Opinions on this early Submariner?

[rollingstone]

I inherited this watch and would like to know more about it. Any comments would be appreciated.

Serial number is 762xxx. The case is also marked 5508.

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[Lgear080]

Pass

[roh123]

It’s one of the last smallcrowns Rolex did back in 1962. Looks original and nice with all the correct parts from new. Nice watch.

Jubilee bracelet isn’t what you would normally expect on it. :)

Hodinkee posted a similar one many years ago. Perhaps an interesting read for you.

https://www.hodinkee.com/articles/ju...ion-point-dial

[Dr.Smellody]

Love it. Exceptional in my eye.

[interestedwatcher]

Make sure you don't take it to Rolex to be 'restored'. At least ask some people here on the forums about what original parts of the watch are worth saving, and whats worth refreshing. You can destroy the value of older watches by making them like new.

[TimeLord2]

I would have to agree. That looks quite nice. I don't know why it's a pass @Lgear080 (whom I just agreed with in another thread ), I mean you inherited it...? Uh, that would be a singular WIN! Win baby, Yeah! IMHO.

[oysterquartz17000]

I have never seen a 5508 with such white lume. It looks really nice. It has that lovely chrome polish older watches get from light daily wear. Lovely piece.

[Lgear080]

Sorry... I was on mobile and ended up w an interesting spell correct. Very cool watch :)

[Styles Bitchley]

Originally Posted by rollingstone

I inherited this watch and would like to know more about it. Any comments would be appreciated.



Serial number is 762xxx. The case is also marked 5508.



.

Holy macaroni. That’s some inheritance. Do some research online. And don’t have it serviced by anyone other than a vintage Rolex expert.

[cowboy music]

Wow. Just wow.

[crazymcmichael]

Holy shit thats a treasure

[strafer_kid]

Nice one!

[Trench Watch Guy]

Get is serviced (Not by Rolex), wear & enjoy.

[Rocketman39]

This Bad Boy is about as "Cool" as it gets IMHO ! This has Rolex Heritage. My Rolex time started in 1966 with a 5513. Many Great memories. Do yourself a favor and get as much background on this watch as you can. Enjoy Rolexin !

[rollingstone]

by request, some pictures of the band on this watch:

[soicanbefree]

Originally Posted by crazymcmichael

Holy shit thats a treasure

It certainly is... enjoy the new inheritance!

Perhaps consider putting it on a better bracelet / getting it serviced from one of the vintage specialists.

[Paul]

This era of Rolex Sub was the gilt'est of all. By that I mean the dial text was a particularly lustrous gold tone. In later issue gilt watches, the gilt effect was sometimes toned down a bit.

Might be the lighting but with this watch, I'm just not getting even the merest* sniff of gilt. The SWISS only marking and the exclamation mark suggests an original dial but the bold white dial text is something I might expect from a service dial or even ... gasp ... a fakee / after-market dial.

The hands are certainly not original items too, later issue , service or after-market.

More pics would be needed to convince me and that's before I even start looking at fonts and text alignment. I just see an odd white text, bad hands and oddly heavy lume

* I'm not sure if that's a real word ... if not, it should be !

[Juhuatai]

Originally Posted by Paul

This era of Rolex Sub was the gilt'est of all. By that I mean the dial text was a particularly lustrous gold tone. In later issue gilt watches, the gilt effect was sometimes toned down a bit.

Might be the lighting but with this watch, I'm just not getting even the merest* sniff of gilt. The SWISS only marking and the exclamation mark suggests an original dial but the bold white dial text is something I might expect from a service dial or even ... gasp ... a fakee / after-market dial.

The hands are certainly not original items too, later issue , service or after-market.

More pics would be needed to convince me and that's before I even start looking at fonts and text alignment. I just see an odd white text, bad hands and oddly heavy lume

* I'm not sure if that's a real word ... if not, it should be !

In some lighting the gilt can look almost white and I am almost positive that is what happened here. If you look closely, it is most definitely gilt.

[Paul]

Originally Posted by Juhuatai

In some lighting the gilt can look almost white and I am almost positive that is what happened here. If you look closely, it is most definitely gilt.

I have a gilt 1675 here and catching the gilt in pics is almost impossible. The dial just comes out looking an unconvincing white every time. By contrast I can catch the gilt loveliness easily with other watches.

If the OPs' watch does indeed have its original dial, it may have survived very well

[Subterranean]

Wow.fantastic watch.100 metres .don't see that too often on a submariner .definitely an early piece.enjoy it and thanks for sharing

[mrs_LA]

What a watch, in fantastic condition. Thanks for sharing. Treasure it, and make sure you don't send it to Rolex for repairs.

[rollingstone]

Thank you all for all the information and advice.

I'm not sure whether to have the watch serviced, or not. Can it be serviced without changing original parts?

Should I get it evaluated by an expert before servicing? Who should I choose to do the examination?

[Cooper33]

Originally Posted by rollingstone

Thank you all for all the information and advice.

I'm not sure whether to have the watch serviced, or not. Can it be serviced without changing original parts?

Should I get it evaluated by an expert before servicing? Who should I choose to do the examination?

Send it to Rolliworks or LAwatchworks. They'll do a pretty good job, following your specific requests

[rumahrolex]

the dial is crazy!

[andrewjb88]

Get it serviced by a specialist that doesn't replace anything and wear it.

[HarryLime]

I'd send it to Phillip Ridley for sure

[dhknola]

Not to disparage any other of the suggested shops, but ditto for Mr. Ridley, especially on a watch of this caliber.

[offrdmania]

That watch definitely need to go to Phillip. Nothing wrong with the others named but Phillip has more knowledge and insight into these pieces IMO.

[zapokee]

Just to nail the point home, on no account should you send this to Rolex for restoration. They'll change out key parts and ruin its value.

Send it to a sympathetic vintage restorer, who will do the job without tanking the value. The LA outfits suggested here and Mr. Ridley are the default choices. I'd feel confident that any of them will know exactly what they're doing with precious vintage pieces.

[alwayshere]

talk about inheritance.... congrats