questions about my Rolex's

[motulken]

Hi I am new to this forum. I have a Rolex that my father gave me when I graduated college in 1981. I am thinking about selling it. I have someone interested in buying it and another Rolex i have for $12K

Here is my question. The watch is clearly marked 1665 and does have the gas release valve. The back has patent pending on it. The serial number is 352xxxx.
So it should be a sea dweller papers say from 1974. I have the box, paper work, certificate etc. The issue is that the dial does not say sea dweller is says Submariner. The buyer suggest that at some point the dial was changed.
What do you experts think.

I have an Explorer too, It is from the late 60's probably 1969. I have no box or paperwork for it.
He is interested in buying both for 12K. Good deal or not? I thought they would be worth more.
Thanks in advance for any help and opinions.

[Tools]

You need to do research on what you have...

[Paul]

Welcome motulken,

Two rather desirable watches that you have there and I'd agree that there's more value than $12k.
It's about now too that your message box will start ringing like mad with prospective buyers so take your time.

The 1016 Explorer looks like an honest example of a very collectible Rolex - a bit beaten up but certainly worth preserving.

The 1665 is a whole different ball game. For my understanding, the serial number places your watch squarely in the middle of the DRSD range.
That suggests it may have originally been a Double Red Sea Dweller , a watch that sits very highly on the wish list for many collectors.
Either way, any 1665 has value ..... it's just that some have a lot more value than others

Having the original box and papers would normally push the value right up ..... but the replacement dial will knock it right down again.
Difficult to source a loose standard red 1665 dial and more difficult again to source a loose DRSD dial.
That said, I picked up a loose red 1680 dial recently - not as rare as what you need but still uncommon.
So rare stuff is indeed still out there

This link will give you some idea of what folk ask for nice and / or full set 1665s. Your watch has issues so perhaps wise to not get too excited just yet.
Viewing the link may however encourage you to take time to think on what direction you take


http://www.chrono24.co.nz/rolex/ref-1665.htm

DISCLAIMER: I'm a vintage Rolex nutter through and through but my skills on 1665s and 1016s are basic.
If I'm on the wrong track with what you have, someone will quickly shoot me down.

[etp095]

The sea dweller does have the wrong dial in it. Like Paul said, a correct single or double red dial will be hard to find, and very expensive for whoever you sell it to. Could you post some pics of the box, and papers? It's really nice to have a gift from your father, I would get it serviced and wear it. They are both worth more than the $12k you were offered. Welcome to the forum, what an entrance, wow! People go ga ga for the watches you have, good luck with your decision.

[HERITAGE82]

They are worth ALOT more than 12k!!

Great pieces and wait for the experts to give a proper valuation. Also, as stated earlier as your PM's fill up be sure to take your time if you are really going to sell them.

[motulken]

Hi, thanks for the reply's. Here are picture of the box and paperwork. One thing that still confuses me it the tag that came on the watch, shown in the last pictures has the serial number on it, but on the back it does not say Sea dweller it says Submariner.

Any thoughts on that?

Any chance it came from Rolex with that dial on it?

[eparisini]

WELLCOME!
I think the DRSD dial is one of the rarest spare part to find...
Worth? It's hard to buy a watch without a so rare dial... I think it's 40% of one with a correct dial...
Yes I'd buy them for $ 12.000

[Vincent65]

shame about the dial

[brandrea]

Welcome to the forum. Do your research first, but it would appear you have 2 beauties there

[etp095]

Motulken
Not likely that seadweler came with a submariner dial, it was changed sometime before your got it. Maybe the original one got water damaged and the jeweler it was taken to had this one laying around, or just ordered the wrong one.

[timnik]

I'm surprised you want to sell them TBH.

Surely they must have sentimental value, especially if they were a gift from your father for achieving a big milestone.

I have my fathers old GMT and I want to hang onto it.

I'd suggest spending a bit of money and getting them nice again.

Then keep them.

Hang onto the Sub and sell the Explorer if you really must.

[MonBK]

Originally Posted by motulken

Hi, thanks for the reply's. Here are picture of the box and paperwork. One thing that still confuses me it the tag that came on the watch, shown in the last pictures has the serial number on it, but on the back it does not say Sea dweller it says Submariner.

Any thoughts on that?

Any chance it came from Rolex with that dial on it?

So they glued the paper sticker on the wrong plastic tag, big deal!

[Haywood_Milton]

No-one has commented that the OP said this watch had "PATENT PENDING" on the case-back.

If this were so, it would be a different level of watch / value again.

Sadly, though, the picture presented rather suggests that he is mistaken and it is the normal "ROLEX PATENT" wording. OP, are you able to confirm that this was just a simple error in your opening post?

Very nice piece, dial and other comments notwithstanding, in any event.

Haywood Milton

[dysondiver]

cant add to any of the above , ,,,, just say again , do some research

[cajunron]

Originally Posted by Haywood_Milton

No-one has commented that the OP said this watch had "PATENT PENDING" on the case-back.

If this were so, it would be a different level of watch / value again.

Sadly, though, the picture presented rather suggests that he is mistaken and it is the normal "ROLEX PATENT" wording. OP, are you able to confirm that this was just a simple error in your opening post?


Haywood Milton

I thought the same thing.

[Vincent65]

Well, it's clearly not a 'patent pending' case-back, as per the photo, so it must have been an error. With a 3523632 (circa 1973) serial, it couldn't have a PP case-back anyway, unless that was also incorrect.

[motulken]

No, you guys are right, I was wrong with the Patent pending. I think I may have read that on line somewhere and just made a mistake when I was typing, it was late at night and I was tired. My wife doesn't want me to sell them either. The Sea Dweller does have sentimental value. My original thought was to just sell the Explorer because I need cash. I had not trying to sell the the other one. The gentleman that was interested in the Explorer asked if i had any others. When I told him about the Sea dweller he was trying to buy both. Though 12K is a lot of money I thought it was not enough for both. I was asking $6500 on the explorer, is that a fair price?