Need your help to evaluate this Root Beer GMTII 16713

[KateB]

Hello TRF!

I finally figured out I have posted my last post to a wrong discussion board so I am reposting it here....

I am new to the forum but have been lurking for a very long time on TRF to build up my knowledge on watches.
I am in my mid 20s and have finally saved up enough money, after meeting all my priorities, for a 16713 Root Beer. I will get the watch in the next few days and will be posting more pictures. I plan to give this to my father for his up coming birthday. He has been wanting a X serial (my birth year) Root Beer all his life but every time he had his chance to get the watch, he chose to spend the money on us. He is still holding on the 16713 Root Beer paper cut out I made for him when I was a kid so I know how much he wants that watch.
In a few days I will finally get the watch. I am planning to get it to a watch maker who has a Rolex account to look at the watch. In the meantime, I am pleading the wise men of TRF for help and give me your opinions. The resolution of the pictures are not great and sometimes overblown, but please do your best to tell me if there are any red flags you see.
Also I am hoping to get your opinion if the watch has been over polished and do you think I should get it polished and get a new bezel insert?

Thank you so much for your help! I promise you I will repay TRF with lots of interesting stories!

Kate




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[Franks07]

Welcome here!
What a great story and what a great daughter you are.
I wouldn't do anything other than a full service on the movement. Visually I think you have a very nice watch picked out for your father and I'm sure he will be blown away. I hope he wears it proudly for many years to come.
Well done!

[schoolboy]

Originally Posted by franks07

welcome here!
What a great story and what a great daughter you are.
I wouldn't do anything other than a full service on the movement. Visually i think you have a very nice watch picked out for your father and i'm sure he will be blown away. I hope he wears it proudly for many years to come.
Well done!

x2

[schoolboy]

Beautiful piece, you don’t see these very often.

I am sure he will love it, and will know how much he means to you with such a great gift.

It’s awesome that you kept the will to find the watch over the years.

Priceless

[KateB]

Originally Posted by Franks07

Welcome here!
What a great story and what a great daughter you are.
I wouldn't do anything other than a full service on the movement. Visually I think you have a very nice watch picked out for your father and I'm sure he will be blown away. I hope he wears it proudly for many years to come.
Well done!

Thank you so much for your kind words and your advise! It's really nerve wrecking for me buying this watch given my knowledge is so limited.
Words from experts like you is the most calming thing I have all day.

[KateB]

Originally Posted by schoolboy

Beautiful piece, you don’t see these very often.

I am sure he will love it, and will know how much he means to you with such a great gift.

It’s awesome that you kept the will to find the watch over the years.

Priceless

I guess it is the guilt of me as a child kept asking for things I did not need and not knowing his sacrifices.
I haven't seen him wearing a watch after he gave me his AirKing as a graduation gift.


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[dbhak22]

SO COOL! What a great gesture, love hearing stories like this. Let us know how he reacts when he receives it!

[Tom1675]

Great story, and great gift. Thanks for sharing and please let us know how the gifting goes. As for what to do before you give it to him, as others have observed -just the movement, change nothing -its a great piece.

[Colin10101]

I think that’s a wonderful idea. The watch has definitely been polished a few times, but not overly so, and the case has many more years of life. Im going to go against the grain and say take it to Rolex and I would ask for a service, new insert, and I would opt for their case refinishing. They do a great job and the watch will come back looking like new ready for wear.

On this forum the importance of part originality and “unpolished” cases is stressed, but IMO this is only best for watch collectors. Your father sounds like the kind of man who isn’t going to sell this down the road, so whatever perceived value of keeping this watch “original” is a bit of a wash. I think it would be nice to be able to gift him a piece that he can scratch up
With his own memories.

Good luck! Keep us posted.

[River]

What a great gesture.


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[rrlx]

Beautiful.

Polished, but generally a great looking watch and he will LOVE it

[emersm]

What a great gesture. Thanks for brightening my day.

[KateB]

After five long days of waiting, the box finally arrived this afternoon! My hands were literally shaking when my cousin hand over the box to me. It really is the most expensive item I have purchased.

I would like to ask the wise men of TRF for help again to see if there is any red flag you see in this watch.

Also I have a question about the warranty certificate:

The warranty certificate serial number matches with the watch case but does not have purchaser and the purchase date filled out. Should I be concerned?








Thank you so much for helping me out!



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[crowncollection]

nice work congrats

[DLRIDES]

No, don't be concerned about lack of names.

No red flags ..........................

[bradleyt09]

That is a beautiful watch and such an awesome gesture. Your dad is a lucky guy and obviously did a great job raising a terrific daughter. Please let us know how the presentation goes.

[Franks07]

We need to see a wrist shot on your dad's wrist. I'll bet he gets a bit emotional when you present the beautiful watch to him...I know I would!

[Styles Bitchley]

I love this thread. Such an awesome gesture.


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[Canefan1]

That RB is

[KateB]

Thank you all for continuing to help me out and your kind words! My cousin dropped off the watch to the watchmaker last week. Luckily the movement is in good shape and just need services. Not sure how long will that take but hopefully it will make it for my father's birthday. For sure I'll take lots of wrist shots for him.


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[KateB]

My apologies for asking similar questions... but my mind is torn after reading so many nice restored examples such as emersm's restored Red Sub. The bevels on that restored watch and also Springer's first year GMT II are drop dead gorgeous.
I understand re polish job may kill the watch if not done correctly. So I'm hoping to ask for the experts opinion about a "light polish"? Can a light polish restore the brushed finish on the case and bracelet that now seemed smooth and shiny on some spots? Do you think this watch can survive a light polish now and a refinish job in the future should my father desire to buff out the scratches? Thank you so much in advance


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[fosbibr]

Great watch and very nice present!!! There's something special about a root beer. My wife got me a similar one for our wedding.

[brand_c]

Faith is humanity restored. Thanks for sharing this lovely story. Maybe even get a nice leather strap for him to swap it out from time to time. Should be easy for him to do so with the holes case.

[VintageVagabound]

Great watch and happy to see some recent love on TRF :)

[saskmh]

Originally Posted by KateB

My apologies for asking similar questions... but my mind is torn after reading so many nice restored examples such as emersm's restored Red Sub. The bevels on that restored watch and also Springer's first year GMT II are drop dead gorgeous.
I understand re polish job may kill the watch if not done correctly. So I'm hoping to ask for the experts opinion about a "light polish"? Can a light polish restore the brushed finish on the case and bracelet that now seemed smooth and shiny on some spots? Do you think this watch can survive a light polish now and a refinish job in the future should my father desire to buff out the scratches? Thank you so much in advance


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I was going to say that I am with Colin on the polishing and to have it done by Rolex...but then I thought about what I would want if my daughters bought me a used Rolex....I would want it left as is. The scratches are part of the charm and character.

If he is a guy who doesn't care about those things then make it look new.

If he appreciates the charm of vintage things...don't have it polished.

[Heartlandblaster]

Fabulous story that put a smile on my face. Subscribed and can't wait to hear how the presentation goes! When is that planned for?

[KateB]

Thank you all again for your advices, your kind words, and your continued patience for my ignorance. Also, thank you for letting me hangout here on the Vintage Discussion board. I just realized this watch does not really qualified as a vintage piece but everyone here are so welcoming.
I have learnt so much here!


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[KateB]

Originally Posted by saskmh

I was going to say that I am with Colin on the polishing and to have it done by Rolex...but then I thought about what I would want if my daughters bought me a used Rolex....I would want it left as is. The scratches are part of the charm and character.



If he is a guy who doesn't care about those things then make it look new.



If he appreciates the charm of vintage things...don't have it polished.

Thank you so much sir! Your perspectives freed my mind. I really should let my dad choose what he wants! Thank you thank you


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[KateB]

Originally Posted by fosbibr

Great watch and very nice present!!! There's something special about a root beer. My wife got me a similar one for our wedding.

Thank you so much. Indeed I found the Root Beer very romantic...


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[KateB]

Dear TRF,

After a few long weeks, the watch finally came back earlier this week, just in time for my dad's birthday. I oped to have just the crown and insert replaced and will let my dad decide for himself whether to have it polished or not.



I went back to my parents' home a day before dad's birthday to help mom prepare and spend time with them. While they went out to pick up my little sister, I managed to take some pictures of the watch before wrapping it up.



The piano in the background has a lot of sentimental value to me and is the reason my dad gave up getting the Root Beer GMT the first time. I still remember vividly going to the jewelry store with him to look at the watch and he told the manager he need sometime to think about it. A week later this piano showed up in our house instead. I was so happy and never stopped playing. Looking back I can feel how heart broken he was when I told him I don't want to go to music school anymore.
Now years after, this watch finally show up here along with a personalized gift. I was struggling what to write and I finally settled with TRF's favorite line - "Wear it in good health". Nothing matters more now than my parents living a happy and healthy live.



I woke up extra early yesterday morning but mom and dad are already up and making breakfast. I hurried my little sis to get out of bed. It felt so strange yet warm because this is exactly what we did when we were kids. Mom and Dad were always up early and I would be the one waking my sis up and getting her ready for school.
After breakfast, mom and sis gave dad their birthday presents and mine was last. When dad opened the box and saw the Root Beer, he closed his eyes for a moment with a smile and said, "Well, I have always wanted something nice that I can pass on to my children. Now I have one." "No dad, you gave me your watch!" I said while showing him the Air King on my wrist (On the day I started my first job, 4 days after my graduation if I remember correctly, my dad drove me to work. Just before I got out the car, he took off his Air King and gave it to me as my graduation gift. A very humble Air King 14000 but very precious to me. This Air king never left my wrist since that day.)
After giving it a good wind, dad put on the Rolex. It looks great on him! He gave me a big hug and I said "Happy Birthday Daddy". He went back to his room for a few minutes and came out with a small jewelry box. I immediately recognized that box. He opened it and inside is the Root Beer GMT paper cutout I made for him. He asked me, "which one should I wear tonight?"
And I answered,

"This!"



Thank you so much TRF for hearing my story and your guidance.



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