Some Recent Vintage Pickups

[blametony]

I've taken the deep dive into Vintage Rolex and picked up a few pieces over the last few months. I'm a sucker for interesting dials so I was able to get these beauties:


1962 Precision 6424 Jumbo 36mm I fell in love with the Stardust dial.




1973 Datejust 1601 with Blue Vignette Dial. It was my birth year watch and I couldn't resist. Replaced the crystal and added an age appropriate Jubilee. I bought it as head only.



1954 Precision 6422. It was also head only so I was able to source an original Rivet bracelet to pair with it. It's only 34mm but feels bigger on the wrist. I just fell in love with the dial. The seller had it serviced and replaced worn out components so it runs beautifully.

[Dan S]

Thanks for posting, Tony, those are great watches. I especially like the blue 1601 - amazing dial! It looks great on the solid link jubilee, although if you really care about period-correct, I think that a folded link would be correct for 1973. Personally, I would be delighted with it as-is.

[Kevin.S]

I really like these classic designs...so much fun to wear as well! Nice collection Tony

[blametony]

Originally Posted by Dan S

Thanks for posting, Tony, those are great watches. I especially like the blue 1601 - amazing dial! It looks great on the solid link jubilee, although if you really care about period-correct, I think that a folded link would be correct for 1973. Personally, I would be delighted with it as-is.

Agreed, but I just like the feel of the solid link. It will never be for sale, so I can outfit it with something more comfortable than being an absolute purist.

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by blametony

Agreed, but I just like the feel of the solid link. It will never be for sale, so I can outfit it with something more comfortable than being an absolute purist.

Totally agree, no reason to be a purist about bracelets, I frequently change them to suit my preferences. Personally I find the folded link jubilees equally comfortable, if not more comfortable. And the oval links are the best of all IMO, if you can find one. That could also be period correct. The D-links are fine, but my least favorite.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by blametony

I've taken the deep dive into Vintage Rolex and picked up a few pieces over the last few months. I'm a sucker for interesting dials so I was able to get these beauties:


1962 Precision 6424 Jumbo 36mm I fell in love with the Stardust dial.




1973 Datejust 1601 with Blue Vignette Dial. It was my birth year watch and I couldn't resist. Replaced the crystal and added an age appropriate Jubilee. I bought it as head only.



1954 Precision 6422. It was also head only so I was able to source an original Rivet bracelet to pair with it. It's only 34mm but feels bigger on the wrist. I just fell in love with the dial. The seller had it serviced and replaced worn out components so it runs beautifully.

Nice (classic) watches Tony... health to enjoy!

[Dan S]

I have to say ... I can't stop looking at that blue dial.

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by Dan S

I have to say ... I can't stop looking at that blue dial.

Lovely, isn't it?

[BNA/LION]

Very nice!

[KY..]

Have to admit that blue vignette dial is very cool.

[zapokee]

Ooh, that 34 mm 1954 Precision 6422 for me. I'm a sucker for a creamy dial! Like you say, they wear bigger than they are. I'm wearing a 34 mm Tudor 7934 right now

Congratulations on your great purchases.

[swaini3]

Congrats. Enjoy. The blue vignette is stunning.

[Filipão]

Originally Posted by swaini3

Congrats. Enjoy. The blue vignette is stunning.

Absolutely, though I rarely agree with you!



Happy 2013 @swaini3

[TuRo]

Originally Posted by Filipão

Absolutely, though I rarely agree with you!



Happy 2013 @swaini3

I could touch my toes in 2013 :-) halcien days!

[swaini3]

Originally Posted by Filipão

Absolutely, though I rarely agree with you!



Happy 2013 @swaini3

Happy 2023 to you too ;)

[blametony]

For those of you interested, here is what the 1601 originally looked like. I added a fluted bezel, bracelet and crystal. All in, I'm very happy with the results. I was at a Tourneau/Bucherer here in NYC recently and the Rolex rep I was speaking with was admiring it and said he'd only seen the Blue Vignette on Day Dates and this was the first one he'd seen in person on a Datejust.

[LateLearner]

Blue dial!
All very nice, BTW.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[INC]

Originally Posted by blametony

For those of you interested, here is what the 1601 originally looked like.]I was speaking with was admiring it and said he'd only seen the Blue Vignette on Day Dates and this was the first one he'd seen in person on a Datejust.

Nope, I think he is wrong. As far as I know, this famous two-tone dial was installed on the 34 mm Datejust first, after this it went on onto the 16233, but with diamonds. At that time these dial was installed onto some Day-date models too, but mostly it was the part of the Datejust 16233. As far as I know only the 34 mm version has this dial without the diamonds. I always perferred this SS version over the two-tone versions.

Nice job to revitalise this beauty, congratulations

[INC]

Originally Posted by blametony

For those of you interested, here is what the 1601 originally looked like.]I was speaking with was admiring it and said he'd only seen the Blue Vignette on Day Dates and this was the first one he'd seen in person on a Datejust.

Nope, I think he is wrong. As far as I know, this famous two-tone dial was installed on the 34 mm Datejust first and later it went onto the 16233, but with diamonds. At that time these dial was installed onto some Day-date models too, but mostly it was the part of the Datejust 16233. As far as I know only the 34 mm version has this dial without the diamonds. I always perferred this SS version over the two-tone versions.

Nice job to revitalise this beauty, congratulations

[Styles Bitchley]

Fantastic pick ups. I’m with the others in really loving the blue. Gorgeous.

[1William]

Nice watches. I like some of the vintage models but they do not do as well on my 7.5-7.75 inch wrist but I do admire them from afar.

[Proto3]

Love that 6422

[brandrea]

Congratulations Tony, the 6422 is just awesome

[Johnald]

Long time lurker here. Those watches look beautiful and I’ve been doing some searching on how to do the same sort of “rehab” to older Rolexes. (I’d love to rehab a matching set from 1976 for my parents 50th anniversary gift).
I’m still waiting for the call for my first Rolex from an AD in the meantime have been scouring r/Watchexchange and C24 for older oysters and DJs with the intent of doing the same as Tony has done with that blue vignette dial DJ.
I would love some advice from you and other experienced Rolex enthusiasts out there, particularly with the best way to source replacement parts and what kind of repairs I can do myself and what I should leave to the pros. Please feel free to PM me. Thanks in advance!

[Dan S]

Originally Posted by Johnald

Long time lurker here. Those watches look beautiful and I’ve been doing some searching on how to do the same sort of “rehab” to older Rolexes. (I’d love to rehab a matching set from 1976 for my parents 50th anniversary gift).
I’m still waiting for the call for my first Rolex from an AD in the meantime have been scouring r/Watchexchange and C24 for older oysters and DJs with the intent of doing the same as Tony has done with that blue vignette dial DJ.
I would love some advice from you and other experienced Rolex enthusiasts out there, particularly with the best way to source replacement parts and what kind of repairs I can do myself and what I should leave to the pros. Please feel free to PM me. Thanks in advance!

That blue dial is spectacular and worth the effort of restoring because it's unique and special.

However, if you are buying more typical variants, it's not generally worth the time, effort, and money to restore common entry-level references like the ones you're talking about. In general, many of them have survived in very good condition and are pretty easy to find once you learn where to look and who to buy from. Of course, if you are only talking about a new crystal, that's nothing, but it's not generally cost-effective to buy a watch that needs a lot of work from the scammers (dumping their crap) and price-gougers on the sites you mentioned, especially if you're not experienced. It's likely to cost you more than just patiently waiting to buy something good from an honest private seller. Just my opinion.

And sorry for the thread-drift, I really shouldn't have responded to the hijacker in the OP's thread about his lovely watches.

[BigBlue1]

That vignette dial is beautiful looking. My fav of the lot. Congrats

[TuRo]

Lovely triplet, blue sunburst is especially great - matches one of my vintage guitars to a treat!
Just for my academic interest is the black 1962 6424 a Swiss or T Swiss T footer please.

[Johnald]

Originally Posted by Dan S

That blue dial is spectacular and worth the effort of restoring because it's unique and special.

However, if you are buying more typical variants, it's not generally worth the time, effort, and money to restore common entry-level references like the ones you're talking about. In general, many of them have survived in very good condition and are pretty easy to find once you learn where to look and who to buy from. Of course, if you are only talking about a new crystal, that's nothing, but it's not generally cost-effective to buy a watch that needs a lot of work from the scammers (dumping their crap) and price-gougers on the sites you mentioned, especially if you're not experienced. It's likely to cost you more than just patiently waiting to buy something good from an honest private seller. Just my opinion.

And sorry for the thread-drift, I really shouldn't have responded to the hijacker in the OP's thread about his lovely watches.

My apologies for the hijack, the info is much appreciated.

[eatt_river]

Originally Posted by blametony

1954 Precision 6422. It was also head only so I was able to source an original Rivet bracelet to pair with it. It's only 34mm but feels bigger on the wrist. I just fell in love with the dial. The seller had it serviced and replaced worn out components so it runs beautifully.

Hello. Congratulations!
Please enlighten me how hard it was to source that rivet bracelet? Thanks

[Boopie]

Those look great! Congratulations!