1655 mk1 - need help with errors

[sprocketty]

Hey gurus, question on this 3.0m serial 1655.

Does this look legit?

My concerns:
- 3.0m serial so one of the earlier 1655s
- MK1 dial, but that would mean a straight second hand is needed (watch currently has the later version second hands), or were there MK1s with non straight hands as well?
- Hands in general look "newer", possibly replaced?


Other than that, is there anything else visibly wrong?

Appreciate any thoughts!

Thank you :)

[Dan S]

I think you'll need better photos to try to determine if the hands are original to the watch in general, I can't even judge the true color of the lume. I'd also need better photos of the case, but at first glance, the edge of the bezel and the crown guards look aggressively polished.

[N0trub]

Here is mine see case between bezel and crown side edge. Your picture is tough to judge/speculate.

[sprocketty]

Thx for the inputs, let me try to get better pictures.

I can't tell if color is off, or if the lume and gmt hand is truly faded to that tone.

[Dan S]

The gmt hand is certainly faded, I’d be more interested in getting a better look at the lume. It could be fine and matching or it could be wildly different and mismatched. I can’t tell from the photo, and that could be a concern or just the result of an inexperienced seller. Similarly, why are the hands blocking the printing and each other.

In general, if you’re looking for help, the more information you provide the better. Who is selling? What is the asking price? Etc

[swish77]

Hands were definitely replaced, at least the hour, minute, seconds hands, and probably the GMT hand too, but easy to confirm with a UV light.

Looks like an MK1 dial with an MK1 bezel. Have you seen the engravings?

As Dan pointed out, a lot of polishing on the case and crown guards, but more/better photos would be needed for a more informed evaluation.

Here was my go-to reference guide years ago when I was looking for a 1655.

https://www.watchprosite.com/rolex/t...74096.3563066/

[sprocketty]

Seems quite heavily polished, but I'm actually OK with that, as long as its all genuine.

Got a couple more pictures of movement + caseback. Unfortunately, seller doesn't seem experienced at taking sharp, well lit photos.

Any red flags?

[sprocketty]

Got a better lit pic from the seller...
- definitely received some heavy polishing... so sadly edges are all soft
- Hands look new (?) At least the hour, minute, seconds... might be service hands.
- Bracelet is newer 78360 type.
- otherwise mk1 dial, mk1 bezel, and 3m serial case.

Appreciate any other thoughts?


One thing im curious about... does MK1 dial have different lume that doesn't get yellow / orange as much as the later dials/

[Dan S]

My sense from that photo is that the lume on the dial is a light yellow, which is not too unusual for that era, but the lume in the hands is more consistent with luminova, which is interesting given how faded the orange paint is. Just the feeling I get. The crown guards are still pretty substantial but I really don’t like the way they have been polished.

[sprocketty]

Originally Posted by Dan S

My sense from that photo is that the lume on the dial is a bit yellow but the lume in the hands is more consistent with luminova. Just the feeling I get.

Yup, i'm going to assume hands are newer perhaps service hands...

Asking price is US$19k.

From what I've seen, 1655s at this price are mostly newer and have a mishmash of newer parts, including service bezels, mk 3, 4, 5 dials etc.

So in this sense, an Mk1 dial + Mk1 bezel at this price level is OK i guess? I kind of really like this SUPER FAT font early bezel.

I'm still on the fence if its worth to go for this, especially given the overpolishing and the newer hands.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by Dan S

My sense from that photo is that the lume on the dial is a light yellow, which is not too unusual for that era, but the lume in the hands is more consistent with luminova. Just the feeling I get.

Yup. OP, ask for a UV/blacklight photo. That will tell you for sure.

[sprocketty]

Is there a problem with this serial number positioning?

Seems a bit low, and off centered to the right?

[Filipão]

Looks ok, pantograph operators by 1971 rarely had it truly centered.

Some serials even have a dot before the number, I believe a way for the Rolex engraver to test the "apparatus"

If I do recall, I have a couple with the dot.

The one shown has... um... too many dots!

[sprocketty]

Thanks for all the advice guys! I will not go for this watch...

In other news, this Box and papers 1655 went for 19.2k on Ebay... Was this a good price?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/11592283207...torefresh=true


I was considering bidding, but couldn't deal with the fact that dial had a big smudge on the bottom half.