Inherited 7021/0 - need advice

[TudorNewb]

Hello everyone, I got this watch when my dad passed.

All I remember hearing about it from back in the day is that the dial had been replaced and (poorly) refinished.

From what I've researched, the dial is CLEARLY a fake (T>25) and a modified 7016/0 dial? Why would they even do that?!

I'm coming here for some advice, are there any redeeming factors about this watch?

It's with a trusted watch repairman at the moment, still trying to decide if I want to get it serviced or not.

Thank you!

[ELLimon]

Can you take a. Dial side picture ? Hopefully the hands and bezel invert are good

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by ELLimon

Can you take a. Dial side picture ? Hopefully the hands and bezel invert are good

woops! Thought I uploaded that

[ELLimon]

I’m not a insert expert, it looks aftermarket,

Hands are good. Original lume (pretty valuable), definitely worth the effort to restore.

Dial will be difficult to find, I’ll send it to a reputable refinisher with a picture of your hands to see if they can match them.”

[Kingsking]

It has a lot of good things going for it, Case looks solid, hands and date wheel look original. Dial needs to be replaced and it wont be easy or cheap to find a period correct one that matches the hands lime but i think its totally worth it.

[arcadelt]

The major redeeming factor is that it belonged to your Dad. If you had a good relationship with him and this is an important memento, then get the watch serviced and don’t worry about the rest. In short, wear it just as he did and think of him every time you glance at your wrist while wearing it.

If your relationship wasn’t good or the watch means nothing to you, then…

[alwayshere]

as others have said, aftermarket insert and potentially aftermarket crystal too.

hard to source a genuine dial for this era and Rolex now no longer provides service dials for this model either.

[offrdmania]

Originally Posted by Kingsking

It has a lot of good things going for it, Case looks solid, hands and date wheel look original. Dial needs to be replaced and it wont be easy or cheap to find a period correct one that matches the hands lime but i think its totally worth it.

Case is not solid, it will probably never be able to be taken into the water without a lot of laser welding

[Kingsking]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Case is not solid, it will probably never be able to be taken into the water without a lot of laser welding

I wouldn't ever wear a watch that old in water no matter what anyways , I meant it didn't look polished to all hell .

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by ELLimon

I’m not a insert expert, it looks aftermarket,

Hands are good. Original lume (pretty valuable), definitely worth the effort to restore.

Dial will be difficult to find, I’ll send it to a reputable refinisher with a picture of your hands to see if they can match them.”

Thank you!

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by arcadelt

The major redeeming factor is that it belonged to your Dad. If you had a good relationship with him and this is an important memento, then get the watch serviced and don’t worry about the rest. In short, wear it just as he did and think of him every time you glance at your wrist while wearing it.

If your relationship wasn’t good or the watch means nothing to you, then…

Amen man, no doubt!
If the other or most parts are in fact legit I'd like to get original pieces to so that it's like it was originally - that's really what I'm hoping to find out here.
Resale doesn't mean anything to me since i'll be keeping it anyways, just want it for my own peace of mind.

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by alwayshere

as others have said, aftermarket insert and potentially aftermarket crystal too.

hard to source a genuine dial for this era and Rolex now no longer provides service dials for this model either.

yeah i've found some but they're so far out of my price range haha

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by Kingsking

I wouldn't ever wear a watch that old in water no matter what anyways , I meant it didn't look polished to all hell .

yeah this things isn't going anywhere near water lol

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by offrdmania

Case is not solid, it will probably never be able to be taken into the water without a lot of laser welding

Not planning on bringing this watch anywhere near any water lol
Just hoping to find out what parts are legit/not legit so I can decide which path I want to go down with it.

[alwayshere]

Originally Posted by TudorNewb

yeah i've found some but they're so far out of my price range haha

try your luck with a Rolex service centre - who knows, some might still have spare service dials for this watch. I suspect not but worth calling and asking. No harm in doing so.

[214270Explorer]

Dial has been poorly relumed.
Good luck finding a dial to match the hands.

[Oyster Perp]

Originally Posted by arcadelt

the major redeeming factor is that it belonged to your dad. If you had a good relationship with him and this is an important memento, then get the watch serviced and don’t worry about the rest. In short, wear it just as he did and think of him every time you glance at your wrist while wearing it.

If your relationship wasn’t good or the watch means nothing to you, then…

x2

[harry in montreal]

I owned one of these 7021s in similar shape and loved it. Just get it oiled and running and enjoy it. You see original but damagedvdials on eBay periodically if you want to upgrade it. This model is notorious for bad dial paint.

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by harry in montreal

I owned one of these 7021s in similar shape and loved it. Just get it oiled and running and enjoy it. You see original but damagedvdials on eBay periodically if you want to upgrade it. This model is notorious for bad dial paint.

Man I’ve been looking and they are stupid expensive. I’m going to keep an eye on it tho. Thank you!

[swish77]

Originally Posted by TudorNewb

Man I’ve been looking and they are stupid expensive. I’m going to keep an eye on it tho. Thank you!

Since the dial is already shot, why not send it to a good restorer/relumer and have it refinished properly? They'd even be able to match the patina'd lume color of the hands.

Would be a lot cheaper and easier than trying to find a correct loose dial.

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by swish77

Since the dial is already shot, why not send it to a good restorer/relumer and have it refinished properly? They'd even be able to match the patina'd lume color of the hands.

Would be a lot cheaper and easier than trying to find a correct loose dial.

Biggest reason is because it’s not the correct dial for the model which just really bothers me. Most people wouldn’t notice that it’s a 7016/0 dial on a 7021/0 but I’d know..

[ELLimon]

Originally Posted by TudorNewb

Biggest reason is because it’s not the correct dial for the model which just really bothers me. Most people wouldn’t notice that it’s a 7016/0 dial on a 7021/0 but I’d know..

The refinisher will scrape the old paint designs and apply what you ask for (7021)

[ELLimon]

Originally Posted by TudorNewb

Man I’ve been looking and they are stupid expensive. I’m going to keep an eye on it tho. Thank you!

Don’t expect to find it cheap, this is one of those things you have to pay premium, no way around it.

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by ELLimon

The refinisher will scrape the old paint designs and apply what you ask for (7021)

Will they be able to change it from circles (7016) to squares (7021)?

[ELLimon]

Originally Posted by TudorNewb

Will they be able to change it from circles (7016) to squares (7021)?

Yes

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by ELLimon

Yes

I’ll have to look into that. Thank you!!!

[donaker]

Originally Posted by TudorNewb

I’ll have to look into that. Thank you!!!

Look for Michael Younge here in the forums. He's well regarded as the go-to guy for bracelet refurbishing/repair but also does some pretty amazing dial repair/restoration.

[harry in montreal]

Put a wanted post up in the marketplace. You may get one for a reasonable sum. Many 7021s have that bubbling degrading texture. To me a bad bubbler is not worth more than 300-500 but I enjoyed mine in the watch. Some say that it sheds material into the movement but I never really cared. My Tudors keep only moderate time at best even when freshly serviced by Rolex.

[linesiders]

Insert is not aftermarket, it is a late 80s mid font that someone drilled out and put in a later pearl - not uncommon.

Dial you can find eventually with patience - almost certainly a service dial but that's OK.

Great find - would love to have something like that from the family.

[TudorNewb]

Originally Posted by donaker

Look for Michael Younge here in the forums. He's well regarded as the go-to guy for bracelet refurbishing/repair but also does some pretty amazing dial repair/restoration.

I've seen that name a bunch, must be the real deal. I'll contact him.

Thank you!