Hi fellow watch enthusiasts :).
A few years ago I caught the vintage watch "bug". The first watch I bought was a very simple one which I liked for it's clean lines and simple dial. It was a "Gubelin" branded watch with a decent 27 jewel automatic movement that was sourced from Certina I believe.
After that first purchase I started following some watch related websites and blogs like Hodinkee, The Prodigal fool, The Dutch Rolex Forum and off course the international Rolex Forums.
Through those sources I learnt about the big names in the horological universe and about what makes them special. Terms like dial, bezel, movement, crown, jewels, patina, tropic, faded and provenance started to become part of my vocabulary. And as I read and learned about that world, the more the desire grew to own a watch that could withstand the scrutiny of wintered watch enthusiasts.
So about a half a year ago I decided that I would allow myself to spend the money necessary to acquire such a watch. I started browsing the websites (and physical shops) of vintage watch dealers and went from wanting a Submariner to an Explorer I, to a Blancpain Bathyscaphe, from an IWC pilot's watch to an Omega Speedmaster moon watch and numerous other fine watches until finally I decided that the simplicity of a Rolex Explorer I model 1016 would be the best fit for me at the moment.
After that decision I could focus my search on this particular model. I kept browsing the web and shops but now only for this specific watch. Then, some three weeks ago, a reputable vintage watch shop in Amsterdam suddenly announced that they had two 1016's coming in. After seeing them "in the flesh" and trying them on I decided to buy one of them.
The main reason why I bought them at that store was that there are a lot of "constructed" or even outright forged Explorers out there and I felt that buying from a store with some reputation could be a safeguard against that.
After owning the watch for a few weeks now I started noticing the shape of the coronet on the dial however. This coronet is of the tall elongated type which I learned is not uncommon on GMT’s and Submariners from a specific period but while searching the web for examples I never really came across a dial of a 1016 Explorer with a similarly shaped coronet.
Now, I will not test your patience any longer, below you can find a picture of my watch. My question to you knowledgable forum members now is: do you think that this dial could be a real, original Rolex dial for a 1966 Explorer model 1016? (the serial number on the case points to 1966).
Thanks in advance for your help ☺.
[IMG]<a href="http://s201.photobucket.com/user/ewoutvs/media/_3300005-3.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa188/ewoutvs/_3300005-3.jpg" border="0" alt="Rolex 1016 photo _3300005-3.jpg"/></a>[/IMG]