WTK: Can one tell the date of a Day-Date?

[norshon3]

Newb question: Since all gold Day-Dates have been made since the late 1950's, can one simple look at the watch and tell the date it was made? * Has the 36mm yellow gold case been changed over the years? Not to keep up with the Jones' but if I had a Day Date that was made in 1971, could I put a new (modern) dial and hands on it and would it look like a modern 2014 President?

[Tools]

Generally a knowledgeable collector can look most models over and come up with an era in which the watch was marketed.. Serial numbers and case stampings can further refine a target time-frame.

Modern dials do not physically fit on early movements but anything can be done with a skilled watchmaker.

[norshon3]

Yes but if I want to "modernize" an older watch...not trying to cheat anyone or do something wrong...just want to make my older watch look like a newer one. I will never sell it, I just want a new DD but am "stuck" with one made 40 years earlier. *My personal preference.

[Tools]

There are a lot of fresh new dials still available for an early Day Date. I would say that if properly serviced, refinished, and a fresh dial; most wouldn't know at all that it was a 40 year old watch.

[Kingair]

A dial swap I would do

Actually I did one on my 1810

But a vintage 18XX I would never try to turn it in something 'modern'

Than just go for a younger / newer model

HAGOne

Sent from my SM-N900T using Tapatalk

[AlBacon!974]

Originally Posted by norshon3

Yes but if I want to "modernize" an older watch...not trying to cheat anyone or do something wrong...just want to make my older watch look like a newer one. I will never sell it, I just want a new DD but am "stuck" with one made 40 years earlier. *My personal preference.

I just got a 1974 Day-Date and I couldn't be happier. I know it's 40 years old but so am I, lol. The only thing I would change if I could would to be able to put a new 18k gold bracelet on it, other than that the average person couldn't really tell the difference of the year it was made.

[crowncollection]

You can yell models not years. The case has changed yes and dial on early models are different also. Leave it the way it I IMHO