Top Hat

[tattooedfagin]

in a Vintage panic i just called the RSC to confirm exactly what they were going to do to my Red Sub, despite my initial instructions i started getting edgy thinking about the silver wheel being swapped, pearl being switched for a lumed one... i mentioned the Top Hat glass & would it be left 'as is' & was told it would be replaced for a new one otherwise the watch would not be waterproof...the term 'top hat' didn't seem to be recognized either. so, unless i state otherwise would it be returned with a modern glass, such as those on a 16610 ?

[mid-o-light]

I believe service crystal for 1680 is beveled 127 like mine, not squared one as original.

[HL65]

Originally Posted by tattooedfagin

in a Vintage panic i just called the RSC to confirm exactly what they were going to do to my Red Sub, despite my initial instructions i started getting edgy thinking about the silver wheel being swapped, pearl being switched for a lumed one... i mentioned the Top Hat glass & would it be left 'as is' & was told it would be replaced for a new one otherwise the watch would not be waterproof...the term 'top hat' didn't seem to be recognized either. so, unless i state otherwise would it be returned with a modern glass, such as those on a 16610 ?

Which is why I post over and over again-DO NOT SEND YOUR VINTAGE WATCHES TO RSC---The only RSC I would send to is Bexley or SF independent--for a movement service--nothing else to be touched!! If I need anything done--Bob Ridley is the man!! I am guessing yours is at Bexley--you have to be specific with them. Best of luck!

[mike]

The 16610 uses sapphire. The 1680 takes an acryllic.

[HL65]

Exactly!!!

[tattooedfagin]

Originally Posted by SteelerFan1965

Which is why I post over and over again-DO NOT SEND YOUR VINTAGE WATCHES TO RSC---The only RSC I would send to is Bexley or SF independent--for a movement service--nothing else to be touched!! If I need anything done--Bob Ridley is the man!! I am guessing yours is at Bexley--you have to be specific with them. Best of luck!

mine's at Bexley & all sounds fine other than this glass issue, it's not like the waterproof factor bothers me either as the watch will never be seeing the pool etc but if a service replacement is not the same & will affect the future value i'd rather keep the original.

[jedly1]

there are several slight variation in the replacement 127 glass...though they are all 127 ....varying degree of a bevel on the glass thats all...will depend which one they garb out of the drawer...wont have much bearing on the value either way ...and if they wont keep the old one in it means it wont pass pressure test and without a new one you wont get an international guarantee /service paper....and they are so stressed in there at the moment they may get arsey. unlike the domed crystal no one really get stressed about these.

no big deal to take it honest, and waterproof doesn't just mean swimming ..it also means if you wear it in the pouring rain you dont suddenly look down and find a flooded watch!!

[mike]

Originally Posted by jedly1

there are several slight variation in the replacement 127 glass...though they are all 127 ....varying degree of a bevel on the glass thats all...will depend which one they garb out of the drawer...wont have much bearing on the value either way ...and if they wont keep the old one in it means it wont pass pressure test and without a new one you wont get an international guarantee /service paper....and they are so stressed in there at the moment they may get arsey. unlike the domed crystal no one really get stressed about these.

no big deal to take it honest, and waterproof doesn't just mean swimming ..it also means if you wear it in the pouring rain you dont suddenly look down and find a flooded watch!!

Nicely put Jed.

Sometimes in the quest for "orginality" we risk serious damage over time.

[tattooedfagin]

cheers guys, when i called them this morning i referred to the glass as a 'top hat' which didn't get much acknowledgment, and i couldn't find any other term to explain my query.

[TheDude]

This the modern service replacement that Bob Ridley put on mine about a year ago...

Bob explained to me that it is standard watchmaking practice to change an acrylic crystal every time the watch is serviced. They simply cannot be counted on if reused. The benefit you get by going to a guy like Bob is that he'd likely give you the swapped parts back, and he would install a new vintage stock 127 (generally a bit more but no chamfer/bevel). For example:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Vintage-Rolex-...-/160483266519





From most angles you don't notice the chamfer/bevel...


From Bob's workbench:

[lhanddds]

I love my 1680's top hat! I'd have to spring for the vintage replacement.

[Chris B]

When i spoke top RSC West Malling (formerly Bexley) last week they said that unlike a sapphire glass, a replacement plexi is included in the service price on older models, unless I requested otherwise of course

I know exactly how you're feeling Chad, paranoia is another another name for heightened awareness these days, but we just want things to be right don't we?

[Nicko]

This is a Top Hat!

[Chris B]

Originally Posted by Nicko

This is a Top Hat!

Great shot

[Brenngun]

Very familiar with thie top hat. Have one on my snowflake. If your concerned about originality and future value just ask them to give you the one they are removing and keep it. Unless of course it's damaged. If they won't take it to a private watch maker.

[tattooedfagin]

RSC called me back late yesterday & said that they didn't think the plexi currently on my 1680 was genuine Rolex, either way i've gone with the replacement plexi.

[dsio]

I had mine done by an independent, but when I mentioned that I wanted a top-hat they understood and fitted an unused, NOS tophat, and assured me they've stocked up well.

I really, really like it over beveled, and its hard to trust an old plexi.

Incidentally even though it was still good and passed pressure test, they only tested to 100M +25% and advised against pushing any further than that on a tophat.

[SS Oyster]

Love the thick and extended crystal

[therolexguy]

I love these plastic shots.

[Dr. Hips]

High and mighty

on another note....what's the thickness of these 1680s (case and crystal)? is it, say as thick as a modern sea dweller?

[TheDude]

Originally Posted by Dr. Hips

High and mighty

on another note....what's the thickness of these 1680s (case and crystal)? is it, say as thick as a modern sea dweller?

That one looks very high. Is that your 1680?

Total height on my 1680 isn't quite as high as my 16660, but kinda close.

[tiery]

Hello,


I don't understand exactly what type of glass is original on the 1680 (I'm french...so it's hard for me to understand everything!!).

To be clear, on a 1680 what is original :

beveled glass

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/e...0/DSC00749.jpg

OR

straight glass

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...o/b79d7783.jpg

[tiery]

Hello,


I don't understand clearly (I'm french) what glass fit originally the 1680 : the beveled or staight??
Maybe it depend of the making year?

[TheDude]

Originally Posted by tiery

Hello,


I don't understand clearly (I'm french) what glass fit originally the 1680 : the beveled or staight??
Maybe it depend of the making year?

All 1680s had straight originally. Over time, Rolex made changes to the service replacement crystals and they are now beveled. It is possible to find old straight crystals in unused condition, but they are old and might not pass pressure testing (though I hear most do).

[tiery]

Thanks for you answer TheDude

[Dr. Hips]

Originally Posted by TheDude

That one looks very high. Is that your 1680?

Total height on my 1680 isn't quite as high as my 16660, but kinda close.

Thanks for that....i have been curious about that lately.

yup that's my sub.

[DoubleRedRolex]

Interesting. I read on VRF last year that the tophats were service replacements from the 70's and 80's. Originals were slightly beveled and the new service crystals are the even more beveled ones we commonly see. Do Rolex cataloges from the 70's show what the crystal shape is??

Lonnie

[Jadam]

I received my 1680 circa 1978 back from rcs Dallas in nov 2010. The replacement crystal had no bevel. Fwiw