Thoughts on Sub 1680 MK1 White Dial?

[05carbondrz]

I have been told this Dial is Damaged and a 6/10 at best,What do You Guys think? I personally don't see how even patina with matching Hands is "damage" but to each His own I won't post Pics of the Case as this is strictly about the Dial.When so much of the charm of a vintage Rolex is in the patina and "Tropical" Dials are hotter than ever I'm just trying to get a grasp on collectors thoughts at the moment.

[Kingface66]

I don't think the patina is what the issue is here. I'm just trying to figure out what would cause that effect to the entire black part of the dial? It looks like it's covered in very thick dust, or something. I, personally, couldn't live with a dial like that.

[Ghost1665]

I love patina, but that dial looks baked.

[springer]

It's interesting, that's for sure. (Baked dials get a yellow or brown tint - to include all the fonts and tick marks,)

[CaveDiver]

How does the rehaut get chewed up like that? Dial is interesting. Kinda cool in a way, but not normal.

[btinl]

It's the ultra rare "starry night" or "comet shower" dial

[Michael M.]

Dial texture is strange, to say the least!

[Ghost1665]

Originally Posted by springer

It's interesting, that's for sure. (Baked dials get a yellow or brown tint - to include all the fonts and tick marks,)

Interesting to know.

[swish77]

Love, love the look! I can’t speak to whether it’s natural or artificial, but very cool nonetheless. I also see the makings of a great case. Those crown guards look untouched.

[Wing Zero]

Looks re-lumed to me. bumpy and irregular. Also the hands look painted?
Dial looks baked as stated above.

I personally don't like the hands or dial.
Insert, and case is nice.

[springer]

Originally Posted by Wing Zero

Looks re-lumed to me. bumpy and irregular. Also the hands look painted?
Dial looks baked as stated above.

I personally don't like the hands or dial.
Insert, and case is nice.

Here is a cooked dial! If it makes any difference to you, I've never seen a "cooked" dial that looked like the 1680 dial in the first post. It might be altered, I can not say for sure, but cooking turns them brown.

[05carbondrz]

Thanks for the comments,I can tell You I have seen other very similar Dials to this One.This Watch came from the southern US and I can assure You it’s not baked or relumed...That I’m sure of.The Dial actually pulled me to this Piece and I wouldn’t trade it for your cookie cutter jet black dial with off white patina but that’s just me

[Kingface66]

Well, OK

[05carbondrz]

See post 21647 of this thread,Same exact dial texture:

https://www.rolexforums.com/showthre...31580&page=722

What causes it I don't know but do we really know what causes tropical dials(other than most being water entry)? And why would someone put a modified dial in an unpolished case?

[Sublovin]

Since you are asking for opinions, that would be a pass for me. There is a difference between patina and defective/damaged.

[dafuture]

I'm no expert, but I've certainly looked at a lot of watches and have never seen one that looks like that. Between the damage to the rehaut and the pattern on the entire dial I'd have to imagine it's been apart at some point.

It's a cool look if I'm being honest, but I'd be a little worried about the overall condition of the movement and the rest of the watch based on what I'm seeing there.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

...and I wouldn’t trade it for your cookie cutter jet black dial with off white patina but that’s just me

Don't get me wrong, I love a dial with a patina of slightly yellowed markers and hands. As for the "cookie-cutter" black dial, rather than one that's blemished, faded, water-logged, deteriorated, flaked, bubbled, spotted, chipped all over, etc.?

Um, YES.

[05carbondrz]

To each his own I guess,I guarantee if any dealer had this that the Word "TROPICAL" would be all over it....Just how the game works.I don't see "water logged,flaked,spotted or chipped" anywhere but I do so what anyone else would refer to as patina though.I do like how it was instantly called out as a "baked" dial though, until someone who actually knew what they were talking about chimed in and showed an actual baked dial.

[usling15]

You have to concede that something happened to that rehaut that no professional repair
person would ever do. That alone might make someone suspicious.

[Kingface66]

Originally Posted by 05carbondrz

To each his own I guess,I guarantee if any dealer had this that the Word "TROPICAL" would be all over it....Just how the game works.I don't see "water logged,flaked,spotted or chipped" anywhere but I do so what anyone else would refer to as patina though.I do like how it was instantly called out as a "baked" dial though, until someone who actually knew what they were talking about chimed in and showed an actual baked dial.

I was speaking more broadly about how casually (and frequently abused) the term "tropical" is used to describe any, and all, damage to a watch dial. What often gives me pause is how respected and well-regarded dealers will use the term to describe watches...like this...as such:

"Excellent Tropical 2 line silver chapter ring dial"

How is this, in any way, "excellent"??

[springer]

Originally Posted by Kingface66

I was speaking more broadly about how casually (and frequently abused) the term "tropical" is used to describe any, and all, damage to a watch dial. What often gives me pause is how respected and well-regarded dealers will use the term to describe watches...like this...as such:

"Excellent Tropical 2 line silver chapter ring dial"

How is this, in any way, "excellent"??

I would agree. I see many laughable descriptions lately from some of the dealers/sellers. I saw a dial on a 16760 fat lady the other day described as being in excellent condition. The dial clearly was suffering from corrosion issues and if it were mine, I'd call it poor condition. The watch, which was a set, was in average to below average condition and was over-priced by about $5,000.

I see cases being called excellent that are mediocre at best. I could go on, and on, but I think the "sheeple" are getting smarter and wiser and the dealers "faux" descriptions are falling on deaf ears more-so than before.