1970 Rolex 1803 Service Dial

[bman381]

My service dial is starting to chip on the bottom left of the watch. Also, I have never seen another dial with the SWISS MADE on the edge of the pie pan dial like this one. Looks unique. Any help on if I should get a new dial. Was just serviced at RSC Dallas in April and they didn’t really seem to worry to much about it.

Thanks!

[swish77]

So, the dial was just installed by an RSC about 2-3 months ago and it's chipping? Or this is an older service dial and you just had the movement serviced recently?

Either way, yes, I'd get a new dial. It's already a service dial, so the vintage value isn't there anyway. And if the chipping was caused during the service, or if it's a newly installed service dial, I'd insist that the RSC replace it free of charge.

[bman381]

Service dial from 1985. Yes services in April my RSC. Will try and get them or find a pie pan to put back in. Thanks for the suggestion! It’s not bad but it’s noticeable when I look at it. lol.

[swish77]

Originally Posted by bman381

Service dial from 1985. Yes services in April my RSC. Will try and get them or find a pie pan to put back in. Thanks for the suggestion! It’s not bad but it’s noticeable when I look at it. lol.

Hmmmm ... shouldn't it be a "T Swiss T" service dial from 1985 with tritium dots/markers? I think even the non-lume dials were marked like that, and you have lumed hands anyway.

[bman381]

It is a NON Tritium dial. They put those service hands in also in 85. Used to have NON luminous hands. I still have them. Rolex does some funky stuff in the 80’s. LOL

[BloodyElbow]

This maybe be a helpful observation. In my borden today I went through the dozens of 1803s on HQ and didn’t see another dial with printing on the lip. The closest is a Buckley dial which is directly below the lip. Like you said Rolex did funky things so anything is possible.

[bman381]

Yeah I’ve been looking at those for a while now. Wonder if I have a misprint where they spaced it perfectly printed on the lip. It’s insanely clean and crisp as well. Definitely looks unique. Never seen another one like you said.

[watch-guy.com]

Originally Posted by bman381

My service dial is starting to chip on the bottom left of the watch. Also, I have never seen another dial with the SWISS MADE on the edge of the pie pan dial like this one. Looks unique. Any help on if I should get a new dial. Was just serviced at RSC Dallas in April and they didn’t really seem to worry to much about it.

Thanks!

[bman381]

Here you go.

[bman381]

I know the transition to the 18038 had this same dial on like almost every dial with the small Roman numerals. Look like a last attempt to use that along with the pie pan dial?

[miamiclay]

I haven’t specifically looked, but I don’t recall ever seeing a pie pan dial with the railroad/Romans minute track, even Buckleys didn’t have Romans iirc. Obviously if RSC put it in, it is legit, but it can’t be very common.

[zapokee]

Just enjoy it. The case has the fat "bump" under the crown, while the lugs seem to be fairly polished.

[bman381]

Yeah I haven’t seen one either. Never really took notice till it started chipping at the bottom. Kinda interesting. But thinking of swapping it out to original look.