ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Cantab · 3 April 2017, 01:54 AM

All I can say is beautiful!

Bob the brush · 8 April 2017, 07:09 PM

Is that restoration brilliant or what?

scooba · 8 April 2017, 10:36 PM

Well done brilliant work thanks for sharing

thomaspp · 8 April 2017, 11:04 PM

Love it!

MikeB2620 · 24 May 2017, 09:43 AM

The 6542 that is the subject of this post belonged to my Father. He purchased it while stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1960 with the US Army as an advisor. A fellow officer was going to the PX in Riyadh and my Dad asked him to pick up a nice watch for him. His buddy came back with this Rolex GMT Master. It cost $125.

My Dad retired from the Army in 1964 after 20 years service and wore it every day from July 1960 until around 1986 or 87 as an engineer with RCA Service Corporation. He stopped wearing it because the band had lost its tension and the original bakelite bezel insert was cracked (he did not throw it out and it and the paperwork are somewhere in his house, I have the box).

He tried to get Rolex to repair it in 1991 or 1992 but they said they did not have parts for those vintage timpieces. He put it in a drawer until 2012 when he gave it to me to see what I could do with it. I kept it and did nothing with it. My Dad passed in December of 2015 and I decided I should get it restored. After much research I sent it to Bob and Phil Ridley last year. As you can see they did a stunning job. I could not be happier, and I am sure my Dad would be thrilled.

[IMG]https://*******/photos/n9VaL35dBU74TpLZ9[/IMG]

MikeB2620 · 24 May 2017, 09:50 AM

Rolex 6542 on wrist.jpg

TheRolexKingofLV · 24 May 2017, 09:57 AM

Wow that looks fantastic

I love your threads like this, keep em comin!

cowboy music · 25 May 2017, 03:50 AM

Great story! I'm so happy for you and your beautiful watch. Extra cool that it was your dad's watch.

Wing Zero · 25 May 2017, 06:31 AM

Beautiful watch and even better story.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

KarlFr · 25 May 2017, 06:44 AM

Real nice and what a history to go with it

phillip ridley · 25 May 2017, 07:15 AM

Still, just as beautiful!!

Sky21 · 25 May 2017, 07:38 AM

Lovely watch and a lovely momento that you have to remember your father. Thanks for sharing the rest of the story with us.

phillip ridley · 10 July 2017, 11:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeB2620

Attachment 863242

That is a gorgeous piece.

phillip ridley · 19 July 2017, 07:50 AM

This picture came out of no where and is so cool. His Father wearing his 6542 having a drink. Here is the story:Bargeron 1.jpg

"I hope all is well with you. I wanted to share this photo with you. It is a picture of my Dad ( Major William Bargeron) while stationed in Saudi Arabia from July 1960 until July 1961 as an Army advisor. If you might remember my story, my dad had a colleague purchase him a watch at the Army PX in Riyadh (for $125) which he wore as his daily wear until around 1987 or 1988. As you have probably already noticed he is wearing, in this picture, the Rolex GMT 6542 that his friend purchased for him and that you recently restored for me. This was taken in April of 1961.

I know you work on many Rolexes, some more valuable than others and certainly in better shape than my Dad's but I am not sure how many of them you actually get to see visual proof of their provenance.

Thanks again,

Mike Bargeron"

motoikkyu · 19 July 2017, 09:08 AM

Amazing restoration! What a beautiful watch!

sensui · 19 July 2017, 09:14 AM

What a cool story.

BNA/LION · 19 July 2017, 09:38 AM

Beautiful Restoration! Thanks for sharing it.

MikeB2620 · 20 July 2017, 01:54 AM

Thanks everybody for all the positive feedback. The restoration could not have come out better. My Dad would be overjoyed at how well it turned out.

C Walker · 1 February 2018, 02:08 AM

That is amazing. Is it bad etiquette to ask how much a restoration like that costs? I recently acquired a 6542 and am researching how to handle it.

Thanks

donaker · 1 February 2018, 05:19 AM

Fantastic watch and another great Ridley restoration. Your dad worked on my 5508 a few years back. Pass along my regards to him.

8 April 2017, 11:04 PM	#34
thomaspp "TRF" Member Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: N/A Posts: 11,136	Love it! __________________ Instagram: @watches_anonymous

24 May 2017, 09:50 AM	#36
MikeB2620 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 7	Wrist Shot Rolex 6542 on wrist.jpg

24 May 2017, 09:57 AM	#37
TheRolexKingofLV "TRF" Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Real Name: Trace Location: Vegas/Bay Area Posts: 9,234	Wow that looks fantastic I love your threads like this, keep em comin! __________________ Official Host "The Penthouse Party" Las Vegas 2018 Instagram @tracenunes

25 May 2017, 06:31 AM	#39
Wing Zero "TRF" Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Real Name: JC Location: Earth Watch: 1680 ~ 16610LV Posts: 811	Beautiful watch and even better story. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ ********************** **********************

25 May 2017, 06:44 AM	#40
KarlFr "TRF" Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Scandinavia Watch: ♛ Posts: 1,330	Real nice and what a history to go with it __________________ Insta

3 April 2017, 01:54 AM	#31
Cantab "TRF" Member Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Northeast U.S. Watch: Your 6 Posts: 186	All I can say is beautiful!

8 April 2017, 07:09 PM	#32
Bob the brush "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2017 Location: Mercia Watch: 1016 Explorer. Posts: 928	Is that restoration brilliant or what?

8 April 2017, 10:36 PM	#33
scooba 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Europe Watch: Anything Posts: 2,487	Well done brilliant work thanks for sharing

24 May 2017, 09:43 AM	#35
MikeB2620 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 7	The 6542 that is the subject of this post belonged to my Father. He purchased it while stationed in Saudi Arabia in 1960 with the US Army as an advisor. A fellow officer was going to the PX in Riyadh and my Dad asked him to pick up a nice watch for him. His buddy came back with this Rolex GMT Master. It cost $125. My Dad retired from the Army in 1964 after 20 years service and wore it every day from July 1960 until around 1986 or 87 as an engineer with RCA Service Corporation. He stopped wearing it because the band had lost its tension and the original bakelite bezel insert was cracked (he did not throw it out and it and the paperwork are somewhere in his house, I have the box). He tried to get Rolex to repair it in 1991 or 1992 but they said they did not have parts for those vintage timpieces. He put it in a drawer until 2012 when he gave it to me to see what I could do with it. I kept it and did nothing with it. My Dad passed in December of 2015 and I decided I should get it restored. After much research I sent it to Bob and Phil Ridley last year. As you can see they did a stunning job. I could not be happier, and I am sure my Dad would be thrilled. [IMG]https://*******/photos/n9VaL35dBU74TpLZ9[/IMG]

25 May 2017, 03:50 AM	#38
cowboy music "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2017 Location: Texas Watch: 5513 Posts: 133	Great story! I'm so happy for you and your beautiful watch. Extra cool that it was your dad's watch.

25 May 2017, 07:15 AM	#41
phillip ridley 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mesa, Arizona Watch: 1971 Rolex Red Sub Posts: 550	Still, just as beautiful!!

25 May 2017, 07:38 AM	#42
Sky21 "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: USA Posts: 885	Lovely watch and a lovely momento that you have to remember your father. Thanks for sharing the rest of the story with us.

19 July 2017, 07:50 AM	#44
phillip ridley 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Mesa, Arizona Watch: 1971 Rolex Red Sub Posts: 550	Check this out. This picture came out of no where and is so cool. His Father wearing his 6542 having a drink. Here is the story:Bargeron 1.jpg "I hope all is well with you. I wanted to share this photo with you. It is a picture of my Dad ( Major William Bargeron) while stationed in Saudi Arabia from July 1960 until July 1961 as an Army advisor. If you might remember my story, my dad had a colleague purchase him a watch at the Army PX in Riyadh (for $125) which he wore as his daily wear until around 1987 or 1988. As you have probably already noticed he is wearing, in this picture, the Rolex GMT 6542 that his friend purchased for him and that you recently restored for me. This was taken in April of 1961. I know you work on many Rolexes, some more valuable than others and certainly in better shape than my Dad's but I am not sure how many of them you actually get to see visual proof of their provenance. Thanks again, Mike Bargeron"

19 July 2017, 09:08 AM	#45
motoikkyu 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: PRJ Posts: 1,731	Amazing restoration! What a beautiful watch! __________________ "Do you like Breitling?" "I don't know, really, I've never been Breitled"

19 July 2017, 09:14 AM	#46
sensui 2024 Pledge Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: San Diego, CA Posts: 12,356	What a cool story.

19 July 2017, 09:38 AM	#47
BNA/LION 2024 ROLEX DATEJUST41 Pledge Member Join Date: May 2011 Real Name: Larry Location: San Diego, CA Watch: ROLEX Posts: 25,187	Beautiful Restoration! Thanks for sharing it. __________________ ✦ 28238 President DD 18K/YG ✦ 16610LN SS Sub ✦ 16613 18K/SS Serti ✦ 16550 Exp II Non-Rail Cream Dial ✦ Daytona C 116500 ✦ 126710 BLRO GMT-Master II ✦ NEXT-->? ⛳ Hole In One! 10/3/19 DMCC 5th hole, par 3, 168 yards w/ 4-Iron.

20 July 2017, 01:54 AM	#48
MikeB2620 "TRF" Member Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Maryland Posts: 7	Thanks everybody for all the positive feedback. The restoration could not have come out better. My Dad would be overjoyed at how well it turned out.

1 February 2018, 02:08 AM	#49
C Walker "TRF" Member Join Date: Feb 2018 Location: St Louis MO Posts: 22	That is amazing. Is it bad etiquette to ask how much a restoration like that costs? I recently acquired a 6542 and am researching how to handle it. Thanks

1 February 2018, 05:19 AM	#50
donaker "TRF" Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Canada Watch: Dad's 5508 Posts: 351	Fantastic watch and another great Ridley restoration. Your dad worked on my 5508 a few years back. Pass along my regards to him. __________________

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