6542 - Advice Needed

[nsarkas]

Hey,
Even though I've been browsing for a while, this is my first post here.

I'm looking at buying a 6542 from someone who's family had it from new. The watch is complete with its original box/warranty/certificate.

Although I'm told that the watch is all original, as far as they're aware, I just wanted to check on here. My main concern is that it's 'too good', dial etc are very clean, hard to see but it's only very lightly polished.

I wanted to know if this is the correct dial? and not a service version.

Also, if the bezel is correct for the year? (1959) - I know 6542s came with bakelite bezels, but I've read that in later years, metal bezels were issued by the factory, but I'm not sure if this is correct/if this is original.

Please let me know if anything else looks wrong with it, I know its difficult with only this picture, but I'll be sure to take more when i get the chance.

Thanks!

[dhknola]

OK - others more experienced will chime in but: pretty sure should be a bakelite bezel (a period replacement is VERY expensive, like 20-30k), 24 hand is too large to be original and dial doesn't seem right to be original; looks like a service dial with chapter ring.
Cool watch, but it is not a 'barn find'; it looks like may have been serviced in the 70's from the dial and large 24h hand.
Great watch, but difficult to value given what I feel are later additions.

[1675-David]

looks like an extremely fresh case, the crown looks like it's never been wound, a matte chapter ring service dial, who well do you know the seller? To me these are red flags.

[nsarkas]

Originally Posted by dhknola

OK - others more experienced will chime in but: pretty sure should be a bakelite bezel (a period replacement is VERY expensive, like 20-30k), 24 hand is too large to be original and dial doesn't seem right to be original; looks like a service dial with chapter ring.
Cool watch, but it is not a 'barn find'; it looks like may have been serviced in the 70's from the dial and large 24h hand.
Great watch, but difficult to value given what I feel are later additions.

Thank you, I was more worried that any changes were done a long time ago (like the 70s) before it was passed onto the current owner; as opposed to something wrong being done recently.

Will continue to get more opinions before deciding whether to buy or not.

[nsarkas]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

looks like an extremely fresh case, the crown looks like it's never been wound, a matte chapter ring service dial, who well do you know the seller? To me these are red flags.

The seller is a long time family friend who's had the watch for about 20 years, after inheriting it from their uncle (who bought this from new).

Neither of them ever really wore the watch much.

Interesting to note (for those who like Omegas) that amongst the friends inherited collection was also an older tropical speedmaster 2998-2, also in as new condition.

[nsarkas]

Originally Posted by dhknola

OK - others more experienced will chime in but: pretty sure should be a bakelite bezel (a period replacement is VERY expensive, like 20-30k), 24 hand is too large to be original and dial doesn't seem right to be original; looks like a service dial with chapter ring.
Cool watch, but it is not a 'barn find'; it looks like may have been serviced in the 70's from the dial and large 24h hand.
Great watch, but difficult to value given what I feel are later additions.

Sorry my site seems to be playing up, sorry if I'm replying twice.

Thanks very much - my worries were more in that something might have been done 20+ years ago, prior to the watch being inherited, that the current owner would have not known about.

[1675-David]

Originally Posted by nsarkas

The seller is a long time family friend

cool! I think your best next move is to go and photograph the watch from all angles including the engravings between the lugs and all the markings on the bracelet and post them up here

[dhknola]

You will find help here! More photos as 1675-David added and other people will chime in!

Cool watch, I think you have realized prices for these have a major range.

[nsarkas]

Thanks, will try to get more pics but won't be for a couple of weeks. Any more comments in the meantime are appreciated

[pts1956]

Hi , as others have already alluded to, Matte service dial, you’ll notice the “ Superlative “ designation as opposed to the original “Officially certified “ text ,hands and bezel insert service changes. the insert is very bright condition and lack of fade ( although being kept out of the light could account for this), but probably unlikely probably means a later addition . Many reasons for the changes, possibly the owner didn’t like the idea of a radium dial and radium bezel after the well publicised health scare and recall. It was a big story back in the day. Let’s not forget back then owners would have had no idea of how in the future the value of these iconic watches would soar beyond anyone’s wildest comprehension ! They would have rightly had them serviced to maintain their life and their investment in the hard earned cash they laid out, because they weren’t cheap. Just means it was looked after and maintained as a wearable tool watch as it was designed for, nothing wrong with that imho . Still a very nice valuable watch but obviously the overall value will be reflected by the lack of originality that the purist crave. Kind regards

[nsarkas]

Originally Posted by pts1956

Still a very nice valuable watch but obviously the overall value will be reflected by the lack of originality that the purist crave. Kind regards

Thank you very much, I think I have more of an idea now, although it's a shame it's not as original as I thought it was.

Out of interest would the correct dial/GMT hand be obtainable? Or would this be prohibitively difficult/expensive.

[Dan S]

An heirloom for them, but not really a collectible piece in my opinion.

[Lgear080]

Depends how you define prohibitive. You may have a lot of watch here.

[TimeLord2]

Here is an article about the 6542 on Bob's Watches and it says only the first year of production (1955) came with the bakelite bezel. After that they replaced them with the aluminum version we are all so fond of today. Thought you might be interested as there are a few more links about the same within the text. Here: https://www.bobswatches.com/rolex-bl...ster-6542.html
Still a lovely watch with a nice case even with the replacement parts…

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2

After that they replaced them with the aluminum version we are all so fond of today.

There’re people more fond of an aluminum insert for a 6542 than a Bakelite?”

[daOnlyBG]

I don't think a '59 GMT should have a Bakelite bezel.

[TimeLord2]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

There’re people more fond of an aluminum insert for a 6542 than a Bakelite?”

A little sarcasm. I actually have a root beer GMT... That said I do like the bakelite much more. Has more depth and the numerals glow. So cool! I wonder if they ever made any for a full gold model with a brown bakelite version? I suppose that's another thread.

[pts1956]

Originally Posted by nsarkas

Thank you very much, I think I have more of an idea now, although it's a shame it's not as original as I thought it was.



Out of interest would the correct dial/GMT hand be obtainable? Or would this be prohibitively difficult/expensive.

Ok this is a question that has been raised many times on forums. If you’d have been asking the question 10-15 years ago then what you propose would have been easily achievable. Back then top end pristine all original 6542’s with acrylic bezels (bakelite) would range from 15k - 30k, now multiply that by at least 3 - 4 times and more for a bog standard examples. They are to many ”the grail” watch and a great example is a stunningly beautiful thing to behold but imho without wanting to offend anyones sensitivities its not like they are an ancient holy relic, at the end of the day they are still a watch, a very beautiful watch, but still a watch.
Incidentally I’ve seen examples of 6542 ‘s from 1958 right through to 1960 with bakelite bezels . My fathers own 58 6542 had a bakelite, I emphasise had as it went the way of many. You can see many examples that have gone through Sotheby’s & Christie’s from that time period as original and authentic, so who knows, just saying.
Anyway, so the question really depends on what you’re really looking for. If you’re looking for a collectors piece to cherish or as an investment, you need to look elsewhere, but you’ll need very deep pockets so be prepared to break the bank.

Even if you were to go down the line of hunting for dials, hands and for bakelite bezels It is a minefield for the uninitiated. Invariably they are often in bad shape and will cost you a small fortune as individual parts. As stated if your pockets are very very deep, then fine, but bear in mind decent bakelite bezels if you can find them ( and they do surface occasionally) are going to cost you at least £12k -£15k upwards, If your lucky to find a gilt dial in fair to reasonable then again £10k onwards at todays prices (which have gone insane on SS Rolex), all this whilst trying to avoid the fakers. . You could end up with a sows ear rather than a silk purse. Then you would not want to wear it for fear of cracking the extremely fragile bakelite bezel.

However if you just want to own a wearable iconic watch and wear the hell out of it, leave it as is, get it authenticated , then providing the asking price is right for you, go for it. You can get yourself an aftermarket “Fakelite” bezel if you want to try and achieve a more authentic look, (there are meany convincing ones around on a well know auction site), and have the option of changing it out for the metal insert for a different look occasionally , just get the movement cleaned and serviced ( if they say they have to send it back to Rolex Run Away!) Then wear it as a daily with pride and enjoy it!
Kind regards




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[Basileo70]

Serviced bezel without Bakelite and big hand