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Old 12 December 2018, 04:52 AM   #1
HilaryTenzing
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1016 Explorer Experts Chime In

Recent purchase, but a bit of an enigma after comparing details with similar era-watches. A few things (from my untrained eye) that are not evident in the photos:
-Serial number 30XXXXXX, puts it in the 1971 time frame?
-Service history unknown, but out of box test was within 1 sec/day with my digital watch w/auto updating.
-Cosmetically looks nice on the wrist, but more like a late 80's patina?
-Lume on hands and dial very close, maybe matching. Looks like tritium compound under loupe to me, depleted and won't activate at all, even under UV.
-Hands are longer, 1016 original type.
-Crystal is domed, light scuffing. a jeweler told me he thinks it's glass, though!?
-Lugs look thin, but other parts of case/watch don't look too worn, including in between lugs.
Came on 1976-dated Jubilee, very nice shape, but could be service-polished.
-Biggest flaw is the 11 and 12 hour markers are not perfectly aligned (other ones look pretty good?)
Opinions and comments on originality welcome.
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Old 12 December 2018, 04:09 PM   #2
Juhuatai
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Looks like tritium I agree. Patina can always vary, I've seen 70's explorers with deep almost orange patina but I have also seen patina similar to yours. Looks all original to me.
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Old 13 December 2018, 08:25 AM   #3
sillo
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Looks like an acrylic crystal to me. Right shape and small scratches swirls probably wouldn't be occurring if it was "glass."

Try buffing it with some polywatch, that will definitely confirm if it's acrylic.
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Old 13 December 2018, 01:08 PM   #4
HilaryTenzing
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Quote:
Originally Posted by sillo38 View Post
Looks like an acrylic crystal to me. Right shape and small scratches swirls probably wouldn't be occurring if it was "glass."

Try buffing it with some polywatch, that will definitely confirm if it's acrylic.
Yes, it is in fact acrylic and it buffed out nicely. Even jewelers with 24 years in business can be wrong...
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Old 13 December 2018, 02:40 PM   #5
Tom1675
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3.0m is def early 70s.
I dont think there is an 80s patina. Where the watch was stored (darkness v. on a wrist) will influence the patina more than age.
I dont really see the rest of your concerns either. Maybe thin but cant tell from the photo, 1016s had "thin" lugs to begin with as they used the datejust case...
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Old 13 December 2018, 03:05 PM   #6
Dan S
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I'm not as knowledgable as many people here, but there's nothing I'm seeing that is outside the range of expected variability for Rolex from that era. Lugs are polished, yes.
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Old 13 December 2018, 05:46 PM   #7
harrison_cheng
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patina is ok and dial is period correct. nothing wrong with this watch except that the lug is a little weak.
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Old 15 December 2018, 06:03 AM   #8
HilaryTenzing
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Thanks for the comments. A couple more questions- The jubilee clasp is stamped with a 1 over 76. Does this mean 1st Qtr 1976? On the movement there is no serial number stamped at the edge of the main plate (I've seen another like this), and the Cal 1570 engraving, just visible behind rotor, isn't highlighted in gold, as most seem to be.
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