White Buckley - Thoughts please

[commander_keen]

Hi,
I always wanted this watch and have it offered to me now.
It is Full Set, I do not know the year yet.

What do you think about the condition?
Thanks!

[HogwldFLTR]

The head looks good although close-ups of the through holes and straight on shots would be helpful to examine polish erosion. The bracelet has more stretch than I'd like.

[Yaz]

Nice !
Case looks good...not exceptional but really good...

Don’t worry about the aging signs...the watch is not new...here’s mine...and I love it !




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[commander_keen]

Here are some more pictures.

[commander_keen]

As you pointed out the condition of the case and lugs are my main concern.
I have looked at some Buckleys with some miserably tiny, but shiny polished lugs but I do not think I have yet got “the eye” to spot a great to acceptable condition. The lumen, dial and glass seem to me in good condition.

The seller asks $6000.
Do you guys know what a replacement bracelet and bezel would go for?

Also I have a hard time finding good information on the Buckley. Apart from the dial color variations I would like to know more about the different bracelets and bezel types. Your help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you so far!

[CaveDweller]

The lugs are a bit thin, but acceptable if you do not consider this to be a "collector piece"

The dial may be re-finished or a replacement as the lume dots are remarkably white

The bracelet has plenty of life left in it despite appearances

I've been after a bukely dial for several years now for my 16030, so I've looked at quite a few. Prices vary across a wide range, but I've not seen a decent example of a dial yet that wasn't either redone or non original. The original lume plots on these seem to discolour and drop off after 30 years, so when I see "toothpaste white" lume dots my nose starts twitching

$6000 is outrageous, even at 5 he's pushing his luck

The lug at 7o/c is the main concern, which is conveniently hidden in almost every photograph .....

These do come up ocassionaly in better condition, and my recommendation is to wait

Your buck, your choice ...........

[HogwldFLTR]

The bracelet can be refurbished fairly cheaply so I wouldn't consider replacing it. $6K is way to high imho.

[commander_keen]

Thanks for your quick replies.
I will get back at the seller armed with your knowledge and let you know
what comes up.

[Yaz]

6k ???
Way to much...
You can find very good examples for something like 4500 USD (in the range of 3300€/3800€).


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[Andad]

I would pass.

I have seen much better examples.

[commander_keen]

Ok, so it was sold already for $5600.

Here is another one I have my eye on, more info and pics as I get them.

[commander_keen]

Asking price is $5285,49.

I know and I have seen some good models on US and international sites but over here in Germany/Europe they are pretty rare and expensive and import tax adds a whopping 19% on top.

[commander_keen]

Originally Posted by Yaz

6k ???
Way to much...
You can find very good examples for something like 4500 USD (in the range of 3300€/3800€).


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Where?

[Yaz]

Got mine from a private seller here in Switzerland.
Also found something in Austria and Italy few months ago.



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[Yaz]

Originally Posted by commander_keen

Ok, so it was sold already for $5600.

Here is another one I have my eye on, more info and pics as I get them.

No lume plots at all.


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[commander_keen]

Originally Posted by CaveDweller

The lugs are a bit thin, but acceptable if you do not consider this to be a "collector piece"

The dial may be re-finished or a replacement as the lume dots are remarkably white

The bracelet has plenty of life left in it despite appearances

I've been after a bukely dial for several years now for my 16030, so I've looked at quite a few. Prices vary across a wide range, but I've not seen a decent example of a dial yet that wasn't either redone or non original. The original lume plots on these seem to discolour and drop off after 30 years, so when I see "toothpaste white" lume dots my nose starts twitching

$6000 is outrageous, even at 5 he's pushing his luck

The lug at 7o/c is the main concern, which is conveniently hidden in almost every photograph .....

These do come up ocassionaly in better condition, and my recommendation is to wait

Your buck, your choice ...........

Ok, so I probably will need to be patient a little longer.

On the original Buckley the number were hand painted right?
Are the replacement dial printed? When did the printed one start?

[commander_keen]

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Rolex-Dateju...MAAOSwd1hfMqNJ


https://www.ebay.de/itm/ROLEX-16030-...kAAOSw~4xcvf26

[CaveDweller]

https://www.ebay.de/itm/Rolex-Dateju...MAAOSwd1hfMqNJ – yeah, that one’s nice – see what I mean about the colour of the lume dots, and that’s from ’98 – lugs are a huge improvement

https://www.ebay.de/itm/ROLEX-16030-...kAAOSw~4xcvf26 – ermmm, no. The corrosion on the second hand tells you all you want to know ..(besides which, buckely dials look better with black hands IMO)

[commander_keen]

Ok so I will pass on all of them.
I guess I got a little Buckley fever during my summer holidays in France this year.

A lot of clocktowers here have that timeless Roman numeral layout.

[commander_keen]

Plus the first watch my dad bought me at age of nine was this Swatch Windmilll with a Roman “IV” instead of “IIII”—very few watchmakers do that nowadays.

[commander_keen]

P.S.: This is also proof that Swatch invented the current Daytona Platinum.

[Yaz]

Don’t give up on the Buckley...this is a fantastic watch !
Very versatile imho
Be patient... and happy hunting !


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[commander_keen]

Will do!

Thank you everyone for your expertise!

[commander_keen]

Originally Posted by CaveDweller

The lugs are a bit thin, but acceptable if you do not consider this to be a "collector piece"

The dial may be re-finished or a replacement as the lume dots are remarkably white

The bracelet has plenty of life left in it despite appearances

I've been after a bukely dial for several years now for my 16030, so I've looked at quite a few. Prices vary across a wide range, but I've not seen a decent example of a dial yet that wasn't either redone or non original. The original lume plots on these seem to discolour and drop off after 30 years, so when I see "toothpaste white" lume dots my nose starts twitching

$6000 is outrageous, even at 5 he's pushing his luck

The lug at 7o/c is the main concern, which is conveniently hidden in almost every photograph .....

These do come up ocassionaly in better condition, and my recommendation is to wait

Your buck, your choice ...........

P.S.: If I understand Cavedweller correctly the Buckley dial was never really limited to a specific bezel, case, and bracelet combination, as long as it was a DateJust?!
What was the production timeframe for the hand painted dials?

[Yaz]

Original posts from John Buckley himself on VRF...


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[commander_keen]

No better source than Mr. Tuscany Rose himself.
Thank you very much.

[CaveDweller]

Yep – pretty much any four or five digit Date-just will do – I’m quite jealous of the “Lady Date-just” Buckley dials, the dial does work particularly well in that size. Bezels, bracelets are all interchangeable, all that matters is the case size

They also appeared on some bi-metal watches, hence the appearance of the gold coronet on occasion. Personally, I do prefer the black hands on a white background, but such a small detail can always be changed to taste

My own 16030 daily beater is a prime candidate for such a dial change, had it since new from 1988 (3035), one of the last of its kind. Changing the dial would be a minor misdemeanour, the integrity of the watch would still remain intact. My eyesight is not what it was, and the black dial and silver hands often demand a second (or third) glance, depending on the angle. But it’s a Date-just, and it’s not the crime of the century to mess about with the dials (after 30 years)

In an ideal world, white Buckley dial, black hour and minute hands, light blue second hand, red date wheel – but hey, that’s just me ……

[Yaz]

Originally Posted by commander_keen

No better source than Mr. Tuscany Rose himself.
Thank you very much.

You’re welcome !


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[commander_keen]

Is this one real then? I was under the impression the grey dial with white numerals was the rarest.
https://www.bernardwatch.com/Rolex/Datejust/RLX7701

[Richard Carver]

I've never seen a painted Roman on a 16220 before and have never seen that color either. A day pf firsts! :)