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31 May 2012, 08:27 AM
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#1 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Florida
Watch: Double Red Sea Dwe
Posts: 3
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DRSD - Double Red Sea Dweller restored
Long but interesting. It all started back in 1986 when I purchased a used Rolex for $800.00. I’m a scuba diver, so being a diver’s watch it really appealed to me. I rarely wear it and it stays in a safe. It was missing the little pearl on the bezel ever since I’ve had it and I kept saying I’ll have a new one installed someday. Well, that day came 26 years latter when I took it to the Rolex dealer in Daytona Bch., Fl (Tom Cook Jewelry). The sales girl looked at it and came back with, “it’s a fake”, “that they do not repair fake Rolex’s”. I was really embarrassed and left the shop. I didn’t even think they made fakes back that long ago, so I went searching on the internet for Rolex sites and found this forum. The members here have taught me more about Rolex’s than I ever thought possible, with links going all over the world. Armed with all this new info, I went back to the dealer and asked to have the bracelet removed to see the serial number and model number. WOW, were they shocked when they looked up the number to find out it was a REALLY old DRSD! At that point I contacted Mr. Bob Ridley of Watchmakers International, because this forum recommended his work so much. I emailed a few pics of it and he was excited to see it and see if the numbers matched on the inside case. Numbers did match! 1.7 million serial number. It’s the oldest DRSD he has ever worked on. Mr. Ridley then tuned, replaced anything it needed to make it perfect and back to original, with original Rolex parts. It had some two tone parts from the previous owner 26 yrs. ago, so Mr. Ridley found the correct Rolex stainless parts. It looks and runs like a new one. The face and red letters were always perfect and has run perfect ever since I’ve had it. Now I’m scared to wear and it sits in a protected lexan box in a safe! So, I went from a super low, thinking I had a fake all these years to a super high knowing it really is a very rare Double Red Sea Dweller! Thanks to all the forum members that posted tons of info and links to even more. Also, thanks to Mr. Ridley for a awesome job. I also highly recommend him to work on your Rolex. His # 817-276-1400
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31 May 2012, 09:40 AM
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#2 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2008
Real Name: ChrisTOPHer
Location: Sydney
Watch: Rolex, Brellum,
Posts: 12,601
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simply awesome!
enjoy!
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 "Where no counsel is the people fall, but in the multitude of counselors there is safety." Member No.# 11795 |
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31 May 2012, 09:42 AM
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#3 |
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2024 ROLEX SUBMARINER 41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Real Name: David Farkas
Location: Los Angeles
Watch: 116610, 5712/1A
Posts: 8,172
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Great story enjoy yours its a real treasure
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31 May 2012, 09:42 AM
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#4 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: USA
Watch: Rolex Explorer I
Posts: 10,278
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Wow what a gorgeous watch, it needs to see daylight more often!
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31 May 2012, 09:46 AM
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#5 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Real Name: Adam
Location: Ontario, Canada
Watch: Pepsi.
Posts: 5,749
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What a gorgeous watch!! Good to see Mr Ridley worked on it.
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- Adam  Instagram: @GMTSUBTIME |
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31 May 2012, 09:53 AM
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#6 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Piedmont, CA
Watch: various vintage
Posts: 2,272
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Now that was a heckuva buy so many years ago. Congrats!!
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1680 MK II 2.2M (my daily); 1655 MK IV 8.1M (my 1st vintage); 16660 x 4 - 8.0M spider & matte 7.4M, 8.0M, 8.0M; 16610LV F MK I/MK I; 116528 Z; 14060 M COSC; Tudor 75090 Gone.....never forgotten: 14000 F, 14060 V COSC, PAM 048, 16623 F, 1680 MK V 3.1M, 16800 matte 8.3M & 1655 MK IV 7.4M |
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31 May 2012, 09:59 AM
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#7 |
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Banned
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: USA
Watch: of course
Posts: 8,429
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what a beauty, congrats
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31 May 2012, 10:03 AM
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#8 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: USA
Posts: 3,241
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A great pleasure to read your thread.
Good thing it was not tossed into a waste paper basket when she claimed it was a fake... |
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31 May 2012, 10:03 AM
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#9 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: May 2009
Real Name: Sam
Location: Gotham City
Watch: Wall Street
Posts: 9,954
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So crisp and so clean! Awesome story! I will have to add one to my collection one day!
__________________
"Wealth is of the heart and mind, not of the pocket!" "A Watch Is An Emotional Object, And So, It Is The Responsibility Of The Brand To Create Emotion Through It's Products" - Georges Kern "In the 1950s and 60s, they made the Ref 8171, which is a cult collectible—now that’s the ultimate Rolex you could own with a calendar and a moon phase.” - John Reardon "Heh, heh, heh..." - Michael Kilyung |
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31 May 2012, 10:08 AM
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#10 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Real Name: Brian
Location: usa
Watch: Milgauss GV
Posts: 688
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All I can say is... Wow!
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31 May 2012, 10:08 AM
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#11 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Real Name: Rich
Location: NC
Watch: Rolex 1675
Posts: 2,359
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Wow. Great watch and even better story. I bet that shop felt bad!
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Rich Member of Nylon Nation Red Sox Nation Instagram watchguy97 |
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31 May 2012, 10:10 AM
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#12 |
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TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron
Join Date: Dec 2007
Real Name: Ken
Location: SW Florida
Watch: One on my wrist.
Posts: 63,991
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What a great story, a great watch and sent to a great watchmaker -- awesome!!
PS. Welcome to TRF!
__________________
 SPEM SUCCESSUS ALIT |
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12 June 2012, 11:37 PM
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#13 | |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Emanuele
Location: Italy
Watch: 6263 FAP
Posts: 795
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Quote:
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EAT, DRINK AND BE MAUI 
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31 May 2012, 10:12 AM
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#14 |
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TRF Moderator & 2024 SubLV41 Patron
Join Date: Jul 2007
Real Name: Rob
Location: Nearby.
Posts: 24,930
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You've got a classic there...
Hold on tight to that one and enjoy it to the fullest!
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He who wears a Rolex is always on time, even when late!! TRF's "After Dark" Bar & Nightclub Patron-Founding Member.. |
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31 May 2012, 10:14 AM
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#15 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: USA
Posts: 2,615
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That is a great story. I am happy that this forum gave you the education you needed regarding your watch and the information you needed to get your it running correctly. Enjoy that treasure.
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31 May 2012, 10:36 AM
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#16 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2008
Real Name: Eric
Location: Hong Kong
Watch: 1665
Posts: 1,495
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Awesome story and magnificent watch!
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_____________ All GREEN |
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31 May 2012, 10:46 AM
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#17 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Real Name: Pete
Location: Arizona
Watch: ing Duke bball
Posts: 1,488
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Fantastic read to come home to. Welcome and wear it in good health.
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31 May 2012, 11:18 AM
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#18 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 4,689
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Congrats, that's a beauty and great story too!
__________________
 Last thing I remember, I was Running outta sight I had to find the passage back,To the place I was before. ’Relax,’ said this Rolex place,We are programmed to receive. You can checkout any time you like, But you can never leave! |
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31 May 2012, 11:22 AM
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#19 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Dallas
Posts: 1,075
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Very nice. Wear it.
hard to enjoy a watch while it sits in a safe.Nice story. Sad to say not the first time Rolex representatives put undue stress on Rolex owners and customers. |
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31 May 2012, 11:29 AM
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#20 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Real Name: MJC
Location: PHL USA
Watch: IWC, Rolex, AP
Posts: 29,232
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Awesome! Congrats!
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31 May 2012, 11:37 AM
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#21 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Real Name: Vincent
Location: LON HKG SYD
Posts: 1,236
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Great story and welcome to TRF!
Good thing you didn't listen to the AD!! I am also SO SO glad you found TRF because now, you have a PRISTINE DRSD and was not ruined by any other stupid people who don't know how to work on a CLASSIC Rolex. But don't be scared to wear it! Wear it on the special occasions and be proud
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31 May 2012, 12:06 PM
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#22 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: richmond, va
Posts: 541
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awesome story
tks for sharing
nice to hear from someone who's had a rolex for most of it's existence, and especially a DRSD |
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31 May 2012, 12:07 PM
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#23 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Dec 2008
Real Name: Mike
Location: South Carolina
Watch: 3.3M 1655 Mk I
Posts: 2,384
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Great watch and even better story. Thank goodness you didn't listen to the AD. So many of them know nothing ... it's shocking. Congrats on a heckuva watch!
__________________
"A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a bandit, and scarcity like an armed man." Proverbs 24 "It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than open your mouth and remove all doubt." Unknown "Better to be a nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food." Proverbs 12 |
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31 May 2012, 05:01 PM
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#24 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Sep 2010
Real Name: Greg
Location: Europe
Watch: Rolex vintage
Posts: 1,062
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Gorgeous watch and nice story!
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31 May 2012, 05:13 PM
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#25 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore
Posts: 50
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Great story and a gem of a watch. Wear it with pride
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31 May 2012, 05:40 PM
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#26 |
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2024 SubLV41 Pledge Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Real Name: Tony
Location: London, England
Watch: Hmmm...
Posts: 2,483
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What a fantastic watch, and a great story too!
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Tony |
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31 May 2012, 05:56 PM
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#27 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Real Name: Richard
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 158
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wow! what a watch! have you got any pics of how it looked before on the two-tone? would be interesting to see.
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31 May 2012, 05:58 PM
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#28 |
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"TRF" Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: GMT + 3
Watch: Platinum Daytona
Posts: 1,322
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It's a gem.
__________________
“What the mind can conceive, it can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill |
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31 May 2012, 07:23 PM
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#29 |
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Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Real Name: Felix
Location: Indonesia
Watch: Rolexes, APs, Pams
Posts: 204
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Awesome..!!!!!
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31 May 2012, 09:25 PM
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#30 |
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Banned
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Maryland
Posts: 6,268
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What a great story, congrats on a wonderful watch! Welcome to TRF :)
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