Real or Fake ?

[Reynaldo Flemm]

Hi Guys, (and first ever post, so hello)

I apologize if there's already a good thread on this, the one I found with a google search was missing a lot of pictures...and I'm no expert on watches.


The Story,

My uncle bought this watch while travelling back in the early 80's or late 70's. He wore it for 35 years, and I came to associate the watch with him.

Anyways, he passed away a few years back and the watch has come to me. I'm trying to figure out if it's real or not, and to be perfectly honest, I'm hoping it's NOT real, because I'd like to wear it, and if it's a real Rolex that's worth thousands of dollars, I just can't do that. It does have lots of wear from the years, but despite that knocking down the value, it's still too pricey an item for me to wear if it's real.


There are a few things that make me suspect it's fake, I never did ask him if it was real, I know he had it serviced every year, and you think the watchmaker would mention it, but maybe they both knew.

It's 1680, with a 524xxxx serial, which would make it allegedly a 1977.

On the ends where the model and serial are engraved, there is no other writing. no "registered design" or anything like that, and nothing engraved on the back either...

Obviously an honest watchmaker could tell me pretty quickly if he popped the back off, but I thought there might be something that screams fake to you guys, and I could save the trip.

Anyways , here's a couple pictures. (you can tell that it's been worn every day since he bought it...haha)

Thanks for any insights,
Ryan

[harry in montreal]

Real!

[andromeda160]

Looks good, don't be afraid to wear it. They're meant to be worn!

[droptopman]

Looks genuine to me. I would love to restore that watch....

[RazorD]

Don't be afraid to wear it. Clearly your uncle wasn't.

[HERITAGE82]

Real and is meant to be worn!

[MUCCI416]

Get a new crystal and wear that beauty as a tribute to him...He got the value out of it over 35 years and now its your turn so don't only think of its monetary value but that value of remembering him every time you look at it! Congrats

[iclick]

The bracelet (9315 with 380 ends) even looks to be the original, itself worth hundreds. I would send the watch to one of the established vintage watchmakers (Rikki, Vanessa, etc.) for a complete service without invading the watch's originality. If the bracelet is severely worn, which it appears to be, send it to Michael Young in Hong Kong for refurbishment. After that, you'll have a real gem. Wear it without fear or trepidation.

[cdmorenot]

I would LOVE to have something like this with the history to back it up and throw it on my wrist daily.

[Reynaldo Flemm]

Well, that seems pretty unanimous...thanks guys.

I figured the lack of anything else engraved on the ends where the serial & model are would have been a sign it was fake...

Restoring isn't really my thing, I'm kindof old and beatup, and that's how I like my trucks and guitars, as long as the innards are good.

I'll probably keep wearing it, just maybe not to work...

[Watchflair]

Originally Posted by Reynaldo Flemm

Well, that seems pretty unanimous...thanks guys.

I figured the lack of anything else engraved on the ends where the serial & model are would have been a sign it was fake...

Restoring isn't really my thing, I'm kindof old and beatup, and that's how I like my trucks and guitars, as long as the innards are good.

I'll probably keep wearing it, just maybe not to work...

Enjoy it! You can clean the crystal(plexi) up yourself with a little bit of Poly Watch. It will keep the plexi original but a little more visible and easier to read.

http://www.amazon.com/Polywatch-Plas.../dp/B0014R9V9O

Just make sure there are no cracks or anything that would affect the integrity. Wear it in health and remember that these things are meant to take a beating-

[powerfunk]

Crystals are not expensive, and are integral to the water resistance! Even a light rain can ruin a vintage Rolex with a damaged crystal; it's happened to me.

Get it serviced and wear it I say; you don't need to go all-out with the restoration.

Sent from my 0PM92 using Tapatalk

[Perpetual74]

It looks all original but in my opinion with some later service parts..
I would like to see a better pic of dial..it seems to be a first service (tritium) dial similar to the mkII (later '80/90) different from the tipical luminova service dial.. event the insert is a mid/later '80 as the dial (tipical mid font that we can find on a 5513 gloss dial gold ring untill end of production)..
The bracelet looks original but obviously in the '77 the sub should have a 93150 ...
Anyway with a new plexy (cheap) and a service it's a nice watch.. enjoy it!!


Ps a couple of pics to compare the MKII dial with the service dial I mentioned.. always in my opinion

[Tarandy]

Congratulations. Nice watch you MUST wear and enjoy it. However the braclet doesn't look to safe (condition) to me so if you don't want to spend the money servicing it maybe have a strap fitted

[Wing Zero]

Originally Posted by Reynaldo Flemm

I'm trying to figure out if it's real or not, and to be perfectly honest, I'm hoping it's NOT real, because I'd like to wear it, and if it's a real Rolex that's worth thousands of dollars, I just can't do that.
Ryan

So.. you'd be ok wearing a fake Rolex?

All kidding aside, congratulations.
I would like you to get a new T127 and post some after pictures.
Cheers

[Mikus11]

Send it to me. I can find you a brand new fake to trade :p

[Reynaldo Flemm]

Originally Posted by Tarandy

Congratulations. Nice watch you MUST wear and enjoy it. However the braclet doesn't look to safe (condition) to me so if you don't want to spend the money servicing it maybe have a strap fitted

Strap seems plenty strong. A little stretched on a couple links, which could be re crimped, I try to wear it on my days off. I have an old citizen for wearing to work.

Originally Posted by Wing Zero

So.. you'd be ok wearing a fake Rolex?

In this case, for sure. Honestly, any watch that lasts 35 years can't be that bad. I'd much rather his watch had been something a bit less extravagant.

Originally Posted by Wing Zero

All kidding aside, congratulations.
I would like you to get a new T127 and post some after pictures.
Cheers

Yeah, I'll probably do a service on it at some point. I'll see if I can find out where he used to take it.

Originally Posted by Mikus11

Send it to me. I can find you a brand new fake to trade :p

Originally Posted by Perpetual74

It looks all original but in my opinion with some later service parts..
I would like to see a better pic of dial..it seems to be a first service (tritium) dial similar to the mkII (later '80/90) different from the tipical luminova service dial.. event the insert is a mid/later '80 as the dial (tipical mid font that we can find on a 5513 gloss dial gold ring untill end of production)..
The bracelet looks original but obviously in the '77 the sub should have a 93150 ...
Anyway with a new plexy (cheap) and a service it's a nice watch.. enjoy it!!


Ps a couple of pics to compare the MKII dial with the service dial I mentioned.. always in my opinion

All of which could be true. I'd have to google what half of those things are, so I'll leave it to the experts...haha.


R

[skprd13]

Originally Posted by Reynaldo Flemm

Well, that seems pretty unanimous...thanks guys.

I figured the lack of anything else engraved on the ends where the serial & model are would have been a sign it was fake...

Restoring isn't really my thing, I'm kindof old and beatup, and that's how I like my trucks and guitars, as long as the innards are good.

I'll probably keep wearing it, just maybe not to work...

I don't think they mean restore it just service it and a new Crystal and she will be good. As mentioned if you like send the bracelet to Michael Young and it will come back looking amazing.

Just wondering why would you not wear it if original it looks to have been well worn why not continue the tradition!

Good luck on whatever you decide.

Aloha from Kauai,
Tom

[linesiders]

Keep in mind that without a significant service the watch is likely not water tight - that would probably need a new crystal, gaskets, and seals at minimum