Datejust 1601 Service Dial/Hands Value

[Steggy]

Hi all,

TL;DR - is $3500 too much for a polished 1958 DJ 1601 with a service dial/hands?

Longer story:

I recently picked up a watch online and had some questions re: the value and opinions on it.

It is a 1958 1601 Datejust with a folded link jubilee bracelet

I kind of just threw an offer of $3500 to see where the seller's mind was at - but they accepted right away so it's in my hands now.

So the question I have is - based on my research, it would appear that 1958 would place a radium dial on this watch, whereas mine has a tritium T Swiss T marking, so my assumption is it's a service dial, and most likely hands as well.

So I guess my questions would be:

1) Can anyone confirm based on the photos that it's indeed service dial/hands
2) How this would affect the value of the watch (keep in mind the watch has also been polished)

The idea of this is a gift for my father, 1958 being his birth year - and he's not exactly a watch guy - I just remember him saying it'd be cool to own a rolex some day - so when I saw it, it looked pretty clean for its age - and even if it's not traditionally sought after due to polishing, I didn't want to hand him something beat up essentially.

Basically just discussing this with a sibling, who thinks that the birth year of the watch is pointless if it has a service dial/polished. I know there's the whole "don't get too hung up on the birth year and overpay for less in a watch" but my thought is, from what I can tell, the price I paid seems to be as good as one could expect without importing from Japan - but my worry is if the service dial affects the value that much and what I paid was still considerably over.

[Tools]

Doesn't look like a '58 to me.

[Steggy]

Originally Posted by Tools

Doesn't look like a '58 to me.

Do you mean because of the condition or something else?

It's 396XXX serial number

[TimeToGo]

it's probably mid 70's.

Your reference serial "396XXX" is probably missing one digit at the end, thus making it a 3.9 million serial.

Can you verify that?

[Steggy]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

it's probably mid 70's.

Your reference serial "396XXX" is probably missing one digit at the end, thus making it a 3.9 million serial.

Can you verify that?

Damn you guys are good. Popped off the bracelet to check - and sure enough there's a "1" at the end - not even missing/faint.

Crazy it didn't just slip past the sellers, but eBay's authenticity program too. Makes you wonder what the hell they're even checking.

[Andad]

Look on the bright side.

Your dad is now a much younger guy.

[CaveDweller]

No way that's a '58 dial - and for 3500 you just got ripped (by yourself) - sorry, this is a learning game .....