Wrong dial

[KatGirl]

That’s quite a story, OP. Enjoy the watch! I’m sure Rolex got it as close as they could to the original. Wear it in good health.

Kat


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[aiif]

For me i say its a win because it looks much better.
Enjoy your piece

[DVR4]

reminds me of this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9ghCcRrXpM

[Black Bay Dan]

Here are the dial choices I had when getting my Datejust serviced in 2009. My watch originally had a silver dial which I swapped out for white. I think they gave you the closest match unless you wanted Roman Numerals so hope you will enjoy your watch.

Rolex Datejust Dials.jpeg

[77T]

Welcome to TRF.
Thanks for sharing your story of the watch.

I wish the AD had brought out his dial chart for the available choices. You probably would have liked the Rhodium dial color better.

There is a chance though - if you go back to the AD and ask if RSC could check for a darker dial if you really dislike the silver.


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[Rolex1982]

Great story that comes with this great watch! Enjoy it in good health

[-dustin]

Originally Posted by gdubdj

My parents had a troubled marriage and I was estranged from my father at a young age. He bought this watch for me and had it engraved with the hope of giving to me on my 21st birthday. Life and circumstance prevented this and he wore the watch himself. My mother passed away recently and it was at her funeral where I first saw him again. I visited him this past Christmas and he gave me the watch. So here I am at fifty four years old and have received a datejust that has been engraved with my name and date of birth for thirty years and I had no idea. It's home now and it means the world to me. It means he never forgot me......... phew the story of the watch.... sorry guys.

Wow, that is a hell of a story. Awesome.

[Hadiy]

Originally Posted by gdubdj

Here it is.

It still looks great anyway from this picture

[Mr. K]

Great story.

The watch looks wonderful too. You don't see many engine turned bezels these days. Truly a cool piece.

Wear in good health.

[GGGMT]

Wow, thank you so much for sharing that story. Having heard it, I think it’s the best of all possible worlds that the dial got changed to something different but similar. It makes it all the more poignant and meaningful, in my humble opinion, based on the story.


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[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by 77T

Welcome to TRF.
Thanks for sharing your story of the watch.

I wish the AD had brought out his dial chart for the available choices. You probably would have liked the Rhodium dial color better.

There is a chance though - if you go back to the AD and ask if RSC could check for a darker dial if you really dislike the silver.


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Yes if iI had to name the colour of the old one I would say it is Rhodium or the colour of the Wimbledon dial ( I don't if they are the same). The more comments I get here about the silver dial the more I am liking it though! The wide indices with the groove in the middle are a thing of beauty!

To be fair the A.D. did not know they would want to replace the dial before it was sent in.

[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by GGGMT

Wow, thank you so much for sharing that story. Having heard it, I think it’s the best of all possible worlds that the dial got changed to something different but similar. It makes it all the more poignant and meaningful, in my humble opinion, based on the story.


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Thank you for your thoughtful comments on this thread!

[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by EagleBear

Congratulations and thank you for sharing your story and its history. Make as many memories as you can with both the watch and your father. Welcome to TRF

Thank you I will!

[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by fooey

I think it looks amazing now. Its a great looking watch that you can now enjoy.
Did you get the old dial back?

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I did not.

[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

Congrats and great story. Just the fact that your Dad wore this watch for 30+ years with your name on it is remarkable. Unfortunate about the dial. The original did not look in bad shape? Wear it in good health!

Look between three and six.. it had it's issues.

[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by Ravager135

As others have alluded to, Rolex is most concerned about making the watch functional. An old, rarer dial, if it cannot be salvaged will be replaced with the closest equivalent. In the vintage market, people will often call something a "franken-watch" when really it's just that the original was serviced and parts were replaced as people were wanton to do before people became obsessed with keeping everything original.

I may be in the minority, but I will always remain more concerned with making sure my watches remain functional and are serviced appropriately (even if that means taking out original parts). I have no intentional of selling my pieces anyway. I think it looks great.

Insight!

[bjw]

That's why I like to deal directly RSC who's working on the watch so there's no break in communication. I don't trust accurate information will be relayed to me though the AD.

[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by bjw

That's why I like to deal directly RSC who's working on the watch so there's no break in communication. I don't trust accurate information will be relayed to me though the AD.

How does one go about doing that if I may ask?

[77T]

Originally Posted by gdubdj

How does one go about doing that if I may ask?

You do the submission of the watch to the RSC directly.

That way the RSC communicates directly with you, no intermediary like an AD.


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[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by 77T

You do the submission of the watch to the RSC directly.

That way the RSC communicates directly with you, no intermediary like an AD.


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Oh ok thank you. I thought you had to go through an AD.

[77T]

you're welcome

In Canada:



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[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by 77T

you're welcome

In Canada:



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good to know!

[Boopie]

Thanks for sharing your story. I also think your watch looks great! Many have noted that Rolex doesn’t want to keep damaged, worn out dials on there.

We inherited a really nice Mercedes coupe from my father in law when he passed away. The three pointed star emblem in the center of one of the wheel covers was damaged, presumably by his scraping too close to a curb. I went ahead and replaced that wheel cover, as I thought the damage diminished from the enjoyment of an otherwise fantastic car. The damage was also a somewhat sad reminder of his declining faculties, as it was the last car he was ever able to drive.

Obviously, curb rash on a car is not the same thing as patina, or scratches on a watch caused by serving in combat or from a deep sea dive. I know some guys want to see the scrapes and dings that their fathers or grandfathers put on their watches. But, sometimes a scratch is just a scratch, just like the scuffs on our shoes don’t reflect who we are as people.

The replacement dial does not reduce in any way the thoughtful and lovely gift from your father.

[dannyboy123]

I think that's an epic story and it's great you've reconnected.

I personally prefer the brighter dial. I do like the slate colour on the wimbledon (its on my yachtmaster) but here I prefer the update. Its the same watch really. Very good looking. leave as is I say.

54, I'd kill to be that age again, I turned 55 last month and keep looking at gold watches more and more. You'll be in a PM DD yellow gold next year son. Maybe with diamonds. it's a thing.

[Mccall86]

Wow, great story behind the watch. It really looks spectacular to me after the overhaul, even though the dial is slightly different than the original one. It would have been pretty tough to find a nice original dial in that color. I have a soft spot for these vintage Datejusts and yours is a really nice combo. Enjoy the watch!

[gdubdj]

I had a chat with AD. today. They basically echoed what has been said on this thread about RSC using the closest dial they have when the original is not available. So thank you everyone that commented…the plastic came off!

[gdubdj]

Originally Posted by dannyboy123

I think that's an epic story and it's great you've reconnected.

I personally prefer the brighter dial. I do like the slate colour on the wimbledon (its on my yachtmaster) but here I prefer the update. Its the same watch really. Very good looking. leave as is I say.

54, I'd kill to be that age again, I turned 55 last month and keep looking at gold watches more and more. You'll be in a PM DD yellow gold next year son. Maybe with diamonds. it's a thing.

I can't afford to come down with watch fever........lol!!

[N0trub]

Nice watch…exceptionally beautiful

[Dave O]

Great story. Thanks for sharing. I think they did a remarkable job restoring the watch. I think the new dial looks fantastic and should give you years of pleasure. And since you now have the plastic off, how about a few more pics.

[samson66]

Looks beautiful. I prefer the new dial but agree that it's strange that they replaced with such a lighter dial color