minute marker scratched..!?

[Diehunnen]

Bought the blue submariner 16613 1 month ago from someone with box and original papers. Watch is Y serial from 2002 and just now have realized there is a scratch on the minute marker and the 12 o clock hour mark the line on top of the triangle is not perfect. How did these things happen under the dial?! This is all I can see when I look at the watch now really bothering.

Here is a picture

[Tools]

You need to put away the loupe.

[GradyPhilpott]

Originally Posted by Tools

You need to put away the loupe.

[joli160]

May have happened during service or it even can be delivered out of the factory.

It's a Rolex, not a Lange or Grand Seiko which are perfect up to the smallest detail.

Wear it without worries and indeed throw away the loupe

[Diehunnen]

Originally Posted by Diehunnen

Bought the blue submariner 16613 1 month ago from someone with box and original papers. Watch is Y serial from 2002 and just now have realized there is a scratch on the minute marker and the 12 o clock hour mark the line on top of the triangle is not perfect. How did these things happen under the dial?! This is all I can see when I look at the watch now really bothering.

Here is a picture

Here is a link to a picture I forgot to add

https://ibb.co/9gDJCsV

[padi56]

With my old eyes cannot see what you are on about its a used watch throw away all of your high magnification stuff.

[poidog81]

Can we be nice to the guy? You look at diamonds through a loupe when you inspect to buy, why wouldn't you with a watch that can cost much more? If the defect is visible without the loupe, in this category of watches, yes that is a problem.

OP that would bother me too and I would be unable to unsee it once I spotted it. It is a used watch so you take the risks of the history of what happens before you. It was probably scratched during a non RSC service since that is a careless mistake. If you can return it still, that's what I would do. If not, and you got a good deal on it send it to the RSC and have it overhauled and a new set of hands installed. It won't be cheap, you're looking at about $1000 for the hands and full service.

[77T]

Thanks for posting the picture Peter.

Here is what I believe the OP means...



So the answer is the 12 o’clock triangle has a slight bit of lume that was deposited above the WG surrounding the triangle. This happened at the factory methinks. When you bought it you likely didn’t see it.

The mark on the minute hand might have happened at the factory but this usually can happen when a watchmaker removes the hands to pull out the movement for some reason. Even the RSC can make such a mistake.

If the watch has never been opened by anyone then both are factory issues.

But I agree that these are minor imperfections that you can accept as long as it keeps good time.

What has been the accuracy of the Watch?


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[77T]

Originally Posted by poidog81

Can we be nice to the guy? You look at diamonds through a loupe when you inspect to buy, why wouldn't you with a watch that can cost much more? If the defect is visible without the loupe, in this category of watches, yes that is a problem.

OP that would bother me too and I would be unable to unsee it once I spotted it. It is a used watch so you take the risks of the history of what happens before you. It was probably scratched during a non RSC service since that is a careless mistake. If you can return it still, that's what I would do. If not, and you got a good deal on it send it to the RSC and have it overhauled and a new set of hands installed. It won't be cheap, you're looking at about $1000 for the hands and full service.

I believe nobody was unkind - just direct and honest in stating their opinions.

Your opinion counts just like theirs.

How would you propose fixing the triangle issue? You see, things can get out of hand swiftly. A new dial is all RSC can do - they don’t refinish poorly applied lume from the factory.

Now you’re talking thousands more.

In perspective, the minute hand can be polished by a very good indie watchmaker during next service. If the watch hasn’t had a service then it is due for one now because it is 17 years old. The lume can also be polished away from the top edge of the 12 o’clock triangle, too.





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[peterpl]

The scratch on the minute hand would annoy me more. The overfil of the lume was probably a QC issue from the factory.

The scratch on the hand is probably from a watchmaker removing it and putting it back on. I believe this is why RSC recommend new hands whenever a watch gets serviced.

[poidog81]

Originally Posted by 77T

In perspective, the minute hand can be polished by a very good indie watchmaker during next service. If the watch hasn’t had a service then it is due for one now because it is 17 years old. The lume can also be polished away from the top edge of the 12 o’clock triangle, too.

Great tip for the OP! Would be much less pricey then having replacements done from the RSC.

[padi56]

Originally Posted by 77T

Thanks for posting the picture Peter.

Here is what I believe the OP means...



So the answer is the 12 o’clock triangle has a slight bit of lume that was deposited above the WG surrounding the triangle. This happened at the factory methinks. When you bought it you likely didn’t see it.

The mark on the minute hand might have happened at the factory but this usually can happen when a watchmaker removes the hands to pull out the movement for some reason. Even the RSC can make such a mistake.

If the watch has never been opened by anyone then both are factory issues.

But I agree that these are minor imperfections that you can accept as long as it keeps good time.

What has been the accuracy of the Watch?


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I bet a blind man would love to see that very minuscule bit of lume paint on the 12 marker surround, as for the second hand without high magnification doubt if you would even notice it.

[Tools]

If you look at the other round markets, you will see the same glare as is marked on the triangle.

[Diehunnen]

Thanks for all the reply guys. I don’t really want to return the watch since where I live in montreal they are hard to find especially with original box and papers. I paid 7400 usd for it so i Think that’s a good deal. Anyone else believe that a watchmaker can take the Glas off and carefully polish the minute marker for the scratch to disappear or at least be less noticeable?

[77T]

Originally Posted by Tools

If you look at the other round markets, you will see the same glare as is marked on the triangle.

Ah - good catch. I didn’t inspect the way light was playing a role.

And I agree with Peter (padi56): IMHO an unaided eye at 5’ away (the usual casual observer’s distance) wouldn’t notice.


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[Tools]

Originally Posted by Diehunnen

Thanks for all the reply guys. I don’t really want to return the watch since where I live in montreal they are hard to find especially with original box and papers. I paid 7400 usd for it so i Think that’s a good deal. Anyone else believe that a watchmaker can take the Glas off and carefully polish the minute marker for the scratch to disappear or at least be less noticeable?

Hands are extremely thin. The labor costs to do what you want would be something to look at and decide, not to mention finding a watchmaker willing to do the job.

Personally, I do not believe that you can readily see this mark without magnification or fiddling around; certainly, nobody else could.

[Diehunnen]

Originally Posted by Tools

Hands are extremely thin. The labor costs to do what you want would be something to look at and decide, not to mention finding a watchmaker willing to do the job.

Personally, I do not believe that you can readily see this mark without magnification or fiddling around; certainly, nobody else could.

It’s not easily noticeable for sure. But once you know it’s there and the movement of the light sometimes really makes it stand out. Normal lighting you really can’t see the scratch but once you move the watch around a bit to where it catches some light on the dials the scratch definitley is there

[padi56]

Originally Posted by Diehunnen

It’s not easily noticeable for sure. But once you know it’s there and the movement of the light sometimes really makes it stand out. Normal lighting you really can’t see the scratch but once you move the watch around a bit to where it catches some light on the dials the scratch definitley is there

Simple answer stop looking at you watch, the only time you need to look is when you want to know the time.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by Diehunnen

It’s not easily noticeable for sure. But once you know it’s there and the movement of the light sometimes really makes it stand out. Normal lighting you really can’t see the scratch but once you move the watch around a bit to where it catches some light on the dials the scratch definitley is there

Send it in for service and have a new set of hands installed. That is all you can do. Or live with it for now.

[Diehunnen]

Originally Posted by Bigblu10

Send it in for service and have a new set of hands installed. That is all you can do. Or live with it for now.

When sending my Rolex in for service. I heard there is a fee you pay like 750$ and that’s it. Anything they have to fix they fix they won’t charge you for each thing that’s wrong. Now when switching the dial is that something I would have to pay extra? Is that part of the servicing fee

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Diehunnen

When sending my Rolex in for service. I heard there is a fee you pay like 750$ and that’s it. Anything they have to fix they fix they won’t charge you for each thing that’s wrong. Now when switching the dial is that something I would have to pay extra? Is that part of the servicing fee

This is not true.

Rolex does charge an initial flat fee that does include the expendables, like wheels, mainspring, gaskets and the like.

It would not include hands, crowns, dials or other parts that are not part of the drivetrain expendable group.

[Bigblu10]

Originally Posted by Diehunnen

When sending my Rolex in for service. I heard there is a fee you pay like 750$ and that’s it. Anything they have to fix they fix they won’t charge you for each thing that’s wrong. Now when switching the dial is that something I would have to pay extra? Is that part of the servicing fee

You will PAY for a new set of hands. You can even have a new dial but that is also extra. $750 movement service doesn't cover these items as Tools just stated.

[shaunylw]

Originally Posted by Tools

You need to put away the loupe.

Exactly right. Reminds me of when people buy Porsche’s then have to get them paint corrected because the paint isn’t perfect. If human hands touch something that’s getting built, there is a reasonable amount of imperfections associated with it.


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[Diehunnen]

Originally Posted by shaunylw

Exactly right. Reminds me of when people buy Porsche’s then have to get them paint corrected because the paint isn’t perfect. If human hands touch something that’s getting built, there is a reasonable amount of imperfections associated with it.


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I don’t really understand what he means with put away the loupe, can you explain please

[Wobbly]

Loupe is a type of magnifying glass, by which it highlights imperfections.

[77T]

Originally Posted by Diehunnen

I don’t really understand what he means with put away the loupe, can you explain please

It is an idiom.




In the WIS sense it means magnifying imperfections that can’t be seen by the unaided eye is fruitless.




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