Thoughts on 1675 inherited from Grandfather

[maggurt]

Helllo,
I have recently inherited this 1675 from my Uncle who passed recently. It was owned by his father (my grandfather). My uncle never wore it from what I know and it was in his safe since the time he got it.

I sent it in to RSC for service, so this is the only picture I currently have. But wondering if all parts look original, like the dial, bezel and hands. Rolex gave me the serial number and it is in the 2 million range. So seems to be from 1969 from bobs watches, so guessing it is a Mark 1? I do not know much about rolex's but from my research I thought it was a mark 2, but now not sure.

RSC should only be servicing the movement, replacing crystal and crown. Not touching the bracelet or dial or hands.. I am patiently waiting to get it back, cant wait!

Thanks in advance!

[Tools]

Good looking watch.

Bobs dating is notoriously wrong, but there should be a date stamped inside your caseback if you want confirmation.

[Filipão]

Wow. Very little wrist time, apparently.

[maggurt]

Also was curious about the RSC. In my estimate it had the below verbiage. I am hoping they do clean the case and the bracelet. I asked them to not polish the case or bracelet, but when I called in they said the case and bracelet do get cleaned, can anyone confirm this?

Estimate line item - "Do not refinish Bracelet

Without work or warranty to Bracelet

Do not refinish Case"

Notes - "• Bracelet is badly worn and will not be covered under warranty. Customer is advised that wearing bracelet in this condition may result in loss or damage. No work to existing bracelet."

[maggurt]

Originally Posted by Tools

Good looking watch.

Bobs dating is notoriously wrong, but there should be a date stamped inside your caseback if you want confirmation.

Not too worried about the exact date, and I wouldnt even know how to open that part.... Just more curious if it is mark 1 or mark 2... I went to the gmt1675 site and from looking on there it looked like a mark 2 with the L and E spacing. But not sure if it is also a long E?

[Dan S]

Mark 1 (Long E) dial. We need more serial # digits for approximate dating.

[maggurt]

Originally Posted by dan s

mark 1 (long e) dial. We need more serial # digits for approximate dating.

20355xx

[Dan S]

'68 or '69 is a reasonable guess IMO. It would be nice if you could get them to send you a photo of the inside of the case-back, just to document that it's all correct.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by Tools

Good looking watch.

Bobs dating is notoriously wrong, but there should be a date stamped inside your caseback if you want confirmation.

Larry, I think you’ll be surprised to find that Bob’s dating isn’t too bad at all. It seems they’ve put some effort into their chart. All my pieces match up well with their estimates.

[maggurt]

Originally Posted by Dan S

'68 or '69 is a reasonable guess IMO. It would be nice if you could get them to send you a photo of the inside of the case-back, just to document that it's all correct.

I will give them a call tomorrow to see if they will do it. Do not see why they wouldnt.

[Rebel]

Very nice.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

Larry, I think you’ll be surprised to find that Bob’s dating isn’t too bad at all. It seems they’ve put some effort into their chart. All my pieces match up well with their estimates.

Some of the ranges in the Bob's chart are way off. Other parts of the chart are good. It's just weird and not trustworthy overall.

[Old Expat Beast]

Bob's chart used to be really bad (just the like the beckertime one still is) but they cleaned it up a while ago, after so many on here kept complaining about it. The best serial dating reference used to be the crowdsourced one vintagerolexforum.com but I couldn't find it last time I looked.

[swaini3]

Originally Posted by maggurt

Also was curious about the RSC. In my estimate it had the below verbiage. I am hoping they do clean the case and the bracelet. I asked them to not polish the case or bracelet, but when I called in they said the case and bracelet do get cleaned, can anyone confirm this?

Estimate line item - "Do not refinish Bracelet

Without work or warranty to Bracelet

Do not refinish Case"

Notes - "• Bracelet is badly worn and will not be covered under warranty. Customer is advised that wearing bracelet in this condition may result in loss or damage. No work to existing bracelet."

Yes, they do clean the case even if you ask them not to polish it. It will even be noted in your invoice after you pay. Let's hope someone doesn't miss that request.

[Tom1675]

Originally Posted by Dan S

'68 or '69 is a reasonable guess IMO. It would be nice if you could get them to send you a photo of the inside of the case-back, just to document that it's all correct.

Ya, ill bet its stamped IV 68.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Bob's chart used to be really bad (just the like the beckertime one still is) but they cleaned it up a while ago, after so many on here kept complaining about it. The best serial dating reference used to be the crowdsourced one vintagerolexforum.com but I couldn't find it last time I looked.

Adam, is Sheldon’s list at -4/+6 more or less valid? It puts 2.0 million into 1969.


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[77T]

Originally Posted by maggurt

I asked them to not polish the case or bracelet, but when I called in they said the case and bracelet do get cleaned, can anyone confirm this?

All of it goes into the ultrasonic. Won’t harm it and is needed to get the gunk out of the threads. They shouldn’t refinish it if you asked to skip that work. It’ll actually improve their productivity and E:R performance.

The only thing to keep your fingers crossed is passing the pressure test after reassembly. Sometimes, a safe Queen that is put up without a prior service, corrosion can setup from salts/minerals in our sweat can corrode the caseback or case threads.


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[watchfreak207]

I have a 2.33M and the case-back is IV 68.

[77T]

Originally Posted by watchfreak207

I have a 2.33M and the case-back is IV 68.

That’s a good point. Because cases and casebacks are made in separate fabrication areas, with each being numbered separately, it’s easy for such a thing to exist.

The marks on those 2 parts also might differ from the actual date of sale by a year.

And the dial attributes (Mk.I, Mk.II, etc) could also differ from what one might expect.


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[TimeLord2]

Originally Posted by maggurt

Also was curious about the RSC. In my estimate it had the below verbiage. I am hoping they do clean the case and the bracelet. I asked them to not polish the case or bracelet, but when I called in they said the case and bracelet do get cleaned, can anyone confirm this?

Estimate line item - "Do not refinish Bracelet

Without work or warranty to Bracelet

Do not refinish Case"

Notes - "• Bracelet is badly worn and will not be covered under warranty. Customer is advised that wearing bracelet in this condition may result in loss or damage. No work to existing bracelet."

I got that last line too, badly worn and will not be covered under warranty. Mind you, it had just been to Rolliworks for refurbishment. USA oval link bracelet. I don't think Rolex likes them. That is a fine looking watch with very nice patina and a nice bezel insert to boot. You Uncle had great taste!

[maggurt]

Originally Posted by swaini3

Yes, they do clean the case even if you ask them not to polish it. It will even be noted in your invoice after you pay. Let's hope someone doesn't miss that request.

Awesome! Ty

[maggurt]

Originally Posted by 77T

All of it goes into the ultrasonic. Won’t harm it and is needed to get the gunk out of the threads. They shouldn’t refinish it if you asked to skip that work. It’ll actually improve their productivity and E:R performance.

The only thing to keep your fingers crossed is passing the pressure test after reassembly. Sometimes, a safe Queen that is put up without a prior service, corrosion can setup from salts/minerals in our sweat can corrode the caseback or case threads.


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Ok good was howling they would clean it. So what happens if it does not pass the pressure testing?? Will they require other parts to be replaced or will they just let me know it didn’t pass and then I should make sure to keep it away from any water?

[maggurt]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2

I got that last line too, badly worn and will not be covered under warranty. Mind you, it had just been to Rolliworks for refurbishment. USA oval link bracelet. I don't think Rolex likes them. That is a fine looking watch with very nice patina and a nice bezel insert to boot. You Uncle had great taste!

Ok yeah seems like just their copy paste response then to cover their liability. So it was actually my grandfathers watch. My uncle must have inherited it from him. But my uncle never wore it. And when he passed my
Dad passed shortly thereafter and they both wanted me to have it.

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by maggurt

So what happens if it does not pass the pressure testing?? Will they require other parts to be replaced or will they just let me know it didn’t pass and then I should make sure to keep it away from any water?

My OysterQuartz didn't pass a pressure test at RSC service. They recommended a replacement case, but I declined.

They still gave me a year's post-service warranty on function, but told me to keep it away from water.

Who swims with an OysterQuartz anyway??

[77T]

Originally Posted by maggurt

Ok good was howling they would clean it. So what happens if it does not pass the pressure testing?? Will they require other parts to be replaced or will they just let me know it didn’t pass and then I should make sure to keep it away from any water?

Like zapokee mentioned, it will be up to you. I can’t comment on the warranty side of things - all of mine that went to RSC passed the test.


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[TuRo]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Bob's chart used to be really bad (just the like the beckertime one still is) but they cleaned it up a while ago, after so many on here kept complaining about it. The best serial dating reference used to be the crowdsourced one vintagerolexforum.com but I couldn't find it last time I looked.

It is and it sort of proves the 6-9 month overlap/mismatch on numbers and casebacks occasionally.

Here it is sir. http://vintagerolexforum.info/vrf/index3.html

[Jaakkos]

Very nice watch

[southtexas]

Originally Posted by maggurt

Ok yeah seems like just their copy paste response then to cover their liability. So it was actually my grandfathers watch. My uncle must have inherited it from him. But my uncle never wore it. And when he passed my
Dad passed shortly thereafter and they both wanted me to have it.

Congrats on a beautiful heirloom, enjoy it! Your granddad had excellent taste. That watch is beautiful.

Don’t worry about that bracelet if it is in bad shape (hard to tell from that photo). You can get it rebuilt or find a replacement if it’s too far gone.


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[JustinK]

Nice looking GMT!

[L.K Johnson]

Love the patina on the dial lume plots and hands!