Rolex 1655 Refurbished? Loads of Pics!

[dpj17]

Hey everybody, I posted earlier about finding a possible Orange Hand GMT 1655 that you can find here http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=90567. Here are the pics that I got today at lunch with serial number intact. My question is; is this a refurbished piece? It looks original except for the orange hand that appears to be too dark. Any help would be terrific!
Daniel Jordan

[STEELINOX]

I still smell a rat !
The winding thingy is not the usual twin lock found on this piece. Looks to be a mish mash of parts, its certainly not "original". Even the STEELINOX clasp has no stamped hallmarks or numbers. The crown shoulders point downward, also a "tell" that this is not genuine casing.
Also, the crown on the clasp is waay to "dimply" to be real...
The whole thing is a barracuda in wait if ya ask me.

this is of course newer movmt

[cajun_one]

In my highly uneducated experience reviewing a possible purchase:
Flourescent orange hand is not an original.

[greekbum]

Pay attention: The quality of the fakes that are out there today in the last 6 months are so good that you cannot tell by a picture anymore.Read the first sentence again and again.I have had an individual try and sell me 2 pieces he bought from other dealers that where so good they even fooled me and others very astute vintage Rolex dealers until we took it completely apart.Be careful the cases etc are very very good now.I would stretch it to almost perfect.So as far as posting a pic and asking is it real or fake I think those days are gone except for the flat out obvious.Did you look at the band at all on the watch in the pic?The game is at a level now where you CANNOT tell by a picture alone anymore.Last years fakeroos yes this years nooooo.So be warned take all vintage watches to an expert or if you must buy the watch cause you think its a steal of a deal make the dealer sign a legal document that he will refund 100% of the money if the watch is not 100% Rolex within 7 days.If he doesnt want to do that run dont walk.

[STEELINOX]

Originally Posted by greekbum

Pay attention: The quality of the fakes that are out there today in the last 6 months are so good that you cannot tell by a picture anymore.Read the first sentence again and again.I have had an individual try and sell me 2 pieces he bought from other dealers that where so good they even fooled me and others very astute vintage Rolex dealers until we took it completely apart.Be careful the cases etc are very very good now.I would stretch it to almost perfect.So as far as posting a pic and asking is it real or fake I think those days are gone except for the flat out obvious.Did you look at the band at all on the watch in the pic?The game is at a level now where you CANNOT tell by a picture alone anymore.

I can "tell" by just looking at a picture; at least a few of em anyways, its not rocket science !

Thanks,
Randy

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by STEELINOX

I can "tell" by just looking at a picture; at least a few of em anyways, its not rocket science !

Thanks,
Randy

The watch in that picture isnt right I agree.But I will tell you I have seen whats floating around out there now and its very hard to tell.Good luck I am sure this subject will be on the front pages more often now.

[snow_rocks]

The bezel looks correct. The 'ones' have that very short hook at the top.

The '85 would have a red hand, not orange 24 hr hand.

The dial had both T SWISS T, and SWISS T<25.

The McQueen had the orange hand.

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by snow_rocks

The bezel looks correct. The 'ones' have that very short hook at the top.

The '85 would have a red hand, not orange 24 hr hand.

The dial had both T SWISS T, and SWISS T<25.

The McQueen had the orange hand.

Does the band and numbers stamped on it along with those end pieces look correct?Theres more but I will wait till others chime in

[mike]

Well, in addition to what's already been covered the dial is suspect to me.

One of the common tells of a fake/redone 1655 dial is the half markers not extending to the edge of the rehault. Additionally the normal hour markers look small.

Compare to a known example (I had) serviced by Rolex,

[greekbum]

Is that an explorer case?Randy mentioned this above.I suspect a GMT case at best or something else.

[Lol-x]

The dial is to me 100% fake, as appears to be the 24hr hand.
The bezel is also fake with the large numbers.
Sorry but, I'd start running in the opposite direction on this one.

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by Lol-x

The dial is to me 100% fake, as appears to be the 24hr hand.
The bezel is also fake with the large numbers.
Sorry but, I'd start running in the opposite direction on this one.

I ask my self what is real on this watch?The caseback doesnt even look right to me?(bad pics also dont help)I would run too.His watchmaker is offering him this watch?

[snow_rocks]

Bracelet from that era. 78360 w/ 580s.
Your bracelet has #s on wrong outside link. Endlink seems wrong.

Yes, mine is on my 1680, originally from my 16750.

[dkpw]

From an interested by-stander, you gents (Steve, Rick, Nikos and Mike) are so helpful and knowledgeable, "it's been a pleasure watching you work."

The acid test is, will the seller agree to take the watch to an AD or RSC for authentication?

I was also interested to see in Mike's photograph, that the dial coronet is similarly "spikey" to the coronet found these days on the DSSD.

[dpj17]

It is truly great to have such knowledgable guys, like yourselves, helping me out with this matter. It looked to me like a mishmash of Rolex parts and some non OEM parts to make a GMT. I really appreciate all of the responses!

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by dkpw

From an interested by-stander, you gents (Steve, Rick, Nikos and Mike) are so helpful and knowledgeable, "it's been a pleasure watching you work."

The acid test is, will the seller agree to take the watch to an AD or RSC for authentication?

.

An AD is the last place you take a vintage watch for authentication they simply dont have a clue. A RSC doesnt authenticate but what you can do if there is 1 local to you is ask for an estimate this will usually do it but not always as I have seen examples of some that got through that were not 100% right.In the vintage world today its risky business.The best bet is to buy from someone who specializes in Vintage Rolex and will guarantee the watch to be 100% correct.Its usually safer and you pay a fair price.

[Rikki]

The bezel definately does not look Kosher the hand looks touched up just smells funny Rik

[mike]

Originally Posted by dkpw

I was also interested to see in Mike's photograph, that the dial coronet is similarly "spikey" to the coronet found these days on the DSSD.

It's been called a "Frog's foot" by some. Kinda like the "Bart Simpson" coronet on some early divers.

[bagel]

From the pics, I am sorry to say that at least the case, case back, dial, hands and bezel look problematic to me.

[greekbum]

Originally Posted by bagel

From the pics, I am sorry to say that at least the case, case back, dial, hands and bezel look problematic to me.

Other than the band and the movement its the whole watch and BTW the band doesnt look to good either.I have seen a few very high extremely high fakes recently although the issues with this 1 where fairly easy to spot.
The fakes are getting really way better these days.Its buyer beware for sure