Double Red Sea-Dweller Submariner 2000

[Jason71]

Please make sure and post "after" pics when it comes back from Mr. Ridley!!!

[Psmith]

...and perhaps some "during" photos as BR works his magic...


Cheers

[Lol-x]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

An Update On The Watch

As things usually go around here, we forgot about the watch again....but today we're finally sending it off to Mr. Bob Ridley in Arlington. We spoke to him on the phone a little while ago and he seems to be as excited about the watch as we are, that's a good thing. You can hear the passion this man has for his work, as rare as the watch these days I think.

It'll be an exciting month or so in this household...

woo hoo....

I'm confident you made a very wise decision

[DadsWatch72]

http://mb.nawcc.org/showthread.php?t=40142

Your serial # is 2661XXX. From all the charts that I can find, this indicates it was produced between 1968 and 1969. The moderator of the NAWCC forum made a reference to the inside of your caseback that it was stamped for the early part of 1967. This is interesting. I thought only the PPDRSD was produced that far back. Too bad it isn't. Do you still have a picture of the inside caseback, it was removed from the other forum. Make sure you remove the serial digits.

http://doubleredseadweller.com/drsdcollecting.htm
http://www.preownedrolex.com/images/...eyourrolex.htm

[Barracuda]

Originally Posted by Alcan

You made the right choice in sending the watch to Bob. As Mike mentioned earlier, he is well known and respected by the vintage collector community. Several members here have used his services, all with outstanding results.

Not to hijack your thread, but here is a photo essay on a restoration of an irreplaceable vintage he did for me last year. It'll give you an idea of the quality of his work and as you put it, his passion:

http://rolexforums.com/showthread.ph...ght=Bob+Ridley


Good luck with the DRSD.

That was a very awesome photo essay. Thank you!!!!

I chose Mr. Ridley because of this site and the kudos everyone gives him, I never once thought of sending it to anyone else. I wish we had done it earlier, but things get busy and priorities shift from time to time. This watch has a history of being forgotten and that's what happened again...not anymore.

We're still thinking of selling the watch to someone who will cherish the darn thing and with its history of diving and the paperwork/photos associated with it, it should prove interesting. Whoever does end up buying it will have an original DRSD MKll. I'm not really a watch fan, more muscle car, bamboo fly rod kind of guy, so putting it up for sale isn't going to keep me awake at night, unlike that windowlicking sale of an original 62 Chevy Impala SS when I was young and dumb.

Like I said, we'd like to sell it, but don't have to....with that said, we'd like to expand a non-profit we have and this would provide some serious duckets towards that goal.

Originally Posted by Psmith

...and perhaps some "during" photos as BR works his magic...

After seeing Alcans photo essay, I'll ask Mr. Ridley nicely and see if he can fire up the ol'Kodak during the process and then post the results here.

[DadsWatch72]

http://doubleredseadweller.com/drsd.htm

Quote from that website regarding the caseback of the PPDRSD.

"Lastly, the quarter and year of production of the caseback is engraved. Most state “IV 67” indicating the fourth quarter of 1967."

I am confused why its not a PP model, or at least the caseback should say PP on it.

[rsg]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

Thanks for the help gentleman, you've enlightened me and I certainly appreciate it. We're pretty excited and are looking forward to getting this thing up and running again. I spent a good deal of time in the basement last night looking for anything remotely associated with the watch and nothing. I was hoping to find a box or paperwork but my efforts went unrewarded. I did find some paperwork identifying the family member as a big-time scuba instructor covering all aspects of diving; from rescue, deep water and research diving. but that's all.

Uhm......I'd be looking for more random envelopes if I were you.....
Congrat's on a great find!

[miked]

Whoa Please keep us updated, welcome!

[submariner1]

Originally Posted by etp095

it's more like a 69 Z28 with a factory cross ram intake and rear factory discs.the only thing with nos parts is that they are very expensive (hands,dial).do you really want to keep it and wear it?there is another independent rsc in chicago(30 n, michigan ave),sounds like your from chi town.bob ridley would be the guy to restore your vintage rolex.is the back of it engraved,looks like it?

With houndstooth guts, 4.11 gear, and the headers in the trunk.. oops wrong forum Kiddin' aside, nice sub!!

[BASSETHOUNDS]

One must still believe in santa Claus if 20.000 USD watches are falling from basement shelves . Good luck with the watch .

[tinstar]

Be sure to keep it in your gun safe when it returns!!!

[Alcan]

[QUOTE=Barracuda;1424313]After seeing Alcans photo essay, I'll ask Mr. Ridley nicely and see if he can fire up the ol'Kodak during the process and then post the results here.QUOTE]

Here's another one that Joe aka Bubba aaka Redshirt1957 here just posted. Bob's also a great photographer.



http://rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=99465

[DadsWatch72]

I found another case back (inner and outer) simular to yours. It has an even older serial # and is NOT a PP model.

Its the forth watch down........http://www.ukwatches.com/RolexD.html

[Barracuda]

The bracelet is a Rolex Oyster 9315 with folded links and 380 end pieces. About thirteen links should be present. The extension of the bracelet may state “patent pending”.

DoubleRedSeaDweller.com

I checked the photos I took of the bracelet....no such luck, its empty, just the Rolex crest thingie.

[Bisquitlips]

Cuda,

Well I for one am enthralled at your account of finding this DRSD!

A truly once in a lifetime event that all of us here on TRF have probably dreamed about!

Congratulations!

[DadsWatch72]

Is the watch done yet Bob?

[DadsWatch72]

Is it done yet Bob?

[Barracuda]

Originally Posted by DadsWatch72

Is it done yet Bob?

Heh heh....I wish the government worked that fast, I don't think he's actually got it in his hands yet. Should be there pretty soon though, but they did state that registered mail might take a tad longer because of the security precautions taken.

I hired an old pissed off teamster armed with a coach gun & an AT-4 rocket launcher to accompany the watch to Texas.

[DadsWatch72]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

Heh heh....I wish the government worked that fast, I don't think he's actually got it in his hands yet. Should be there pretty soon though, but they did state that registered mail might take a tad longer because of the security precautions taken.

I hired an old pissed off teamster armed with a coach gun & an AT-4 rocket launcher to accompany the watch to Texas.

Sounds like Texas alright.

[moviefreak]

Nice story on the watch.. I wish an "ice" would fall in my lap someday...

[Yazo]

Any updates dude?

[Barracuda]

We should be getting it back pretty soon, haven't talked to Mr. Ridley in a few days, but the date for shipping back to us is close. I'll post another thread with pics in the Vintage Forum when it does show up...

[Earl Camembert]

Originally Posted by thecoinopcollector

I am told Submariners and GMT's were favorites of GI's in Viet Nam.

The average grunt could never afford a Rolex; with a draft they didn't have to pay much. Seiko was the watch of choice; mechanical as quartz watches were way more expensive.

Now those that don't have to roll in the mud and blood can afford a Rolex.

[Yazo]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

We should be getting it back pretty soon, haven't talked to Mr. Ridley in a few days, but the date for shipping back to us is close. I'll post another thread with pics in the Vintage Forum when it does show up...

Thanks... looking forward to it!!

[DadsWatch72]

I am looking forward to seeing it also.

[CaveDiver]

Why so long? Parts?

[DadsWatch72]

Where is it?

[Barracuda]

Sorry....2 years to THE DAY I found the watch in the basement, we received the watch back from Mr. Ridley....who did an absolutely awesome job by the way. I'll be posting an update with photos in the vintage forum, but it'll take a day or so. I'll have to take some pics and such....but it's ALIVE!

[JohnEaton]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

Sorry....2 years to THE DAY I found the watch in the basement, we received the watch back from Mr. Ridley....who did an absolutely awesome job by the way. I'll be posting an update with photos in the vintage forum, but it'll take a day or so. I'll have to take some pics and such....but it's ALIVE!

CONGRATS

Looking forward to the pics

[Submarino]

Originally Posted by Barracuda

Sure. While knee-deep in the basement, looking for items to sell at a charity event, I was just sifting through your common basement detritus when I moved an item off a shelf above my head. Accompanied by years worth of dust and an old dial telephone, an envelope literally fell into my lap. Being the curious turd I am, I opened the envelope and there, staring me in the face was this watch, case and band wrapped tightly in an old eyeglass rag. As I stated before, I wasn't; until recently, versed in anything Rolex. I have a lot of friends who own Rolex's; Daytonas and such, but I never gave them a second thought. To be honest, I'm more of a Timex guy, wearing something like this to work would be foolish. I'm in law enforcement so whatever I'm wearing would be subject to some extreme conditions, dirt, gore, asphalt and not to mention suspicion. It's not common for any of us in this profession to wear something as valuable as a Rolex, not to say it doesn't happen, it's just not common.

So, once I identified the watch, first thinking it might be a fake, I went upstairs and showed it to the wife. It was at that time, family history reared its head and things started to make sense. A relation no longer with us had at one time been a diver. Unfortunately, as history some time does, much of what happened during this persons life is lost forever, taken from us with very little record and distorted by aged relations. We have and still are gathering SOME information from other sources within the family. Apparently, the original owner of the watch had been a commercial diver, working jobs in the Lake Michigan region and apparently worked on some jobs associated with the Mackinaw Bridge construction in Northern Michigan. We're still gathering information and are attempting to talk with the Mackinaw Historical Society, Mackinaw Bridge Authority and other entities that might have something to offer. It's an ongoing process.

Once we got our ducks in a row, we took the watch to an established watchmaker-repair shop not far from where we live. The wife had taken some rather expensive timepieces for repair in the past to this gentleman. The guy took the watch, looked at it, removed the back and said, "Nice watch, it would take me a lot of time to fix it", "I'll give you $50.00 bucks for it."....we left....with the watch.

Months went by, the watch tucked securely in the wifes purse, forgotten. We laugh today thinking of how many times she left her purse unattended in the shopping cart, turning her back on it to reach for a carton of milk at the store. We live in a very nice and safe part of the country, but still....dummies. A stupid thing to do on any day, but now knowing how valuable this piece is...doubly stoopid and a windowlicker move.

So, if I haven't bored you enough, just within the last week or so, curiosity got the best of me during another fund raiser and I sat behind the computer looking for information. I got an education on Rolex, learned that this might be a very valuable piece, told it was a historical timepiece etc. It's been fascinating. We're in the process of investigating avenues to have this watch serviced; by VERY experienced hands and by someone who doesn't have to ask twice "What did you call it? A DRSD 2000?"

So there ya have it. A condensed or Readers Digest version of how Mr DRSD performed its amazing rebirth. I'm going to give Watchmakers and Bob a call soon to discuss what can be done, I'd like to at least get the movement working, replace the crystal or fix the original, repair the band and bring this thing back to life. Whether we keep it or not, or allow someone else to give it the respect it deserves, is still up in the air. We have a non-profit organization and of course, funds are always elusive, but it's not my call, its the wifes. I just want to bring it back from the dead.



Thank you Mike for answering my question, it appears that Watchmakers.com in very respected within the timepiece community.




Thanks jac67.

Another question, does this market for vintage Rolex's have its ups and downs? I was told if we wished to sell, now is the time. Was that just a line or do you witness a fluctuation in interest when it comes to these kind of vintage watches?

Thanks guys for the help, its been awesome.

Cuda

What a beautiful story. Congrats on an amazing piece! There's an amazing watch repair company in Birmingham, MI named Universal Watch and Jewelry Repair, they repair from old Pateks to Paul Newman Daytonas preserving the old and vintage aspects of these pieces. You should call them and see what they can do for you. They are a very respectable company and often advertise on WatchTime or the Watch Annuals.

Good luck!