First Rolex - 16014 newbie questions

[Austin008]

Hello all,

I just purchased a (new to me) 1984 16014 Datejust. While I’m very happy with it, the perfectionist, I am has some questions just to make sure everything is OK. Obviously I bought the watch used, but I’ve noticed that the hands have been real loomed is the glow in the dark when exposed to light. Is this a major issue for concern? The re-loom on the hands was done quite well, but I want to know how much this affects value in the event I ever sell it. The second question is regarding the crown. I’ve noticed that when I screw down the crown, it does not sit perfectly flush with the case. Is this normal? Thank you for all the help.

[Dan S]

Photos would help. But a relume does affect value, especially on the dial. The crown sounds ok.

[Austin008]

Sorry! I’m still getting the hang of uploading pictures

[Dan S]

The hands are probably service replacements. Dial looks ok at first glance.

[Austin008]

I do like that the hands glow - I believe you are right regarding the hands being service replacements. I was looking at them under a loupe and I would be quite surprised if someone re lumped them as they did quite an excellent job. What is your opinion on the crown? It had to be replaced with the stem but I have not had a watch where the crown is not flush.

[Dan S]

The crown is not meant to be perfectly flush, IIRC. Sometimes it will be virtually flush, other times it will be a little farther out. If it bothers you, you could ask the watchmaker to see if he can make it closer to flush.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Austin008

I do like that the hands glow - I believe you are right regarding the hands being service replacements. I was looking at them under a loupe and I would be quite surprised if someone re lumped them as they did quite an excellent job. What is your opinion on the crown? It had to be replaced with the stem but I have not had a watch where the crown is not flush.

Screw down crowns seal at the top, inside, where the gasket sits. If it were to contact the case it could not seal properly, so there should always be a slight visible clearance gap.

On your watch, new or re-lumed hands will not have a noticeable impact on value unless they were done poorly or not authentic.

[Austin008]

Thank you for the responses, I am not trying to be difficult but this is all very new to me. I have no intention of taking this watch diving but I was a bit concerned with the gap in the crown as the person I purchased this from had the crown and stem changed out.

[Ferrari308]

Originally Posted by Austin008

Thank you for the responses, I am not trying to be difficult but this is all very new to me. I have no intention of taking this watch diving but I was a bit concerned with the gap in the crown as the person I purchased this from had the crown and stem changed out.

Ask all the questions you like - someone here IS going to have the answer you need. That's the best way to learn!

Congrats on the watch - enjoy it and don't worry about the resale at this point. Just live and make memories with your new watch.


PDG

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Austin008

Thank you for the responses, I am not trying to be difficult but this is all very new to me. I have no intention of taking this watch diving but I was a bit concerned with the gap in the crown as the person I purchased this from had the crown and stem changed out.

Perhaps its nomenclature.

The stem, which the crown screws onto, is hardened steel and seldom changed out. Usually the crown and tube come as a set, so the tube is taken out of the case and replaced, then the new crown is screwed onto the old stem and inserted into the tube, then locked down inside the case so when you screw and unscrew the crown from the tube and pull out to adjust it won't come all the way out.

In any event, new or not, the crown base should not contact the case - that is not where it seals.

[Austin008]

Thank you - I wasn’t sure but it seems like you can only tighten the crown a few turns before it cannot be tightened anymore. I have a few other dive watches and they all screw down quite a bit before they won’t turn anymore. It seems like this Datejust only screws down a thread or so before it stops.

[Tools]

Originally Posted by Austin008

Thank you - I wasn’t sure but it seems like you can only tighten the crown a few turns before it cannot be tightened anymore. I have a few other dive watches and they all screw down quite a bit before they won’t turn anymore. It seems like this Datejust only screws down a thread or so before it stops.

How many turns do you need?

Typical for a twinlock is around 1-1/2 to 1-3/4 turns. Much more and you would need a crown a half inch thick.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Austin008

Thank you - I wasn’t sure but it seems like you can only tighten the crown a few turns before it cannot be tightened anymore. I have a few other dive watches and they all screw down quite a bit before they won’t turn anymore. It seems like this Datejust only screws down a thread or so before it stops.

More than a full turn is fine for an old watch, IMO.

[Austin008]

Ok.. So after looking at the watch I noticed a few things. When the crown is out and I start to tighten it, on a rough estimate from where the crown lines up I can get roughly 75% of a full turn in before the crown no longer turns anymore. I can confirm that the crown does not go 360 degrees when I am tightening it down

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Austin008

Ok.. So after looking at the watch I noticed a few things. When the crown is out and I start to tighten it, on a rough estimate from where the crown lines up I can get roughly 75% of a full turn in before the crown no longer turns anymore. I can confirm that the crown does not go 360 degrees when I am tightening it down

And you say that the tube and crown were just replaced during a service?

[Austin008]

Originally Posted by Dan S

And you say that the tube and crown were just replaced during a service?

I know the crown was - I am unsure if they replaced the tube during service

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Austin008

I know the crown was - I am unsure if they replaced the tube during service

It's pretty hard to know the situation given information over the internet, especially since some of it is second hand and you don't have a lot of firsthand experience with the Rolex oyster case models to compare the watch to.

If you have concerns, maybe it would be best to take the watch to a trusted watchmaker and have them check it out for you in person.

Or just live with it for a while and try not to worry too much about little things. :-)

[Austin008]

Originally Posted by Dan S

It's pretty hard to know the situation given information over the internet, especially since some of it is second hand and you don't have a lot of firsthand experience with the Rolex oyster case models to compare the watch to.

If you have concerns, maybe it would be best to take the watch to a trusted watchmaker and have them check it out for you in person.

Or just live with it for a while and try not to worry too much about little things. :-)

You are right - its just my first Rolex so I am a bit nervous with it. One thing I can assure you is that this is NOT going to be sitting in a closet or drawer. Its a watch and I will wear it:) I never understood people that buy nice watches and wear them 3 times a year... What is the point? I even know a jeweler who always has his hands dirty still wears his Dad's 18k president every day.

[Dan S]

Stainless DateJusts are perfect for daily wear.

[TuRo]

Luminova post 2000 hands for certain, but no biggy to value or wearability.

Old tritium hands to match dial can be bought for £200 so no big deal should you want to change.

A nice cheap 6251h Jubillee £400ish would suit it well imho too.

Can't beat a silver sunburst DJ - THE quintessential Rolex dress/office watch.

[GGGMT]

Nice. Service hands as others have said. Enjoy


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[jbglx]

Crown should sit flush against the case . Take it/send it to a Rolex Service Center , you´re in the US , right ? Check wich one is close TX , NYC etc. Or to a major Rolex Authorized Dealer , they´ll check that for you .

[Subb]

Hey there, Austin! Congrats on your new 1984 16014 Datejust! Regarding the loomed hands, it's not a major issue as long as it was done well. As for the crown not sitting perfectly flush, it's normal for some slight variation. Enjoy your watch! ����️

[dacd4134]

I think the crown looks fine. For reference, my 1984 16013 doesn't screw down flush either.

[on_philly_time]

Wasn't the old tritium given a life expectancy of 12 years?

[on_philly_time]

1987/16013...Here is the crown.