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Dr DRW · 7 February 2015, 02:19 PM

This is what not to do to your vintage rolex....

So I had this watch....my first vintage not a perfect example but decent enough (photo 1)

I thought I would see if there was any glow at all left in the tritium so I hung it right next to the bulb of my bedside lamp..and forgot I left there... until I smelled smoke...

(photo 2 and 3-the remains of the crystal)

So I took it to Rolex and they built it back like the 6 million dollar man , serviced the movement, service dial , service hands and insert... the works , oh yeah a new crystal they couldn't quite make the old one fit... it was great looking watch but i just didn't feel right about it, it didn't fit with my 1680 and 5513 (photo 4)

So after several months looking I finally sourced a matching MKI I and hand set with great patina (Photo 5 and 6) and with the help of Bob Ridley also found a correct sliver open 6 and 9 date wheel "borrowed" the insert off my 5513 and he put it all back together again, you can be the judge (photo 7 and 8)

I am sure I have quite a bit more in it now than I could recover but thats life
and likewise I realize the MKI may be a tad old for my case number but guess I can live with it.

My lessons learned
1) plastic melts easily
2) vintage Rolex collecting can be expensive especially if you're an idiot
3) I am an idiot

MP5 · 7 February 2015, 02:25 PM

Nice work man, is it weird I like every iteration of your watch, even the burned dial even the Luminova dial. haha. Where is that luminova dial? Oh and oddly we have the same wedding ring. WG? Artcarve?

BNA/LION · 7 February 2015, 02:38 PM

Sorry to hear about the mishap. $hit happens! Looks good now...

Dr DRW · 7 February 2015, 02:38 PM

Thats right my ring is art carved , my original wedding ring is yellow gold and stays in my safe,the white gold goes better with stainless watches

I liked it all Lumi too, I guess some day I could swith back!
Bob gave me back all the parts

MP5 · 7 February 2015, 02:59 PM

Haha, I thought I recognized it! When you are in ATX Ill buy you a beer!

sea-dweller · 7 February 2015, 03:34 PM

Beautiful!

jdmi32 · 7 February 2015, 04:12 PM

So...how's the glow on the new dial?

Seriously though, glad you have it back in good working order.

rootbeer7 · 7 February 2015, 07:19 PM

Brilliant story!!

EricM · 7 February 2015, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdmi32

So...how's the glow on the new dial?

OP, real nice recovery!! It looks great!!

Eric

Dr DRW · 8 February 2015, 01:34 AM

NO glow on this dial , maybe if I hold it to a brighter hotter light for a bit longer it will show some. LOL

brandrea · 8 February 2015, 01:38 AM

Looks great, sorry about the melted crystal, but you did a great job of the restoration

Brushpup · 8 February 2015, 01:59 AM

Wow, unbelievable. What a shame. Glad you got it fixed up and looking new again though.

swish77 · 8 February 2015, 01:59 AM

Great post. Many of us have done stupid things with our vintage watches. You're not alone. I once destroyed/mangled a perfect, stunning fat font ghost bezel insert off a Sub, probably worth close to $1K in today's crazy insert market. Anyway, your SD looks great now and you learned a valuable lesson. Thanks for sharing.

bgolfo · 8 February 2015, 02:08 AM

Happy to see the watch looking like a million bucks now!

dukerules · 8 February 2015, 02:12 AM

Looks great! And it's got a cool back story.

watchcrank · 8 February 2015, 02:19 AM

nice recovery

LunetteVerde · 8 February 2015, 02:26 AM

Ouch !

♛lunetteverde@Instagram♛

Wesley Crusher · 8 February 2015, 02:43 AM

You have a great attitude!

If I did that to my watch, I'd probably have a stroke.

Vincent65 · 8 February 2015, 02:45 AM

but did it glow?

Brushpup · 8 February 2015, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent65

but did it glow?

cajunron · 8 February 2015, 03:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wesley Crusher

You have a great attitude!

If I did that to my watch, I'd probably have a stroke.

What Wes said!

Dr DRW · 8 February 2015, 03:37 AM

The dial didn't glow but the case did LOL But only until it cooled off. LOL

Furbo · 8 February 2015, 04:28 AM

What a story, and with a happy end too. :)

PoderEsBueno · 8 February 2015, 05:40 AM

Thanks for sharing, it is a great warning for future accidents

.. and a nice watch

The_Walrus · 8 February 2015, 07:32 AM

I think your watch ended up looking nicer in the end.
That is one great story, luckily it wasn't a total loss.

Zoran · 8 February 2015, 07:40 AM

That patina on pic 2...wow

Seriously, I am glad they managed to save the remains and make it look as new again

Great story minus the fire hazard

donaker · 8 February 2015, 08:31 AM

I've heard of chocolate dials but not chocolate plots! It looks pretty neat if none of the other damage had happened to the dial.

glad you were able to get it back to a very nice state.

Suboc · 8 February 2015, 08:36 AM

Every Rolex tells a story.

LunetteVerde · 8 February 2015, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vincent65

but did it glow?

Be nice ami 😁

♛lunetteverde@Instagram♛

JerimiahLee · 8 February 2015, 04:50 PM

Hilarious story that has a happy ending. The Mk1 dial you sourced looks great! Not to mention the kissing 4 insert :)

7 February 2015, 02:38 PM	#3
BNA/LION 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2011 Real Name: Larry Location: San Diego, CA Watch: ROLEX Posts: 25,227	Sorry to hear about the mishap. $hit happens! Looks good now... __________________ ✦ 28238 President DD 18K/YG ✦ 16610LN SS Sub ✦ 16613 18K/SS Serti ✦ 16550 Exp II Non-Rail Cream Dial ✦ Daytona C 116500 ✦ 126710 BLRO GMT-Master II ✦ NEXT-->? ⛳ Hole In One! 10/3/19 DMCC 5th hole, par 3, 168 yards w/ 4-Iron.

8 February 2015, 01:34 AM	#10
Dr DRW "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: David Location: Dallas, Tx Watch: Divers Posts: 323	NO glow on this dial , maybe if I hold it to a brighter hotter light for a bit longer it will show some. LOL __________________ Rolex 1665, 1675, 1680, 5513, 16600, 16610, 14060

8 February 2015, 01:59 AM	#12
Brushpup "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Real Name: Patrick Location: Texas Watch: what I'm wearing Posts: 5,943	Wow, unbelievable. What a shame. Glad you got it fixed up and looking new again though. __________________ *TRFs "AFTER DARK" Bar & NightClub Patron-Founding Member* PClub # 10 74,592 The safest place for your watch is on your wrist.

8 February 2015, 02:12 AM	#15
dukerules "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NC, USA Posts: 681	Looks great! And it's got a cool back story. __________________ Instagram: dukerules

8 February 2015, 03:37 AM	#22
Dr DRW "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: David Location: Dallas, Tx Watch: Divers Posts: 323	The dial didn't glow but the case did LOL But only until it cooled off. LOL __________________ Rolex 1665, 1675, 1680, 5513, 16600, 16610, 14060

7 February 2015, 02:25 PM	#2
MP5 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 X2 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: ATX Posts: 2,881	Nice work man, is it weird I like every iteration of your watch, even the burned dial even the Luminova dial. haha. Where is that luminova dial? Oh and oddly we have the same wedding ring. WG? Artcarve?

7 February 2015, 02:59 PM	#5
MP5 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 X2 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: ATX Posts: 2,881	Haha, I thought I recognized it! When you are in ATX Ill buy you a beer!

7 February 2015, 03:34 PM	#6
sea-dweller "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Real Name: Dennis Location: Bay Area - 925 Posts: 40,018	Beautiful!

7 February 2015, 04:12 PM	#7
jdmi32 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Real Name: Ky Location: Bay Area, CA Watch: 16570 Posts: 2,362	So...how's the glow on the new dial? Seriously though, glad you have it back in good working order.

7 February 2015, 07:19 PM	#8
rootbeer7 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: london Posts: 5,972	Brilliant story!!

8 February 2015, 01:38 AM	#11
brandrea 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Real Name: Brian (TBone) Location: canada Watch: es make me smile Posts: 73,882	Looks great, sorry about the melted crystal, but you did a great job of the restoration

8 February 2015, 01:59 AM	#13
swish77 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Real Name: Aaron Location: CT/NYC Watch: ing the time! Posts: 6,800	Great post. Many of us have done stupid things with our vintage watches. You're not alone. I once destroyed/mangled a perfect, stunning fat font ghost bezel insert off a Sub, probably worth close to $1K in today's crazy insert market. Anyway, your SD looks great now and you learned a valuable lesson. Thanks for sharing.

8 February 2015, 02:08 AM	#14
bgolfo "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: Yoda Location: USA Watch: Rolex & Omega Posts: 196	Happy to see the watch looking like a million bucks now!

8 February 2015, 02:19 AM	#16
watchcrank "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: michael Location: Florida Watch: explorer II cream Posts: 1,661	nice recovery

8 February 2015, 02:26 AM	#17
LunetteVerde "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Real Name: lunetteverde Location: Asia Watch: me @ Instagram Posts: 823	Ouch ! ♛lunetteverde@Instagram♛

8 February 2015, 02:43 AM	#18
Wesley Crusher "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Real Name: Wes Location: Holosuite Posts: 6,345	You have a great attitude! If I did that to my watch, I'd probably have a stroke.

8 February 2015, 02:45 AM	#19
Vincent65 "TRF" Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Switzerland Posts: 14,293	but did it glow?

8 February 2015, 04:28 AM	#23
Furbo "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Slovenia, EU Watch: BLNR Posts: 1,507	What a story, and with a happy end too. :)

8 February 2015, 05:40 AM	#24
PoderEsBueno "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Real Name: peb Location: Istanbul Posts: 3,145	Thanks for sharing, it is a great warning for future accidents .. and a nice watch __________________ Instagram• ~ poderes.bueno

8 February 2015, 07:32 AM	#25
The_Walrus "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Real Name: George Location: Sydney Watch: 5513 Posts: 1,104	I think your watch ended up looking nicer in the end. That is one great story, luckily it wasn't a total loss.

8 February 2015, 07:40 AM	#26
Zoran "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Real Name: Zoran Location: EU Watch: 1655 Mark 1 Posts: 1,010	That patina on pic 2...wow Seriously, I am glad they managed to save the remains and make it look as new again Great story minus the fire hazard __________________

8 February 2015, 08:31 AM	#27
donaker "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Canada Watch: Dad's 5508 Posts: 351	I've heard of chocolate dials but not chocolate plots! It looks pretty neat if none of the other damage had happened to the dial. glad you were able to get it back to a very nice state. __________________

8 February 2015, 08:36 AM	#28
Suboc "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: At my forge Posts: 494	Every Rolex tells a story.

8 February 2015, 04:50 PM	#30
JerimiahLee "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Real Name: Jerimiah Location: NYC Watch: 5513 Meters 1st Posts: 669	Hilarious story that has a happy ending. The Mk1 dial you sourced looks great! Not to mention the kissing 4 insert :)

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