Just bought a Rolex sub 1970

[moorflax]

After a whole lot of thinking and with good help from you guys at the Roolex forums, I bought the Rolex Sub from Bobs watches that is shjown in this thread.
http://www.rolexforums.com/showthread.php?t=441618

The Watch is in excellent condition but I have some thoughts about the case. I hope you guys can help me with this!
First of all a quick talk about Bobswatches. First I emailed them and ask them if the watch was still available.
No problem, they said. The watch is in a perfect condition and it would look stunning on you!
I sent them a couple of email and asked them if the watch was serviced and if they know anything about the previous owners.
I also asked them if they could do a couple of bucks with the price.

I must say that they were really nice but they did not answer any of my questions. I didn't got the best impression. I was sending a couple of email but I don't think I talk to the same person twice.

Anyway! I ordered the watch in spite the concerns I got from the corresponding.
I really like it and it was in fact a watch from 1970, the year I was born!

A couple of weeks later I found the box from Bobs watches in my mailbox.
In Sweden we usually get a note from the post office and we need to go down to the local post office to show a ID to get the more expensive packages.
In this case the xxxx$ box was in the my mail for anyone to lay there hands on!!
I don't know who to blame, Bobswatches or FedEx perhaps? Luckily it went ok and I got the watch!
Now to my question! Do you guys think this watch is in a "too good condition" not to have been welding on? (sorry for my broken english)
In the Swedish forums one or two think it has been renovated and welded by ABC Watchwerks.
What do you think? I really don't care, and it is not really that important if it has some welding done to it, I just want to know.

A couple of pictures below for you to look at.

[TimeToGo]

Welcome to the Forum and Congratulations on a very nice/fine watch!

Yes, the case was redone..

[xeal]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

Welcome to the Forum and Congratulations on a very nice/fine watch!

Yes, the case was redone..

How can you tell for sure?
It does appear that it looks thicker than a usual 5513 even at unpolished condition.
Either way OP that looks stunning! Congrats

[drefrank]

Great looking watch!

[chand8]

nice one, looks refinished, bevelled edges more pronounced but does not matter.

[RolexJNJ]

Congratulations! Very nice Sub!!

[AS1]

cool sub congrats

[Jonnyred72]

Very nice.
I dont think it has been welded, just polished and bevelled(lots). Either way, if you love it, that's all that matters!
Enjoy!

[Zoran]

It looks very nice, regardless of the works done to the case!
Enjoy!

[Toronto Soup King]

Lovely watch, looks great. Er, minor confession here, when I got my 5513 from HQ Milton, I asked Jacek for the cheapest one he had in good working order, a "beater" Sub, so that I could wear the darn thing without worrying about scratches and dings (like I worry when I wear my JLC.) Consequently, my Sub is (on close examination) quite scratched and dented, particularly if you look at it through a loupe. But it doesn't matter. It's still a beautiful watch, you have to be an inch away from it to see it's not as shiny as a new penny.

Frankly at 44 I have a few scratches and dents myself. I don't mind my sports watches looking like they've been around the block a couple of times as well!

[Michael M.]

The case does not look to have been 'welded', just simply polished by ABC watchwerks with the bevels recut.

Congrats on a very nice 5513!

[05carbondrz]

I thought it was ABC's policy to NOT Weld any metal onto the Lugs,Only recut the Bevels.

[rodwatch69]

Its a nice watch in very nice shape. Dial and hands look good and case does too. I am not a fan of Bobs, I personally think they are horrendous, but you got a nice watch there.

Any chance you would disclose how much you paid? I am hoping no more than $6000 USD but, I am curious..

[nick c]

Congrats and welcome

[Makau]

Very nice watch


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TimeToGo]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

I thought it was ABC's policy to NOT Weld any metal onto the Lugs,Only recut the Bevels.

Well, since you asked... you are partially correct that they do not weld metal onto the lugs...

BUT...they do weld in the lug holes to reshape if they are rounded/out of shape..

[05carbondrz]

Originally Posted by TimeToGo

Well, since you asked... you are partially correct that they do not weld metal onto the lugs...

BUT...they do weld in the lug holes to reshape if they are rounded/out of shape..

Thanks for clarifying,I should have been more clear.

[brandrea]

Congratulations!

[DM2]

Very nice watch! Love those era Subs, it has a nice clean uncluttered classic look. I wouldn't worry about the case work, it displays very well and you won't lose any money on the watch, those Subs will only go up in value in the future. Enjoy the watch, I think you made a great purchase.

DM

[sea-dweller]

Congrats!

[g-boac]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

Thanks for clarifying,I should have been more clear.

They do that, plus I believe they can use laser welding to repair conditions such as caseback corrosion, case corrosion, and divots, chips, and gouges on the case or lugs. What they cannot do, is thicken lugs that have been thinned by over- or poor polishing. It's sort of the difference between filling, spackling, sanding, and painting can repair a dent or hole in drywall - but you can't fix a missing wall doing that.

[Boaters]

I think it looks great and a little polishing is not the end of the world for me. Congrats on a real beauty and welcome to the forum.

[moorflax]

Thanks guys!
I love the watch and like you say, it not the end of the world if it was redone in any way.
In about ten years the watch gonna have my dents and scratches on it I would love it even more

[IMG][/IMG]

[cardiel]

When my watch arrived from the States, Fed Ex left the packet outside the door of my apartment - in a building with 5 other apartments!

[swish77]

That's a nice-looking Sub with a strong case. It does look like the lugs/chamfers were detailed, but don't assume it was ABC. Rolex Service Centers recut lugs too, and Bexley in the UK is known for doing it well. There are many threads out there on that topic. (Other RSCs can screw it up, though.) In any event, I wouldn't sweat those chamfers; they look great. Congrats!

[JohnBaker3]

From your photos I gathered the following:

1. Excellent fat font insert
2. Correct folded link bracelet with minimal stretch
3. Correct crown/tube
4. Very nice patina on the dial and hands
5. Crystal appears free on any scratches

Only down-side appears to be a missing pearl which can be sourced.

The changes to the case are minimal and are desireable for many collectors.

Mine says "hello" !

[Schneeflocke]

Originally Posted by moorflax

Thanks guys!
I love the watch and like you say, it not the end of the world if it was redone in any way.
In about ten years the watch gonna have my dents and scratches on it I would love it even more

[IMG][/IMG]

Stilig! Gillar även att du kör Prius. Wear it in good health!

[springer]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

Thanks for clarifying,I should have been more clear.

They will also repair gouges, dings etc. I believe they have a thread here on the forum regarding some repairs they made to a damaged watch.

[Jason71]

I'd really like to know how people can tell from a few pictures whether or not the case has been laser-welded

IMHO, not possible to tell if it is done correctly. Either way, it looks as if you acquired a fine example. Congrats.

[Frogman4me]

Great patina! Congrats