1680 White Dial Question

[yannis]

Originally Posted by Beaumont Miller II

Dial is a mk1 dial in very nice condition.
I don't like to comment on the condition of the watch case when Few views are presented. See this thread for why: http://www.rolexforums.com/showthrea...Things+learned
Like Springer said the date wheel for the period should be brushed silver and I can't tell from the pics whether it is or isn't brushed. The bracelet should likely have a VC code.
Hard to tell whether the crown and tube are correct. My Subs from 1978 don't have a gasket on the tube and have three dots on the crown. You can unscrew the crown and check. The insert is likely from a later date.

Originally Posted by springer

I don't know if it is correct, and frankly, it is not something that I pay much attention to when buying vintage watches. It could be one before they went to the brushed silver wheels. The case condition appears to be fairly consistent for a 37-year-old watch.

Thank you so much John and Springer. Very informative thread John. Well the watch comes with original papers and box as well so i will be pulling the trigger and i shall upload more photos tomorrow.

[Throttle]

Originally Posted by Batmanseadweller

I just got this 1680,can u guys please tell me what mark is my dial.tq guys

Its a mk4 dial.

[Throttle]

Let me share my experience.
I am located in Singapore.
Have had many white 1680s passed thru my hands
The most common range of white 1680s were in the 5.5m to 5.9mil range and they mostly had the mk1 dial with a smaller percentage having mk2 and 3 and the least having mk4 dial, actually only one.

If we consider the low number of years of production for the white 1680, it seems very likely that the mk1 dial was high production and used across many serials.
The mk 2 3 4 dials have lower production and came a bit later.

The other explanation why there are mk 1 dials across serials as late as 6mil could be becos there were no such thing as service dials in the old days and parts control were less strict.

A Rolex watchtech was able to buy an original 1680 dial and keep it as a spare part on his own. In fact, there were many old timer watch makers i knew who had loads of Rolex parts in unopened packaging as recent as the early 90s (i got my first Rolex then)

Of course we all knew what happened next.
Parts control become tighter than ever and Rolex produced updated service dials as it advanced from tritium to luminova.

This also explains why we can find original Rolex tritium dial laced with luminova.
The factory just used what they had on hand!
No reason to waste any parts right?

So end of the day, whatever it is, enjoy your 1680. Every vintage Rolex is unique and therein lies its value to its owner and not anyone else, be it original dial or replacemnet dial.

Cheers guys, happy 2017

[Brizzybrad]

My eyes hurt from reading this thread and squinting at dial text. Thank you for the excellent resources.

This is my newly acquired 1680, 5.7 mil. The hands are service luminova, but I'm not sure which dial I have.

Here are a few pics. I'm thinking mark IV or service?

[Brizzybrad]

Here is a macro

[1675-David]

Looks like a service dial that is marked tritium but in fact is luminova... does it glow in the dark? The "600ft=200m" bit of the depth rating is more compact than on other white 1680 dials.

[Brizzybrad]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

Looks like a service dial that is marked tritium but in fact is luminova... does it glow in the dark? The "600ft=200m" bit of the depth rating is more compact than on other white 1680 dials.

No, the dial does not glow.

The hands and pearl are luminova and do glow.

[1675-David]

The last post on this thread over on VRM shows your dial, i think!

"2) mk2 " toothpaste " ( Beyeler ) either with white and yellowish indexes. "



http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...for+Matdaytona

[Brizzybrad]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

The last post on this thread over on VRM shows your dial, i think!

"2) mk2 " toothpaste " ( Beyeler ) either with white and yellowish indexes. "



http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...for+Matdaytona

I agree, thanks for the help!

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by 1675-David

The last post on this thread over on VRM shows your dial, i think!

"2) mk2 " toothpaste " ( Beyeler ) either with white and yellowish indexes. "



http://www.network54.com/Forum/20759...for+Matdaytona

This is correct, it is a service dial of a design originally made by Beyeler then from around the mid-nineties by Rolex. They have been made with either tritium, luminova or as in this case; a tritium look-a-like material sometimes referred to as "toothpaste".

[stevedssd]

PS Nice watch

[Brizzybrad]

Originally Posted by stevedssd

PS Nice watch

Thank you!

I like your Boston Terrier - I have one just like it!

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by Brizzybrad

Thank you!

I like your Boston Terrier - I have one just like it!

A Boston Terrier and a 1680 ........a perfect combination of madness and good taste!

[DadsSubm]

heres my 1972

[DadsSubm]

not sure what dial I have
it was a red sub
maybe someone here would know when the service was

[DadsSubm]

Any Ideas

[springer]

Originally Posted by DadsSubm

Any Ideas

Same as posted in your other thread. It's a Luminova service dial.

[DadsSubm]

Originally Posted by springer

Same as posted in your other thread. It's a Luminova service dial.

anyway to tell a year

[stevedssd]

It won't be possible to tell the year of the service dial, As it is Luminova it will be after 1997/98 when Rolex switched to that material from Tritium but that is about it. The Luminova service dial has been made in all three of the common service dial print patterns and with both SWISS and SWISS T>25 at the bottom. The back of the dial will have a repeating Rolex print on it but that won't indicate age. If you are able to open the back and photograph it, it may have service marks, someone on here may be able to date those marks but of course that wouldn't necessarily be when the dial was changed. In short, lots of maybe's and if's and no real way of telling.

With the serial number you could contact Rolex Service Centre and see if they are able/willing to provide you will history of previous services. Sorry this is not much help........

[temiyasen]

Originally Posted by roro

Hey Beaumont, how come you didn't pick up a service bezel with your service dial? LOL




Stop it, Frogman. You're making me sick. Those lugs, just look at those lugs

Yesss ....those lugs hurt my eyes......

[Erpin]

This is my Mk1 with 3.8mil serial number which puts it at the transitional stage from single red to the all white dial.

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by Erpin

This is my Mk1 with 3.8mil serial number which puts it at the transitional stage from single red to the all white dial.

Very nice patina

[ahopkins0490]

I received this watch from another forum member and they told me the dial is an original dial and not a service dial. I would like to know your guys thoughts on the matter. The serial is a 5.6 million, so I am assuming it should be mk3, but I am not sure if the dial is 100% accurate as a mk3 or if it is an early service replacement.

[stevedssd]

That is a Mark 3 not a service dial. Looks to be very nice, except for the mark over the 7 plot. I think judging by a similar mark above, it that it is a mark on the Plexi shining on the dial in the bright light on the photo, rather than a mark on the plot itself but not sure?

[ahopkins0490]

Hey Steve,

Thank you for providing me your input while putting my mind at ease! The watch does have a mark on the 7 marker though, and I believe it is patina related because it does not look like a mark, but more of a color change due to patina.

[stevedssd]

Originally Posted by ahopkins0490

Hey Steve,

Thank you for providing me your input while putting my mind at ease! The watch does have a mark on the 7 marker though, and I believe it is patina related because it does not look like a mark, but more of a color change due to patina.

Now wear with pride and enjoy

[ahopkins0490]

Thanks, Steve!

[Charles Underwood]

Greetings friends,

Here we go my first post.
Due to the fact that i'm in a learning and understanding mode of rolex watches, i stumbled upon this.
This picture is not mine, but i find the dial intreguing.
The watch is 314xxxxx so it should scream red submariner.
Look at the dial open 6 as in reds.
Look swiss T<25 all out of line.
Is this just a example of a fake dial or something else?

Charles

[APLT]

6.5 years late but this seems like a service dial - same as batmanseadweller's at post #87.

'Fatter' OYSTER PERPETUAL DATE font and also the open 6s in 660ft...