DRSD - Double Red Sea Dweller restored

[DRSD2tone]

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