Vintage GMT expertise needed.....

[Newportkrieger]

I have an opportunity to buy this 1675 GMT from its original owner. He has no idea what it is worth nor do I. I want to offer him a "fair" and reasonable price for it. I do not want to take advantage of him nor do I want to over pay for it. I ahve searched the classifieds on TRF, TZ and Watchnet. I have not found an GMT for sale with this low of a serial number.

The owner purchased this watch new in 1964 just before deployment to Vietnam where he was an Air Force pilot. He is the original owner but has lost the box and papers. The watch has been inspected and authenticated by a Rolex authorized service center.

The watch has been serviced by the local Rolex authorized service center several times over the years in since the original owner purchased it.

My question is what is a fair price to pay for the watch given its condition and any specific features it may have that I am unaware of?

the watch:

ref # 1675
case serial number 885,xxx (1962)
movement cal 1570
folded oyster bracelet ref # 7836
280 end pieces
clasp marked 4/70

[greekbum]

Fair and reasonable is when both the buyer and seller are happy.Is he happy to sell it at 6k? And are you happy to buy it there?Or are you happy to buy it for 3k and is he happy to sell it there?The best way to know for sure is to educate yourself on the model and do your homework on past sales to kinda get a feel for where the current market is at. Look for finalized sales of similar watches.

[Newportkrieger]

Can anyone tell me with the photos provided, does thsi watch have;

- Gilt dial
- pointed crown guards until 1964/65 (with chapter ring dial)

Thanks

Steve

[Newportkrieger]

Originally Posted by greekbum

Fair and reasonable is when both the buyer and seller are happy.Is he happy to sell it at 6k? And are you happy to buy it there?Or are you happy to buy it for 3k and is he happy to sell it there?The best way to know for sure is to educate yourself on the model and do your homework on past sales to kinda get a feel for where the current market is at.

The owner is not sure what it is worth. He said a friend told him it was worth up to $10,000. He is discounting his friends comment. I would like to get a better estimation of its worth so I do not take advantage of him or myself in the transaction.

[mike]

At that vintage it would have been a gilt dial with small 24 hr. hand. Normal to have had them replaced over the years (sadly), and would have an effect on the value from original.

Likewise the bracelet and endlinks though correct I'm thinking were service replacements from the original 7206.

I would think the movement would have been a 1560/5 at that era. It's not uncommon for the butterfly rotor to have been replaced at service as well with the updated version..

None of this is in any way to say the watch does not have value, but to hopefully put everything in context.

Let's ballpark it in the 3.5 to 4Kish range with no knowledge of timekeeping or most recent last service.

Good luck.

[springer]

Here is what I see. It should have pointed crown guards, but it doesn't. Could it have the 885,xxx (1962) serial number without pointed crown guards - probably - here is why.

My first thought would be that it has a replacement case, but, original serial numbers do not come stamped on replacement cases. Replacement cases begin with specific numbers which are not on your case.

The dial looks like a late 60's dial by observing the Rolex coronet on the crown. Early 60's dials were gilt (gold) lettered and the Rolex coronet on the dial looked much different.

The hands have been replaced, yours should have the smaller, "red arrow" 2nd hour hand.

The band appears original.

If the watch was purchased new in 1964, the serial number should be in the range of 75xxxx 10xxxxx - which yours is. If watches are dated by their serial numbers, it is usually two, three or four years before it is sold. Selling date and manufacturing date should have a spread of a few years.

Value is predicated on vintage GMT's and other older Rolexes by originality and condition. Many items on this watch aren't original, and, if one wanted to put it back to original, you should factor in those costs before purchasing the watch. Also, the case is probably original if it contains the serial number you noted, so it would be an early production case that did not contain the pointed crown guards.

Personally, I would value the watch at $4000 on the low side and $5000 on the high side. It would cost $2000 on up to obtain an original dial and hands. One thing for sure, it is not a $10,000 GMT or even an $8000 GMT.

I'm sure others will post here also. Look for Mike's response, as he is also a GMT collector like me.