Rolex 1500 - barn yard find - progress pics

[alwayshere]

Hi all,

As some of you may know, I really enjoy the hunt for nice vintage Rolexes. I have collected a few over the years and have yet part with any. Just really enjoy the hobby!

I recently came to acquire this one. Didn't pay much for it but it was a non-runner, crown wouldn't screw in and had scratches on the plexi.

Received it this week and some initials pics to share. Some observations:
- look how much gunk and rust sits below the bezel
- the rubber gasket has harden - I've now removed and replaced with a fresh one
- I initially thought the crown or the crown tube was stripped but after removing all the gunk and dirt within the crown, it actually screws back in! Excellent - no need to go source a replacement just yet.






Looked at the movement a bit closer through partial disassembly and realised that there was actually dirt that was caught in the escape wheel, effectively freezing it up. Some cleaning and reassembly and its ticking again.



After a case clean up, the caseback screws down more smoothly and the crown screws in as it should.



The white dial is actually in decent nick but the hands show the luminous material in poor condition. For these lower end vintages, not fussed if the hands are relumed or not. So I re-lumed them to try and match the dial hour dots which seem to be in good shape.




The final result yet to be completed but will update once its re-cased! thanks for viewing.

[AkshayArgade]

how wonderful-- seeing all the photos and the fact that you are working on the watch made me feel how lovely it would be for me to learn the art of servicing my own rolexes.. it must be a beautiful feeling to be able to work on such fine things by yourself..

well done.

[mountainjogger]

Thanks for sharing.

[Wahlberg]

Awesome work!

[PekWatchGuy]

Please share more this kind of work!

[alwayshere]

thanks for the kind words.

Re-cased now. I did some light polish on the crystal - looks better now. May swap it out later down the track but largely there.

Watch keeps excellent time which is a surprise

[zapokee]

Nice job!

I love the Date model. It's the one that proves 34 mm isn't too small.

[Slimpee]

Great thread! I look forward to seeing the result.

Will you keep it on the bracelet or swap out? It would look cool on a vintage-style leather strap.

[Boaters]

These are the kind of threads I like to see very cool love to see more. Thanks for sharing.

[77T]

Originally Posted by alwayshere

thanks for the kind words.

Re-cased now. I did some light polish on the crystal - looks better now. May swap it out later down the track but largely there.

Watch keeps excellent time which is a surprise

Is that corrosion along the midcase upper surface perimeter?

If so just wondered if it blocked pressing the bezel flush against the midcase or compromised a pressure test.

That is a great outcome regardless and appreciate your thread. Amazing that dirt under the crown and again in the escapement rendered them inoperable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[alwayshere]

Originally Posted by zapokee

Nice job!

I love the Date model. It's the one that proves 34 mm isn't too small.

it does wear small especially compared to contempary rolexes now - I have a 6426 so its the same size!

Originally Posted by Slimpee

Great thread! I look forward to seeing the result.

Will you keep it on the bracelet or swap out? It would look cool on a vintage-style leather strap.

might try to source an old 7835 if I can..

Originally Posted by 77T

Is that corrosion along the midcase upper surface perimeter?

If so just wondered if it blocked pressing the bezel flush against the midcase or compromised a pressure test.

That is a great outcome regardless and appreciate your thread. Amazing that dirt under the crown and again in the escapement rendered them inoperable.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

its corrosion - so much gunk and rusty between the bezel and the midcase that was never cleaned. Goes to show that having your watches serviced at acceptable intervals is important. Don't know when the last time this was cleaned. There are some watchmaker marks in backcase but can't decipher

[rootbeer7]

Nicely done. Great to be able to work on your own watch.

[alwayshere]

completely recased... thanks for viewing!

[henrylee]

Awesome!!

[Styles Bitchley]

Love this. Looks lovely.

[Andad]

Well done.

[L.K Johnson]

Wristie in daylight needed! Great job, man!

[Rukus]

Great work cleaning it up, definitely needs a good wrist shot now!

[FrenchBigCrown]

Originally Posted by alwayshere

completely recased... thanks for viewing!

Good work!

[alwayshere]

thanks all.

no wrist shot but here it is on a 7835 bracelet. The end links aren't quite right but it'll do for now.

[Nick9]

Really glad to see this, thanks for sharing it with us.

[Ferrari308]

What an amazing job!!!



PDG

[Larry Stevens]

The hairspring protecter is in the wrong position

[alwayshere]

Originally Posted by Larry Stevens

The hairspring protecter is in the wrong position

Thanks. You are right! will have that tidied up.