Saying "Hi" with Inherited Datejust

[awl168]

Just wanted to say "Hi" and introduce myself to the Rolex Forums. I inherited my father's Datejust and I joined the forum to learn more about this vintage DJ.

This was my father's sole Rolex and my mother tells me that he had purchased it in Hong Kong in the late 60's or early 70's. It's not in the best of shape; for example, I cannot adjust the date using the crown. However, the DJ still runs and is pretty accurate.

Some pics:









The one item that I'm unsure of on the DJ is the clasp and/or bracelet. The clasp doesn't have the Rolex crown and it's stamped as 62510H. From my research on the forum, I would have thought the bracelet would be a 6251H. Also, notice how the "red" of "Registered" looks off amongst other things. I'm thinking the clasp and/or bracelet is a fake. I'm hoping this doesn't mean that the watch is a fake.





Anyways, I'm hoping that I can get the DJ restored (I'm thinking about using ABC Watchwerks) and getting a new bracelet for it so that I can wear it in honor of my father.

[RC2]

Crown could have been polished off over the years


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[Old Expat Beast]

Do you have the original receipt? Maybe I could tell you something about where your dad bought the watch.

[cruvon]

Congrats, a great heirloom, cherish it!

[Tools]

Great looking watch and possibly pre-quickset, so you couldn't set the date except by turning the hands.

Looks to be from the late 50's possibly early 60's

[awl168]

Thanks for the welcome! I'm learning a lot about the DJ as I'm going through the forums.

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Do you have the original receipt? Maybe I could tell you something about where your dad bought the watch.

Unfortunately, the receipt and paperwork have been lost. The only item that I have which may show where the DJ was purchased is the polishing cloth that the store gave my father when he purchased it. It's from Lam Yuen Fong.



Not sure if they're still in existence as a Google search didn't yield any results.

[awl168]

Originally Posted by Tools

Great looking watch and possibly pre-quickset, so you couldn't set the date except my turning the hands.

Looks to be from the late 50's possibly early 60's

Did not dawn on me that the DJ could be a pre-quickset. Thanks!

[sea-dweller]

Congrats!

[Vlad]

The head looks nice. based on the dial/hands I would say early 60s 1603.

The band is not Rolex, sorry.

[RC2]

Agree band looks not rolex with the uneven writing


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[RLX-lvr]

Nice Datejust.
Your watch would be from 1963, as shown on the dial with the underline.

Probably your serial # starts with the numbers 82.

Here is my example. My serial is 8211xx



Your bracelet unfortunately, is not authentic Rolex.

[awl168]

Thanks everyone for all the great info!

Originally Posted by RLX-lvr

Nice Datejust.
Your watch would be from 1963, as shown on the dial with the underline.

Probably your serial # starts with the numbers 82.

Here is my example. My serial is 8211xx



Your bracelet unfortunately, is not authentic Rolex.

That is a beautiful DJ! I hope mine can be as well one day.

I had no idea the underline on the dial would be a tell tale sign of year of manufacture. In looking at pics of other DJ's and comparing to mine, I never even noticed the underline on the dial before. I have much to learn.

Guess I'll be on the hunt for a suitable replacement bracelet as part of the restoration.

[GGGMT]

Awesome dj! Great family piece. Love the polish cloth!

[crowncollection]

Nice watch as stated band is not original.

[Michael M.]

Very nice datejust; and great story. As mentioned above, the bracelet is aftermarket. An original jubilee shouldn't provide too much of a hassle to locate.

[Old Expat Beast]

Originally Posted by awl168

Thanks for the welcome! I'm learning a lot about the DJ as I'm going through the forums.



Unfortunately, the receipt and paperwork have been lost. The only item that I have which may show where the DJ was purchased is the polishing cloth that the store gave my father when he purchased it. It's from Lam Yuen Fong.



Not sure if they're still in existence as a Google search didn't yield any results.

Nice cloth! Lam Yuen Fong wound up in 1995. Their Des Voeux Rd premises now seems to be a dried seafood shop. Ocean Terminal still exists as part of Harbour City, though much renovated. If your father was passing through by cruise ship he would have bought it there. LYF was a very high class watch seller, also being an AD for Patek Phillipe. Tbat's about as much as I can tell you really!

Edit: it may help to know that LYF started business in 1973 according to one source. http://watch-fever.blogspot.hk/2013/...-slip-and.html

[BNA/LION]

Nice watch! Enjoy it in good health and may your Father RIP!

[awl168]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Nice cloth! Lam Yuen Fong wound up in 1995. Their Des Voeux Rd premises now seems to be a dried seafood shop. Ocean Terminal still exists as part of Harbour City, though much renovated. If your father was passing through by cruise ship he would have bought it there. LYF was a very high class watch seller, also being an AD for Patek Phillipe. Tbat's about as much as I can tell you really!

Edit: it may help to know that LYF started business in 1973 according to one source. http://watch-fever.blogspot.hk/2013/...-slip-and.html

Wow! Thank you for the information on LYF. My father immigrated to the US in the late 60's, but I know he visited HK multiple times in the 70's. So much history that I am learning through the DJ.

[awl168]

Originally Posted by BNALION

Nice watch! Enjoy it in good health and may your Father RIP!

Thank you. He's in a better place now. I hope to wear the watch in his honor and to treat it as a family heirloom to be passed on.

[awl168]

Hmmm...now I'm trying to figure out how my father obtained the non-Rolex bracelet.

[BEGNAT64]

Claps lock is good, but use and Jub bracelet is not Rolex

[crowncollection]

Originally Posted by BEGNAT64

Claps lock is good, but use and Jub bracelet is not Rolex

The other way around I believe the band section could be original, the clasp certainly is not authentic. Cheers.


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[eightbore]

Get yourself a period correct bracelet for it or wear it on a nice leather strap with Rolex buckle. I would also frame that polishing cloth....SUPER COOL!

[Jason71]

Originally Posted by eightbore

.......I would also frame that polishing cloth....SUPER COOL!

x 2

[awl168]

I took the DJ to ABC Watchwerks and the guys there are amazing.



Beau took one look at it and like RLX-lvr identified it as being made in 1963 due to the underline and the arrow hands. He opened up the watch and told me that the DJ had been serviced at least once in 1982. There was another mark for service, but no date associated with it. All the watch internals are authentic parts.



I received an estimate for the work to restore the DJ plus getting a period correct bracelet. I was all set to get the work done, but found out last week that I'm getting laid off at the end of the month.



The DJ restore will have to wait until I land myself a new gig. However, once I do land that new gig, I'll definitely be going to ABC Watchwerks!

[Old Expat Beast]

Sorry to hear about that mate....at least you hadn't already put the watch in when you got the bad news. Keep us uodated in the future.

[slcbbrown]

Quickset was mostly an 80's thing, so this one should be way before that. I have my father's 1959-ish Thunderbird, and noticed that the bracelet was way newer than it should have been. I know he bought the watch in Switzerland, new and don't ever remember him changing it. It must have been fairly common to replace a worn jubilee at service time.

[awl168]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

Sorry to hear about that mate....at least you hadn't already put the watch in when you got the bad news. Keep us uodated in the future.

Thanks. I'm hoping it is just a quick turnaround to my next position!

[awl168]

Sorry for bumping my original thread, but I wanted to share pics of the DJ restore. After landing a new gig several months ago, I decided to take my dad's DJ to ABC Watchwerks to get the restore work done. After waiting about 7 weeks, I got the watch back and finally decided to post a few pics to share with you all.

Comparison pic:


The front:


ABC Watchwerks found a period-correct Jubilee bracelet to replace the replica bracelet. There's a bit of stretch, but the bracelet is in very good condition.


I wore the DJ today to brunch and couldn't help but admire the restoration work (especially polishing the watch to match the new "vintage" bracelet).


The DJ is running really well and I'm very pleased. I have no doubt that my dad would have smiled at seeing how good his DJ looks today.

[jolimont]

amazing watch

you have a stunning piece there