Freccione-opinion pls

[Verdi]

Hi everyone,

A friend of mine is interested in this watch. He asked for my opinion but this is one watch I don't even dare try give my opinion on it.
Looks legit to me but the devil is always in the detail.

[Mick P]

Verdi

The pics make it difficult to appraise but the bezel is almost certainly a replacement and it looks like a service dial has replaced the original.

It is probably a good working watch but losing the original dial which should have the TSWISS<25T markings does hit the value by quite a bit.

If those markings are on the dial, then very good news but it looks like you just have SWISS on it which is a service dial.

Regards

Mick

[Verdi]

Thanks very much Mick.

It also has a nasty scratch on the 12 o'clock mark.
Watch is from 1973.

[1675-David]

I would not be buying this watch if it was offered.

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

I would not be buying this watch if it was offered.

Pls elaborate.

[1675-David]

I would not be comfortable that this watch is 100% authentic. I see issues with the dial and hands. The case alone would scare me off. Pehaps clearer images could convince me otherwise but as reprisented above it would be a no go for me.

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

I would not be comfortable that this watch is 100% authentic. I see issues with the dial and hands. The case alone would scare me off. Pehaps clearer images could convince me otherwise but as reprisented above it would be a no go for me.

I see. I just need to know what to say to my friend. What are the issues exactly?

[1675-David]

I would tell your friend that the 1655 is a gorgeous reference and a joy to research and to shift his intrest to a better example.

[Vodka-Martini]

everything that you can see on this watch is fake. case, dial, hands, bezel...

[Verdi]

Originally Posted by Vodka-Martini

everything that you can see on this watch is fake. case, dial, hands, bezel...

Really!?
Far out!!! That I didn't expect!
How did you establish this?

[Mick P]

Verdi

I think for someone to use the term fake is a bit OTT.

The problem is the quality of the pics. Having a service dial and replacement bezel still means it is a genuine Rolex but it just is not original and this is what makes a 30 - 40 year old watch attractive to collectors.

I am currently on holiday in Spain and I am wearing a 1655. Now the honest truth is that it is a bloody awful watch and was discontinued due to lack of sales.

The weirdness of the dial layout makes it difficult to read and in its early days it was nick named the "disco dial". Also the sole purpose of the orange hand is to let you know whether it is morning or afternoon which for 99.99999% of us is a bit pointless.

Roll forward 40 years and due to its scarcity it has become well loved, super sexy and worn by men who have gorgeous wives and a string of mistresses. That is the fickleness of the vintage Rolex market.

Investment wise, the 1655 will be a winner but this particular watch is not the best example. The chances are that the dial and bezel were renewed when it had little or no investment value and someone, somewhere is probably kicking themselves for replacing the original bits.

Regards

Mick

[Verdi]

Replacement dial and bezel is ok as long is all original.
My friend is more interested if all elements are legit or not.

[fusionstorm]

As you say, the devil is in the details. So have your friend get more detailed pics. He wouldn't dare buy a house or car based upon pics of this "quality".

[rollyp]

The dial looks to be a fake. The outer blocks around the perimeter of the dial should almost be touching the edge of the dial. The ones in your pics have a large gap between the two.

[saskmh]

Originally Posted by rollyp

The dial looks to be a fake. The outer blocks around the perimeter of the dial should almost be touching the edge of the dial. The ones in your pics have a large gap between the two.

I agree with above...Just looking at some of my reference material I see a few things...the triangle at 12 is almost touching the crown, the T SWISS T doesn't seem to line up right, the markers on the outer edge are too far from the rehaut, etc.

...and something about the case looks suspect. The back of the lugs look off.

[Verdi]

Yes, I also think dial is bad. 12 o'clock marker almost touching the
coronet. All the other I googled have a small space in between.

I showed my friend all you guys said. He will pass but just to learn something he is interested in all the details that are wrong so he knows better next time. Price was around 5k.

Another photo

[1675-David]

5k is a lot of money for a Rolex movement and a small collection of scrap metal...

[jdmi32]

Not even close to being legit.

[saskmh]

Ohhh. That pic gives a good shot of the crown guards. that is definitely an aftermarket case.

[swish77]

Not sure anything on this watch is real. For starters, look at the engraving of the reference number and compare it to this legit example. Once I see that I wouldn't even consider this watch. And how about the dot on the seconds hand? Way too big.

There was a different posting here the other day with questions about another 1655 on Ebay that also was fake. Be careful. There are a lot of bogus 1655s out there.

There are several very good dealers who occasionally sell nice 1655s. Why would anyone take a chance? These are expensive timepieces!

[Mike Wood]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

I would tell your friend that the 1655 is a gorgeous reference and a joy to research and to shift his intrest to a better example.

[onthedial]

I particularly like the lug holes. Lol!
______
Instagram: @onthedial

[Michael M.]

Dial and case are fake. No need for further pictures..