this watch I decided to go for the easy fix and polish the crystal with some polywatch. Although I don't have any real experience, I think I did an OK job and this will be a good trial for any attempts in the future. After all, I will likely have a new crystal in the next month or two.
Does anyone know a way to remove the re-lume that was applied without destroying the dial?

[Doc Strange]

Oh and in response to your question about how it is keeping time, v.lats97nsx, so far it is dead exact to my iPhone.

[Doc Strange]

.

[V.lats97nsx]

Originally Posted by Doc Strange

Oh and in response to your question about how it is keeping time, v.lats97nsx, so far it is dead exact to my iPhone.

Does it wind smoothly. If you dont have any chips in the crystal. just scratches get polywatch and buff the crystal and enjoy the watch. Im not to certain about the drop. Im sure your not the first person to drop a watch...

[V.lats97nsx]

Never mind If I were you I would definitely get that watch serviced. Get the lume stabalized. In your last picture I can see a piece of lume floating around. Might of knocked some loose when it took the fall. eventually that little piece of lume will get into the date wheel and might do dome harm to the movement. So be careful.

[Doc Strange]

V.lats97nsx - I can't thank you enough. I missed that speck in my excitement. That settles it. I am going to get the watch serviced ASAP. I just put in away, face down.
And to answer your other question, it winds with some resistance but the pressure is constant.
It's an old watch with an unknown service history. The wise thing to do is to bring it in.

[Rikki]

looks like the crystal is cracked or fractured around the bezel look at it horizontally you will be able to see the fracture. Rikki