Swapping cases on a 16030

[RobW]

Hello all,

I have a Datejust 16030 with an overpolished case. All else -- crystal, dial, etc. -- are in excellent condition and the 3035 movement was serviced just a few months ago. But the edges on the present case have been rounded and the lugs are thin. I bought a used replacement 16030 case that is in pretty good shape with thick lugs and reasonably sharp edges. I plan to swap them. The original case has an 8 mil. serial number while the replacement has a 6 mil. serial number. I understand Rolex case serial numbers don't match the movement serial numbers, so it's not as if matching serial numbers play here. I don't plan to sell it, but who knows. I hope to hand it down to my daughter sometime in the future. It's my daily beater and is tough as nails. What say you all? Sacrilege? Will the Rolex gods damn me forever? Or is this a reasonable repair/replacement?

[Vlad]

I would do it, as replacing case really does nothing to a value of datejust. two things you need to consider: 1) if you have papers for the 8 mil, then they will not apply to the 6 mil case; 2) there is a chance (not a big one, but still) that a particular dial that you have in your 8 mil 16030 might not have been available a couple of years earlier (again, for DJs it's not a big deal at all)

[RobW]

Originally Posted by Vlad

I would do it, as replacing case really does nothing to a value of datejust. two things you need to consider: 1) if you have papers for the 8 mil, then they will not apply to the 6 mil case; 2) there is a chance (not a big one, but still) that a particular dial that you have in your 8 mil 16030 might not have been available a couple of years earlier (again, for DJs it's not a big deal at all)

Thanks, Vlad. I guess that was my real question -- whether the value would be affected. As for the dial, I am not too concerned as long it's the proper era and found on 16030 models.