Weird defect on explorer 16570.

[watchyouseek]

Hi all I have finally pulled the trigger on a 16570 polar today..

Noticed this in store and the seller told me not to worry about it , enjoy the watch first and if I want to clean it up I can come back later.

After I got home and further Inspected the watch up close using a loupe, I notice the defect maybe the crystal or a frayed gasket.

I tried to search the forums of similar issues but can’t seem to find any, I do hope one of you can help me out here, should I just live with it or go get it repaired by the seller? And if not what is that ??


Thank you all.


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[Claven2]

Looks like a scratched rehaut to me.

I would not trust a watch shop to fix that. A proper fix involves putting the mid case on a lathe and refinishing the rehaut.

If it doesnt bother you, rolex will fix it at your next rsc service.

[GGGMT]

Originally Posted by watchyouseek

Hi all I have finally pulled the trigger on a 16570 polar today..

Noticed this in store and the seller told me not to worry about it , enjoy the watch first and if I want to clean it up I can come back later.

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I love the polar, it’s my favorite part of my collection, butContrary to seller rushing you out the door “not to worry about it,“ I would worry about it. Return the watch and find another. These are not rare. Scratched rehaut as Noted. That’s a nasty booger, not just because it would bug the heck out of me, but because how did it get there? I wouldn’t trust the seller to fix it.


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[watchyouseek]

Could it be a frayed gasket ?


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by Claven2

Looks like a scratched rehaut to me.

I would not trust a watch shop to fix that. A proper fix involves putting the mid case on a lathe and refinishing the rehaut.

If it doesnt bother you, rolex will fix it at your next rsc service.

Thanks for your reassurance, I just spoke to the shop owner and he is willing to make good , he told me to take the watch back and they will have a look, whatever the issue he said they will send it to RSC for repair / change of crystal etc.

Also promised to provide official RSC receipt.

If it’s a scratched rehaut, is this a big job and will the watch be altered in any other way?


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[77T]

I’m not sure what Rolex will do.

I doubt they are going to refinish a rehaut at the RSC. Possibly they will advise a midcase replacement.


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

I’m not sure what Rolex will do.

I doubt they are going to refinish a rehaut at the RSC. Possibly they will advise a midcase replacement.


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That does not sound good at all :(.

Could it also be oil under the crystal? I do notice that there is some “scratches” on the underside above the 5 o’clock marker.
But looking harder it might be oil under the crystal, so maybe a dirty handed technician overhauled the watch?


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[Boaters]

You don't need to deal with that right out the door return it there are others to be had.

[1665fan]

Enjoy it until the return period is over....then deal with it lol

[1William]

Get a refund, find a different watch and move on. Why should you be without your watch and who know how long it will be gone. Too much to deal with.

[watchyouseek]

I don’t think I can’t get a refund .. the dealer has agreed to make good and rectify any problems without cost to me.


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[77T]

Originally Posted by watchyouseek

That does not sound good at all :(.

Could it also be oil under the crystal? I do notice that there is some “scratches” on the underside above the 5 o’clock marker.
But looking harder it might be oil under the crystal, so maybe a dirty handed technician overhauled the watch?

I thinks that’s hopeful thinking - however, I have an alternative theory.

I realize looking harder may make you hopeful it’s oil or some sliver of gasket. Or a dirty handed watchmaker.

But the evidence suggests a different reason.

I believe this watch was the victim of a terrible bash that shattered it’s original crystal. Shards of sapphire and/or the hard surface that shattered the crystal scraped the midcase’s inner edge.

Why? Because you have a service crystal on the watch.



It believe the bash also damaged the bezel and it was replaced. I don’t think some watchmaker did a beautiful radial refinish job on the original bezel but then boogered up the midcase.

Can you check and see if the dial’s lume and that on the hands is still functional?

I believe the hands are newer than the dial as the colors don’t match. They may have been damaged and replaced.



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[Thuilln]

The seller telling you « don’t worry about that » ; that’s a solid line!

@77T: why is it a service cristal? You can spot a S in that picture or because this cristal shouldn’t have a coronet on it?

[fmc000]

Originally Posted by Thuilln

The seller telling you « don’t worry about that » ; that’s a solid line!

@77T: why is it a service cristal? You can spot a S in that picture or because this cristal shouldn’t have a coronet on it?

The second.

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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

I thinks that’s hopeful thinking - however, I have an alternative theory.

I realize looking harder may make you hopeful it’s oil or some sliver of gasket. Or a dirty handed watchmaker.

But the evidence suggests a different reason.

I believe this watch was the victim of a terrible bash that shattered it’s original crystal. Shards of sapphire and/or the hard surface that shattered the crystal scraped the midcase’s inner edge.

Why? Because you have a service crystal on the watch.



It believe the bash also damaged the bezel and it was replaced. I don’t think some watchmaker did a beautiful radial refinish job on the original bezel but then boogered up the midcase.

Can you check and see if the dial’s lume and that on the hands is still functional?

I believe the hands are newer than the dial as the colors don’t match. They may have been damaged and replaced.



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Oh my god, this isn’t good news at all. The hands and lume on the dial still glows properly.

How can I verify that this is a badly damaged watch?


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

I thinks that’s hopeful thinking - however, I have an alternative theory.

I realize looking harder may make you hopeful it’s oil or some sliver of gasket. Or a dirty handed watchmaker.

But the evidence suggests a different reason.

I believe this watch was the victim of a terrible bash that shattered it’s original crystal. Shards of sapphire and/or the hard surface that shattered the crystal scraped the midcase’s inner edge.

Why? Because you have a service crystal on the watch.



It believe the bash also damaged the bezel and it was replaced. I don’t think some watchmaker did a beautiful radial refinish job on the original bezel but then boogered up the midcase.

Can you check and see if the dial’s lume and that on the hands is still functional?

I believe the hands are newer than the dial as the colors don’t match. They may have been damaged and replaced.



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Also how do I confirm that it was a service crystal ??


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[77T]

Originally Posted by watchyouseek

Also how do I confirm that it was a service crystal ??


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Because a 5-digit Expl. II never had a LEC on it originally.

Yours has an LEC - solid evidence of the service crystal by default.

That’s whether or not an “S” is noted in the LEC. I can’t see a horizontal “S” in the coronet but if you loupe it, you may see one.



Newer service LECs don’t have them.




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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

I thinks that’s hopeful thinking - however, I have an alternative theory.

I realize looking harder may make you hopeful it’s oil or some sliver of gasket. Or a dirty handed watchmaker.

But the evidence suggests a different reason.

I believe this watch was the victim of a terrible bash that shattered it’s original crystal. Shards of sapphire and/or the hard surface that shattered the crystal scraped the midcase’s inner edge.

Why? Because you have a service crystal on the watch.



It believe the bash also damaged the bezel and it was replaced. I don’t think some watchmaker did a beautiful radial refinish job on the original bezel but then boogered up the midcase.

Can you check and see if the dial’s lume and that on the hands is still functional?

I believe the hands are newer than the dial as the colors don’t match. They may have been damaged and replaced.



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This is the watch


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[c41006]

I would try to get my money back. If that isn't an option, I'd have them send it off to RSC for a service just to make sure that everything is as it should be. If RSC fixes the scratches, great, and if they don't, I'd just live with it.

[77T]

Originally Posted by watchyouseek

How can I verify that this is a badly damaged watch?


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You alone can’t. As for the movement, is it operating accurately?

But the evidence points to something happening that damaged the original crystal, hands, and maybe the bezel.

If the seller says it was never damaged and you can’t get a refund then maybe having the defect fixed is better path.


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

Because a 5-digit Expl. II never had a LEC on it originally.

Yours has an LEC - solid evidence of the service crystal by default.

That’s whether or not an “S” is noted in the LEC. I can’t see a horizontal “S” in the coronet but if you loupe it, you may see one.



Newer service LECs don’t have them.




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Mine is a Y serial 2003 , I read somewhere that from that time onwards some had LEC ?


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

You alone can’t. As for the movement, is it operating accurately?

But the evidence points to something happening that damaged the original crystal, hands, and maybe the bezel.

If the seller says it was never damaged and you can’t get a refund then maybe having the defect fixed is better path.


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Yes it is operating accurately. Only thing I noticed is that when winding it’s abit “gritty” and not as smooth as my 1803 or 1601.


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[77T]

Originally Posted by watchyouseek

Mine is a Y serial 2003 , I read somewhere that from that time onwards some had LEC ?


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That is very possible then - I know they began with some models in 2001, but it took until 2003-4 for all models to get LECs.

Can you see an “S” in your LEC.


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

That is very possible then - I know they began with some models in 2001, but it took until 2003-4 for all models to get LECs.

Can you see an “S” in your LEC.


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I can’t see a S in LEC


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[77T]

Originally Posted by watchyouseek

I can’t see a S in LEC


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That leaves the question open, then. As a 2003 model, then it could be original.

If it had a knock to cause the damage seen on the rehaut, and was very recently fixed then a replacement crystal might not have the “S”.

Since the movement is working fine, and your newest picture shows some wear on the bezel paint near the top, if was me I’d keep it and have the blemished rehaut addressed.


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

That leaves the question open, then. As a 2003 model, then it could be original.

If it had a knock to cause the damage seen on the rehaut, and was very recently fixed then a replacement crystal might not have the “S”.

Since the movement is working fine, and your newest picture shows some wear on the bezel paint near the top, if was me I’d keep it and have the blemished rehaut addressed.


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Regarding the colour of the hands and lume plots, mine still does glow , I am guessing it is SL that’s why.

From the picture I sent you, do the colours of the hands and lume plots look different. ?


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

That leaves the question open, then. As a 2003 model, then it could be original.

If it had a knock to cause the damage seen on the rehaut, and was very recently fixed then a replacement crystal might not have the “S”.

Since the movement is working fine, and your newest picture shows some wear on the bezel paint near the top, if was me I’d keep it and have the blemished rehaut addressed.


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Closer pictures


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[77T]

On your earlier pictures, the lime on the seconds hand did look newer. The hands on your last picture look the same as the plots.

Yes, a Y s/n would have Luminova.


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[watchyouseek]

Originally Posted by 77T

On your earlier pictures, the lime on the seconds hand did look newer. The hands on your last picture look the same as the plots.

Yes, a Y s/n would have Luminova.


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This is the lume


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[watchyouseek]

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