The Rolex Forums   The Rolex Watch

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX


Go Back   Rolex Forums - Rolex Watch Forum > Rolex & Tudor Watch Topics > Vintage Rolex Discussion

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 25 June 2019, 11:45 AM   #1
tenerific
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 123
1680 got the "Rolex Service Treatment"

Discovered this weekend that my father has been being a "responsible" owner of his 1973 1680 and has been sending it to service at RSC as needed.

Problem is that they, of course, "improved" a thing or two during the last run through.

At the very least, here's what I *think* I've spotted though I'm no expert -

- Service bezel and bezel insert possibly, luminova pearl definitely.
- Luminova hands definitely.
- Service dial possibly. Can anyone chime in? The dial has definitely lost luminosity so maybe this made it through.

What are my options for sourcing replacement parts here? Fingers crossed the bezel insert and dial are kind of fine but at the very least a pearl and new hands are needed. Note that I have never purchased parts before so I'm a complete noob.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg IMG_7710.jpg (91.9 KB, 1246 views)
File Type: jpg IMG_7711.jpg (72.9 KB, 1242 views)
tenerific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 11:59 AM   #2
1665fan
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: East coast
Posts: 6,583
Dial is more than likely original but robbed him of the insert and hands...not anybody’s fault people just don’t know the value of originality on these older models....
1665fan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 12:59 PM   #3
Dan S
2024 Pledge Member
 
Dan S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 5,841
You're lucky to have the dial.
__________________
@oldwatchdan on IG
Dan S is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 01:21 PM   #4
oysterquartz17000
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: AWOL
Watch: Submariner 16803
Posts: 487
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenerific View Post
Discovered this weekend that my father has been being a "responsible" owner of his 1973 1680 and has been sending it to service at RSC as needed.

Problem is that they, of course, "improved" a thing or two during the last run through.

At the very least, here's what I *think* I've spotted though I'm no expert -

- Service bezel and bezel insert possibly, luminova pearl definitely.
- Luminova hands definitely.
- Service dial possibly. Can anyone chime in? The dial has definitely lost luminosity so maybe this made it through.

What are my options for sourcing replacement parts here? Fingers crossed the bezel insert and dial are kind of fine but at the very least a pearl and new hands are needed. Note that I have never purchased parts before so I'm a complete noob.
I love a well looked after watch, he sounds like he is a responsible owner. Perhaps just remind him the dial is important and he is lucky its still here (althought a '73 should have a red dial).
oysterquartz17000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 01:31 PM   #5
Styles Bitchley
"TRF" Member
 
Styles Bitchley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Canada
Watch: 1680
Posts: 1,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by oysterquartz17000 View Post
I love a well looked after watch, he sounds like he is a responsible owner. Perhaps just remind him the dial is important and he is lucky its still here (althought a '73 should have a red dial).


Exactly. Maybe an early service dial? What’s the serial?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Styles Bitchley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 01:32 PM   #6
epicurus
"TRF" Member
 
epicurus's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: NYC
Posts: 572
Looks great. Dont ruin his day because of "value". Let him keep wearing it proudly.
epicurus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 01:35 PM   #7
oysterquartz17000
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: AWOL
Watch: Submariner 16803
Posts: 487
Quote:
Originally Posted by epicurus View Post
Looks great. Dont ruin his day because of "value". Let him keep wearing it proudly.
That too.

I wish I had a 1680 since day dot. Unfortunately I burned through a succession of cheap and nasty watches and have nothing to show for it.
oysterquartz17000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 02:20 PM   #8
bob78h
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Real Name: Z
Location: SF Bay Area
Watch: 1675
Posts: 306
May be a tritium service dial (the "SWISS T.." printing looks close to the markers), would need a better picture of the dial to tell for sure though.
bob78h is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 09:47 PM   #9
cpefy3
"TRF" Member
 
cpefy3's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2016
Real Name: Collin
Location: Raleigh, NC
Watch: 16014, 16600
Posts: 344
Someone posted this link up the other day and I have been pretty impressed with their selection. https://www.tswisst.de/ Good luck!!
cpefy3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 10:31 PM   #10
tenerific
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 123
I’m 100% it’s never had a red dial. He might be mistaken on the year - maybe it was early 1974? Purchased on a ski holiday in Zermatt Switzerland.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tenerific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 25 June 2019, 11:18 PM   #11
Styles Bitchley
"TRF" Member
 
Styles Bitchley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Canada
Watch: 1680
Posts: 1,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by epicurus View Post
Looks great. Dont ruin his day because of "value". Let him keep wearing it proudly.
I'm inclined to agree with you. Not every watch needs to be a collector's piece. I know that back when I first bought my 1680 I probably would have put luminova hands on, but I didn't want to spend the money. After all, dead tritium isn't much use beyond looking pretty!
Styles Bitchley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 June 2019, 02:20 AM   #12
RolexDave68
"TRF" Member
 
RolexDave68's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Real Name: Dave
Location: Here and There
Watch: 116613LN
Posts: 2,522
Quote:
Originally Posted by epicurus View Post
Looks great. Dont ruin his day because of "value". Let him keep wearing it proudly.


I like this answer, enjoy the journey and a fabulous piece


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
RolexDave68 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 June 2019, 03:32 AM   #13
Paulie 50
"TRF" Member
 
Paulie 50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Lancs. England
Posts: 993
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1665fan View Post
Dial is more than likely original but robbed him of the insert and hands...not anybody’s fault people just don’t know the value of originality on these older models....
Would 1973 not be in the Red dial time scale? Looks like MK 2 White dial to me.
Paulie 50 is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 26 June 2019, 04:22 AM   #14
Lgear080
Banned
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: NYC
Posts: 3,506
Dial is cherry. Hands and insert can still be purchased reasonably. Most important to wear it happily.
Lgear080 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 June 2019, 05:22 AM   #15
tenerific
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 123
Would anyone know what version bezel insert is needed?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tenerific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 June 2019, 05:49 AM   #16
stevedssd
"TRF" Member
 
stevedssd's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 2,204
Just to add that the dial is a service replacement, either a tritium or "toothpaste" replacement. I suspect it would have been replaced at an earlier service than the recent hands replacement, as it would otherwise be a Luminova dial to match the hands.

Still a nice watch and a family treasure
stevedssd is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 26 June 2019, 10:30 PM   #17
OliverD
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 68
Quote:
Originally Posted by stevedssd View Post
Just to add that the dial is a service replacement, either a tritium or "toothpaste" replacement. I suspect it would have been replaced at an earlier service than the recent hands replacement, as it would otherwise be a Luminova dial to match the hands.

Still a nice watch and a family treasure
.

Definitely a service dial.
OliverD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 27 June 2019, 12:16 AM   #18
swish77
2024 Pledge Member
 
swish77's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Real Name: Aaron
Location: CT/NYC
Watch: ing the time!
Posts: 6,772
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenerific View Post
I’m 100% it’s never had a red dial. He might be mistaken on the year - maybe it was early 1974? Purchased on a ski holiday in Zermatt Switzerland.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
What's the beginning of the serial number?
swish77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2019, 08:23 AM   #19
tenerific
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 123
Just checked because you all had be wondering.

3,06x,xxx

I’m thinking this makes this definitively once a red no?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tenerific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2019, 08:25 AM   #20
tenerific
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 123
This just got a ton more interesting haha


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tenerific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2019, 12:22 PM   #21
Styles Bitchley
"TRF" Member
 
Styles Bitchley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Canada
Watch: 1680
Posts: 1,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenerific View Post
Just checked because you all had be wondering.

3,06x,xxx

I’m thinking this makes this definitively once a red no?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yes.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Styles Bitchley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2019, 01:19 PM   #22
tenerific
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 123
So interesting because pops swears up and down he never remembers it being red ...

Go figure!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tenerific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2019, 01:24 PM   #23
oysterquartz17000
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: AWOL
Watch: Submariner 16803
Posts: 487
You could try and find one of those red service dials, you have the hands and insert already. People have gotten them from Rolex, I think you just need to have a watch with a serial in the 'red' range. Not 100% on that, perhaps the others here can help.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg reddial.JPG (83.8 KB, 780 views)
oysterquartz17000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2019, 02:25 PM   #24
Dan S
2024 Pledge Member
 
Dan S's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 5,841
Quote:
Originally Posted by oysterquartz17000 View Post
... I think you just need to have a watch with a serial in the 'red' range.
Or Rolex has archives that they don't make available to the rest of us, so they actually know what dial the watch originally had.
__________________
@oldwatchdan on IG
Dan S is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 28 June 2019, 09:44 PM   #25
Styles Bitchley
"TRF" Member
 
Styles Bitchley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Canada
Watch: 1680
Posts: 1,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by oysterquartz17000 View Post
You could try and find one of those red service dials, you have the hands and insert already. People have gotten them from Rolex, I think you just need to have a watch with a serial in the 'red' range. Not 100% on that, perhaps the others here can help.

Some have said that they’ll only put one in if it has a damaged red dial. Others say they’re not available any more at all. It seems that the first response at RSC is always no, but tenacity and insistence on checking with Geneva has paid off for some.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Styles Bitchley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2019, 01:52 AM   #26
tenerific
"TRF" Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: USA
Posts: 123
I’m going to assume that finding original red dials and hands is quite difficult and expensive, no? Any ideas where to look?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
tenerific is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2019, 05:51 AM   #27
Styles Bitchley
"TRF" Member
 
Styles Bitchley's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Canada
Watch: 1680
Posts: 1,396
Quote:
Originally Posted by tenerific View Post
I’m going to assume that finding original red dials and hands is quite difficult and expensive, no? Any ideas where to look?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk


Probably more than you’d want to pay. Good dials seem to go for $10k at least. Try the classifieds here and on VRF.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Styles Bitchley is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 29 June 2019, 06:36 AM   #28
Mr.Rolex1
Banned
 
Join Date: Apr 2019
Real Name: Mike
Location: San Diego, CA
Watch: Submariner
Posts: 1,197
Looking good!
Mr.Rolex1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1 July 2019, 09:44 AM   #29
oysterquartz17000
Banned
 
Join Date: May 2019
Location: AWOL
Watch: Submariner 16803
Posts: 487
Quote:
Originally Posted by Styles Bitchley View Post
Probably more than you’d want to pay. Good dials seem to go for $10k at least. Try the classifieds here and on VRF.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
A dial and handset sold for around 10k recently. I also saw a red service dial sell for $4200USD, so even those prices are on the rise.

If you are going to get a red dial, best act quickly.
oysterquartz17000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 1 July 2019, 12:42 PM   #30
Freelance
"TRF" Member
 
Freelance's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: USA
Watch: 1675
Posts: 171
My 3,2 MIL 1680 (always white/non-red) has had similar Dad/RSC treatment, and has a late 90's T<25 Service Dial that looks different than yours. I won't argue with those who think you have a SD, they probably know more than me, but still looks original Tritium to me so if it is a SD, it may have been done at an even earlier service interval. In the 80's??? The crown also looks like a modern 703/704.

Mine has a "washed" [NO] Tritium service dial, with Lumi Hands and Insert, 703. Personally, I am fine with a serviced/over-serviced watch. I could care less about 'patina', 'flaking lume', and the subsequent 'worrying about value'. YMMV
Freelance is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Takuya Watches

Bobs Watches

Asset Appeal

My Watch LLC

OCWatches

DavidSW Watches

Coronet


*Banners Of The Month*
This space is provided to horological resources.





Copyright ©2004-2024, The Rolex Forums. All Rights Reserved.

ROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEXROLEX

Rolex is a registered trademark of ROLEX USA. The Rolex Forums is not affiliated with ROLEX USA in any way.