Help with old Rolex

[Broid]

Hi, new to the community and looking for some help with an old Rolex I inherited. This watch was purchased by my father's uncle at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore in 1968 or 69. The original paperwork has the number 1769895 punched into it. What can you tell me about it? How can I clean it? Is there anywhere in the SF Bay area of Calif. where I can get it serviced or the crystal replaced? Could the crystal have the scratches buffed out? It's a lovely watch that seems to be working fine, but it could use a good cleaning. Any info on this would be helpful and interesting.

Thanks you in advance,
Brian

[SLS]

Welcome to the forum!
I am guessing its a ref # 1601? I would get a full service done on this watch, there is a mini Rolex Service Center in SF, here is the address.
San Francisco RSC
210 Post Street # 705
San Francisco, CA 94108
415-982-9838

Congrats on a great piece!
FWIW, keep the dial and hands in tact, you may want to opt to buy an additional bracelet...but keep the old one.
Scott

[dentman]

It's a 1603... 1601 has white gold bezel. See old catalogue scan :thumbsup:

[dentman]

This is similar age 1601 :thumbsup:

[SLS]

It's a 1603... 1601 has white gold bezel. See old catalogue scan :thumbsup:

Isn't the OP's pic of a WG bezel? :thinking:
Scott

[dentman]

Isn't the OP's pic of a WG bezel? :thinking:
Scott
No, that's steel. Further clarification below. :thumbsup:

[SLS]

OK, so the bezel is the only tell tale sign that its a 1603? Learned something new today! :cheers: :thumbsup:
Scott

[dentman]

OK, so the bezel is the only tell tale sign that its a 1603? Learned something new today! :cheers: :thumbsup:
Scott

That's the tell-tale. For the record that type of bezel is referred to as Engine-Turned! :cheers:

[SLS]

That's the tell-tale. For the record that type of bezel is referred to as Engine-Turned! :cheers:

I knew that it was engine turned, but I had now idea that it separated the SS from the WG, again thanks! :cheers: :thumbsup:
Scott

[crombie]

Congrats on the watch, it will look nice when cleaned up!

[Broid]

Awesome! Thanks for all the help. Nice forum. I'll check out the service center in the city. It's nice to have a watch that I could never afford to buy for myself! The family history makes it even more important. Dad's uncle bought it, gave it to Dad, Dad, now gone, gave it to me...

Thanks again,
Brian

[pz93c]

Yo, Brian.

Congrats on the fine piece. My DateJust looks alot like that one.

I have to recommend Dalton Toledo out of LA. He is a fine, upstanding member of this forum and an outstanding watchmaker. Prices are less than the RSC, too.

Email him at daltonrt@yahoo.com and see what he says.

[Robbie]

proficiat Brian, you have awesome heritage, that's 1603 with fluted bezel in stainless steel caliber 1570 (durable caliber) is the most popular rolex in the name DATEJUST, cause can look dreassy and sporty in the same time.

the dial has unique, that's without luminous markings as usually, the shape of dial likely pie pan

Robbie :prty::prty::thumbsup:
roomsei@yahoo.co.id

[Dalton]

Hey almost identical to a watch I'm currently restoring. Let me know if you need a resto-job on that watch. I'm in california too.

[Broid]

Thanks again for all the help everyone. I live about 20 minutes from SF so I'll go the the RSC there. Can't wait to get this watch fully restored, although I am a bit afraid of the cost of doing so! I'll try to let you know...
Brian

[pz93c]

Hey almost identical to a watch I'm currently restoring.

Dalton,

I know. It's mine. :thumbsup:

[onkyo]

Dalton,

I know. It's mine. :thumbsup:


:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Hey Dalton, stop surfing this forum and get back to work on Brian's watch. :lol::lol::lol::dummy:

:cheers:

[Lol-x]

I suspect that Rolex SanFran will put a high price on the restoration of that watch.

I second Dalton as a good value restoration alternative, good luck with whatever works for you :cheers:

[pz93c]

:rofl::rofl::rofl::rofl:

Hey Dalton, stop surfing this forum and get back to work on Brian's watch. :lol::lol::lol::dummy:

:cheers:

Thanks for the backup, Pav. :thumbsup: :cheers:

:rofl::rofl::chuckle:

[rsmithor]

Also try
Watchworks/Alex & Co Jewelers
711 SW 10th Ave Portland, OR 97205-2518 - (503) 223-1368
Open Weekdays 10am-5:30pm; Sat 10am-4pm
They deal in vintage and new Rolex watches... and have one of the few Rolex calibration machines on the west coast... plus there is no sales tax in Oregon
They did fine work on my vintage Pespi GMT Rolex...