1978 1680 Authentication Help (Please)

[coffeebikerunrepeat]

I'm considering purchasing this 1978 1680 and was hoping that someone with a bit more experience might be able to comment if anything looks off (apparently the seconds hand was changed). I would welcome any help/expertise and thanks in advance!

[RFC]

From the looks of it all the hands may be service replacements not just the minute hand. The pip in the bezel insert looks redone. Someone else can correct me but the dial looks like a maxi dial period correct and does not appear damaged or relumed.

[TuRo]

Yes agree on bezel insert- dial looks good and a Mark 2 'thick' vers - a good tell is the short bottom line of the 2 in 200 compared to top of the 2. Hands may be service, but look tritium (check under UV / led) and worst case scenario stick up your jumper. The lume blob on second hand looks large though.

[coffeebikerunrepeat]

Can I ask why you think the other hands are service as well? Just trying to learn as much and thanks for taking the time to respond!

[XavierM]

I see a Mk2 dial, mk5.1 insert, legit caseback, period correct crown, date disk.

Sharp pictures of the hands and the serial would be a must to give a good judgement !

[RFC]

Originally Posted by XavierM

I see a Mk2 dial, mk5.1 insert, legit caseback, period correct crown, date disk.

Sharp pictures of the hands and the serial would be a must to give a good judgement !

Right. The serial # would allow determining if the dial corresponds to the case. What set me off about the hands is that they do not seem to match the dial. They look newer and brighter and the lume does not seem to match. Try some uv light to see how it paints and if the glow in the hands are of the same color/brightness and disappear at the same rate as the dial. Buy a uv flashlight from Amazon at $12 bucks. You want to test the tritium. Rolex vintage experts (not me) by looking at the hands can also tell if they are period correct.

[XavierM]

Picture are not sharp enough to give a solid opinion but something seems a little off with this second hand (tip shape, lume circle)

OP, are you still considering this watch ?

[Fellini]

hands are off, especially minute hand

[coffeebikerunrepeat]

Originally Posted by XavierM

Picture are not sharp enough to give a solid opinion but something seems a little off with this second hand (tip shape, lume circle)

OP, are you still considering this watch ?

Thanks for the reply, the person said only the second hand is what they thought was replaced with service (it belonged to someone I believe who has passed so no way to ask the person who owned it when it was serviced). Curious if to you thing it looks like a service replacement, or something non-authentic?

I am still considering it, feels like like the main questionable item would be the handset which if they are service, they don't seem to mis-match enough to bother me personally. Would certainly love any insight/input as well!

[coffeebikerunrepeat]

Originally Posted by Fellini

hands are off, especially minute hand

Hey thanks for the reply! Would you mind expanding on what about the minute hand looks off to you? Trying to learn as much as I can ahead of possibly purchasing....

[coffeebikerunrepeat]

Originally Posted by RFC

Right. The serial # would allow determining if the dial corresponds to the case. What set me off about the hands is that they do not seem to match the dial. They look newer and brighter and the lume does not seem to match. Try some uv light to see how it paints and if the glow in the hands are of the same color/brightness and disappear at the same rate as the dial. Buy a uv flashlight from Amazon at $12 bucks. You want to test the tritium. Rolex vintage experts (not me) by looking at the hands can also tell if they are period correct.

Thanks so much for that input! I haven't been able to double check the serial number quite yet, that is my next step.

[coffeebikerunrepeat]

Originally Posted by XavierM

I see a Mk2 dial, mk5.1 insert, legit caseback, period correct crown, date disk.

Sharp pictures of the hands and the serial would be a must to give a good judgement !

Much appreciated. I am a little new here, but I haven't had great luck with getting large images to upload for reference. I was told that the seconds hand was a replacement, just haven't been able to verify that it was legitimate service replacement.

[77T]

Originally Posted by coffeebikerunrepeat

Much appreciated. I am a little new here, but I haven't had great luck with getting large images to upload for reference. I was told that the seconds hand was a replacement, just haven't been able to verify that it was legitimate service replacement.

Welcome to the forum and as you seek your next vintage watch your can expect some routine questions if you don’t already have the info at hand.

At a minimum folks like to know the serial number on a vintage watch (at least the first 3 or 4 digits.

Then they’ll want sharp photos - if you think you’ll be offering up some other potential acquisitions then a photo hosting cloud service is the best way around TRF’s attachment size limits.

Once you’ve participated in enough threads you’ll be able to post links to photos. Or maybe just use the PHP BB image insertion feature: IMG& /IMG

Good luck on your quest - this one seems OK in the dial department. As for 100% original parts, not as much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[coffeebikerunrepeat]

Originally Posted by 77T

Welcome to the forum and as you seek your next vintage watch your can expect some routine questions if you don’t already have the info at hand.

At a minimum folks like to know the serial number on a vintage watch (at least the first 3 or 4 digits.

Then they’ll want sharp photos - if you think you’ll be offering up some other potential acquisitions then a photo hosting cloud service is the best way around TRF’s attachment size limits.

Once you’ve participated in enough threads you’ll be able to post links to photos. Or maybe just use the PHP BB image insertion feature: IMG& /IMG

Good luck on your quest - this one seems OK in the dial department. As for 100% original parts, not as much.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

Hey thanks for all of the information. I decided to pass on this one, but the whole experience and getting information from here was hugely helpful in my continuing search!