Rolex 1603 circa 1973 Bracelet request

[Mickey138]

Hi all,

New to the forum, so nice to meet you all! I recently got hold of a Rolex Datejust 1603, however, it did not come with an original bracelet. Does anyone on here sell them or know anyone that sells them, as i got a quote from Rolex for £900! There are a few on eBay but worried about the authenticy of these. I've attached my watch with a bracelet I got as a temporary and also on a leather strap.

[zapokee]

Beautiful piece!

I'd splash out on the 900 for the original Rolex bracelet. The peace of mind in knowing that it's the real thing will pay massive dividends over the years.

Second-hand bracelets are a minefield of getting stretch repaired, finding one that will fit you, and worrying about authenticity. They also often aren't much cheaper than buying a new one.

Do yourself a favor.

[swish77]

I'd get a used, period-correct Jubilee. Yes, it can be challenging finding the right one with minimal stretch and making sure it's authentic, but it's doable, especially if you're buying from a respected dealer here or over on VRF. Good luck!

[lpestre]

You can find a nice jubilee, you just have to be patient. Once I bought an old 1603 to have a period correct jubilee for my GMT 1675.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by swish77

I'd get a used, period-correct Jubilee. Yes, it can be challenging finding the right one with minimal stretch and making sure it's authentic, but it's doable, especially if you're buying from a respected dealer here or over on VRF. Good luck!

i agree. i can't imagine paying the price for a factory new jubilee that is almost approaching the value of the entire vintage watch INCLUDING the second hand bracelet. most watch collector sites such as this one and VRF have plenty of members selling quite nice second hand bracelets for very affordable prices.

would only take an hour or two to find quite a few examples to choose from

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Beautiful piece!

I'd splash out on the 900 for the original Rolex bracelet. The peace of mind in knowing that it's the real thing will pay massive dividends over the years.

Second-hand bracelets are a minefield of getting stretch repaired, finding one that will fit you, and worrying about authenticity. They also often aren't much cheaper than buying a new one.

Do yourself a favor.

1) stretch repair is not a minefield at all. quite easily done by MK and relatively cheap.

2) finding one that will fit you? links are easily sourced and installed.

3) authenticity and they aren't much cheaper than buying a new one? stick to watch forums as authenticity is guaranteed by known forum members selling their items. 900 British pounds vs $450 to $700 for a good used SS jubilee? even if a high priced $700 example was misrepresented and needed to be tightened by MK it's still considerably cheaper than 900 British pounds.


the OP is asking for advice on a '73 era vintage watch in the vintage section of the forum. best advice would be to keep it as close to original configuration as possible and of course economically. slapping on expensive factory new bracelets would be advice more likely read the general rolex section of this forum no?

[Mickey138]

Hi all, thanks to everyone's reply! I think I agree with you Janice, I want to keep the originality of the watch as much as possible, so ideally a used SS Jubilee would be perfect. You mentioned that there are few people on this forum that sell them, would it be possible to let me know who these people are? Or does anyone here know anyone that could sell me a used bracelet?

[Mickey138]

Originally Posted by swish77

I'd get a used, period-correct Jubilee. Yes, it can be challenging finding the right one with minimal stretch and making sure it's authentic, but it's doable, especially if you're buying from a respected dealer here or over on VRF. Good luck!

Thanks for the reply swish. It would be great if I can find one that's period correct. Is anyone on here particularly known for sourcing/selling bracelets?

[77T]

I'm guessing you have a mid-to-high 3 million serial number on your 1603. Finding a period correct jubilee is a longer shot than finding another 1603 with its jubilee intact in the same general serial number range. You could harvest the bracelet for your current 1603 head and resell the new one on a strap.

The price you get should not be much less than the $$$ you'd pay for an era correct jubilee alone. The other possibility is you find a dial combo you like better during your search - so it's essentially a flip when you're finished.

[themaninblack]

A bit of 1603 talk at the moment on the forum so I decided to pull my rarely worn 1970 grey on jubilee out of hibernation. Hands lume a bit discoloured but not a bad looking watch! Im sure you will find a period jubilee.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by themaninblack

A bit of 1603 talk at the moment on the forum so I decided to pull my rarely worn 1970 grey on jubilee out of hibernation. Hands lume a bit discoloured but not a bad looking watch! Im sure you will find a period jubilee.

damn nice lookin watch you got there and those hands are AOK


i'm loving all these datejust discussions lately and it's real nice to see so many fellow enthusiasts here

[Mickey138]

Great looking watch! Very jealous with the black dial!!!

[RKTudor]

Originally Posted by lpestre

You can find a nice jubilee, you just have to be patient. Once I bought an old 1603 to have a period correct jubilee for my GMT 1675.

Reading this made me feel better ;) just bought a decrepit, not working, refinished dial Tudor sub strictly bc it's bracelet was perfect and full linked.

[teb1013]

Originally Posted by janice&fred

1) stretch repair is not a minefield at all. quite easily done by MK and relatively cheap.

2) finding one that will fit you? links are easily sourced and installed.

3) authenticity and they aren't much cheaper than buying a new one? stick to watch forums as authenticity is guaranteed by known forum members selling their items. 900 British pounds vs $450 to $700 for a good used SS jubilee? even if a high priced $700 example was misrepresented and needed to be tightened by MK it's still considerably cheaper than 900 British pounds.


the OP is asking for advice on a '73 era vintage watch in the vintage section of the forum. best advice would be to keep it as close to original configuration as possible and of course economically. slapping on expensive factory new bracelets would be advice more likely read the general rolex section of this forum no?

I went through the same thing, getting a used jubilee for my DJ. It has considerable stretch, however. I would like to get this fixed. Who and where is MK?
Thanks.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[zapokee]

Originally Posted by janice&fred

1)
the OP is asking for advice on a '73 era vintage watch in the vintage section of the forum. best advice would be to keep it as close to original configuration as possible and of course economically. slapping on expensive factory new bracelets would be advice more likely read the general rolex section of this forum no?

All fair views.

I'd go for the new bracelet based on my (admittedly unlucky) experiences trying to source vintage bracelets and ship Rolex stuff internationally. The variables involved mean that solutions may differ.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by teb1013

I went through the same thing, getting a used jubilee for my DJ. It has considerable stretch, however. I would like to get this fixed. Who and where is MK?
Thanks.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

hi and sorry that was my mistake and please excuse my poor typing. MK was meant to be MY... short for Michael Young. he runs a bracelet and watch resto biz in Hong Kong and a quick search here will turn up his contact info as well as an interesting thread by him on his talented bracelet resto process.

[janice&fred]

Originally Posted by zapokee

All fair views.

I'd go for the new bracelet based on my (admittedly unlucky) experiences trying to source vintage bracelets and ship Rolex stuff internationally. The variables involved mean that solutions may differ.

yes true and i see your point.

[themaninblack]

Originally Posted by janice&fred

damn nice lookin watch you got there and those hands are AOK


i'm loving all these datejust discussions lately and it's real nice to see so many fellow enthusiasts here

Thanks. Yes i like the sports models as much as anyone I suppose but there are other Rolex watches worthy of our attention.