need help on red submariner

[Howie]

I've seen quite a few examples of 1680s with what appears to be rust around the inner bezel ring (see around the 4 and 5 marker). In most cases the rest of the watch is fine (no corrosion under the caseback, movement, etc). Can this be easily removed or is it permanent?

Also, does the rest of the dial look correct?

Thanks very much guys.
Howie

[bodybump]

Patina....let it stay like that......

[SLS]

It's permanent. The date wheel has been replaced, it should be silver. Looks fine though.

Edit: The dial may have been touched up...look at the coronet....makes me wonder?
Scott

[yannis]

I have seen a female friend's red sub that has exactly the same problem; only difference, rust is more obvious to the eye than in your picture. I have also seen some more pics on the web with vintage subs suffering from the same problem. Thing is i do not know whether RSCs deal with that or just leave it there (hers is on the bottom very close to the dial if i remember correctly). She had hers serviced 2 years ago but rust is still there so i take it they left it be?

[SLS]

The reason why its left alone is that the crystals are pressure fitted inside the case, if you try to polish the problem area you will increase the chances of the watch not being water resistant.

Osacar, he is talking about the the rust on the rehaute, not the markers....which do have a beautiful patina BTW!
~Scott

[onkyo]

Originally Posted by SLS

It's permanent. The date wheel has been replaced, it should be silver. Looks fine though.

Edit: The dial may have been touched up...look at the coronet....makes me wonder?
Scott

Coronet was definitively touched up or redone. Nice watch anyway!

[bodybump]

Originally Posted by SLS

The reason why its left alone is that the crystals are pressure fitted inside the case, if you try to polish the problem area you will increase the chances of the watch not being water resistant.

Osacar, he is talking about the the rust on the rehaute, not the markers....which do have a beautiful patina BTW!
~Scott

sorry i wasent paying attention on the post i was looking more on the watch hahahahaah.. thanks steve...

[Howie]

thanks guys, great insight as always...

[KJacques]

The only thing that looks unusual to me is that the patina isn't uniform. It seems to be heavier in the center and have a yellower tint similar to some redone fake "reds" I've seen. Might be perfectly normal, because I guess some faces age differently than others for some reason.

I've included a close up of my own watch in comparison.

[snowcrash]

Originally Posted by KJacques

The only thing that looks unusual to me is that the patina isn't uniform. It seems to be heavier in the center and have a yellower tint similar to some redone fake "reds" I've seen. Might be perfectly normal, because I guess some faces age differently than others for some reason.

I've included a close up of my own watch in comparison.

I gotta chime in and say the patina looks "uneven" on my DRSD as well and its a 100% original dial and hasnt been retouched. Though I'm no expert by far but I have to say mine looks more like that then the one you just posted. But I'm sure someone with more knowledge will post up as well.

Not the greatest picture, but you get the idea:

[Jocke]

Originally Posted by SLS

The reason why its left alone is that the crystals are pressure fitted inside the case, if you try to polish the problem area you will increase the chances of the watch not being water resistant.

Osacar, he is talking about the the rust on the rehaute, not the markers....which do have a beautiful patina BTW!
~Scott

Scott I will say that is not the rehaut that have the rust problem. The crystal is fitted
outside the case and to me it looks like the rust (if it is) are at the flat area under the crystal.

So IMO that should not be a problem to get that fixed.

Dalton, what are your opinion?

Jocke

[mike]

Originally Posted by Jocke

Scott I will say that is not the rehaut that have the rust problem. The crystal is fitted
outside the case and to me it looks like the rust (if it is) are at the flat area under the crystal.

So IMO that should not be a problem to get that fixed.

Dalton, what are your opinion?

Jocke

X2.

[Z-Sub]

strange looking coronet....

[KJacques]

Originally Posted by snowcrash

I gotta chime in and say the patina looks "uneven" on my DRSD as well and its a 100% original dial and hasnt been retouched. Though I'm no expert by far but I have to say mine looks more like that then the one you just posted.

One reason I'm curious why some tritium dials seem to age and yellow the way they do. Mine hasn't aged into a heavy patina like some.

[stevemulholland3]

Originally Posted by KJacques

One reason I'm curious why some tritium dials seem to age and yellow the way they do. Mine hasn't aged into a heavy patina like some.

yes I have often wondered exactly why some age and stay very white and others turn a rich buttery sctoch color...and some have a greenish color..
I think it has to do with the concentration of certain elements in each batch of lumin..but thats just a guess.
and guys,I love those red subs!!keep em' comin!!

[snowcrash]

When I talked to Bob about my watch he mentioned that the greenish tint can come from condensation (which mine had) and algae. He said it is common when they get condensation in them for a longer period of time. My DRSD was my dads and he had it stores for years. Then after a day of me wearing it it got some "mist" on the crystal. So I assume it's been in there for years.

[greekbum]

The patina thing has always had me clueless.I had a snow white 1680 from 1975.I had it serviced 3 years later it started to yellow.Others like my 16750 the hands yellowed and the dial is still bright white.

[Howie]

Interesting... since I'm in the market for a red sub, this is a very good thread...

[SLS]

Patina, or lack of it, has been discussed to death! I am of the belief that the more exsposure to sunlight, ie a watch that has been worn, will have the bright white creamy dials, whereas, the safe queens will have substantially more patina.
Scott

[Omega_Precision]

Would a re-dialed markers affect the value of the watch?

[Howie]

alright, i'm going to pass on this one due to the helpful comments here, the coronet does look a bit off, and the rust around the bezel ring.... just makes me a bit uncomfortable. Thanks again for everyone's input.

[KJacques]

Originally Posted by Howie

alright, i'm going to pass on this one due to the helpful comments here, the coronet does look a bit off, and the rust around the bezel ring.... just makes me a bit uncomfortable.

The picture didn't thrill me and I know I wouldn't have bought it. I thought I was rough on a watch, but some of the ones I've seen look like they were strapped to a roller skate in a John Cameron Swayze Timex commercial. In comparison, my watch has been babied. Keep looking, because they are great watches. The 1680 remains my favorite Submariner.

[stevemulholland3]

Originally Posted by Omega_Precision

Would a re-dialed markers affect the value of the watch?

yes,yes,yes,yes..and did I say yes...
the dial being original is one of the main determining factors in the value of a vintage watch..it is at least 50% of the value..so dont touch your dials guys!!

[Spark]

Howie,
It is rust/light corrosion from water between the case and crystal, but due to the case being stainless it isn't serious.
My Red 1680 was exactly the same and it not just in one place, if I remember rightly there were quite obvious brown surface rust marks at 11, 4 and 7 o'clock.
It was easily removed at service by Rolex.
I am sorry I don't have a before picture at present, but here is an after shot.

As to the patina not being even I have seen this a lot on subs of a certain age with domed tritium and I guess it is because the tritium is thicker in the centre and it is on a white background, which is why you can sometimes see a very fine white ring on the far outside of the markers.

[Howie]

thanks spark, good to know. These rust spots really do seem common on red subs in particular, for some reason. Yours is a beautiful example...