ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

mck22 · 9 June 2009, 06:35 AM

Looks great.

lobo58 · 9 June 2009, 06:36 AM

Beautiful. Bear Grylls wishes he had your style!

Timber Loftis · 9 June 2009, 06:37 AM

It looks great, but I totally would have removed the dial and hands before sending it off and told RSC to shove it in their collective bunghole.

Jason71 · 9 June 2009, 08:07 AM

I am DEFINITELY not a purist. However, I do wish that you would have kept the matte dial. There are a couple guys here in the USA that do AWESOME relume jobs on hands/dials. If you just wanted luminosity, they could have relumed the hands/dial and even used lume with a vintage color to it.

What is done is done though. It does look really nice, and is a great watch. Planning on taking it diving now that you have had it serviced??

Z-Sub · 9 June 2009, 09:07 AM

looks like a new watch!

allanofcalifornia · 9 June 2009, 09:34 AM

Very nice but I would have tried to see if I could have kept the dial and hands in case I would want to sell it in the future. Any pictures of the watch with the original dial and hands?

Allan

Xenophon · 9 June 2009, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jclevoy

What is done is done though. It does look really nice, and is a great watch. Planning on taking it diving now that you have had it serviced??

Oh yes, it'll be diving with me when I'm back in the sea. However, I'm unfit for diving until late August - doctors orders.

Singslinger · 9 June 2009, 06:12 PM

The watch looks great, you're happy and that's all that matters.

jas55 · 9 June 2009, 06:48 PM

Looks very nice

brettpaul · 9 June 2009, 07:11 PM

Looks AWESOME Nathan - good choice on the replacements!! Man, I'm really starting to want a 5513!

swatty · 9 June 2009, 07:16 PM

Looks great

acce1999 · 9 June 2009, 07:25 PM

I understand your reasoning. This is really how a thirty year old Rolex should be treated, if it is supposed to be used as intended. The RSC should update it as much as possible.

The good thing is that you now have a 30 year old watch that is ready to be used as if it where brand new. No worries about fragile tritium hands, or legibility.

Well done!

Must admit though, that I like the untouched vintage look as much as this one (perhaps even more)! I also must admit that the oldest watch I have that I use "daily and for everything" is only twelve years old. The only vintage watch I would use daily (and for everything) would be a 5513 like yours... and I am looking for one ;-)

Best,

A

Jason71 · 9 June 2009, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xenophon

Oh yes, it'll be diving with me when I'm back in the sea. However, I'm unfit for diving until late August - doctors orders.

I am a bit of a hypocrite telling you that you should have "kept the watch original". I have my A-Serial SD off to the beauty spa to have a few modifications done to make it that much better for diving. When it returns, it will be 100% Rolex parts, but it will be thought of as blasphemy by the purists.

Enjoy your watch, I bet you are quite proud to have it back.

Widows Son · 10 June 2009, 01:32 AM

You did the right thing, for YOU. Making a safe queen out of a relatively common watch doesn't make sense. I too have had several vintage watches redialed. I had a vintage Breitling redilaled because the face was unreadable.

Lane from s.c. · 10 June 2009, 01:43 AM

I did the same to my 1985 gmt with no regrets. I love it more now. My thinking is you can always buy an old beater and put it in a safe....which I plan to do at some point. Your sub looks sweet!

Lane

macstiltskin · 10 June 2009, 02:32 AM

You're using it for it's intended purpose (diving) so clearly you need good lume....It's a no-brainer, you made the right choice.

Mac

growla666 · 12 June 2009, 09:22 AM

Right everyone, anyone who says Rolex UK don't return the old parts are talking c**p! I've just spent £750 on having my 16800 almsot re-built by Bexley. When I went to the Rolex AD in Peterborough they said that Rolex wouldn't be sending the old dial and hands back. At this point I made a right fuss and told them categotically that rolex could NOT legally keep any old parts of my watch as they are my property and that if they did 'steal' them I would be getting my solicitor to challenge Rolex UK as to the legal basis for keeping them or to point out any reference or contract that I had signed that stated they could do so. 10 weeks later my watch was returned, like new, and a week after both my original 16800 dial and hands. No questions asked. The 16800 dial will be going on to ebay from whence it came to help recoup the eye watering service bill.

Moral of the story - insist that Rolex return all your original watch parts. They're yours!

Growla.

PS since my last post I have acquired the following:
1998 Bi-metal Daytona (Zenith movement)
1968 5500 Explorer I
2008 Panerai PAM00114 Marina Militare Automatic

oneillba · 12 June 2009, 09:36 AM

It looks great. It's your watch and you did the right thing and now you have a watch that's 100% useful for your needs.

CPCC · 12 June 2009, 12:19 PM

sweet

Mike B · 12 June 2009, 01:10 PM

They did a beautiful job !!

cody p · 12 June 2009, 03:37 PM

i wonder what rolex does with the parts they keep?

dentman · 12 June 2009, 07:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cody p

i wonder what rolex does with the parts they keep?

Ebay?

Xenophon · 12 June 2009, 08:49 PM

Thanks for the nice comments folks.
It's academic whether of not I could have insisted to get the parts back from RSC Bexley. I didn't

mike · 12 June 2009, 09:04 PM

The arguement of orginality vs. functionality will go on and on. They did a wonderful job.

Congrats.

wzz · 12 June 2009, 09:09 PM

that's a stunner!

zak98 · 12 June 2009, 09:19 PM

looks super! all that matters is if your happy with it. your money, your choice your happiness. congrats. super looking watch!

rkb · 12 June 2009, 09:20 PM

I love it, like others I would prefer a new looking watch over one that looked aged. That was one of the reasons I sold my 64 Tudor 7928 Sub. I like shiny hands and lume that works.

ducksaw · 12 June 2009, 09:35 PM

I wear a 1680 with service dial and hands and I love it. I wanted a fully functional vintage diver and that's what I got. My argument(and I understand the purist view as well) is it glowed in 1979 when the original owner got it, so this way I get to experience a "brand new" 1680. I have another one in Dallas getting service dial and hands, as well as a service case. Literally a brand new 1680. I was also told I could not keep original parts, but I really do not have a use for them.

Lol-x · 12 June 2009, 10:41 PM

Dude that is

ROCK solid

Congrats

Nods · 13 June 2009, 12:55 AM

Watch looks excellent, and as for the old used up parts what the hell would you want them for. You have a tool watch not a safe queen.

9 June 2009, 06:35 AM	#31
mck22 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Brent Location: St Louis Watch: Rolex Sub Date Posts: 1,516	Looks great. __________________ 16610 Submariner GMT Master II 16710 1675

9 June 2009, 08:07 AM	#34
Jason71 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Jason Location: USA Watch: Rolex/Tudor Divers Posts: 7,973	I am DEFINITELY not a purist. However, I do wish that you would have kept the matte dial. There are a couple guys here in the USA that do AWESOME relume jobs on hands/dials. If you just wanted luminosity, they could have relumed the hands/dial and even used lume with a vintage color to it. What is done is done though. It does look really nice, and is a great watch. Planning on taking it diving now that you have had it serviced?? __________________ Best Regards, Jason Just Say "NO" to Polishing Card-Carrying Member of the Global Association of Retro-Grouch Curmudgeons LIfe is too short to wear inexpensive watches PLEXI IS SEXY

9 June 2009, 09:07 AM	#35
Z-Sub 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: So Cal, USA Watch: Not a ONEWatch Man Posts: 7,383	looks like a new watch! __________________ SS Submariner Date "Z" SS SeaDweller "D" SS Submariner "Random" TT Blue Submariner "P" SS GMT-Master ll "M", Pepsi Pam 311, 524, 297

9 June 2009, 06:48 PM	#39
jas55 "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Lach Location: Western Australia Posts: 759	Looks very nice __________________ Explorer 2-Polar Omega Seamaster Quartz

12 June 2009, 09:22 AM	#47
growla666 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Abc Watch: All Submariners Posts: 71	Parts ARE returned - 16800 transition dial and hands Right everyone, anyone who says Rolex UK don't return the old parts are talking c**p! I've just spent £750 on having my 16800 almsot re-built by Bexley. When I went to the Rolex AD in Peterborough they said that Rolex wouldn't be sending the old dial and hands back. At this point I made a right fuss and told them categotically that rolex could NOT legally keep any old parts of my watch as they are my property and that if they did 'steal' them I would be getting my solicitor to challenge Rolex UK as to the legal basis for keeping them or to point out any reference or contract that I had signed that stated they could do so. 10 weeks later my watch was returned, like new, and a week after both my original 16800 dial and hands. No questions asked. The 16800 dial will be going on to ebay from whence it came to help recoup the eye watering service bill. Moral of the story - insist that Rolex return all your original watch parts. They're yours! Growla. PS since my last post I have acquired the following: 1998 Bi-metal Daytona (Zenith movement) 1968 5500 Explorer I 2008 Panerai PAM00114 Marina Militare Automatic

9 June 2009, 06:36 AM	#32
lobo58 Member Join Date: May 2009 Real Name: Mark Location: Masschusetts Watch: Omega Planet Ocean Posts: 399	Beautiful. Bear Grylls wishes he had your style!

9 June 2009, 06:37 AM	#33
Timber Loftis "TRF" Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Real Name: Jon Location: Chicago Watch: IIc,DJII,P244,A1-Z Posts: 2,857	It looks great, but I totally would have removed the dial and hands before sending it off and told RSC to shove it in their collective bunghole.

9 June 2009, 09:34 AM	#36
allanofcalifornia "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Allan Location: California Posts: 3,210	Very nice but I would have tried to see if I could have kept the dial and hands in case I would want to sell it in the future. Any pictures of the watch with the original dial and hands? Allan

9 June 2009, 06:12 PM	#38
Singslinger "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: singapore Posts: 6,424	The watch looks great, you're happy and that's all that matters.

9 June 2009, 07:11 PM	#40
brettpaul "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Real Name: Brett Location: Bahrain, Dubai Watch: Rolex and AP Posts: 5,538	Looks AWESOME Nathan - good choice on the replacements!! Man, I'm really starting to want a 5513!

9 June 2009, 07:16 PM	#41
swatty 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Peter Location: Sydney Watch: The Game Posts: 17,409	Looks great

9 June 2009, 07:25 PM	#42
acce1999 "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: GMT+1 Posts: 2,711	I understand your reasoning. This is really how a thirty year old Rolex should be treated, if it is supposed to be used as intended. The RSC should update it as much as possible. The good thing is that you now have a 30 year old watch that is ready to be used as if it where brand new. No worries about fragile tritium hands, or legibility. Well done! Must admit though, that I like the untouched vintage look as much as this one (perhaps even more)! I also must admit that the oldest watch I have that I use "daily and for everything" is only twelve years old. The only vintage watch I would use daily (and for everything) would be a 5513 like yours... and I am looking for one ;-) Best, A

10 June 2009, 01:32 AM	#44
Widows Son "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Hudson Ohio Posts: 3,554	You did the right thing, for YOU. Making a safe queen out of a relatively common watch doesn't make sense. I too have had several vintage watches redialed. I had a vintage Breitling redilaled because the face was unreadable.

10 June 2009, 01:43 AM	#45
Lane from s.c. Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Real Name: Lane H. Location: fort mill, s.c. Watch: gmt, new in 1985 Posts: 190	I did the same to my 1985 gmt with no regrets. I love it more now. My thinking is you can always buy an old beater and put it in a safe....which I plan to do at some point. Your sub looks sweet! Lane

10 June 2009, 02:32 AM	#46
macstiltskin Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: France Posts: 357	You're using it for it's intended purpose (diving) so clearly you need good lume....It's a no-brainer, you made the right choice. Mac

12 June 2009, 09:36 AM	#48
oneillba "TRF" Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Real Name: Brian Location: Hamilton, MI USA Watch: My beloved TT DJ Posts: 3,831	It looks great. It's your watch and you did the right thing and now you have a watch that's 100% useful for your needs. __________________ My Trusty TT DJ

12 June 2009, 12:19 PM	#49
CPCC "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Real Name: Bill Location: USA Posts: 1,857	sweet __________________

12 June 2009, 01:10 PM	#50
Mike B "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Real Name: Mike Location: Gilbert, AZ Watch: DSSD, Omega SMP Posts: 3,055	They did a beautiful job !!

12 June 2009, 03:37 PM	#51
cody p "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Canada Watch: Air-King 114200 Posts: 2,878	i wonder what rolex does with the parts they keep?

12 June 2009, 08:49 PM	#53
Xenophon 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Real Name: Xenophon Location: UK Posts: 2,697	Thanks for the nice comments folks. It's academic whether of not I could have insisted to get the parts back from RSC Bexley. I didn't __________________ The sea! The sea! Θάλαττα! θάλαττα!

12 June 2009, 09:04 PM	#54
mike "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 22,683	The arguement of orginality vs. functionality will go on and on. They did a wonderful job. Congrats.

12 June 2009, 09:09 PM	#55
wzz Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Real Name: Jason Location: Providence, RI Posts: 175	that's a stunner!

12 June 2009, 09:19 PM	#56
zak98 "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: TN Watch: Rolex Posts: 2,166	looks super! all that matters is if your happy with it. your money, your choice your happiness. congrats. super looking watch! __________________ Z- Submariner; P- Airking; R- DateJust; M- GMTII; C0 - Milgauss GV Breitling SuperOcean Heritage 46 Omega Speedmaster Racing Panerai PAM390

12 June 2009, 09:20 PM	#57
rkb "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Real Name: Russell Location: Seattle Metro Watch: EXPORER II Posts: 605	I love it, like others I would prefer a new looking watch over one that looked aged. That was one of the reasons I sold my 64 Tudor 7928 Sub. I like shiny hands and lume that works. __________________

12 June 2009, 09:35 PM	#58
ducksaw "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Real Name: Chad Location: chattanooga, TN Watch: 1680 Posts: 182	looks great! I wear a 1680 with service dial and hands and I love it. I wanted a fully functional vintage diver and that's what I got. My argument(and I understand the purist view as well) is it glowed in 1979 when the original owner got it, so this way I get to experience a "brand new" 1680. I have another one in Dallas getting service dial and hands, as well as a service case. Literally a brand new 1680. I was also told I could not keep original parts, but I really do not have a use for them.

12 June 2009, 10:41 PM	#59
Lol-x Facilitator Join Date: Nov 2005 Real Name: Steve Location: Omnipresent Posts: 33,262	Dude that is ROCK solid Congrats __________________ *Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.* ~Abraham Lincoln Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride. ~John F. Kennedy ROLEXploitation - yeah I'm a victim

13 June 2009, 12:55 AM	#60
Nods Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Real Name: Lionel Wylie Location: Australia Watch: Rolex GMT SS Posts: 277	Watch looks excellent, and as for the old used up parts what the hell would you want them for. You have a tool watch not a safe queen.

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