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robkassab · 7 May 2010, 11:24 AM

The Conservative Restoration of a Mark III Double Red Sea-Dweller

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to acquire a Double Red Sea-Dweller (3.7 million serial range), which appears to have never been polished, had any parts replaced, and possibly never serviced, as there are no service dates or references as normally inscribed inside the case. In consulting with a number of experienced vintage Sub collectors, I decided to heed their recommendation and go with the conservative restoration approach--a complete dismantle, cleaning, and servicing of the movement, keeping the watch as original as possible.

My friend Rudy Stockli, owner of Swiss Time located in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, who is an expert Rolex factory-trained watchmaker and a true old-world Swiss craftsman, performed the restoration on the watch. The first thing Rudy commented on was the full serial number factory-stamped inside the case back. And then we reviewed my desire to keep everything as original as possible, including the crown and tube, bezel insert, and crystal. The crystal was badly scratched and I was lucky to locate an original Rolex NOS (new old stock from the ‘70s) “superdome” crystal.

I hope you enjoy the photos!

Renoir · 7 May 2010, 12:00 PM

Incredible work and results!

Thanks for posting.

stevemulholland3 · 7 May 2010, 12:28 PM

looks sweet!
great work brother.

robkassab · 7 May 2010, 12:47 PM

Thanks to your help Steve!

Andad · 7 May 2010, 12:59 PM

Excellent work

JMIND · 7 May 2010, 01:33 PM

Great pics, thanks for sharing.

cujo · 7 May 2010, 02:31 PM

The finished product looks outstanding. Great Job!

Psmith · 7 May 2010, 10:25 PM

Wonderful - just how it should be done

Cheers

cwwhk · 8 May 2010, 05:17 PM

Very nice. Thanks for sharing.

Rigsby1 · 8 May 2010, 07:53 PM

Many thanks for all the nice pics,,congrats on having a great watch

sea-dweller · 9 May 2010, 12:58 AM

Nice post, one of my grail watches !!!

chrisok · 9 May 2010, 03:47 AM

That was cool to see the restoration and what a difference it made! Congrats!

zidaneong · 9 May 2010, 11:16 PM

Looks good. :)

nbTimes · 10 May 2010, 12:39 AM

Great Job!!

A very original example!!

Safetrends · 10 May 2010, 01:13 AM

Very nice restoration, little as possible makes it worth more in the end.
Did you notice the caseback has the serial number of the case in it?

MitchSteel · 10 May 2010, 01:25 AM

What a beauty.

DoubleDeac · 10 May 2010, 02:57 AM

Now its sentimental value is worth much more than its retail. I envy people like you who have the chance to venture into the "unseen" parts of the watch.

Enjoy it in good health

inLine4 · 10 May 2010, 03:15 PM

andrew79 · 10 May 2010, 04:08 PM

beautiful work !!!

Porsche · 10 May 2010, 05:25 PM

Fantastic photo-essay... spactacular watch!

Congrats, enjoy it...

hennabav · 11 May 2010, 02:33 AM

That's a nice piece you got there!!

datejust1 · 11 May 2010, 02:37 AM

Amazing!!! Great job!

belk7 · 11 May 2010, 02:41 AM

Fantastic post. This is great example to the rest of us on how to do things the right way.

DerekS · 11 May 2010, 02:45 AM

wowza. Id give a kidney for one of those in that condition.

MKLM · 11 May 2010, 02:51 AM

Awesome....

adrian28 · 11 May 2010, 11:51 AM

Very Very Nice...

dkpw · 12 May 2010, 03:52 AM

What a superb restoration job and the end result is a fantastic watch. Many congratulations!

robkassab · 12 May 2010, 04:29 AM

Thanks a lot to all....BTY, I purchased the watch through my good friend, Matthew Green of http://www.bocabling.com. He's honest and always has a great selection of fine Rolex's in stock.

David Woo · 12 May 2010, 06:20 AM

Another fine resto job by Rudy! I've seen a couple of nice ones.
DW

bewithabob · 12 May 2010, 07:05 AM

Truly spectacular work and craftsmanship. Rolex is a work of art, but the caring and precise work of the restorer is likewise equal to the original. I am in awe!

7 May 2010, 12:59 PM	#5
Andad 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Real Name: Eddie Location: Australia Watch: A few. Posts: 37,488	Excellent work __________________ E

7 May 2010, 10:25 PM	#8
Psmith "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Clive Location: Exoplanet Watch: spring-driven Posts: 38,856	Wonderful - just how it should be done Cheers __________________

8 May 2010, 05:17 PM	#9
cwwhk "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Hong Kong Watch: Black Daytona Posts: 827	Very nice. Thanks for sharing. __________________ Everyday is a Rolex day.

9 May 2010, 12:58 AM	#11
sea-dweller "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Dennis Location: Bay Area - 925 Posts: 40,018	Nice post, one of my grail watches !!! __________________ TRF Member #6699 (since September 2007)

9 May 2010, 11:16 PM	#13
zidaneong "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Singapore Watch: Rolex YG Datejust Posts: 274	Looks good. :) __________________ [1] Rolex TT Blue Dial Submariner 16613 (M serial) [2] Rolex YG Datejust 16018 (8 mil Serial) [3] Rolex YG Datejust 16238 (L Serial) [4] Rolex YG Gold Crystal Daytona 116518 [5] Patek Philippe SS Aquanaut 5065

7 May 2010, 12:00 PM	#2
Renoir "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Renato Location: New York Posts: 2,396	Incredible work and results! Thanks for posting.

7 May 2010, 12:28 PM	#3
stevemulholland3 Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: steven Location: tampa bay Watch: 1680 18k sub Posts: 6,672	looks sweet! great work brother.

7 May 2010, 12:47 PM	#4
robkassab "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Rob Kassab Location: Boca Raton, FL Watch: RedSub; DRSD; 5513 Posts: 21	Thanks to your help Steve!

7 May 2010, 01:33 PM	#6
JMIND "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Real Name: Jerry Location: New Mexico Watch: 16610 M Series Posts: 1,084	Great pics, thanks for sharing.

7 May 2010, 02:31 PM	#7
cujo Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Florida, USA Watch: Pepsi GMT... Posts: 211	The finished product looks outstanding. Great Job!

8 May 2010, 07:53 PM	#10
Rigsby1 Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Darren Location: England Posts: 401	Many thanks for all the nice pics,,congrats on having a great watch

9 May 2010, 03:47 AM	#12
chrisok Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Real Name: Chris Location: Wichita Falls,TX Watch: Rolex,PAM Posts: 525	That was cool to see the restoration and what a difference it made! Congrats!

10 May 2010, 12:39 AM	#14
nbTimes Banned Join Date: May 2006 Location: Hong Kong Watch: COMEX 1665 Posts: 2,830	Great Job!! A very original example!!

10 May 2010, 01:13 AM	#15
Safetrends Banned Join Date: Oct 2009 Real Name: David Walz Location: San Diego CA USA Watch: my hand. :) Posts: 9,156	Very nice restoration, little as possible makes it worth more in the end. Did you notice the caseback has the serial number of the case in it?

10 May 2010, 01:25 AM	#16
MitchSteel "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: MDangerSteel Location: Canada Watch: Vintage Rolex Posts: 2,301	What a beauty. __________________ Card Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch-Curmudgeons Probability of survival is inversely proportional to the angle of arrival---Capt. Rage Don't believe anything in aviation, 'till V1---Mitch Danger Steel

10 May 2010, 02:57 AM	#17
DoubleDeac "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: USA Posts: 188	Now its sentimental value is worth much more than its retail. I envy people like you who have the chance to venture into the "unseen" parts of the watch. Enjoy it in good health

10 May 2010, 03:15 PM	#18
inLine4 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Real Name: KC Location: GMT-5 Watch: GSAR Posts: 2,104	__________________ "Be Real, Buy Real."

10 May 2010, 04:08 PM	#19
andrew79 "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Andrew Location: Indonesia Watch: Rolex Posts: 2,277	beautiful work !!! __________________ Baume & Mercier Riviera Rolex GMT II c, DJ 116234, Sub 16610, EXP 2 16570 Panerai 111 , 232

10 May 2010, 05:25 PM	#20
Porsche 2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: John Location: ɹǝpun Watch: and learn Posts: 2,986	Fantastic photo-essay... spactacular watch! Congrats, enjoy it... __________________ Obey Gravity, it's the Law! ROLEX --- SEIKO --- HEUER TRF REHAUT T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M T H E R O L E X F O R U M

11 May 2010, 02:33 AM	#21
hennabav Banned Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Jon Location: New England Watch: --Rolex-- Posts: 2,391	That's a nice piece you got there!!

11 May 2010, 02:37 AM	#22
datejust1 Banned Join Date: Sep 2009 Real Name: G Location: N/A Watch: N/A Posts: 6,042	Amazing!!! Great job!

11 May 2010, 02:41 AM	#23
belk7 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Real Name: Chris Location: USA Posts: 1,439	Fantastic post. This is great example to the rest of us on how to do things the right way.

11 May 2010, 02:45 AM	#24
DerekS "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Derek Location: Tennessee Watch: Rolex GMT IIc Posts: 160	wowza. Id give a kidney for one of those in that condition.

11 May 2010, 02:51 AM	#25
MKLM "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Matt Location: Florida Watch: GMT IIc Posts: 90	Awesome....

11 May 2010, 11:51 AM	#26
adrian28 Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Singapore Posts: 46	Very Very Nice...

12 May 2010, 03:52 AM	#27
dkpw "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: David Location: Scotland Watch: 16610 & 214270 Posts: 1,294	What a superb restoration job and the end result is a fantastic watch. Many congratulations! __________________ Sub 16610, Explorer 214270, Ω Speedy Pro & many others. David

12 May 2010, 04:29 AM	#28
robkassab "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Real Name: Rob Kassab Location: Boca Raton, FL Watch: RedSub; DRSD; 5513 Posts: 21	Thanks a lot to all....BTY, I purchased the watch through my good friend, Matthew Green of http://www.bocabling.com. He's honest and always has a great selection of fine Rolex's in stock.

12 May 2010, 06:20 AM	#29
David Woo Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: southern Calif Posts: 632	Another fine resto job by Rudy! I've seen a couple of nice ones. DW

12 May 2010, 07:05 AM	#30
bewithabob "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Bob Location: Dallas, Texas Watch: Daytona Meteorite Posts: 3,417	Truly spectacular work and craftsmanship. Rolex is a work of art, but the caring and precise work of the restorer is likewise equal to the original. I am in awe! __________________ meteor flying to Earth onto my wrist... 116509 Daytona Meteorite, 116520 Daytona Black, 116710 GMTIIC, 16013 DATEJUST, CARTIER SANTOS 100 W20090X8, IWC Big Pilot, IWC Top Gun "Everything works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, it's not the end."

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