New Tudor 7016/0 story unfolding!!!

[007Sub]

Hello all,

I have to share with you an exciting story, and also enlist your help when the time comes.

Long story short, I spotted what appeared to be a good buy on a 1968, 7016/0 tudor sub (transitional model with the Rose dial). Knowing full well how faked or unoriginal these can be (i.e. frankenwatch), I was hesitant at first but ultimately decided to pull the trigger.

After winning the auction (to my surprise for a much lower bid than I imagined) I wrote the seller alerting him that I would be taking the watch to Rolex for authentication purposes and that if he had any doubts about originality (as he had claimed in the auction) then he should not send it.

Gents, he wrote back exactly what every vintage (particularly military watch) enthusiast could dream of hearing:

"In 1968 I was in the Navy and was sent Icountry Viet Nam. I bought it on board a ship. Back then Navy ships did not buy and sell junk to the long time a sea. All the numbers on the watch say it is what I listed. I wore it for years, then got a different watch and put it away in my jewerly box..."

Of course after reading this new information I was floored. Not only was the watch all original according to the seller, but he was the first and only owner AND he bought it aboard a US Navy vessel! HOW FREAKING COOL!

Ok, so if you guys are anything like me, your thinking... this is too good to be true! Alas a few days later a message arrived stating that he accidentally sent the watch to another address. SHIT! I knew it... too good to be true... i'll never see this thing! Apparently, he had two auctions going; mine and one for a pocket watch. He must have switched our addresses around because I ended up receiving the pocket watch. After sending the pocket watch back, NOW im thinking oh crap the guy expecting the pocket watch is going to keep this thing and say he never got it! The good news is, the tudor was returned and is now en route to me and should arrive tomorrow!!

I still have a ton of worries. According to what the seller stated, all the numbers do check out period correct. I even looked up what ships he told me he was on in the Navy and the dates checked out. Based on my conversations with the seller, I do genuinely get the sense that he isn't a con artist... but then only time will tell (no pun intended)!

Alas, I called RSC-NYC and asked if they could/would validate the watch's authenticity for me... to which they replied no. I found this surprising but not a ton given their track record with vintage time pieces. Hence, I will be looking to you all for help in validating the authenticity once it arrives. I've been thinking of investing in a case back opener... but would appreciate your suggestions, as I don't want to scratch dent or break anything, perhaps it would be best to bring it to a watch shop?

Your feedback would be much appreciated! Hopefully if all goes well, I will have some photos for you all tomorrow! Wish me luck!

Best,
Greg

[John in MA]

Post the link. We should be able to tell pretty quick. There are tells

[HRV]

good luck, i hope it all you wish for, please post pics

[harry in montreal]

just post some pics. its pretty easy to spot a bad one of these. Harry

[tudorluv]

best of luck - hope your dream comes true!

[007Sub]

It arrived folks! Pics coming soon!!

[Jason71]

Can't wait to see it..........

[007Sub]

Ok here they are! A few pics next to my '83 16800. The SN for the tudor are 622xxx and are bit hard to see but from the research I've done they check out as period correct. The dial is semi-gloss at least as you can see from the photos not nearly as matte as the 16800. Furthermore, the crown guards are a different profile (Semi-pointed?) Is this correct? The only thing that I'm concerned about is the minute hand looks to be a bit longer than my 16800 but then the hands in and of themselves are a bit different (hour hand doesn't have that curve to it and the second hand is the lolipop version). Remember the guy I bought it from assured me that it was "unmolested" and unopened essentially since the day he purchased in in 1968. What are your thoughts???

[007Sub]

One other quick note... the tritium lum plots still have a slight glow in total darkness.. Problem? My 16800 has 0 luminescence left and its significantly younger...

[Jason71]

I am no expert on vintage Tudor, but I think it looks original and GREAT. It has definitely been put through the paces.

[Jason71]

I might send it off for a movement service and possibly to stabilize the lume on the hands (just for the peace-of-mind). Otherwise, I wouldn't even change the crystal.......I don't believe.

[007Sub]

Hey quick question..."What do you mean exactly by stabilize the loom"?

[kyle L]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Hey quick question..."What do you mean exactly by stabilize the loom"?

I think Jason is talking about the process of putting a coating on the back of the hands so that the lume won't fall out or flake.

[Stoner319]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

One other quick note... the tritium lum plots still have a slight glow in total darkness.. Problem? My 16800 has 0 luminescence left and its significantly younger...

I was under the impression that lume from that period does not glow anymore. But I do not know for 100%. Someone else will chime in I am sure.

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by Stoner319

I was under the impression that lume from that period does not glow anymore. But I do not know for 100%. Someone else will chime in I am sure.

I always thought that too.. but perhaps this varies from piece to piece...

[ralpie]

Originally Posted by Jason71

I am no expert on vintage Tudor, but I think it looks original and GREAT. It has definitely been put through the paces.

Same here, love it!

[007Sub]

Thanks all!! :)

[kyle L]

Congrats! That is an awesome Tudor. When you get tired of it, let me know.

[Renoir]

Congrats! Great find.

[John in MA]

All original. I've owned 3 semi pointed 7016's. open her up. Caseback should have a I.68 7528 stamp. Minute hand is just slightly longer.

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by John in MA

All original. I've owned 3 semi pointed 7016's. open her up. Caseback should have a I.68 7528 stamp. Minute hand is just slightly longer.

Thanks John!! Good to hear!

[Frogman4me]

Hey Greg thanks for the PM buddy. From what I can see it looks wonderful! I would suggest a movement service and a crystal change (T19). I actually serviced my 7016 by Bob Ridley but it was extremely expensive as my movement was really damaged due to the fact it was the very first check up. The 7016 transitional is a wonderful reference to own especially with the semi pointed crown guards and the big lollipop seconds hands. And with the story its just icing on a very beautiful cake! Congrats my friend.

Here is mine :)

[007Sub]

Originally Posted by Frogman4me

Hey Greg thanks for the PM buddy. From what I can see it looks wonderful! I would suggest a movement service and a crystal change (T19). I actually serviced my 7016 by Bob Ridley but it was extremely expensive as my movement was really damaged due to the fact it was the very first check up. The 7016 transitional is a wonderful reference to own especially with the semi pointed crown guards and the big lollipop seconds hands. And with the story its just icing on a very beautiful cake! Congrats my friend.

Here is mine :)

Thanks buddy! I adore that strap you have on there! Definitely having the clean crystal makes it very sharp... I think i will heed your suggestions! Did you have the tritium sealer/coating put on yours?

[Frogman4me]

Originally Posted by 007Sub

Thanks buddy! I adore that strap you have on there! Definitely having the clean crystal makes it very sharp... I think i will heed your suggestions! Did you have the tritium sealer/coating put on yours?

It's a great strap and it's really comfortable I hope you end up getting one :) I did not have the hands coated but I understand why people do it. I didn't see the need to stabilize these hands at the time but only time will tell.

[linesiders]

Wow - nice pickup

[HRV]

Looks great, congrats, it has been mentioned before that some tritium still has a slight glow in a really dark room, not enough to tell the time by, but it glows slightly

[Kobin]

Fab watch!

[1675-David]

very very nice

[007Sub]

Thanks all! :)

[davec73]

A real beauty!! Great provenance too