Need help - Rolex 1680 Red Submariner

[dontan]

Hi all,

I'm on a hunt for a 1680 Red Sub.

The below Rolex 1680 was serviced recently by RSC-Japan.
Only polishing works and clean up was done according to the dealer.

My only concern is for a 1975 watch (Comes with original papers), there's no patina on the dial and hands?
Has there ever been such a situation?
Please see photos below.

Thank you very much advance!

[mroberts]

I could be wrong, but it looks like a service dial and hands to me

[lock0ut]

Originally Posted by mroberts

I could be wrong, but it looks like a service dial and hands to me

x2

[lee fowler]

Can we have a better shot of the lime plots?

[dontan]

Originally Posted by lee fowler

Can we have a better shot of the lime plots?

What do you mean by Lime Plots? :)

[dontan]

Thanks for the analysis master sifu! really appreciate it.

[Xantiagib]

closer up photo of the lume plots i think is what they meant...

could be service hands and the lume has been removed from the original dial

[roh123]

Looks like a normal mk4. No?

Difficult to say from the pics if the lume is washed off or if it is just not much patinated. It's not impossible for old dials to have crisp almost white lume.

[Sky21]

It is not a service dial, it's a Mk 4 dial. Lume does appear to be very white and the hands may be replacements. What is the serial number as most expect the red Sub to stop by 1973. The lugs look very thin to me as well. Additional pictures would help.

[murkeywaters]

Was the red paint "Submariner" on this dial applied on top of white paint as it looks to have a white border around the red?

[Sky21]

Originally Posted by murkeywaters

Was the red paint "Submariner" on this dial applied on top of white paint as it looks to have a white border around the red?

Yes, the Mk 4 feet first dial is red paint applied over white.

[murkeywaters]

Originally Posted by Sky21

Yes, the Mk 4 feet first dial is red paint applied over white.

Ahh great, every day is a school day in the world of vintage Rolex!

The thought occurred to me that the smallest amount of carefully applied red paint can add so much green

[Sky21]

Originally Posted by murkeywaters

Ahh great, every day is a school day in the world of vintage Rolex!



The thought occurred to me that the smallest amount of carefully applied red paint can add so much green

Yes, that's true and that thought has unfortunately occurred to lots of people recently so check those watches very carefully before purchasing.

[dontan]

Originally Posted by Sky21

It is not a service dial, it's a Mk 4 dial. Lume does appear to be very white and the hands may be replacements. What is the serial number as most expect the red Sub to stop by 1973. The lugs look very thin to me as well. Additional pictures would help.

Seriel number as per:

[Mark020]

Red service dial is swiss only.

[FTX I]

Great thread. Thanks guys.

[David cote]

Dial looks amazing, Kinda looks to good to be true!
I would have second thoughts on that.

[southtexas]

I say legit red sub mk4 dial. The lume plots look to be intact, and in photos I've seen them look nearly white in some photos but not in others, depending on angle and lighting. The hands look to have tritium texture also. I wonder if they all aren't actually a bit offwhite in different angles.

Pics of back of case and engravings would help, but I vote dial OK.

[dontan]

Wow, thanks all for the comments and I learn something more everyday on TRF!

[dontan]

Here are some additional photos!

[murkeywaters]

The difference between the left and right lug in this image is shocking on how much metal has been removed, compare the difference in the thickness of brushed steel..

Seems this watch has been too restored which kind of goes away from the vintage feel such a piece should have..

Originally Posted by dontan

[Wing Zero]

The serial number does not match with the dial iteration.

For 3.9 mil we are looking at a MKVI dial or a white dial.



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[David cote]

That dial still could be a service dial, They did both Swiss only and T<25 service dials. The case and the # 5 in the serial number looks a little weird to me.

[KarlFr]

Agree, nice MkIV dial w/ intact lume dots but the case is heavily polished and the dial doesn't match the serial nr/case.
Would probably look elsewhere unless it doesn't bother you having a thin-case miss-match watch and the price is adjusted down according

[dontan]

Thanks all! appreciate it!

[southtexas]

What is the asking price?

[dontan]

Originally Posted by southtexas

What is the asking price?

Close to $15,200

[sfc rick]

Am I the only one who wonders how the heck can they paint red over white in such tiny font?

I amazed...simply amazed!

[springer]

Originally Posted by sfc rick

Am I the only one who wonders how the heck can they paint red over white in such tiny font?

I amazed...simply amazed!

The same method they print all the other tiny fonts.

[sfc rick]

Originally Posted by springer

The same method they print all the other tiny fonts.

I'm still amazed. Although it's no different than printing microcircuits I suppose.