Purchase Period-Correct Gilt/Gold hands on for 6538 with a matte service dial?

[watchmainspring]

I currently have a 6538 with a matte service dial and service stainless steel hands that are not the correct length. I am considering a set of gilt Gold hands that are period correct. The price is not cheap. Would this be silly?


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[Dr.Smellody]

I'd enjoy it as is or save $20k or more for hands and a dial.

[indianmachine]

I wouldn't do it if the dial is service.

[Kingface66]

Unless you’ve plans to get a period correct dial, I don’t really see the point.

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Unless you’ve plans to get a period correct dial, I don’t really see the point.

Kf66 correct as gilt hands on a matte dial look weird - you’d need a dial too and as someone said $20k about right and to do that you’d need vouchsafe the rest of watch is up to par to make it worth it, eg case check, bronze and red triangle check, crown no.dot check, dome orig plexi check, case back with eg 58/59/60etc date check,butterfly rotor check, 7206 rivet and correct dated clasp - if ALL that checks out you have a 60-100k dollar watch possibly. If not leave it as t25 they are nice old inexpensive (from 20k) and still v collectable.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by TuRo

Kf66 correct as gilt hands on a matte dial look weird - you’d need a dial too and as someone said $20k about right and to do that you’d need vouchsafe the rest of watch is up to par to make it worth it, eg case check, bronze and red triangle check, crown no.dot check, dome orig plexi check, case back with eg 58/59/60etc date check,butterfly rotor check, 7206 rivet and correct dated clasp - if ALL that checks out you have a 60-100k dollar watch possibly. If not leave it as t25 they are nice old inexpensive (from 20k) and still v collectable.

Thanks. I don't have all of that stuff. I am missing a period-correct insert. I have the original case, caseback, movement, box, crown, RSC papers. The dial, hands and insert are service. Not sure on the plexi.

I'd love to get a gilt dial for it but I imagine it would be astronomically priced.

[Juhuatai]

If you wanted a gilt dial, the best option would probably be to just buy a 6538 with a gilt and sell your current 6538.

[Dan S]

I agree with the advice you've been given above, and personally I don't think I'd start a restoration that I didn't intend to finish. But just to play devil's advocate I will say that if you feel you would get much more enjoyment from the watch with the correct gilt hands, then there's nothing wrong with following your heart. Nobody can really decide for you.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by Dan S

I agree with the advice you've been given above, and personally I don't think I'd start a restoration that I didn't intend to finish. But just to play devil's advocate I will say that if you feel you would get much more enjoyment from the watch with the correct gilt hands, then there's nothing wrong with following your heart. Nobody can really decide for you.

Thanks. I'm thinking about it. I am not looking for a gilt dial full restoration... currently. I probably won't ever, even if a dial pops up. With the original hands the appearance would be more original but I'd be out a decent amount of cash for a minor improvement. That said nothing on this reference is "cheap".

I agree nobody can decide for me. Most wouldn't touch a service dial as it is, but I'm cool with it for a 6538 specifically.


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[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

Thanks. I don't have all of that stuff. I am missing a period-correct insert. I have the original case, caseback, movement, box, crown, RSC papers. The dial, hands and insert are service. Not sure on the plexi.

I'd love to get a gilt dial for it but I imagine it would be astronomically priced.

Original dials very rarely come up for sale - and sadly, the radium has often messed them up anyway.

One of my 6538s has an early 'silver gilt' service dial - I've only ever seen one other.



Good luck, whatever you decide.

Merry Christmas

[one80]

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

Original dials very rarely come up for sale - and sadly, the radium has often messed them up anyway.

One of my 6538s has an early 'silver gilt' service dial - I've only ever seen one other.

“One of my 6538s”
It doesn’t get much better than that!

Do I remember correctly that you had a restored dial in one of yours?

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by one80

“One of my 6538s”
It doesn’t get much better than that!

Do I remember correctly that you had a restored dial in one of yours?

Yes, you remember correctly - the one in my avatar has an 'Ivan The Dark Lord' restored dial.

<<<<<<<

Coincidentally, I am swapping that dial out soon - I'm going to put the original (not very nice) dial back in as somebody would like to buy the watch, but wants the original dial back in.

[one80]

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

Yes, you remember correctly - the one in my avatar has an 'Ivan The Dark Lord' restored dial.

<<<<<<<

That’s it. Should’ve just looked to my left ;)
Beautiful dial (and watch) - his work is second to none.

On the original question however, I agree with the others - I’d keep the steel hands with the service dial.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by one80

That’s it. Should’ve just looked to my left ;)
Beautiful dial (and watch) - his work is second to none.

On the original question however, I agree with the others - I’d keep the steel hands with the service dial.

Health to enjoy fellah!

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

Original dials very rarely come up for sale - and sadly, the radium has often messed them up anyway.

One of my 6538s has an early 'silver gilt' service dial - I've only ever seen one other.



Good luck, whatever you decide.

Merry Christmas

Wow that's wild. Are those stainless service hands as well? Looks great regardless.

Merry Christmas!


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[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by TuRo

Kf66 correct as gilt hands on a matte dial look weird -

Do you know of any pictures of such a watch? Thanks

[Arnozerosix]

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

Yes, you remember correctly - the one in my avatar has an 'Ivan The Dark Lord' restored dial.

<<<<<<<

Coincidentally, I am swapping that dial out soon - I'm going to put the original (not very nice) dial back in as somebody would like to buy the watch, but wants the original dial back in.

His dial restaurations are second to none !!!

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

Wow that's wild. Are those stainless service hands as well? Looks great regardless.

Merry Christmas!


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I just caught this - thank you.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by Arnozerosix

His dial restaurations are second to none !!!

Indeed. Although he appears to have gone into hiding again.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by TuRo

If not leave it as t25 they are nice old inexpensive (from 20k) and still v collectable.

I just spotted this... I wish I could find a 'service dialed/T25' 6538 for 20K... all I ever see is them offered for >50k.

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

I just spotted this... I wish I could find a 'service dialed/T25' 6538 for 20K... all I ever see is them offered for >50k.

matte or gilt?

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

matte or gilt?

Either/or... in fairness, I've not looked for ages - there may well be some cheaper watches out there.

I just did a (very) quick search on Chrono24 (yes, I realise it's not always the best place to look - but it's a 'guide') - there's a T25 dialled 6538 with a later insert etc. for £37k+ - everything else is over £50K (prices in £ sterling).

[Juhuatai]

Loupethis had one that went for ~30k usd a couple years ago but yes, hard to find under that number imo.

[330ci]

Crazy to think I had an all original 4 liner in my hand ~10 years ago.

Asking price was $65k at the time.

[FrenchBigCrown]

As a slight aside, wearing one of its 'small crown' siblings today...

[watchmainspring]

Originally Posted by 330ci

Crazy to think I had an all original 4 liner in my hand ~10 years ago.

Asking price was $65k at the time.

Wow! I assume it was the entire watch? What is it worth now?

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

Loupethis had one that went for ~30k usd a couple years ago but yes, hard to find under that number imo.

yeah I saw a complete 6538 with a gilt service dial get snatched up for 50k around 60 months ago.

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

Either/or... in fairness, I've not looked for ages - there may well be some cheaper watches out there.

I just did a (very) quick search on Chrono24 (yes, I realise it's not always the best place to look - but it's a 'guide') - there's a T25 dialled 6538 with a later insert etc. for £37k+ - everything else is over £50K (prices in £ sterling).

Not terrible for a matte big crown.

Originally Posted by FrenchBigCrown

As a slight aside, wearing one of its 'small crown' siblings today...

Great reference. Looks like your paint and lacquer is in good shape. I just sold my 6536/1 and replaced it with a 5512.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by watchmainspring

Great reference. Looks like your paint and lacquer is in good shape. I just sold my 6536/1 and replaced it with a 5512.

Sorry, just caught up with this.

Thank you.

Enjoy your 5512 - health to wear.